bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pulsed Ultrasound Modulates the Cytotoxic Effect of Cisplatin and Doxorubicin on Cultured Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells (ARPE-19)
Authors: Mohammadi Seyed Omid , LaRocca Megan C. , Yang Christopher D. , Jessen Jordan , Kenney M. Cristina , Lin Ken Y.
Published: November 2023

Objective: Pulsed ultrasound has been proposed as a tool to enhance ocular drug delivery, but its effects on drug potency are not well understood. Doxorubicin-HCl and cisplatin are two drugs commonly used to treat ocular melanoma. We report the effects of pulsed ultrasound on the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin-HCl and cisplatin in vitro. Methods: Cultured human retinal pigment epithelium cells (ARPE-19) were treated with doxorubicin-HCl or cisplatin in the presence or absence of ultrasound. MTT and Trypan blue assays were performed at 24 and 48 h post treatment to assess cell metabolism and death. Results: Cells treated with ultrasound plus doxorubicin-HCl demonstrated a significant decrease in metabolism compared with cells treated with doxorubicin-HCl alone. In contrast, cells treated with ultrasound plus cisplatin exhibited a significant increase in metabolism compared with cells treated with cisplatin alone for 48 h. Cells treated with cisplatin and pretreated with ultrasound (US–Cis) exhibited a significant decrease in metabolism. Cell death was similar in doxorubicin- and cisplatin-treated cells with and without ultrasound. Conclusion: Pulsed ultrasound enhances the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin-HCl at 24 and 48 h post treatment but abrogates cisplatin toxicity 48 h post treatment. This suggests ultrasound modulates cell–drug interactions in a drug-specific manner. These findings may influence the future development of ultrasound-assisted ocular drug delivery systems.
Semen Cryopreservation to Expand Male Fertility in Cancer Patients: Intracase Evaluation of Semen Quality
Authors: Peluso Giuseppina , Tisato Veronica , Singh Ajay Vikram , Gemmati Donato , Scarpellini Fabio
Published: November 2023

To preserve male fertility after diagnosis of any kind of cancer, a prompt assessment of the semen quality and an appropriate semen cryopreservation must be performed before radio-chemotherapy starts. The present work aims to evaluate the semen parameters at diagnosis of different cancer patients before cryopreservation and after thawing. Testicular tumors and lymphomas are among the most common cancers in younger patients, and while chemotherapy significantly increases patients’ survival, it can epigenetically alter the semen fluid, resulting in temporary or permanent infertility. We analyzed data from the database of the Gamete Cryopreservation Center (Annunziata Hospital, CS; Italy) in the period of 2011–2020 from a cohort of 254 cancer patients aged 18–56 years. The evaluation was performed in a blind manner and anonymously recovered; the main parameters referring to semen quality were assessed in accordance with the WHO guidelines and decision limits (6th edition; 2021). The cancer types were as follows: testis cancers (TC; n = 135; 53.1%), hematological cancers (HC; n = 76; 29.9%), and other types of cancer (OC; n = 43; 17%). Comparing TC vs. HC (P1) and vs. OC (P2), TC had the worst semen quality: sperm number/mL (P1 = 0.0014; P2 = 0.004), total motility (P1 = 0.02; P2 = 0.07), progressive motility (P1 = 0.04; P2 = 0.05), viability (P1 = 0.01; P2 = 0.02), and percentage of atypical morphology (P1 = 0.05; P2 = 0.03). After semen thawing, viability and progressive motility recovery lowered, accounting for 46.82% and 16.75%, respectively, in the whole cohort; similarly, in the subgroups ascribed to TC, they showed the lowest recovery. Strong correlation existed between pre- and post-cryopreservation viability and progressive motility in the whole cohort (p < 0.001) and in the TC subgroup (p < 0.05). All cancer subgroups, to significantly different extents, had semen findings below the WHO reference values, suggesting diverse sperm susceptibilities to different cancers and cryodamage. Cancer and associated treatments epigenetically affect patients’ semen quality, meaning cryopreservation should be considered a useful personalized prerogative for any kind of cancer in a timely manner.
Discovery and Exploration of Protein Kinase CK2 Binding Sites Using CK2α′Cys336Ser as an Exquisite Crystallographic Tool
Authors: Werner Christian , Lindenblatt Dirk , Viht Kaido , Uri Asko , Niefind Karsten
Published: November 2023

The structural knowledge about protein kinase CK2 is dominated by crystal structures of human CK2α, the catalytic subunit of human CK2, and the product of the CSNK2A1 gene. In contrast, far fewer structures of CK2α′, its paralogous isoform and the product of the CSNK2A2 gene, have been published. However, according to a PDB survey, CK2α′ is the superior alternative for crystallographic studies because of the inherent potential of the single mutant CK2α′Cys336Ser to provide crystal structures with atomic resolution. In particular, a triclinic crystal form of CK2α′Cys336Ser is a robust tool to determine high-quality enzyme-ligand complex structures via soaking. In this work, further high-resolution CK2α′Cys336Ser structures in complex with selected ligands emphasizing this trend are described. In one of these structures, the “N-terminal segment site”, a small-molecule binding region never found in any eukaryotic protein kinase and holding the potential for the development of highly selective substrate-competitive CK2 inhibitors, was discovered. In order to also address the binding site for the non-catalytic subunit CK2β, which is inaccessible in these triclinic CK2α′Cys336Ser crystals for small molecules, a reliable path to a promising monoclinic crystal form of CK2α′Cys336Ser is presented. In summary, the quality of CK2α′Cys336Ser as an exquisite crystallographic tool is solidified.
Synergistic Benefits of Motor Control Exercises and Balance Training in Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Alqhtani Raee Saeed , Ahmed Hashim , Alshahrani Adel , Alyami Abdullah Mohammed , Khan Abdur Raheem , Khan Ashfaque
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives: Chronic low back pain, frequently attributed to Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SIJD), remains a prevalent concern in orthopedic and physiotherapy arenas. Despite the recognition of motor control exercises (MCEs) and balance training (BT) as potential rehabilitative measures, studies elucidating their combined efficiency for SIJD are scarce. This research study aimed to ascertain the combined and individual efficacies of MCE and BT in alleviating SIJD symptoms. Methods: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted, enrolling 120 SIJD-diagnosed patients aged 30–60 years. Participants were randomly allocated into four groups: MCEs alone, BT alone, combined MCEs and BT, and a control group receiving usual care. Interventions spanned 12 weeks, with evaluations at the start and end and a 24-week follow-up. Primary outcomes encompass pain intensity (assessed via Visual Analog Scale), functional disability (utilizing the Oswestry Disability Index), and life quality (using the Short Form-36). Results: Post a 12-week intervention, participants receiving combined MCE and BT demonstrated substantial improvements in VAS (Median: 3.5, IQR: 2–5; p = 0.0035), ODI (Median: 15%, IQR: 10–20%; p = 0.0035), and SF-36 scores (Median: 70, IQR: 65–75; p = 0.0035) compared to baseline. In contrast, standalone MCE or BT and control groups exhibited lesser efficacy. By the 24-week follow-up, the combined group maintained their gains, outperforming the other groups. The research tools employed showed high reliability with Cronbach’s alpha >0.85. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the superior efficacy of integrating motor control exercises (MCEs) and balance training (BT) for Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SIJD)-related chronic low back pain. This combined approach promises enhanced patient outcomes, highlighting its potential as a primary strategy in SIJD management. Future studies should further explore its long-term benefits and integration with other therapeutic modalities.
Non-Invasive Diagnostic of NAFLD in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Risk Stratification: Strengths and Limitations
Authors: Boeriu Alina , Dobru Daniela , Fofiu Crina
Published: November 2023

The progressive potential of liver damage in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) towards advanced fibrosis, end-stage liver disease, and hepatocarcinoma has led to increased concern for quantifying liver injury and individual risk assessment. The combination of blood-based markers and imaging techniques is recommended for the initial evaluation in NAFLD and for regular monitoring to evaluate disease progression. Continued development of ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance imaging methods for accurate quantification of liver steatosis and fibrosis, as well as promising tools for the detection of high-risk NASH, have been noted. In this review, we aim to summarize available evidence regarding the usefulness of non-invasive methods for the assessment of NAFLD in T2DM. We focus on the power and limitations of various methods for diagnosis, risk stratification, and patient monitoring that support their implementation in clinical setting or in research field.
Synthesis and In Silico Drug-Likeness Modeling of 5-FU/ASA Hybrids
Authors: Castrillón-López Wilson , Yepes Andrés F. , Cardona-Galeano Wilson
Published: November 2023

A series of 5-FU-ASA hybrids were synthesized with good yields using click chemistry as the key step. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Finally, an optimal pharmacokinetic profile was also estimated for each synthetized hybrid. Taken together, hybrids 4a–h could be used as starting points for further pharmacological studies concerning therapeutic cancer intervention.
Experiments on the Dynamic Behavior of Curved Glass Panes Subjected to Low-Velocity Impact
Authors: Kozłowski Marcin , Zemła Kinga
Published: November 2023

Curved glass enables designers to achieve unparalleled innovation in creating modern and undulating shapes for building enclosures. However, the curvature of panes changes the static and especially the dynamic behavior of the panes under loading. Studies on low-velocity impacts on curved glass have been limited and have primarily involved numerical studies. This paper experimentally investigates the dynamic response of cylindrically curved glass panes under a low-velocity impact. A flat, 5 mm thick, single-pane geometry with three curvature radii and the lack or presence of movement restraint is considered. Special attention is also paid to the variations caused by impacting bodies involving different stiffness, mass, and geometry parameters. It was found that flat plates have a lower capacity to dampen oscillations, resulting in longer decay times compared to curved panes. For impactors with a lower stiffness, the glass panes experience uneven oscillations at the moment of impact, followed by a chaotic period of transient vibrations before reaching a stationary state. This contrasts bodies with greater deformability in which the main dynamic behavior follows a more predictable pattern.
Control of the Composition and Morphology of Non-Metallic Inclusions in Superduplex Stainless Steel
Authors: Zhitenev Andrey , Karasev Vladimir , Fedorov Aleksandr , Ryaboshuk Sergey , Alkhimenko Alexey
Published: November 2023

Duplex stainless steel is a unique material for cast products, the use of which is possible in various fields. With the same chemical composition, melting, casting and heat treatment technology, pitting and crevice corrosion were observed at the interphase boundaries of non-metallic inclusions and the steel matrix. To increase the cleanliness of steel, it is necessary to carefully select the technology for deoxidizing with titanium or aluminum, as the most common deoxidizers, and the technology for modifying with rare earth metals. In this work, a comprehensive analysis of the thermodynamic data in the literature on the behavior of oxides and sulfides in this highly alloyed system under consideration was performed. Based on this analysis, a thermodynamic model was developed to describe their behavior in liquid and solidified duplex stainless steels. The critical concentrations at which the existence of certain phases is possible during the deoxidation of DSS with titanium, aluminum and modification by rare earth metals, including the simultaneous contribution of lanthanum and cerium, was determined. Experimental ingots were produced, the cleanliness of experimental steels was assessed, and the key metric parameters of non-metallic inclusions were described. In steels deoxidized using titanium, clusters of inclusions with a diameter of 84 microns with a volume fraction of 0.066% were formed, the volume fraction of which was decreased to 0.01% with the subsequent addition of aluminum. The clusters completely disappeared when REMs were added. The reason for this behavior of inclusions was interpreted using thermodynamic modeling and explained by the difference in temperature at which specific types of NMIs begin to form. A comparison of experimental and calculated results showed that the proposed model adequately describes the process of formation of non-metallic inclusions in the steel under consideration and can be used for the development of industrial technology.
Investigation on Seismic Behavior of a Novel Precast Shear Wall System with Different Infill Wall Constructions
Authors: Sun Min , Zhang Sheng , Yang Jun , Fang Youzhen , Xu Xiaochun
Published: November 2023

Construction industrialization addresses various challenges in the traditional construction industry, enabling building structures to conserve resources and enhance energy efficiency while reducing emissions. Precast shear walls involve the factory-based production of components, followed by transportation to a construction site for assembly. The method of connecting these components is crucial for precast concrete shear wall systems. Common connection methods include lap-spliced connections, post-tensioned connections, welded connections, bolted connections, and sleeve connections. However, challenges such as construction precision and technology proficiency have limited their application. In response, a novel precast concrete shear wall system utilizing angle steel connectors has been proposed. These angle steel connectors enhance the shear resistance of horizontal joints between precast concrete shear walls and the foundation, providing provisional support for specimen positioning and installation. Presently, the seismic performance of this innovative precast shear wall system under the combined actions of cyclic horizontal loads and axial pressure or tension has been extensively investigated. In practical engineering applications, precast concrete shear wall systems are often accompanied by infill walls. However, there is limited research on the seismic performance of precast concrete shear wall systems with infill walls. To address this gap, this study designed and fabricated two novel precast concrete shear walls with different infill wall constructions. One specimen featured an infill wall composed of a single wall panel, while the other had an infill wall consisting of two panels. Pseudo-static tests were conducted on both specimens under constant axial compression. Subsequently, the seismic performance and force mechanism of the two specimens were compared with the novel precast concrete shear walls without infill walls. The test results demonstrated that the specimen with two infill wall panels exhibited superior overall performance compared to the one with a single continuous infill wall panel. Furthermore, it was observed that, during the loading process, the edge columns of specimens with infill walls provided the majority of the increased load-bearing capacity, while the infill walls made a limited contribution to the overall load-bearing capacity of the structures.
Carbonation of a Synthetic CAF Compound by CO2 Absorption and Its Effect on Cement Matrix
Authors: Lee Woong-Geol , Kang Seung-Min , Song Myong-Shin
Published: November 2023

In the field of construction materials, the development of fundamental technologies to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, such as manufacturing process improvement and the expanded use of alternative materials, is required. Technologies for effectively reducing energy consumption and improving CO2 absorption and reduction that can meet domestic greenhouse gas reduction targets are also required. In this study, calcium–aluminate–ferrite (CAF), a ternary system of CaO·Al2O3·Fe2O3, was sintered at a low temperature (1100 °C) to examine the possibility of CO2 adsorption, and excellent CO2 absorption performance was confirmed, as the calcite content was found to be 11.01% after 3 h of the reaction between synthetic CAF (SCAF) and CO2. In addition, the physical and carbonation characteristics were investigated with respect to the SCAF substitution rate for cement (10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%). It was found that SCAF 10% developed a compressive strength similar to that of ordinary Portland cement (OPC 100%), but the compressive strength tended to decrease as the SCAF substitution rate increased. An increase in the SCAF substitution rate led to the rapid penetration of CO2, and carbonation was observed in all the specimens after 7 days. As carbonation time increased, the CO2 diffusion coefficient tended to decrease. This is because the diffusion of CO2 in the cement matrix follows the semi-infinite model of Fick’s second law. SCAF can contribute to reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions because of the low-temperature sintering and can absorb and fix CO2 when a certain amount is substituted.
Lattice Thermal Conductivity in XMg2Sb2(X = Ca or Mg) Compounds: Temperature and High-Order Anharmonicity Effect
Authors: Wu Minghui , Yang Hongping , Xie Fengyan , Huang Li
Published: November 2023

The binary compound Mg3Sb2 (also written as MgMg2Sb2) exhibits a much lower lattice thermal conductivity (κL) than its ternary analog CaMg2Sb2, despite its relatively low mass density and simple crystalline structure. Here, we perform a comparative first-principles study of the lattice dynamics in MgMg2Sb2 and CaMg2Sb2 based on the density functional theory, together with the self-consistent phonon theory and the Boltzmann transport theory. We show that the modest anharmonicity of CaMg2Sb2 renders the three-phonon processes dominant, and the temperature dependence of κL approximately follows the T−1 relationship. In contrast, the strong quartic anharmonicity of MgMg2Sb2 leads to the ultralow κL and weak temperature dependence, in agreement with the experimental observations. A comprehensive analysis reveals that the κLs in the two compounds are mainly carried by the acoustic phonons associated with the Sb atoms, and the different behaviors of κL result from the chemical bond changes around Sb atoms, which bond more covalently with the Mg atoms than the Ca atoms and thus lead to high-order anharmonicity in MgMg2Sb2. These results give us insights into the understanding of the anomalous thermal transport in thermoelectric materials.
Microwaves and Ultrasound as Emerging Techniques for Lignocellulosic Materials
Authors: Fernandes Ana , Cruz-Lopes Luísa , Esteves Bruno , Evtuguin Dmitry V.
Published: November 2023

Currently, in the context of biorefinery and bioeconomy, lignocellulosic biomass is increasingly used to produce biofuels, biochemicals and other value-added products. Microwaves and ultrasound are emerging techniques that enable efficient and environmentally sustainable routes in the transformation of lignocellulosic biomass. This review presents some of the most important works published in the last few years on the application of microwaves and/or ultrasound in lignocellulosic materials pretreatment and can be used as a starting point for research into this theme. This review is divided into four parts. In Part I, the theoretical fundamentals of microwave and ultrasound treatments are reviewed. Dielectric constants for biomass, factors that influence pretreatment, are some of the subjects addressed. In Part II, the effects that these techniques have on lignocellulosic biomass (on the size and surface area of the particle; on the content of lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose; on the crystallinity index of cellulose; on the effect of solubilization of organic matter; on hydrolysis and reduction of sugars) are discussed. In Part III, emphasis is given to the contribution of microwaves and ultrasound in obtaining value-added products. In this context, several examples of liquefaction and extraction procedures are presented. Part IV describes examples of performing sonocatalysis on lignocellulosic biomass to obtain value-added products, such as furfural, whose production is significantly reduced by ultrasound treatment.
Prediction of the Fatigue Strength of Steel Based on Interpretable Machine Learning
Authors: Liu Chengcheng , Wang Xuandong , Cai Weidong , Yang Jiahui , Su Hang
Published: November 2023

Most failures in steel materials are due to fatigue damage, so it is of great significance to analyze the key features of fatigue strength (FS) in order to improve fatigue performance. This study collected data on the fatigue strength of steel materials and established a predictive model for FS based on machine learning (ML). Three feature-construction strategies were proposed based on the dataset, and compared on four typical ML algorithms. The combination of Strategy Ⅲ (composition, heat-treatment, and atomic features) and the GBT algorithm showed the best performance. Subsequently, input features were selected step by step using methods such as the analysis of variance (ANOVA), embedded method, recursive method, and exhaustive method. The key features affecting FS were found to be TT, mE, APID, and Mo. Based on these key features and Bayesian optimization, an ML model was established, which showed a good performance. Finally, Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) and symbolic regression (SR) are introduced to improve the interpretability of the prediction model. It had been discovered through SHAP analysis that TT and Mo had the most significant impact on FS. Specifically, it was observed that 160 < TT < 500 and Mo > 0.15 was beneficial for increasing the value of FS. SR was used to establish a significant mathematical relationship between these key features and FS.
Improved Analytical Model for Thermal Softening in Aluminum Alloys Form Room Temperature to Solidus
Authors: Chen Gaoqiang , Liu Xin , Qiao Junnan , Tang Tianxiang , Zhang Hua , Xing Songling , Zhang Gong , Shi Qingyu
Published: November 2023

In advanced solid-state manufacturing processes such as friction stir welding, the metal’s temperature ranges from room temperature to the solidus temperature. The material strength in the temperature range is generally required for investigating the mechanical behaviors. In this communication paper, an analytical model is proposed for describing the thermal softening of aluminum alloys for room temperature to solidus temperature, in which the concept of temperature-dependent transition between two thermal softening regimes is implemented. It is demonstrated that the proposed model compares favorably to the well-known Sellars–Tegart model and Johnson–Cook model. The constants of the proposed model for nine typical engineering commercial aluminum alloys are documented.
Comprehensive Analysis of Geopolymer Materials: Properties, Environmental Impacts, and Applications
Authors: Sbahieh Sami , McKay Gordon , Al-Ghamdi Sami G.
Published: November 2023

The advancement of eco-friendly technology in the construction sector has been improving rapidly in the last few years. As a result, multiple building materials were developed, enhanced, and proposed as replacements for some traditional materials. One notable example presents geopolymer as a substitute for ordinary Portland concrete (OPC). The manufacturing process of (OPC) generates CO2 emissions and a high energy demand, both of which contribute to ozone depletion and global warming. The implementation of geopolymer concrete (GPC) technology in the construction sector provides a path to more sustainable growth and a cleaner environment. This is due to geopolymer concrete’s ability to reduce environmental pollutants and reduce the construction industry’s carbon footprint. This is achieved through its unique composition, which typically involves industrial byproducts like fly ash or slag. These materials, rich in silicon and aluminum, react with alkaline solutions to form a binding gel, bypassing the need for the high-energy clinker production required in OPC. The use of such byproducts not only reduces CO2 emissions but also contributes to waste minimization. Additionally, geopolymer offers extra advantages compared to OPC, including improved mechanical strength, enhanced durability, and good stability in acidic and alkaline settings. Such properties make GPC particularly suitable for a range of construction environments, from industrial applications to infrastructure projects exposed to harsh conditions. This paper comprehensively reviews the different characteristics of geopolymers, which include their composition, compressive strength, durability, and curing methods. Furthermore, the environmental impacts related to the manufacturing of geopolymer materials were evaluated through the life-cycle assessment method. The result demonstrated that geopolymer concrete maintains positive environmental impacts due to the fact that it produces fewer carbon dioxide CO2 emissions compared to OPC concrete during its manufacturing; however, geopolymer concrete had some minor negative environmental impacts, including abiotic depletion, human toxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, and acidification. These are important considerations for ongoing research aimed at further improving the sustainability of geopolymer concrete. Moreover, it was determined that silicate content, curing temperature, and the proportion of alkaline solution to binder are the major factors significantly influencing the compressive strength of geopolymer concrete. The advancement of geopolymer technology represents not just a stride toward more sustainable construction practices but also paves the way for innovative approaches in the field of building materials.
Effect of Aging Treatment on the Strength and Microstructure of 7075-Based Alloys Containing 2% Li and/or 0.12% Sc
Authors: Tahmasbi Ali , Samuel Agnes M. , Zedan Yasser , Songmene Victor , Samuel Fawzy H.
Published: November 2023

The present study was performed on three versions of 7075 alloy to which Sc or Sc + Li was added. The alloys were subjected to various aging treatments. The microhardness results show that the highest value of hardness was achieved when the alloy containing Li + Sc was aged at 120 °C for 24 h whereas the minimum level was exhibited by the base alloy aged at 280 °C. The results were interpreted in terms of the size and distribution of the main hardening phase (η′(MgZn2)), and the role of the presence of Al and Cu in the used alloy. Precipitation of Al3(Sc, Zr, Ti) phase particles during solidification of the Sc-containing ingots was also discussed. The coarsening and spheroidi-zation of η-phase particles take place through the Ostwald ripening mechanism while smaller par-ticles in solution dissolve and deposit on larger particles. In Sc-containing alloys, star phase particle consists of different layers. The change in the brightness from layer to layer indicates that the Zr and Sc concentrations are varied within the star phase, since the atomic number of Zr (40) is higher than the atomic number of Sc (21). The addition of Sc, as well, leads to marked decrease in the grain size of the as-cast alloys i.e., 300 µm and 45 µm, respectively. The interaction between Li and Sc would reduce the effectiveness of the grain refining effect of Sc. The results of the refining effect of Sc were confirmed using the EBSD technique.
Second-Order Nonlinearity of Graphene Quantum Dots Measured by Hyper-Rayleigh Scattering
Authors: Silva-Neto Manoel L. , Barbosa-Silva Renato , Boudebs Georges , de Araújo Cid B.
Published: November 2023

The first hyperpolarizability of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) suspended in water was determined using the hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) technique. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first application of the HRS technique to characterize GQDs. Two commercial GQDs (Acqua-Cyan and Acqua-Green) with different compositions were studied. The HRS experiments were performed with an excitation laser at 1064 nm. The measured hyperpolarizabilities were (1.0±0.1)×10−27 esu and (0.9±0.1)×10−27 esu for Acqua-Cyan and Acqua-Green, respectively. The results were used to estimate the hyperpolarizability per nanosheet obtained by assuming that each GQD has five nanosheets with 0.3 nm thickness. The two-level model, used to calculate the static hyperpolarizability per nanosheet, provides values of (2.4±0.1)×10−28 esu (Acqua-Cyan) and (0.5±0.1)×10−28 esu (Aqua-Green). The origin of the nonlinearity is discussed on the basis of polarized resolved HRS experiments, and electric quadrupolar behavior with a strong dependence on surface effects. The nontoxic characteristics and order of magnitude indicate that these GQDs may be useful for biological microscopy imaging.
Detecting Adversarial Examples Using Surrogate Models
Authors: Feldsar Borna , Mayer Rudolf , Rauber Andreas
Published: November 2023

Deep Learning has enabled significant progress towards more accurate predictions and is increasingly integrated into our everyday lives in real-world applications; this is true especially for Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) in the field of image analysis. Nevertheless, it has been shown that Deep Learning is vulnerable against well-crafted, small perturbations to the input, i.e., adversarial examples. Defending against such attacks is therefore crucial to ensure the proper functioning of these models—especially when autonomous decisions are taken in safety-critical applications, such as autonomous vehicles. In this work, shallow machine learning models, such as Logistic Regression and Support Vector Machine, are utilised as surrogates of a CNN based on the assumption that they would be differently affected by the minute modifications crafted for CNNs. We develop three detection strategies for adversarial examples by analysing differences in the prediction of the surrogate and the CNN model: namely, deviation in (i) the prediction, (ii) the distance of the predictions, and (iii) the confidence of the predictions. We consider three different feature spaces: raw images, extracted features, and the activations of the CNN model. Our evaluation shows that our methods achieve state-of-the-art performance compared to other approaches, such as Feature Squeezing, MagNet, PixelDefend, and Subset Scanning, on the MNIST, Fashion-MNIST, and CIFAR-10 datasets while being robust in the sense that they do not entirely fail against selected single attacks. Further, we evaluate our defence against an adaptive attacker in a grey-box setting.
Is Stress Relaxation in Sea Cucumber Dermis Chemoelastic?
Authors: Barbieri Ettore , Gupta Himadri Shikhar
Published: November 2023

Echinoderms, such as sea cucumbers, have the remarkable property of changing the stiffness of their dermis according to the surrounding chemical environments. When sea cucumber dermal specimens are constantly strained, stress decays exponentially with time. Such stress relaxation is a hallmark of visco-elastic mechanical behavior. In this paper, in contrast, we attempted to interpret stress relaxation from the chemoelasticity viewpoint. We used a finite element model for the microstructure of the sea cucumber dermis. We varied stiffness over time and framed such changes against the first-order reactions of the interfibrillar matrix. Within this hypothetical scenario, we found that stress relaxation would then occur primarily due to fast crosslink splitting between the chains and a much slower macro-chain scission, with characteristic reaction times compatible with relaxation times measured experimentally. A byproduct of the model is that the concentration of undamaged macro-chains in the softened state is low, less than 10%, which tallies with physical intuition. Although this study is far from being conclusive, we believe it opens an alternative route worthy of further investigation.
Pneumorrhachis Secondary to a Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer with Pre-Sacral Abscess—Case Report and Review
Authors: Diaconescu Razvan , Popovici Dorel , Tarta Cristi , Isaic Alexandru , Costachescu Dan , Totolici Bogdan
Published: November 2023

The occurrence of pneumorrhachis (PR), defined as the presence of air within the spinal canal, presents a complex clinical picture with diverse etiological factors. We report an exceedingly rare case of PR arising from locally advanced rectal cancer accompanied by a pre-sacral abscess. This report aims to enhance awareness and understanding of rare causes of PR within the medical community, particularly among surgeons engaged in emergency procedures. The patient survived the acute phase of the disease through multiple surgical interventions and admission to the intensive care unit, but succumbed to cardiovascular complications three weeks later. We also offer a brief review of the literature concerning PR originating from the colorectal lumen.
Probiotics and Prebiotics Orally Assumed as Disease Modifiers for Stable Mild Atopic Dermatitis: An Italian Real-Life, Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study
Authors: Colombo Delia , Rigoni Corinna , Cantù Alessandra , Carnevali Antonello , Filippetti Rossella , Franco Tiziana , Grassi Alessandra , Loi Camilla , Mazzotta Annamaria , Patroi Ivona , Raone Beatrice , Tomassini Marco Andrea , Amoruso Angela , Pane Marco , Damiani Giovanni
Published: November 2023

The role of the skin–gut axis in atopic dermatitis (AD) remains a subject of debate, limiting non-pharmacological interventions such as probiotics and prebiotics. To improve understanding of their potential as a monotherapy for stable mild cases, we conducted a real-life, multicenter, retrospective observational study in Italy. We administered three selected bacteria (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BS01, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP14, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR05) orally to patients with mild atopic dermatitis without a placebo control group, following up for 12 weeks. Clinical assessments using the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD), Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), and Three-Item Severity (TIS) score were conducted on 144 enrolled patients (average age: 25.1 ± 17.6 years). Notably, both pruritus and AD-related lesions (erythema, edema/papules, excoriation) exhibited significant clinical and statistical improvement (p < 0.001) after 12 weeks of exclusive probiotic and prebiotic use. These preliminary results suggest a potential link between the skin–gut microbiome and support the rationale for using specific probiotics and prebiotics in mild AD, even for maintenance, to reduce flares and dysbiosis.
An Outbreak of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in a City Hospital Intensive Care Unit: Molecular Characterization of Resistance
Authors: Şenol Feray Ferda , Tanrıverdi Elif Seren , Aytaç Özlem , Aşçı Toraman Zulal , Otlu Barış
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives: Vancomisin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), is a resistant microorganism that colonizes and causes infections in hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to show the spread of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) step-by-step in all intensive care units, which started with the growth of VREfm on 2 December 2021 in the blood culture of a patient hospitalized in the anesthesia intensive care unit of our hospital and was found to have reached epidemic size in the surveys. Materials and Methods: Rectal swab samples were taken from all patients hospitalized in intensive care units, VRE colonization was determined, the VanA and VanB resistance genes associated with the vancomycin resistance of VREfm isolates were determined by PCR method, and clonal association analysis was performed by Arbitrarily Primed-PCR (AP-PCR) and PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis). Results: In our study, VRE were detected in 61 of 2601 rectal swab samples. In total, fifty-four (85.52%) of the VRE isolates were Enterococcus faecium, three (4.91%) was Enterococcus faecalis, three (4.91%) was Enterococcus gallinorum, and one (1.63%) was Enterococcus casseliflavus. It was determined that all of the 54 VREfm isolates, which were the most detected among all VRE isolates, carried the vanA gene. In the clonal association analysis of the isolates by AP-PCR and PFGE methods, it was found that they had 12 different genotypes, 48 of them were included in any cluster, the clustering rate was 88.8%, and the largest cluster was the genotype 1 cluster, with 36 isolates. Of the 54 patients with VREfm isolated recently, 18.51 percent of the clinical samples were isolated before the survey, and 9.25% were isolated after the survey. It was determined that 100% of VREfm isolates were resistant to ampicillin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, high-level gentamicin, trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole, and teicoplanin, 7.4% to tigecycline, and 1.85% to linezolid. Conclusions: In our study, in the clonal association analysis performed by isolating VREfm in rectal swab samples, it was found that 88.8% of the samples were indistinguishably similar, and that the increase in the number of VREfm infections after the index case in our hospital was associated with the epidemic. VREfm infections cause long-term hospitalization, costs and also deaths, which shows the seriousness of the event, and the importance of the combination of epidemiological and molecular analysis in epidemic research.
Usefulness of the N-Terminal of the Prohormone Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Predicting Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy in Patients Undergoing Heart Valve Surgery
Authors: Duchnowski Piotr , Śmigielski Witold
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives: By definition, acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical syndrome diagnosed when the increase in serum creatinine concentration is >0.3 mg/dL in 48 h or >1.5-fold in the last seven days or when diuresis < 0.5 mL/kg/h for a consecutive 6 h. AKI is one of the severe complications that may occur in the early postoperative period in patients undergoing heart valve surgery, significantly increasing the risk of death. Early implementation of renal replacement therapy increases the chances of improving treatment results in patients with postoperative AKI. The study assessed the predictive ability of selected preoperative and perioperative parameters for the occurrence of postoperative AKI requiring renal replacement therapy in the early postoperative period in a group of patients with severe valvular heart disease. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on a group of patients undergoing consecutive heart valve surgeries. The primary endpoint was postoperative AKI requiring renal replacement therapy. AKI was diagnosed with an increase in serum creatinine > 0.3 mg/dL in 48 h or >1.5-fold in the previous 7 days and/or a decrease in diuresis < 0.5 mL/kg/h for 6 h. The observation period was until the patient was discharged home or death occurred. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess which variables were predictive of primary endpoint, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Multivariate analysis was based on the result of single factor logistic regression, i.e., to further steps, all statistically significant variables were taken into consideration. Results: A total of 607 patients were included in the study. The primary endpoint occurred in 50 patients. At multivariate analysis: NT-proBNP (OR 1.406; 95% CI 1.015–1.949; p = 0.04), CRP (OR 1.523; 95% CI 1.171–1.980; p = 0.001), EuroSCORE II (OR 1.090; 95% CI 1.014–1.172; p = 0.01), age (OR 1.037; 95% CI 1.001–1.075; p = 0.04) and if they stayed in the intensive care unit longer than 2 days (OR 9.077; 95% CI 2.026–40.663; p = 0.004) remained the independent predictors of the primary endpoint. The mean preoperative NT-proBNP level was 2063 pg/mL (±1751). Thirty-eight patients with AKI requiring renal replacement therapy died in intrahospital follow-up. Conclusions: The results of the presented study indicate that a high preoperative level of NT-proBNP and postoperative hemodynamic instability may be associated with a significant risk of a postoperative AKI requiring renal replacement therapy. The results of the study may also suggest that qualifying for heart valve surgery earlier may be associated with improved prognosis in this group of patients.
Effect of Hydrogen Pressure and Punch Velocity on the Hydrogen Embrittlement Susceptibility of Pipeline Steels Using Small Punch Tests under Gaseous Hydrogen Environments at Room Temperature
Authors: Shin Hyung-Seop , Kang Sungbeom , Pascua Richard , Bae Kyung-Oh , Park Jaeyoung , Baek Un-Bong
Published: November 2023

The in situ small punch (SP) test method is a simple screening technology developed to assess the hydrogen embrittlement (HE) characteristics of structural steels. This method can easily adjust the influencing parameters such as test temperature, gas pressure, and punch velocity depending on the hydrogen service environment. With increased hydrogen consumption, using pipelines for mass hydrogen transportation is being considered. This study evaluated the HE susceptibility of API-X52 and API-X70 steels, considering the hydrogen usage environment. The study investigated the effects of hydrogen pressure and punch velocity on the HE behaviors of each pipe steel at room temperature using the SP energy and relative reduction in thickness (RRT) to determine their effect on HE susceptibility quantitatively. The study found that hydrogen pressure produced a different HE effect; the lower the hydrogen pressure, the more HE was relieved. Particularly, when the punch velocity was high, such as 1 mm/min, the HE effect was significantly relaxed. However, when the punch velocity was below 0.01 mm/min, HE occurred even at low hydrogen pressure conditions, meaning hydrogen diffusion within the specimen during the SP testing reached a critical hydrogen concentration to create a brittle fracture. Both pipeline steels showed similar HE behaviors under a wide range of H2 pressures and punch velocities, showing an inverse S-curve for quantitative factors of SP energy and RRT against the H2 pressure at 1.0 mm/min punch velocity. The study classified the observed HE behaviors into four types based on quantitative and qualitative aspects. These findings confirm that the in situ SP test is a useful screening technique, and the factor RRT can be effectively applied to the HE screening of pipeline steels in low and high-pressure hydrogen environments.
Porokeratoses—A Comprehensive Review on the Genetics and Metabolomics, Imaging Methods and Management of Common Clinical Variants
Authors: Pietkiewicz Paweł , Korecka Katarzyna , Salwowska Natalia , Kohut Ihor , Adhikari Adarsha , Bowszyc-Dmochowska Monika , Pogorzelska-Antkowiak Anna , Navarrete-Dechent Cristian
Published: November 2023

Porokeratosis is a heterogeneous group of keratinising disorders characterised by the presence of particular microscopic structural changes, namely the presence of the cornoid lamella. This structure develops as a consequence of a defective isoprenoid pathway, critical for cholesterol synthesis. Commonly recognised variants include disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis, disseminated superficial porokeratosis, porokeratosis of Mibelli, palmoplantar porokeratosis (including porokeratosis palmaris et plantaris disseminata and punctate porokeratosis), linear porokeratosis, verrucous porokeratosis (also known as genitogluteal porokeratosis), follicular porokeratosis and porokeratoma. Apart from the clinical presentation and epidemiology of each variant listed, this review aims at providing up-to-date information on the precise genetic background, introduces imaging methods facilitating the diagnosis (conventional and ultraviolet-induced fluorescence dermatoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy and pathology), discusses their oncogenic potential and reviews the literature data on the efficacy of the treatment used, including the drugs directly targeting the isoprenoid–mevalonate pathway.
Harnessing the Power of Microwave Irradiation: A Novel Approach to Bitumen Partial Upgrading
Authors: Abdrabou Moataz K. , Han Xue , Zeng Yimin , Zheng Ying
Published: November 2023

The partial upgrading of “tar-like” Canadian bitumen is an essential process to reduce its viscosity to an acceptable range that meets the required pipeline specifications. An innovative and potentially greener solution has emerged in the form of microwave irradiation. This work proposes and demonstrates the use of an electrically powered commercial microwave along with carbon-based microwave susceptors (activated carbon, biochar, coke, and graphite) to promote localized thermal cracking within bitumen at a temperature as low as 150 °C, compared to the conventional method of 400 °C. The remarkable results show that just 0.1 wt% of carbon additives can reduce the viscosity of bitumen by 96% with just 10 min of microwaving at 200 °C. A Saturates, Aromatics, Resins, and Asphaltenes (SARA) analysis reveals that the mass fractions of light components (saturates) are almost doubled and that almost one-third of heavy polar hydrocarbon constituents are cracked and decomposed into much lighter molecules, resulting in higher-quality, less viscous bitumen. Furthermore, this study highlights the key role of the surface area and porosity of the carbon microwave susceptor in absorbing microwave radiation, offering exciting new avenues for optimization. Microwave-assisted partial upgrading of bitumen is a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to conventional upgrading, producing upgraded bitumen that requires significantly less diluent at a lower cost prior to pipeline transportation.
Facile Synthesis of Ni-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles Using Cashew Gum: Investigation of the Structural, Optical, and Photocatalytic Properties
Authors: Lins Alexsandro , Jerônimo Aimee G. , Barbosa Ricardo , Neves Luan , Trigueiro Pollyana , Almeida Luciano C. , Osajima Josy A. , Pereira Francisca A. , Peña-Garcia Ramón R.
Published: November 2023

This work adopted a green synthesis route using cashew tree gum as a mediating agent to obtain Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles through the sol–gel method. Structural analysis confirmed the formation of the hexagonal wurtzite phase and distortions in the crystal lattice due to the inclusion of Ni cations, which increased the average crystallite size from 61.9 nm to 81.6 nm. These distortions resulted in the growth of point defects in the structure, which influenced the samples’ optical properties, causing slight reductions in the band gaps and significant increases in the Urbach energy. The fitting of the photoluminescence spectra confirmed an increase in the concentration of zinc vacancy defects (VZn) and monovacancies (Vo) as Zn cations were replaced by Ni cations in the ZnO structure. The percentage of VZn defects for the pure compound was 11%, increasing to 40% and 47% for the samples doped with 1% and 3% of Ni cations, respectively. In contrast, the highest percentage of VO defects is recorded for the material with the lowest Ni ions concentration, comprising about 60%. The influence of dopant concentration was also reflected in the photocatalytic performance. Among the samples tested, the Zn0.99Ni0.01O compound presented the best result in MB degradation, reaching an efficiency of 98.4%. Thus, the recovered material underwent reuse tests, revealing an efficiency of 98.2% in dye degradation, confirming the stability of the photocatalyst. Furthermore, the use of different inhibitors indicated that •OH radicals are the main ones involved in removing the pollutant. This work is valuable because it presents an ecological synthesis using cashew gum, a natural polysaccharide that has been little explored in the literature.