bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The bridge-like lipid transfer protein (BLTP) gene group: introducing new nomenclature based on structural homology indicating shared function
Authors: Braschi Bryony , Bruford Elspeth A. , Cavanagh Amy T. , Neuman Sarah D. , Bashirullah Arash
Published: December 2022

The HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee assigns unique symbols and names to human genes. The use of approved nomenclature enables effective communication between researchers, and there are multiple examples of how the usage of unapproved alias symbols can lead to confusion. We discuss here a recent nomenclature update (May 2022) for a set of genes that encode proteins with a shared repeating β-groove domain. Some of the proteins encoded by genes in this group have already been shown to function as lipid transporters. By working with researchers in the field, we have been able to introduce a new root symbol (BLTP, which stands for “bridge-like lipid transfer protein”) for this domain-based gene group. This new nomenclature not only reflects the shared domain in these proteins, but also takes into consideration the mounting evidence of a shared lipid transport function.
Analog field-scale acoustic study of volcanic eruption directivity using a tiltable liquid nitrogen-charged water cannon
Authors: Jolly Arthur D. , Kennedy Ben , Matoza Robin S. , Iezzi Alexandra M. , Christenson Bruce , Johnson Richard , Sork Amilea , Fee David
Published: December 2022

Laterally directed explosive eruptions are responsible for multiple fatalities over the past decade and are an increasingly important volcanology problem. To understand the energy dynamics for these events, we collected field-scale explosion data from nine acoustic sensors surrounding a tiltable cannon as part of an exploratory experimental design. For each cannon discharge, the blast direction was varied systematically at 0°, 12°, and 24° from vertical, capturing acoustic wavefield directivity related to the tilt angle. While each event was similar in energy discharge potential, the resulting acoustic signal features were variable event-to-event, producing non-repetitious waveforms and spectra. Systematic features were observed in a subset of individual events for vertical and lateral discharges. For vertical discharges, the acoustic energy had a uniform radiation pattern. The lateral discharges showed an asymmetric radiation pattern with higher frequencies in the direction of the blast and depletion of those frequencies behind the cannon. Results suggest that, in natural volcanic systems, near-field blast directionality may be elucidated from acoustic sensors in absence of visual data, with implications for volcano monitoring and hazard assessment.

Graphical Abstract
Distribution of b-value in the central and southern Ryukyu: is the low b-value in the rift-axis of the Okinawa Trough accurate?
Authors: Nakamura Mamoru
Published: December 2022

Here, I investigated whether the b-value in the rift-axis of the Okinawa Trough, a back-arc basin, is low. The cause of the low b-value in the rift-axis of the Okinawa Trough had previously been interpreted as increased stress by dyke intrusion. However, the previous study ignored the spatial variations in magnitude completeness in the Okinawa Trough. In addition, for the M4-class earthquakes that occurred in the Okinawa Trough, the values of displacement magnitudes and velocity magnitudes determined by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) for the same events did not match. The previous study did not correct for these effects. Thus, I conducted these corrections and examined the spatial variation of b-values in the Okinawa Trough and the Ryukyu arc. The magnitude completeness was calculated using goodness-of-fit methods and the b-value was calculated using the maximum likelihood method. The JMA earthquake catalog from 2001 to 2019 was used for the analysis. After the corrections, the b-values around the rift-axis of the central and southern Okinawa Trough (0.90–0.92) were almost the same as those for the Ryukyu arc (0.83–0.84). Magnitude completeness in the Okinawa Trough varied spatially and was particularly large in the earthquake swarm area in the rift-axis of the Okinawa Trough. The steady-state magnitude completeness was 2.0 in the earthquake swarm area in the rift-axis of the Okinawa Trough. However, the magnitude completeness increased to 3.5 or higher only during the several days of occurrence of the earthquake swarms. This was caused by the short-term decrease in the ability to detect earthquakes when an earthquake swarm occurred. The finding that the b-values do not differ between the rift-axis of the Okinawa Trough and the Ryukyu arc indicates that stress concentration in the rift-axis of the Okinawa Trough is not a strong influence on the b-values. Alternatively, this might indicate that in the rift-axis of the Okinawa Trough, the distribution of low and high b-value regions was not detectable due to the insufficient accuracy of hypocenter determination.

Graphical Abstract
A robust principal component analysis-based approach for detection of a stator inter-turn fault in induction motors
Authors: Namdar Ali
Published: December 2022

Health condition monitoring of induction motors is important because of their vital role and wide us in a variety of industries. A stator inter-turn fault (SITF) is considered to be the most common electrical failure according to statistical studies. In this paper, an algorithm for the detection of an SITF is presented. It is based on one of the blind source separation techniques called principal component analysis (PCA). The proposed algorithm uses PCA to discriminate between the faulty components of motor current signatures and motor voltage signatures from other components. The standard deviation of one of the decomposed vectors is used as a statistical SITF criterion. The proposed criterion is robust to non-fault conditions including voltage quality problems and large mechanical load changes as well as harmonic contaminants in the voltage supply. In addition, with a straightforward and low computational burden in the fault detection process, the proposed method is computationally efficient. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, large numbers of practical and simulation scenarios are considered, and the results confirm the good performance, high degree of accuracy, and good convergence speed of the proposed method.
Translation and cultural adaptation of the pectus excavatum evaluation questionnaire to Spanish and Catalan
Authors: de Haro Jorge Irene , Tarrado Xavier , Albert Cazalla Asteria , García-Smith Natalie , Fernàndez-Candial Alba , Salcedo-Gil Carlos
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Pectus excavatum (PE) is the most common congenital chest wall deformity. It can have a negative effect in exercise tolerance. However, cosmetic features are the most frequent concerns in these patients. The PE evaluation questionnaire (PEEQ) is a patient reported outcome (PRO) tool to measure the physical and psychosocial quality-of-life changes after surgical repair of PE. No specific tool has been developed in our languages to evaluate PRO in PE patients. Our aim is to translate and culturally adapt the PEEQ to Spanish and Catalan.

Methods

Guidelines for translation of PRO were followed. The PEEQ, consisting of 34 items, was translated from English to Spanish and to Catalan. Three forward translations and one back translation were performed for each language. Cognitive debriefing interviews were developed.

Results

The reconciliation of the forward translations revealed a 14.7% of inconsistencies for each language. The Spanish back translation showed a 64.7% of disagreement with the source, the Catalan 58.8%. Changes in each reconciled version were made to amend the diverting items. Cognitive debriefing: Catalan version: 15 participants, 10 males, 5 patients had been operated. 12 patients showed difficulties for understanding 4 of the items. Spanish version: 17 participants, 11 males, 5 had been operated. 13 patients showed difficulties for understanding 4 of the items. We made modifications of the problematic items, in order to make them easier to understand for our patients. We tested the last version in a new group of patients. Catalan: 7 patients, 5 males. One patient showed difficulties for understanding item 11, so we added a further clarification of this item. Spanish: 7 patients, all males. There were any difficulties for understanding.

Conclusion

After a thorough process of translation and cultural adaptation, we reached a Catalan and a Spanish version of PEEQ. This work constitutes the first step to reach a specific PE PRO tool in our languages. However, it needs to be validated, with a higher number of patients, before being widely used in a clinical setting.
Protective effect of curcumin on the kidney of diclofenac sodium-challenged mice: apoptotic, redox potential and histopathological outcomes
Authors: Ragab Sohair M. M. , Abd-Elkareem Mahmoud , Abou Khalil Nasser S. , Atia Mona M.
Published: December 2022

Background

The renal burden imposed by diclofenac sodium (DS) remedy is a significant concern and limits the extension in its clinical application. Curcumin (Cur) can be used as a promising natural phytochemical in rescuing chemotherapy-associated renal dysfunction owing to its redox stabilizing and cytoprotective nature. Thus, the current experiment aims to highlight the possible ameliorative impact of Cur on DS-induced renal damage and its mediating mechanisms in adult male mice.

Methods

A total number of eighteen healthy adult mice of the male sex were classified into 3 groups for 21 days. The first group served as a control, whereas the second one received DS at 10 mg/kg body weight by intraperitoneal route of administration daily during the last 14 days of the experiment. The third group was supplemented with Cur at 100 mg/kg body weight during the entire duration of the intervention in conjunction with the DS burden. At the end of the experimental protocol, kidney functions, redox parameters, histopathological investigation and TUNEL assay were performed.

Results

Cur succeeded in restoring the typical histomorphometric features and reducing the apoptosis in the kidney. The redox disturbances in the kidney of DS-challenged mice rebalanced were manifested by normalizing the level of renal reduced glutathione and immunostaining of glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase 2. No marked alteration in plasma urea level in the DS group could be noticed compared to the control. Nevertheless, an obvious reduction in plasma urea level was observed in the DS+Cur group relative to the control and DS groups. The comparison between all experimental groups revealed the absence of significant difference in plasma creatinine and renal lipid peroxide levels.

Conclusions

Cur might exert its renoprotective action through its cytoprotective, anti-apoptotic and antioxidant characteristics. The findings of this study shed light on using natural phytochemicals to alleviate the adverse influences of chemotherapies.
Plant-based pecan nut cake beverage enrichment of phytochemicals and antioxidant properties using multi-stage block freeze concentration
Authors: Maciel Laércio Galvão , Teixeira Gerson Lopes
Published: December 2022

Pecan nut (Carya illinoinensis) processing to obtain oil generates circa 37% of press cake, which is currently underutilized and primarily employed as animal feed. Due to its nutritional- and bioactive-rich composition, pecan nut cake (PNC) can be used as raw material for plant-based beverages, whose properties may be enhanced using a non-thermal technology based on block freeze concentration (BFC). The effect of five-stage BFC on total solids content (TSC), pH, color parameters, retention of phytochemicals, and the antioxidant activity (AA) of a pecan nut cake beverage (PNB) was assessed in this work. BFC afforded 98% (w/w) solids retention after three stages and 85% efficiency after four stages. The process also provided a 254% concentration factor in stage 5. In the last step, approximately a 64% increase in TSC and a slight decrease (7.3%) in pH compared to the control PNB was observed. In addition, total phenolic compounds, condensed tannins, total flavonols, and AA were significantly (P < 0.05) improved after the BFC, resulting in a 2.6-10.2- and 1.9-5.8-fold increase in phytochemicals and antioxidants, respectively. On the other hand, BFC caused the darkening of concentrates due to TSC and bioactive compounds retention. The processing strategy evaluated herein indicated a great potential of PNC as a raw material for obtaining high-quality ingredients for the food industry, which may reduce agro-industrial waste production and add value to a coproduct rich in nutrients and biocompounds with potential biological activity.

Graphical Abstract
Gene polymorphisms of interleukin 10 (− 819 C/T and − 1082 G/A) in women with ovarian cancer
Authors: Almolakab Zainab M. , El-Nesr Khalid A. , Mohamad Ehab H. , Elkaffas Rasha , Nabil Ahmed
Published: December 2022

Background

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of death associated with gynecologic cancer. IL-10 plays an important role in tumorigenesis. We investigated IL-10 gene polymorphisms in OC patients. The current case–control study screened forty-eight women with OC and forty-eight healthy women who did not have OC. The genotyping of SNPs (− 1082 G > A; rs1800896 and − 819 C > T; rs1800871) of the IL-10 gene was done by tetra primers sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) technique. The plasma levels of IL-10 were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

For IL-10 (− 1082 G/A) polymorphism, the G (wild allele) was significantly associated with increasing the risk of OC (OR = 2.054 with CI = 1.154–3.657; P < 0.05), while the A (variant allele) and AA genotype was significantly associated with decreasing the risk of OC (OR = 0.487 with CI = 0.273–0.867; P < 0.05) and (OR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.04–0.63; P < 0.05), respectively. For IL-10 (− 819C/T) polymorphisms, the T allele (variant allele) and (TT, CT genotypes) were significantly associated with increasing the risk of OC (OR = 2.800 with 95% CI = 1.577–5.037; P < 0.05), (OR = 18.33 with 95% CI = 3.46–97.20; P < 0.001), and (OR = 9.44 with 95% CI = 2.52–35.40; P < 0.001), respectively, while the C (wild allele) was significantly associated with decreasing the risk of OC (OR = 0.357 with 95% CI = 0.199–0.642; P < 0.05). The haplotype analysis for (− 1082 G > A and − 819 C > T shows the GT haplotype was significantly associated with increasing the risk of OC (OR = 50.09 with CI = 6.34–395.92; P < 0.001). OC was substantially correlated with IL-10 level (r = 0.457; p < 0.001). There is no linkage disequilibrium (LD) between IL 10 − 1082 G/A and IL 10 − 819 C/T (D′ = 0.1315, r2 = 0.016; P = NS). A statistically significant positive relationship existed between IL-10 and CA125 and ALT (P < 0.05). IL-10 and albumin showed a strong negative association (P < 0.05), whereas the correlation of IL10 plasma level with BUN, AST, T. Bil., TLC, PLT, Cr., and HB has not any significant value (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Overall, this study supports an association of IL-10 (− 1082 G/A and − 819C/T) polymorphisms with the risk of ovarian cancer.
Efficacy of some washing solutions for removal of pesticide residues in lettuce
Authors: Balkan Tarık , Yılmaz Özlem
Published: December 2022

Background

When previous studies were examined, it was reported that a wide variety of pesticide residues were detected in lettuce (Bakırcı et al. in Food Chem 160:379–392, 2014; Balkan and Yılmaz in Food Chem 384:132516, 2022; Qin et al. in Food Res Int 72:161–167, 2015; Selim et al. in Res J Environ Sci 5:248–258, 2011). In addition, pesticide-contaminated lettuce poses a risk to consumers as it is a fresh food that is eaten raw. Therefore, pesticide removal processes must be applied before consumption. Some pesticide removal process, such as storage and heat treatment cannot be applied to lettuce because of unshelled, no long shelf life and consuming as fresh. Different practical methods are needed for the removal of pesticides process. The recommendations of suitable methods for cleaning salad materials in ready-to-eat sector, hotels, restaurants and homes are very important. It is important to reduce pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits that are consumed raw by washing them with non-toxic solutions. These approaches aim to protect public health. The study conducted in 2021 determined the effect of various washing treatments. For this purpose, before the washing trials, QuEChERS method was validated for determination of 7 pesticides in lettuce, by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Lettuce plants were grown in the greenhouse for the study. Lettuces were brought to the laboratory 24 h after pesticides were applied in the greenhouse. The samples were kept in 2 L washing solution for pesticide analysis.

Results

The processing factor values of all washing applications were found below 1. This result shows that the residue level was reduced by washing solutions. Among the washing solution treatments, the rice vinegar washing solution was found to be most effective in reducing the pesticide residues which was due to the high degree in the pesticide degradation. Washing with filtered rice water also exhibited equivalent reduction capability similar to rice vinegar.

Conclusions

The effectiveness of washing solutions was different for boscalid, deltamethrin, fluopcolide, fluopyram, pyrimethanil, pyraclostrobin and sulfoxaflor. However, when the average removal of these pesticides was evaluated, the most effective solutions were rice vinegar, filtered rice water, carbonated water, NaCl + grape vinegar, hot tap water (40 °C), grape vinegar (6% acetic acid), grape vinegar + water, cold tap water (20 °C), lemon juice, baking soda water, grape vinegar (8% acetic acid), filtered mint water and grape vinegar (4% acetic acid), respectively. It was concluded that some of the solutions used in this study can significantly reduce exposure to pesticides for consumers.
A comprehensive review on invasomal carriers incorporating natural terpenes for augmented transdermal delivery
Authors: Kumar Bhumika , Pandey Mukesh , Aggarwal Rohan , Sahoo Pravat Kumar
Published: December 2022

Background

Transdermal drug delivery is one of the most widely used drug administration routes, which offer several advantages over other routes of drug delivery. The apical layer of the skin called thestratum corneumis the most dominant obstacle in the transdermal drug delivery, which restricts the passage of drugs across the skin. Considerable strategies have been applied to enhance the rate of permeation across the epithelial cells; however, the most widely used strategy is the use of sorption boosters, also known as permeation enhancers.

Main body

Terpenes were considered as efficient skin permeation enhancers and are generally recognized as safe as per Food and Drug Administration. Terpenes improve the permeability of drugs either by destructing thestratum corneum’s tightly packed lipid framework, excessive diffusivity of drug in cell membrane or by rampant drug partitioning into epithelial cells. Various vesicular systems have been developed and utilized for the transdermal delivery of many drugs. Invasomes are one such novel vesicular system developed which are composed of phospholipids, ethanol and terpenes. The combined presence of ethanol and terpenes provides exceptional flexibility to the vesicles and improves the permeation across the barrier offered due to thestratum corneumas both ethanol and terpenes act as permeation enhancers. Therefore, utilization of invasomes as carriers to facilitate higher rate of drug permeation through the skin can be a very useful approach to improve transdermal drug delivery of a drug.

Conclusion

The paper focuses on a broad updated view of terpenes as effective permeation enhancers and invasomes along with their applications in the pharmaceutical formulations.
Characteristics of reducing local scour around cylindrical pier using a horn-shaped collar
Authors: Luo Kedian , Si Yuhang , Lu Shaohua , Liang Boyang , Qi Hongliang
Published: December 2022

Local scour is the major cause of bridge water damage. The sediment in the riverbed around the pier is eroded and transported by water flow, leading to a loss of bridge foundation stability. In this study, a horn-shaped collar was proposed to mitigate local scour around bridge piers. The three design parameters (bottom diameter, vertical height, and curvature shape index) of the horn-shaped collar were studied under clear water condition, and the number of experimental tests was reduced to 25 by using Taguchi’s method. Main effect analysis was used to determine the optimum design parameters for the horn-shaped collar. The results show that the three design parameters have a significant effect on the scour reduction capacity of the horn-shaped collar, with the bottom diameter of the collar making the greatest contribution. The optimum values for the bottom diameter, vertical height, and curvature shape index are 5D, 0.25D, and 4, respectively (D represents the diameter of the pier), and the optimized shape of the horn-shaped collar reduces the maximum scour depth around the pier by 100% compared to the unprotected case. Based on the experimental data, prediction equations are developed for the maximum scour depth protected by a horn-shaped collar.
Suicidal ideation among people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: prevalence and associated factors
Authors: Roy Nitai , Amin Md. Bony , Mamun Mohammed A. , Hossain Ekhtear , Aktarujjaman Md. , Sarker Bibhuti
Published: December 2022

Background

Evidence from pandemic and pre-pandemic studies conducted globally indicates that people with disabilities (PWDs) have a higher risk for suicidality. However, none of these studies has assessed suicidality among PWDs in Bangladesh.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with suicidal ideation among PWDs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.

Method

Using a snowball sampling technique, a cross-sectional survey was conducted from February to April 2021 among PWDs from six districts in the northern region of Bangladesh. Information related to sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics, behavioural factors and suicidal ideation was collected. Chi-squared test and logistic regression were used to describe the data and explain the relationship of factors associated with suicidal ideation.

Results

The prevalence of COVID-19-related past-year suicidal ideation was 23.9%. The factors associated with suicidal ideation included: age above 35 years, being female, acquiring a disability later in life, lack of sleep and current substance use. In addition, higher education appeared to be a protective factor against suicidal ideation.

Conclusions

This study highlighted that PWDs had an increased risk of suicide; that is, one-fourth of them had past-year suicidal ideation. This may have been because of COVID-19-related restrictions and stressors. Thus, the government and policy makers need to pay more attention to developing effective suicide assessment, treatment and management strategies, especially for at-risk groups, to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Highly integrated hydrogen sensor based on inverse surface plasmon polaritons
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Song Gang , Duan Gaoyan , Lang Peilin
Published: December 2022

We report a novel hydrogen sensor based on inverse surface plasmon polaritons (ISPPs) which may be used in integrated optical circuit. If a light beam hits a prism with Kretschmann configuration at a proper angle, the surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) will be excited at the surface of the metal film. And the angle depends on the optical properties of the film. We use a palladium (Pd) film which changes its dielectric function in hydrogen gas. Thus, the incident angle can be used to indicate the concentration of hydrogen. Our sensor inverted all the process: SPPs are excited by a grating integrated on the Pd film, and decoupled by the prism, the angle of departure will indicate the hydrogen concentration. According to our simulation, if the concentration of hydrogen increases by 1%, the angle changes by

and the intensity decreases by 1.55%. Our proposal can be used to improve the integration of ISPPs sensors.
Perioperative Evaluation and Management of Patients on Glucocorticoids
Authors: Chen Cardenas Stanley M , Santhanam Prasanna , Morris-Wiseman Lilah , Salvatori Roberto , Hamrahian Amir H
Published: December 2022

Myriad questions regarding perioperative management of patients on glucocorticoids (GCs) continue to be debated including which patients are at risk for adrenal insufficiency (AI), what is the correct dose and duration of supplemental GCs, or are they necessary for everyone? These questions remain partly unanswered due to the heterogeneity and low quality of data, studies with small sample sizes, and the limited number of randomized trials. To date, we know that although all routes of GC administration can result in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression, perioperative adrenal crisis is rare. Correlation between biochemical testing for AI and clinical events is lacking. Some of the current perioperative management recommendations based on daily GC dose and duration of therapy may be difficult to follow in clinical practice. The prospective and retrospective studies consistently report that continuing the daily dose of GCs perioperatively is not associated with a higher risk for adrenal crises in patients with GC-induced AI. Considering that oral GC intake may be unreliable in the early postoperative period, providing the daily GC plus a short course of IV hydrocortisone 25 to 100 mg per day based on the degree of surgical stress seems reasonable. In patients who have stopped GC therapy before surgery, careful assessment of the HPA axis is necessary to avoid an adrenal crisis. In conclusion, our literature review indicates that lower doses and shorter duration of supplemental GCs perioperatively are sufficient to maintain homeostasis. We emphasize the need for well-designed randomized studies on this frequently encountered clinical scenario.
Hard Luck and Heavy Rain
Authors: Russo Joseph C.
Published: December 2022

In Hard Luck and Heavy Rain Joseph C. Russo takes readers into the everyday lives of the rural residents of Southeast Texas. He encounters the region as a kind of world enveloped in on itself, existing under a pall of poverty, illness, and oil refinery smoke. His informants’ stories cover a wide swath of experiences, from histories of LGBTQ+ life and the local petrochemical industries to religiosity among health food store employees and the suffering of cancer patients living in the Refinery Belt. Russo frames their hard-luck stories as forms of verbal art and poetic narrative that render the region a mythopoetic landscape that epitomizes the impasse of American late capitalism. He shows that in this severe world, questions of politics and history are not cut and dry, and its denizens are not simply backward victims of circumstances. Russo demonstrates that by challenging classist stereotypes of rural Americans as passive, ignorant, and uneducated, his interlocutors offer significant insight into the contemporary United States.
Death's Futurity
Authors: Aranke Sampada
Published: December 2022

In Death’s Futurity Sampada Aranke examines the importance of representations of death to Black liberation. Aranke analyzes posters, photographs, journalism, and films that focus on the murders of Black Panther Party members Lil’ Bobby Hutton, Fred Hampton, and George Jackson to construct a visual history of the 1960s and 1970s Black Power era. She shows how Black radicals used these murders to engage in political action that imagined Black futurity from the position of death. Photographs of Hutton that appeared on flyers and posters called attention to the condition of his death while the 1971 documentary The Murder of Fred Hampton enabled the consideration of Hampton’s afterlife through visual meditations on his murder. Printmaking and political posters surrounding Jackson’s murder marked the transition from Black Power to the prison abolition movement in ways that highlighted the relationship between surveillance, policing, incarceration, and anti-Black violence. By foregrounding the photographed, collaged, filmed, and drawn Black body, Aranke demonstrates that corporeality and corpses are crucial to the efforts to shape visions of a Black future free from white supremacy.
Ινσουλινομιμητική (νανο)βιοτεχνολογία μεταλλοσυμπλόκων φλαβονοειδών και βιοδιαθέσιμης πρόπολης στο διαβήτη τύπου ΙΙ
Authors: Μάτσια Σεβαστή
Published: December 2022

Η παρούσα διδακτορική έρευνα αποσκοπεί στη συνδυαστική διερεύνηση μεταλλο-φαρμάκων και νανοτεχνολογίας ως εν δυνάμει υβριδικών μοντέλων έρευνας στην αντιμετώπιση, πρόληψη, θεραπεία ή/και διάγνωση ανθρώπινων (παθο)φυσιολογιών. Με βάση το σκοπό αυτό, το παρόν ερευνητικό έργο στοχεύει α) στη σύνθεση παραγώγων φλαβονοειδών, β) στη σύνθεση νέων υβριδικών μεταλλο-οργανικών υλικών με χρήση υποστρωμάτων φλαβονοειδών και τρισθενών μεταλλοϊόντων, και γ) στην ενθυλάκωση νέων υλικών και υδατοδιαλυτής βιοδιαθέσιμης πρόπολης (ενθυλακωμένης σε κυκλοδεξτρίνη) σε οργανικά και ανόργανα νανοσωματίδια. Τα επιλεγμένα φλαβονοειδή, ναριγκίνη (Naringin), ναριγκενίνη (Naringenin), κερσετίνη (QC), και χρυσίνη (Chr) χρησιμοποιήθηκαν επισταμένα στην παρούσα έρευνα.Πιο συγκεκριμένα, η ανάπτυξη παραγώγων φλαβονοειδών (Μέρος Ι) περιλαμβάνει τη χημική τροποποίησή τους με οργανική σύνθεση προς παραγωγή οξιμικών παραγώγων ή/και βάσεων Schiff με χρήση γραμμικών διαμινών. Όλα τα υλικά χαρακτηρίστηκαν πλήρως με FT-IR, ESI-MS, 1H-, 13C-NMR, UV-Visible, και φωταύγεια. Για τα μεταλλο-οργανικά υλικά χρησιμοποιήθηκαν τρισθενή μεταλλοϊόντα λανθανίδων (Sm(III), Dy(III), Er(III), Ce(III)) και χρωμίου (Cr(III)) ως βασικοί πυρήνες βιολογικού ενδιαφέροντος (Μέρος Ι). Τα τριαδικά υβριδικά υλικά των μεταλλοϊόντων με τα φλαβονοειδή και τους χηλικοποιητές (1,10-φαινανθρολίνη (phen), 2,2’-διπυριδίνη (bipy)) έχουν χαρακτηριστεί πλήρως με FT-IR, ESI-MS, UV-Visible, φωταύγεια, και κρυσταλλογραφία ακτίνων Χ.Όσον αφορά στα νανοσωματίδια οργανικά (λιποσώματα), πολυμερικά (πολυ(ε-καπρολακτόνη), PCL, και χιτοζάνη, Ch), και ανόργανα (πυριτίας, SiO2), αυτά αποτέλεσαν αντικείμενο συστηματικής μελέτης για την αποσαφήνιση του τρόπου σύνθεσης και την απομόνωσή τους σε καλά καθορισμένα υβριδικά υλικά, συνοδευμένα από πλήρες φυσικο-χημικό προφίλ που επιβεβαιώνουν τη φύση και μορφολογία τους (Μέρος ΙΙ). Η ενθυλάκωση φλαβονοειδών, υδατοδιαλυτής βιοδιαθέσιμης πρόπολης, και φαρμακευτικών ουσιών (αμικασίνη (AS), κολιστίνη (CS)) στα προαναφερθέντα νανο- και μικρο- σωματίδια ποσοτικοποιήθηκε με οπτική φασματοσκοπία UV-Visible και χρωματογραφία αποκλεισμού μεγέθους (SEC).Περαιτέρω έρευνα των προαναφερθέντων σχετίζεται με την in vitro μελέτη των βιολογικών ιδιοτήτων αυτών των νέων υλικών σε κυτταρικούς στόχους που περιλαμβάνει: α) τη βιοτοξικότητα σε πρώιμους μυοβλάστες C2C12, β) τη τοξικότητα σε ώριμους μυοβλάστες C2C12, και γ) τη διερεύνηση της αντιοξειδωτικής δράσης παρουσία του γνωστού οξειδωτικού παράγοντα H2O2.Η συνολική αντιμετώπιση της ανάπτυξης νέων υβριδικών υλικών αποτελούμενων από φυσικά προϊόντα και ανόργανα συστατικά, έρχεται να απαντήσει σε βασικά και θεμελιώδη ερωτήματα αναφορικά με τη συμβολή α) ανόργανων παραγόντων, β) εξειδικευμένα τροποποιημένων φυσικών αντιοξειδωτικών και γ) καλά καθορισμένων ανόργανων-οργανικών συμπλόκων μορφών μεταλλοϊόντων και φλαβονοειδών, στην αντιοξειδωτική και εν δυνάμει προστατευτική ικανότητά τους σε ένα πολύπλοκο σύστημα, όπως η ανθρώπινη (παθο)φυσιολογία.
Septo-optic dysplasia associated with chromosome 15q13.3 duplication: a case report
Authors: Ham Jeong A , Kim Sung Hyun , Park Donghwi
Published: December 2022

Septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) is a rare congenital anomaly that is clinically defined by developmental delay and characteristic brain magnetic resonance imaging findings, including optic nerve hypoplasia, pituitary hormone abnormalities, and midline brain defects. The occurrence of SOD is generally sporadic; however, it can be inherited rarely. Although an association with HESX1, SOX2, and SOX3 mutations has been identified, the detailed etiology is multifactorial and unclear. Here, we present the case of a 7-year-old girl who was clinically diagnosed with SOD and 15q13.3 duplication. Patients with duplication at chromosome 15q13.3 were reported to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, and schizophrenia in previous studies. The relationship between SOD and the microduplication of 15q13.3 has not yet been explored. In this study, we suggest that there may be an association between chromosome 15q13.3 microduplication and SOD.
Glitchem opętanie. Poetyka cyfrowych usterek w wierszach drukowanych
Authors: Lisak-Gębala Dobrawa
Published: December 2022

Glitch w obszarze mediów elektronicznych definiuje się jako nacięcie w powierzchni jednego systemu otwierające chwilowy wgląd w cyfrowe struktury zwykle ukryte głęboko. Obcy element widoczny na ekranie z powodu samorodnych błędów w działaniu komputerów lub oprogramowania często jest interpretowany w perspektywie posthumanizmu. Ten sposób myślenia wpływa na funkcjonowanie digitalnych defektów, które są świadomie wykorzystywane w ramach glitch poetry, także tej wydrukowanej na papierze, która wiąże się z fenomenem remediacji wstecznej. Przykładami takich utworów w ramach artykułu stają się w zdecydowanej większości ogłaszane drukiem wiersze neolingwistów warszawskich oraz papierowe wydania tomów Rozdzielczości Chleba. Wspomniani autorzy w swych manifestach diagnozowali radykalną zmianę paradygmatu twórczości na nowomedialną. Podkreślali potrzebę otwarcia się poetów na współprodukcję tekstów przez podłączone do internetu komputery, które podsuwają glitche, niechciane maile i reklamy. Głosili oni jednocześnie kres książki drukowanej kojarzonej w manifestach z postromantycznym modelem wiersza jako subiektywnego monologu.
Analogowa poezja usterkowa mająca uwypuklić konflikt tych dwóch paradygmatów przybiera często formę postcyfrowych książek artystycznych, które ze względu na dominację graficznych efektów nad zrozumiałym dla człowieka tekstem stają się XXI-wieczną wersją ezoterycznego abstrakcjonizmu. Glitch poetry może też funkcjonować jako z pozoru tradycyjny czarny tekst wydrukowany na białej stronicy, łączący jednak zrozumiałe słowa i zdania z antyfonetycznymi usterkami cyfrowymi wyrażonymi znakami nieliterowymi.
Rhyme writer
Authors: Rawstrone Annette
Published: December 2022

The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson was Children's Laureate between 2011 and 2013 and was given a CBE in 2018 for services to literature. Interview by Annette Rawstrone
A Summary of COVID-19 Pandemic Assistance to US Forest Products Companies
Authors: Russell Matthew B.
Published: December 2022

Forest products and timber harvesting businesses were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This article describes how forest products companies used Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to keep over 487,000 workers in the forest industry on payroll through the pandemic. This article also summarizes the Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers (PATHH) program, payments provided to timber harvesting and hauling businesses that experienced losses in revenue in 2020. Timber harvesting and hauling companies that received a PATHH payment reported US$1.27 trillion in total revenue lost between 2019 and 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Effect of Groove Size on Aerodynamic Performance of a Low Reynolds Number UAV Propeller (Part II)
Authors: SEENI Aravind
Published: December 2022

Following on from the author's previous work on grooved propellers, numerical investigations are carried out on Applied Precision Composites Slow Flyer 10×7 propeller. Computational Fluid Dynamics is used to analyze the novel design. The grooved sections considered have a rectangular geometry measuring 0.1×0.3mm, 0.2×0.1mm, 0.2×0.2mm and 0.2×0.3mm which are placed at 0.09c, 0.17c, 0.32c and 0.42c from the leading edge. The results of the study showed that the presence of grooves modified the flow characteristics having only a negative impact on the thrust performance. However, the grooves improved the power performance due to torque reduction. The analysis of the KP results showed, in most models, the low torque relative to the baseline in the operational range of the low to medium advance ratio range. However, the improvement in torque did not improve the efficiency in all models.
A rare case of migration of ballistic projectile from left to right main bronchus
Authors: Widjaja Edwin Yosef , Jiwangga Dhihintia , Rachmi Chikita Nur
Published: December 2022

A foreign body in the bronchus due to a ballistic projectile is very uncommon. A 45-year-old man presented to the hospital after being accidentally shot. The initial radiographic assessment found a bullet in his left thoracic cavity. With the help of an X-ray, an urgent left posterolateral thoracotomy was conducted, but no foreign body was found. The foreign body had migrated to the contralateral chest cavity, as determined by the C-arm. On the following day, a thorax computed tomography scan was conducted, and it was discovered that the foreign body had already migrated to the right lower bronchus. A right thoracotomy was then performed to remove the foreign body. He was moved to the intensive care unit and discharged with a stable condition. In conclusion, migration of a foreign body in the bronchus is rare. A thorough strategy is required to prevent the object from migrating even further.
Design of a digital PCR optical detection system with multiple fluorescent microdroplets
Authors: Ma Chenhao , Yuan Meng , Gong Ping , Zhu Haihuan , Tan Guozhen
Published: December 2022

The need for accurate nucleic acid testing is increasing with the spread of the global pandemic. Problems such as low efficiency and precision and large volume exist because the number of existing digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing instrument channels is low. In order to solve these problems, a four channel micro drop digital PCR system was designed. The collimating lens set and objective lens of the LED light source are designed in ZEMAX software, and the entire optical path is simulated. It is verified that the light energy utilization rate of the system is over 93% and that stray light interference is marginal.
Characterization of differential modal group delay in few-mode fiber using a digital re-sampling technique
Authors: Ye Zhiwei , Li Jilong , Qin Yuwen , Xiang Meng , Fu Songnian
Published: December 2022

We characterize the differential modal group delay (DMGD) arising in few-mode fibers (FMFs) based on the digital re-sampling technique, which is commonly used in current digital signal processing flow at the receiver-side. When the DMGD of a 291-m two-mode fiber is characterized over the C-band by using a 500-Mb/s non-return-to-zero (NRZ) signal and 1-GSa/s real-time oscilloscope, the experimental results are consistent with the DMGD obtained from the traditional time-of-flight (TOF) method. However, the wide-bandwidth instruments of the traditional TOF method can be replaced by cheap ones with a bandwidth of only a few hundred MHz, but the same temporal precision is achieved. Moreover, our proposed DMGD characterization method is not limited by the number of guided modes arising in the FMF, together with the capability to obtain both the DMGD value and its sign between two arbitrary guided modes.
Reversible lateral optical force on phase-gradient metasurfaces for full control of metavehicles
Authors: Li Tianyue , Kingsley-Smith Jack J. , Hu Yanhui , Xu Xiaohao , Yan Shaohui , Wang Shuming , Yao Baoli , Wang Zhenlin , Zhu Shining
Published: December 2022

Photonics is currently undergoing an era of miniaturization thanks in part to two-dimensional (2D) optical metasurfaces. Their ability to sculpt and redirect optical momentum can give rise to an optical force, which acts orthogonally to the direction of light propagation. Powered by a single unfocused light beam, these lateral optical forces (LOFs) can be used to drive advanced metavehicles and are controlled via the incident beam’s polarization. However, the full control of a metavehicle on a 2D plane (i.e. forward, backward, left, and right) with a sign-switchable LOF remains a challenge. Here we present a phase-gradient metasurface route for achieving such full control while also increasing efficiency. The proposed metasurface is able to deflect a normally incident plane wave in a traverse direction by modulating the plane wave’s polarization, and results in a sign-switchable recoil LOF. When applied to a metavehicle, this LOF enables a level of motion control that was previously unobtainable.
Efficient passively Q switched lasers with a large-energy stored Yb:LuScO3 crystal
Authors: Fu Yu , Guo Ruiqi , Yu Haohai , Zhang Huaijin
Published: December 2022

Ytterbium (Yb)-ions-doped sesquioxide crystal is an attractive gain medium for a tunable and pulsed laser owing to its high thermal conductivity. In particular, it has been identified that Yb:LuScO3 has the largest energy storage property compared with other sesquioxide crystals, which is favorable for passive Q switching. In this Letter, continuous wave (CW) and the first, to the best of our knowledge, passively Q switched laser operations were demonstrated with a Yb:LuScO3 crystal. For CW laser operation, it generated the maximum output power of 8.68 W, corresponding to a slope efficiency up to 78.3%. Using Cr:YAG crystals as saturable absorbers, stable passive Q switching lasers were obtained with the Yb:LuScO3 crystal. Both the CW and Q switched lasers operate on the strongest fluorescence emission peak of 1038 nm. With Cr:YAG as the saturable absorber, efficient passively Q switched lasers with a slope efficiency of 45% were obtained with the pulse width, pulse energy, and peak power of 5.9 ns, 116 µJ, and 18.5 kW, respectively.
Emulation of epidemics via Bluetooth-based virtual safe virus spread: Experimental setup, software, and data
Authors: Asanjarani Azam , Shausan Aminath , Chew Keng , Graham Thomas , Henderson Shane G. , Jansen Hermanus M. , Short Kirsty R. , Taylor Peter G. , Vuorinen Aapeli , Yadav Yuvraj , Ziedins Ilze , Nazarathy Yoni
Published: December 2022

We describe an experimental setup and a currently running experiment for evaluating how physical interactions over time and between individuals affect the spread of epidemics. Our experiment involves the voluntary use of the Safe Blues Android app by participants at The University of Auckland (UoA) City Campus in New Zealand. The app spreads multiple virtual safe virus strands via Bluetooth depending on the physical proximity of the subjects. The evolution of the virtual epidemics is recorded as they spread through the population. The data is presented as a real-time (and historical) dashboard. A simulation model is applied to calibrate strand parameters. Participants’ locations are not recorded, but participants are rewarded based on the duration of participation within a geofenced area, and aggregate participation numbers serve as part of the data. The 2021 experimental data is available as an open-source anonymized dataset, and once the experiment is complete, the remaining data will be made available. This paper outlines the experimental setup, software, subject-recruitment practices, ethical considerations, and dataset description. The paper also highlights current experimental results in view of the lockdown that started in New Zealand at 23:59 on August 17, 2021. The experiment was initially planned in the New Zealand environment, expected to be free of COVID and lockdowns after 2020. However, a COVID Delta strain lockdown shuffled the cards and the experiment is currently extended into 2022.
Yeast-based evolutionary modeling of androgen receptor mutations and natural selection
Authors: Zhang Haoran , Zhang Lu , Chen Shaoyong , Yao Mingdong , Ma Zhenyi , Yuan Yingjin
Published: December 2022

Cancer progression is associated with the evolutionary accumulation of genetic mutations that are biologically significant. Mutations of the androgen receptor (AR) are associated with the development of prostate cancer (PCa) by responding to non-androgenic hormones, and the lack of annotations in their responsiveness to hormone ligands remains a daunting challenge. Here, we have used a yeast reporter system to quickly evaluate the responsiveness of all fifty clinical AR mutations to a variety of steroidal ligands including dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 17β-estradiol (E2), progesterone (PROG), and cyproterone acetate (CPA). Based on an AR-driven reporter that synthesizes histidine, a basic amino acid required for yeast survival and propagation, the yeast reporter system enabling clonal selection was further empowered by combining with a random DNA mutagenesis library to simulate the natural evolution of AR gene under the selective pressures of steroidal ligands. In a time-frame of 1–2 weeks, 19 AR mutants were identified, in which 11 AR mutants were validated for activation by tested steroidal compounds. The high efficiency of our artificial evolution strategy was further evidenced by a sequential selection that enabled the discovery of multipoint AR mutations and evolution directions under the pressure of steroidal ligands. In summary, our designer yeast is a portable reporter module that can be readily adapted to streamline high-throughput AR-compound screening, used as a PCa clinical reference, and combined with additional bioassay systems to further extend its potential.
Alma mat(t)er(s): Determinants of early career success in economics
Authors: Popov Sergey V.
Published: December 2022

We study 6000 author-publication observations to investigate predictors of early career success in six fields of economics. Concentrating on top researchers enables us to control for the effects of ability and effort, and focusing on the start of their careers minimizes distortions from reputation feedback. Our results reveal that the most important predictor for early career success is the ranking of an author’s PhD granting institution, followed by his first placement. Our insights suggest that a counterfactual decrease in the Alma mater of a high ability author, who graduated from a top 10 university, by as little as 10 to 20 ranks, reduces his probability of getting a top 5 publication significantly by 13 percentage points. Lowering the ranking of his Alma mater by another 80 ranks decreases his chances of getting a top publication by a factor of three. Our findings suggest that the economics publication market values Alma mater signals, discounting newcomers graduating from- or working at lower ranked departments.