bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supraglottic Airway Devices with Vision Guided Systems: Third Generation of Supraglottic Airway Devices
Authors: Castillo-Monzón Caridad G. , Gaszyński Tomasz , Marroquín-Valz Hugo A. , Orozco-Montes Javier , Ratajczyk Pawel
Published: August 2023

Supraglottic airway devices are currently widely used for airway management both for anaesthesia and emergency medicine. First-generation SADs only had a ventilation channel and did not provide protection from possible aspiration of gastric content if regurgitation occurred. Second-generation SADs are equipped with a gastric channel to allow the insertion of a gastric catheter and suctioning of gastric content. Additionally, the seal was improved by a change in the shape of the cuff. Some second-generation SADs were also designed to allow for intubation through the lumen using fiberscopes. Although the safety and efficacy of use of SADs are very high, there are still some issues in terms of providing an adequate seal and protection from possible complications related to misplacement of SAD. New SADs which allow users to choose the insertion scope and control the position of SAD can overcome those problems. Additionally, the Video Laryngeal Mask Airway may serve as an endotracheal intubation device, offering a good alternative to fibre-optic intubation through second-generation SADs. In this narrative review, we provide knowledge of the use of video laryngeal mask airways and the possible advantages of introducing them into daily clinical practice.
Influence of Conventional Shot Peening Treatment on the Service Life Improvement of Bridge Steel Piles Subjected to Sea Wave Impact
Authors: Reza Kashyzadeh Kazem , Chizari Mahmoud
Published: August 2023

The first goal of the current study is to estimate the fatigue life of the middle steel piles of an integrated bridge installed in water and subject to the impact of sea waves. In the following, the authors have tried to improve the service life of this critical part of the bridge, which is also the main purpose of the study. To this end, conventional shot peening, as one of the most well-known surface treatments, was used. Axial fatigue tests were performed on samples fabricated from IPE-220 steel piles in two states without and with shot peening surface treatment. Next, the modified S-N curve was entered into the finite element software to define the effect of shot peening treatment. Different analysis, including thermal, thermal-structural coupled, and transient dynamic, were performed and various outputs were extracted for the entire structure. In all these analyses, changes in air temperature have been neglected. The most important achievement of this research is the discovery that motionless water cannot cause serious damage to steel piles. Moreover, application of conventional shot peening can increase the fatigue life of steel piles, or in other words the service life of the bridge, subjected to the impact of sea waves by about 22%.
Sparse Bayesian Relevance Vector Machine Identification Modeling and Its Application to Ship Maneuvering Motion Prediction
Authors: Meng Yao , Zhang Xianku , Zhang Guoqing , Zhang Xiufeng , Duan Yating
Published: August 2023

In order to establish a sparse and accurate ship motion prediction model, a novel Bayesian probability prediction model based on relevance vector machine (RVM) was proposed for nonparametric modeling. The sparsity, effectiveness, and generalization of RVM were verified from two aspects: (1) the processed Sinc function dataset, and (2) the tank test dataset of the KRISO container ship (KCS) model. The KCS was taken as the main research plant, and the motion prediction models of KCS were obtained. The ε-support vector regression and υ-support vector regression were taken as the compared algorithms. The sparsity, effectiveness, and generalization of the three algorithms were analyzed. According to the trained prediction models of the three algorithms, the number of relevance vectors was compared with the number of support vectors. From the prediction results of the Sinc function and tank test datasets, the highest percentage of relevance vectors in the trained sample was below 17%. The final prediction results indicated that the proposed nonparametric models had good prediction performance. They could ensure good sparsity while ensuring high prediction accuracy. Compared with the SVR, the prediction accuracy can be improved by more than 14.04%, and the time consumption was also relatively lower. A training model with good sparsity can reduce prediction time. This is essential for the online prediction of ship motion.
School Buildings in the Urban FABRIC as a Result of 21st-Century Suburbanisation: Case Studies on Two Middle-Sized Towns in the Agglomeration of Budapest, Vác and Dunakeszi
Authors: Kádek Katalin Illés , Tamáska Máté
Published: August 2023

Our study explores the question: what kind of landscape situations emerge between the urban fabric and a school building as a result of 21st-century suburbanisation? To answer this question, we will compare a traditional school town and a suburban settlement. Located less than thirty kilometres from Budapest, the traditional town is Vác, one of the most important historical school towns in Hungary. Dunakeszi, on the other hand, directly borders the capital and was a rural settlement at the beginning of the 20th century. This settlement is a typical example of urban sprawl. Its schools have occupied a place in the urban fabric since the second half of the 20th century. During our research, we used thick description and thoroughly analysed where the buildings are situated within the given urban structure, how their appearance can be described, and what their architecture communicates. Our basic argument is that while traditional settlement schools are a central element of the urban fabric, in the suburbs, schools occupy empty spaces of ‘leftover plots’ or develop new campuses in the interurban landscape. The results showed that regardless of the historical past of a given settlement, 21st-century educational institutions create separated, closed campuses in areas affected by suburbanisation processes. The primary reason for moving out is simply a lack of space in downtown areas, which is universally apparent in larger cities. The various roles and tasks schools fulfil also contribute to the process, for example the integration of sports fields or the increasing expectation to be accessible by car.
Aerobic Exercise Improves Depressive-like Behavior in CUMS-Induced Rats via the SIRT3/ROS/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Wang Lijun , Liu Yuanyuan , Xu Tuo
Published: August 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise on depressive-like behavior induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in rats and to explore the role of the SIRT3/ROS/NLRP3 signaling pathway in this process. Methods: Twenty-nine male 8-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into a control group (CON) (nine rats) and a model group (twenty rats). Thirteen chronic stress stimuli were randomly applied once or twice per day for 35 days to induce depression in the model group rats. After the model was established, the model group rats were randomly divided into the CUMS group (CUMS) and the aerobic exercise + CUMS group (EX + CUMS). The EX + CUMS group received 8 weeks of aerobic exercise intervention for 6 days per week. Behavioral assessments were performed using the sucrose preference test and forced swimming test. The expression of SIRT3, NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 in the hippocampus was detected using RT-PCR. The ROS level in the hippocampus was detected using immunofluorescence. The protein levels of SIRT3 and NLRP3 in the hippocampus were detected using western blotting. The protein levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the hippocampus were measured using ELISA. Results: After 5 weeks of chronic stress stimuli, the hippocampal function of rats in the CUMS model group was impaired, and their sucrose preference was reduced, while their forced swimming time was prolonged. The expression of SIRT3 decreased, ROS increased, and the expression of NLRP3 and the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 increased. Aerobic exercise increased the sucrose preference of rats, shortened their immobility time, increased the expression of SIRT3, and reduced the levels of ROS, NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18. Conclusion: Exercise can improve the depressive behavior of CUMS model rats, and its mechanism may be related to the upregulation of SIRT3 in the hippocampus, which plays an anti-inflammatory role.
Polymer Dispersion Effects on Drag, Heat Transfer, and Mass Transfer in Non-Newtonian Based Nanofluids
Authors: Sahreen Ayesha , Ahmad Adeel , Khan Razi , Nawaz Rab
Published: August 2023

This article explores the influence of polymers on the boundary layer flow, heat transfer, and mass transfer control of non-Newtonian-based nanofluids flowing past a stretching surface. The mathematical model incorporates the Oldroyd-B model to analyze the effects of polymers, while the Powell–Eyring and Reiner–Philippoff viscosity models are employed to study the behavior of non-Newtonian fluids. The dispersion model is adopted to account for nanofluid characteristics. Appropriate transformations yield governing equations with similar forms, which are solved numerically to investigate the impact of polymer inclusion on skin friction, Nusselt number, and Sherwood number. The study’s findings reveal that the addition of polymers to the non-Newtonian-based nanofluids leads to a reduction in heat and mass transport while enhancing skin drag. Detailed analysis of these effects sheds light on the underlying physical mechanisms.
Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetite/Gold Core Shell Nanoparticles Stabilized with a β-Cyclodextrin Nanosponge to Develop a Magneto-Plasmonic System
Authors: Salazar Sandoval Sebastián , Santibáñez Daniel , Riveros Ana , Araneda Fabián , Bruna Tamara , Silva Nataly , Yutronic Nicolás , Kogan Marcelo J. , Jara Paul
Published: August 2023

Magnetite/gold core-shell nanoparticles (magnetite/gold NPs) have important optical and magnetic properties that provide potential for applications, especially biomedical ones. However, their preparation is not exempt from difficulties that might lead to unexpected or undesired structures. This work reports the synthesis and characterization of magnetite/gold NPs using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) to promote the formation of a continuous interface between the magnetite core and the thin gold shell. The synthesized magnetite/gold NPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), ζ-potential, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), UV-Visible spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS), confirming the core-shell structure of the NPs with narrow size distribution while evidencing its plasmonic and superparamagnetic properties as well. Further, the magnetite/gold NPs were associated and stabilized with a β-cyclodextrin nanosponge (β-CDNSs), obtaining a versatile magneto-plasmonic system for potential applications in the encapsulation and controlled release of drugs.
ESCI-AKA: Enabling Secure Communication in an IoT-Enabled Smart Home Environment Using Authenticated Key Agreement Framework
Authors: Alasmary Hisham , Tanveer Muhammad
Published: August 2023

Smart home environments are a vital component of the larger ecosystem within smart cities, aiming to revolutionize residential living through the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and advanced technologies. However, ensuring robust security and preserving privacy in these interconnected ecosystems present significant challenges. During the monitoring and controlling tasks in the smart home environment, diverse commands are exchanged between the IoT device and the user over the public Internet. The public Internet is open and vulnerable to various security attacks, which can corrode the monitoring and controlling operation of the smart home. In addition, conventional security algorithms are inappropriate for IoT devices deployed in the smart home. However, various pernicious security attacks are equally efficacious in the resource-limited smart home environment. Thus, various authenticated encryption schemes are proposed to enable security services in resource-constricted smart home environments. This paper presents a lightweight and efficient authentication framework for a smart home environment by leveraging the features of an authenticated encryption scheme and the hash function called “ESCI-AKA”. ESCI-AKA checks the authenticity of the user at the local device and exchanges three messages among the user, gateway, and smart embedded device for establishing a secure channel for indecipherable communication by setting a session key. In addition, we corroborate the security of the established session key through the random oracle model and informal security analysis. Moreover, the Scyther tool is employed for the security validation of ESCI-AKA. Finally, the performance comparison of ESCI-AKA and other eminent security frameworks explicates that ESCI-AKA requires low computational and communication costs while providing robust security features.
Existence of Best Proximity Point in O-CompleteMetric Spaces
Authors: Poonguzali G. , Pragadeeswarar V. , De la Sen Manuel
Published: August 2023

In this work, we prove the existence of the best proximity point results for ⊥-contraction (orthogonal-contraction) mappings on an O-complete metric space (orthogonal-complete metric space). Subsequently, these existence results are employed to establish the common best proximity point result. Finally, we provide suitable examples to demonstrate the validity of our results.
Process Capability and Performance Indices for Discrete Data
Authors: Alevizakos Vasileios
Published: August 2023

Process capability and performance indices (PCIs and PPIs) are used in industry to provide numerical measures for the capability and performance of several processes. The majority of the literature refers to PCIs and PPIs for continuous data. The aim of this paper is to compute the classical indices for discrete data following Poisson, binomial or negative binomial distribution using various transformation techniques. A simulation study under different situations of a process and comparisons with other existing PCIs for discrete data are also presented. The methodology of computing the indices is easy to use, and as a result, one can have an assessment of the process capability and performance without difficulty. Three examples are further provided to illustrate the application of the transformation techniques.
On the Fundamental Diagram for Freeway Traffic: Exploring the Lower Bound of the Fitting Error and Correcting the Generalized Linear Regression Models
Authors: Shangguan Yidan , Tian Xuecheng , Jin Sheng , Gao Kun , Hu Xiaosong , Yi Wen , Guo Yu , Wang Shuaian
Published: August 2023

In traffic flow, the relationship between speed and density exhibits decreasing monotonicity and continuity, which is characterized by various models such as the Greenshields and Greenberg models. However, some existing models, i.e., the Underwood and Northwestern models, introduce bias by incorrectly utilizing linear regression for parameter calibration. Furthermore, the lower bound of the fitting errors for all these models remains unknown. To address above issues, this study first proves the bias associated with using linear regression in handling the Underwood and Northwestern models and corrects it, resulting in a significantly lower mean squared error (MSE). Second, a quadratic programming model is developed to obtain the lower bound of the MSE for these existing models. The relative gaps between the MSEs of existing models and the lower bound indicate that the existing models still have a lot of potential for improvement.
Rumor Detection in Social Media Based on Multi-Hop Graphs and Differential Time Series
Authors: Chen Jianhong , Zhang Wenyi , Ma Hongcai , Yang Shan
Published: August 2023

The widespread dissemination of rumors (fake information) on online social media has had a detrimental impact on public opinion and the social environment. This necessitates the urgent need for efficient rumor detection methods. In recent years, deep learning techniques, including graph neural networks (GNNs) and recurrent neural networks (RNNs), have been employed to capture the spatiotemporal features of rumors. However, existing research has largely overlooked the limitations of traditional GNNs based on message-passing frameworks when dealing with rumor propagation graphs. In fact, due to the issues of excessive smoothing and gradient vanishing, traditional GNNs struggle to capture the interactive information among high-order neighbors when handling deep graphs, such as those in rumor propagation scenarios. Furthermore, previous methods used for learning the temporal features of rumors, whether based on dynamic graphs or time series, have overlooked the importance of differential temporal information. To address the aforementioned issues, this paper proposes a rumor detection model based on multi-hop graphs and differential time series. Specifically, this model consists of two components: the structural feature extraction module and the temporal feature extraction module. The former utilizes a multi-hop graph and the enhanced message passing framework to learn the high-order structural features of rumor propagation graphs. The latter explicitly models the differential time series to learn the temporal features of rumors. Extensive experiments conducted on multiple real-world datasets demonstrate that our proposed model outperforms the previous state-of-the-art methods.
Pre-Hospital Management of Patients with COVID-19 and the Impact on Hospitalization
Authors: Grannec Floann , Meddeb Line , Tissot-Dupont Herve , Gentile Stephanie , Brouqui Philippe
Published: August 2023

Background and Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, patient care was mainly organized around the hospital. Pre-hospital care has, to our knowledge, never been evaluated. We aimed to study the impact of pre-hospital pathways on hospitalization during the last part of the pandemic. Materials and Methods: This was a monocentric, retrospective analysis of prospectively collected medical records. Data from patients admitted to our institute between 1 February and 7 March 2022 were analyzed. The primary outcomes were defined as the number of hospitalizations, resuscitations, and deaths at the time of interview and in the subsequent 30 days. The main explanatory variables were times from onset of symptoms to care, age, gender, News2 score, comorbidities, and pre-hospital pathways and their duration. Results: Three pre-hospital pathways were identified: a pathway in which the patient consults a general practitioner for a test (PHP1); a pathway in which the patient consults for care (PHP2); and no pre-hospital pathway and direct admission to hospital (PHP3). Factors independently associated with outcome (hospitalization) were being male (OR 95% CI; 2.21 (1.01–4.84), p = 0,04), News2 score (OR 95% CI; 2.04 (1.65–2.51), p < 0.001), obesity (OR 95% CI; 3.45 (1.48–8.09), p = 0.005), D-dimers > 0.5 µg/mL (OR 95% CI; 3.45 (1.47–8.12), p = 0.005), and prolonged time from symptoms to hospital care (PHP duration) (OR 95% CI; 1.07 (1.01–1.14), p = 0.03). All things being equal, patients with a “PHP2” pre-hospital pathway had a higher probability of hospitalization compared to those with a “PHP3” pre-hospital pathway (OR 95% CI; 4.31 (1.48–12.55), p = 0.007). Conclusions: Along with recognized risk factors such as gender, News 2 score, and obesity, the patient’s pre-hospital pathway is an important risk factor associated with hospitalization.
Relative Importance of Glaucoma-Referral Indicators in Retinal Images in a Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme in Slovenia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Podnar Barbara , Albreht Tit , Cvenkel Barbara
Published: August 2023

Background and Objectives: Glaucoma is a major cause of irreversible visual impairment and blindness, so its timely detection is crucial. Retinal images from diabetic retinopathy screening programmes (DRSP) provide an opportunity to detect undiagnosed glaucoma. Our aim was to find out which retinal image indicators are most suitable for referring DRSP patients for glaucoma assessment and to determine the glaucoma detection potential of Slovenian DRSP. Materials and Methods: We reviewed retinal images of patients from the DRSP at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana (November 2019–January 2020, May–August 2020). Patients with at least one indicator and some randomly selected patients without indicators were invited for an eye examination. Suspect glaucoma and glaucoma patients were considered accurately referred. Logistic regression (LOGIT) with patients as statistical units and generalised estimating equation with logistic regression (GEE) with eyes as statistical units were used to determine the referral accuracy of indicators. Results: Of the 2230 patients reviewed, 209 patients (10.1%) had at least one indicator on a retinal image of either one eye or both eyes. A total of 149 (129 with at least one indicator and 20 without) attended the eye exam. Seventy-nine (53.0%) were glaucoma negative, 54 (36.2%) suspect glaucoma, and 16 (10.7%) glaucoma positive. Seven glaucoma patients were newly detected. Neuroretinal rim notch predicted glaucoma in all cases. The cup-to-disc ratio was the most important indicator for accurate referral (odds ratio 7.59 (95% CI 3.98–14.47; p < 0.001) and remained statistically significant multivariably. Family history of glaucoma also showed an impact (odds ratio 3.06 (95% CI 1.02–9.19; p = 0.046) but remained statistically significant only in the LOGIT multivariable model. Other indicators and confounders were not statistically significant in the multivariable models. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the neuroretinal rim notch and cup-to-disc ratio are the most important for accurate glaucoma referral from retinal images in DRSP. Approximately half of the glaucoma cases in DRSPs may be undiagnosed.
Trends for Percutaneous Tracheostomy in Italian Acute Care Setting over a 5-Year Period
Authors: Vargas Maria , Buonanno Pasquale , De Simone Stefania , Russo Gennaro , Iacovazzo Carmine , Servillo Giuseppe
Published: August 2023

Background: Tracheostomy is a widespread procedure usually performed with a percutaneous approach for prolonged mechanical ventilation. Little is known about the population-based trends for percutaneous tracheostomies (PT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the order to analyze the characteristics, rates, and costs of PTs performed in Italy from 2009 to 2014. Methods: We analyzed 102,646 PTs performed in Italy between 2009 and 2014. We obtained the data of patients from the section of the discharge report of the Italian Ministry of Health (National Archive for Hospital Discharge Form, Ministry of Health) about age, gender, length of stay (LOS), hospital types, and hospital region for code 541 and 542 for the years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Our additional source of data was the Annual Discharge Reports of the Italian Ministry of Health. Results: In this study, including 102,646 PTs performed from 2009 to 2014, we found that (1) the rates of PTs significantly decreased over time; (2) PTs were mostly performed in patients aged less than 65 years and hospitalized in ICUs for less than 40 days; and (3) the costs of PTs severely decreased over time, with a breakpoint between 2011 and 2012. Conclusions: Percutaneous tracheostomy is still a procedure frequently performed in the setting of acute care. Although percutaneous tracheostomy still results in high medical care reimbursement, it is a safe and cost-saving procedure.
COVID Variants, Villain and Victory: A Bioinformatics Perspective
Authors: Shukla Nityendra , Srivastava Neha , Gupta Rohit , Srivastava Prachi , Narayan Jitendra
Published: August 2023

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, a novel member of the Coronaviridae family, is responsible for the viral infection known as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In response to the urgent and critical need for rapid detection, diagnosis, analysis, interpretation, and treatment of COVID-19, a wide variety of bioinformatics tools have been developed. Given the virulence of SARS-CoV-2, it is crucial to explore the pathophysiology of the virus. We intend to examine how bioinformatics, in conjunction with next-generation sequencing techniques, can be leveraged to improve current diagnostic tools and streamline vaccine development for emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. We also emphasize how bioinformatics, in general, can contribute to critical areas of biomedicine, including clinical diagnostics, SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance and its evolution, identification of potential drug targets, and development of therapeutic strategies. Currently, state-of-the-art bioinformatics tools have helped overcome technical obstacles with respect to genomic surveillance and have assisted in rapid detection, diagnosis, and delivering precise treatment to individuals on time.
Early Detection of the Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 XAN Variant in Bulgaria: Initial Genomic Insights into Yet Another Piece of the Growing Puzzle of Recombinant Clades
Authors: Alexiev Ivailo , Ivanov Ivan , Giovanetti Marta , Cella Eleonora , Stoikov Ivan , Donchev Deyan , Grigorova Lyubomira , Gancheva Anna , Dimitrova Reneta , Scarpa Fabio , Korsun Neli , Trifonova Ivelina , Dobrinov Veselin , Kantardjiev Todor , Christova Iva , Ciccozzi Massimo
Published: August 2023

The first recombinant SARS-CoV-2 variants were identified in 2022, causing public health concerns. The importance of recombinant variants has increased especially since the WHO designated the recombinant variant XBB and its lineages as subvariants that require monitoring on 20 November 2022. In this study, we provide the first insights into the new SARS-CoV-2 variant named XAN, a recombinant composed of Omicron sub-lineages BA.2 and BA.5. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the recombinant SARS-CoV-2 XAN variant identified in Bulgaria.
Exploring Long-Read Metagenomics for Full Characterization of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Presence of Commensal E. coli
Authors: Jaudou Sandra , Deneke Carlus , Tran Mai-Lan , Salzinger Carina , Vorimore Fabien , Goehler André , Schuh Elisabeth , Malorny Burkhard , Fach Patrick , Grützke Josephine , Delannoy Sabine
Published: August 2023

The characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is necessary to assess their pathogenic potential, but isolation of the strain from complex matrices such as milk remains challenging. In previous work, we have shown the potential of long-read metagenomics to characterize eae-positive STEC from artificially contaminated raw milk without isolating the strain. The presence of multiple E. coli strains in the sample was shown to potentially hinder the correct characterization of the STEC strain. Here, we aimed at determining the STEC:commensal ratio that would prevent the characterization of the STEC. We artificially contaminated pasteurized milk with different ratios of an eae-positive STEC and a commensal E. coli and applied the method previously developed. Results showed that the STEC strain growth was better than the commensal E. coli after enrichment in acriflavine-supplemented BPW. The STEC was successfully characterized in all samples with at least 10 times more STEC post-enrichment compared to the commensal E. coli. However, the presence of equivalent proportions of STEC and commensal E. coli prevented the full characterization of the STEC strain. This study confirms the potential of long-read metagenomics for STEC characterization in an isolation-free manner while refining its limit regarding the presence of background E. coli strains.
Whole Genome Sequencing and Molecular Epidemiology of Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from Algeria
Authors: Namoune Rachida , Djebbar Abla , Mekler Rebecca , McHugh Martin , Bekara Mohammed El Amine , Decano Arun , Holden Matthew T. G. , Sebaihia Mohammed
Published: August 2023

Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen responsible for various healthcare- and community-acquired infections. In this study, whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used to genotype S. aureus clinical isolates from two hospitals in Algeria and to characterize their genetic determinants of antimicrobial resistance. Seventeen S. aureus isolates were included in this study. WGS, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based phylogenetic analysis, in silico multilocus sequence typing (MLST), spa and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing and in silico antimicrobial resistance profiling were performed. Phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Vitek 2 system and the disk diffusion method. The isolates were separated into sequence types (STs), with ST80 being predominant; five clonal complexes (CCs); four spa types (t044, t127, t368, t386); and two SCCmec types (IVc and IVa). Whole genome analysis revealed the presence of the resistance genes mecA, blaZ, ermC, fusB, fusC, tetK, aph(3′)-IIIa and aad(6) and mutations conferring resistance in the genes parC and fusA. The rate of multidrug resistance (MDR) was 64%. This work provides a high-resolution characterization of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) isolates and emphasizes the importance of continuous surveillance to monitor the spread of S. aureus in healthcare settings in the country.
Correlating the Gut Microbiota and Circulating Hormones with Acne Lesion Counts and Skin Biophysical Features
Authors: Sivamani Raja K. , Maloh Jessica , Nong Yvonne
Published: August 2023

Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory condition that is multi-factorial and impacted by both intrinsic and extrinsic features. Several previous studies have assessed for correlations between factors such as circulating hormones, stress, or the microbiome. However, there have not been any correlations specifically against lesion counts or differentiating correlations between inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesion counts. Here, we correlate several factors against acne lesions. Twenty men and women with mild to moderate acne were recruited, and their hormonal levels and their gut microbiome were collected and correlated against their inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions of acne. Facial non-inflammatory lesions were weakly correlated to sebum excretion rate and weakly inversely correlated to forehead and cheek hydration. We examined stress through the use of a normalized peak-to-trough ratio (higher numbers indicated less stress), which correlated with skin hydration and inversely correlated with sebum excretion rate. Sebum excretion rate was weakly correlated to testosterone levels, and facial hydration correlated with estradiol levels. Correlations with the gut microbiome showed differential correlations with inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions, with Clostridium sp AF 23-8 correlating to inflammatory lesion counts, while Actinomyces naeslundii str Howell 279 correlated to non-inflammatory lesions. Overall, measures of stress and circulating hormones correlate to skin biophysical properties and acne lesion counts. Also, different gut bacteria correlate with either inflammatory or non-inflammatory lesion counts. We hope that our findings stimulate further work on the gut–mind–stress–skin axis within acne.
Effects of Infrared and Microwave Radiation on the Bioactive Compounds of Microalga Spirulina platensis after Continuous and Intermittent Drying
Authors: Silva Neiton C. , Graton Isabelle S. , Duarte Claudio R. , Barrozo Marcos A. S.
Published: August 2023

Pharmaceutical, nutritional and food industries have recently become interested in the potential of Spirulina platensis, a kind of cyanobacterium with high levels of proteins, vitamins and bioactive compounds. Because of its high moisture, this microalga needs to be submitted to a preservation technique such as drying to be properly used. The aim of this work is to investigate the use of infrared and microwave radiation in the Spirulina platensis drying process. The experiments were performed in continuous and intermittent modes, evaluating different operating conditions for infrared and microwave drying, as well as their effects on the quality of the final product, expressed by the content of bioactive compounds (i.e., total phenolic, total flavonoid, citric acid and phycocyanin contents). The results proved that the use of electromagnetic radiation in the drying of spirulina is an interesting alternative for processing this material if performed under adequate operating conditions. The experiments carried out continuously at lower temperatures and powers and the combination between different temperatures and powers in the intermittent mode resulted in a final product with satisfactory levels of bioactive compounds and low operation times in comparison with conventional methodologies.
Toxoplasma gondii Reactivation Aggravating Cardiac Function Impairment in Mice
Authors: Xie Linding , Xing Yien , Yang Jun , Liu Min , Cai Yihong
Published: August 2023

Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) reactivation is common, especially among immunocompromised individuals, such as AIDS patients. The cardiac involvement associated with toxoplasmosis, however, is usually obscured by neurological deterioration. The aim of this study was to observe the alterations in cardiac functions in various landmark periods after infection and to assess whether reactivation more seriously damages the heart. Methods: We established three infection models in mice using TgCtwh6, a major strain of T. gondii prevalent in China. The groups included an acute group, chronic latent group, and reactivation group. We evaluated the cardiac function impairment via H & E staining, Masson staining, echocardiography, myocardial enzyme profiles, and cardiac troponin, and detected the expression of inflammatory factors and antioxidant factors with Western blotting. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of the macrophage marker F4/80. Results: Our results showed that damage to the heart occurred in the acute and reactivation groups. Impaired cardiac function manifested as a decrease in heart rate and a compensatory increase in left ventricular systolic function. Serum levels of cardiac enzymes also increased dramatically. In the chronic phase, myocardial fibrosis developed, diastolic functions became severely impaired, inflammation persisted, and macrophage expression was slightly reduced. Ultimately, reactivation infection exacerbated damage to cardiac function in mice, potentially leading to diastolic heart failure. Macrophages were strongly activated, and myocardial fibrosis was increased. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of the heart was severely affected by the infection. Conclusions: Taken together, these results suggested that the reactivation of T. gondii infection could aggravate injury to the heart, which could be associated with a host-cell-mediated immune response and strong cytokine production by macrophages, thus representing a novel insight into the pathogenic mechanism of toxoplasmosis.
Opportunistic Infections and Immune-Related Adverse Events Associated with Administering Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Narrative Review
Authors: Ocaña-Guzmán Ranferi , Osorio-Pérez Diego , Chavez-Galan Leslie
Published: August 2023

Manipulating the immune system by blocking the immune checkpoint receptors is the basis of immunotherapy, a relevant tool in current clinical oncology. The strategy of blocking the immune checkpoints (Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, ICI) consists of using monoclonal antibodies to inhibit the interaction between ligand and inhibitory receptors from triggering a complete activation of helper and cytotoxic T cells to fight against tumour cells. Immunotherapy has benefited patients with diverse cancers such as stomach, lung, melanoma, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, among others. Unfortunately, a growing number of reports have indicated that the ICI treatment also can show a dark side under specific conditions; some of the adverse effects induced by ICI are immunosuppression, opportunistic infections, and organ-specific alterations. This review discusses some immunologic aspects related to these unwanted effects.
Effects of Metformin on Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: New Evidence and Mechanisms
Authors: Osorio-Llanes Estefanie , Villamizar-Villamizar Wendy , Ospino Guerra María Clara , Díaz-Ariza Luis Antonio , Castiblanco-Arroyave Sara Camila , Medrano Luz , Mengual Daniela , Belón Ricardo , Castellar-López Jairo , Sepúlveda Yanireth , Vásquez-Trincado César , Chang Aileen Y. , Bolívar Samir , Mendoza-Torres Evelyn
Published: August 2023

The search for new drugs with the potential to ensure therapeutic success in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases has become an essential pathway to follow for health organizations and committees around the world. In June 2021, the World Health Organization listed cardiovascular diseases as one of the main causes of death worldwide, representing 32% of them. The most common is coronary artery disease, which causes the death of cardiomyocytes, the cells responsible for cardiac contractility, through ischemia and subsequent reperfusion, which leads to heart failure in the medium and short term. Metformin is one of the most-used drugs for the control of diabetes, which has shown effects beyond the control of hyperglycemia. Some of these effects are mediated by the regulation of cellular energy metabolism, inhibiting apoptosis, reduction of cell death through regulation of autophagy and reduction of mitochondrial dysfunction with further reduction of oxidative stress. This suggests that metformin may attenuate left ventricular dysfunction induced by myocardial ischemia; preclinical and clinical trials have shown promising results, particularly in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. This is a review of the molecular and pharmacological mechanisms of the cardioprotective effects of metformin during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.
A Novel Reconfigurable Nonlinear Cascaded MZM Mixer, Amplitude Shift Key Modulator (ASK), Frequency Hopping and Phase Shifter
Authors: Darabi Ebrahim , Keshavarz Heidar , Monteiro Paulo
Published: August 2023

A novel reconfigurable Microwave Photonics (MWP) mixer is presented in this paper, which can be configured to work as a frequency hopper, ASK modulator and phase shifter. This mixer is based on a cascaded Mach–Zehnder Modulator (MZM) structure. A general nonlinear analytical model for the structure is presented. This model is platform free, which means it can be applied to several MWP and integrated MWP platforms. Based on the analytical model, the performance of the structure and output results, such as the optical and electrical spectrum of the structure, are derived in mathematical closed-form expressions. The results of the presented analytical model are compared and evaluated with the results obtained from the simulation to prove the correctness of the analytical model. The presented structure has a simple form, which can be fabricated at a low cost. In addition, according to the obtained results from the analytical model, there is no need to change the arrangement of the structure to operate in any of the mentioned configurations, and the desired function is achievable only by changing the bias voltage of the modulators at the desired frequency.
Wound-Induced Temporal Reprogramming of Gene Expression during Agarwood Formation in Aquilaria sinensis
Authors: Xu Jieru , Du Ruyue , Wang Yue , Chen Jinhui
Published: August 2023

Agarwood is a resinous heartwood of Aquilaria sinensis that is formed in response to mechanical wounding. However, the transcriptional response of A. sinensis to mechanical wounding during the agarwood formation process is still unclear. Here, three five-year-old A. sinensis trees were mechanically damaged by a chisel, and time-series transcriptomic analysis of xylem tissues in the treated area (TA) was performed at 15 (TA1), 70 (TA2) and 180 days after treatment (TA3). Samples from untreated areas at the corresponding time points (UA1, UA2, UA3, respectively) were collected as controls. A total of 1862 (TA1 vs. UA1), 961 (TA2 vs. UA2), 1370 (TA3 vs. UA3), 3305 (TA2 vs. TA1), 2625 (TA3 vs. TA1), 2899 (TA3 vs. TA2), 782 (UA2 vs. UA1), 4443 (UA3 vs. UA1) and 4031 (UA3 vs. UA2) genes were differentially expressed (DEGs). Functional enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were significantly enriched for secondary metabolic processes, signal transduction and transcriptional regulation processes. Most of the genes involved in lignin biosynthesis were more abundant in the TA groups, which included phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, 4-coumarate CoA ligase, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase and cinnamoyl-CoA reductase. DEGs involved in sesquiterpene biosynthesis were also identified. Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, phosphomevalonate kinase and terpene synthase genes were significantly increased in the TA groups, promoting sesquiterpene biosynthesis in the wounded xylem tissues. The TF-gene transcriptomic networks suggested that MYB DNA-binding, NAM, WRKY, HLH and AP2 TFs co-expressed with genes related to lignin and sesquiterpene synthesis, indicating their critical regulatory roles in the biosynthesis of these compounds. Overall, our study reveals a dynamic transcriptional response of A. sinensis to mechanical wounding, provides a resource for identifying candidate genes for molecular breeding of agarwood quality, and sheds light on the molecular mechanisms of agarwood formation in A. sinensis.
Soil Moisture Content Dominates the Photosynthesis of C3 and C4 Plants in a Desert Steppe after Long-Term Warming and Increasing Precipitation
Authors: Lv Guangyi , Jin Jing , He Mengting , Wang Chengjie
Published: August 2023

Plant photosynthesis has a non-negligible influence on forage quality and ecosystem carbon sequestration. However, the influence of long-term warming, increasing precipitation, and their interactions on the photosynthesis of dominant species in desert steppe remains unclear, and the main factors regulating plant photosynthesis in desert steppes have remained unrevealed. Therefore, we measured the photosynthetic parameters and specific leaf area of the dominant species and calculated the water and nitrogen content of leaves and soil in a desert steppe after long-term warming and increasing precipitation (air temperature, W0, air temperature increases of 2 °C and 4 °C, W1 and W2; natural precipitation, P0, natural precipitation increases of 25% and 50%, P1 and P2). Results showed that warming and increasing precipitation significantly enhanced photosynthesis in C3 and C4 species (p < 0.05). Compared to W0P0, the net photosynthetic rate of C3 and C4 species in W2P2 increased by 159.46% and 178.88%, respectively. Redundancy analysis showed that soil water content significantly explained the photosynthesis of C3 and C4 plants (the degree of explanation was 48% and 67.7%), followed by soil-available nitrogen content (the degree of explanation was 19.6% and 5.3%). Therefore, our study found that climate change enhanced photosynthesis in C3 and C4 plants, and soil water content plays a critical role in regulating photosynthesis in desert steppes.
Sustainable Isolation of Bioactive Compounds and Proteins from Plant-Based Food (and Byproducts)
Authors: Khan Zakir Showkat , Amir Saira , Sokač Cvetnić Tea , Jurinjak Tušek Ana , Benković Maja , Jurina Tamara , Valinger Davor , Gajdoš Kljusurić Jasenka
Published: August 2023

Plant-based food produces significantly less greenhouse gases, and due to its wealth of bioactive components and/or plant-based protein, it becomes an alternative in a sustainable food system. However, the processing and production of products from plant sources creates byproducts, which can be waste or a source of useful substances that can be reused. The waste produced during the production and processing of food is essentially nutrient- and energy-rich, and it is recognized as an excellent source of secondary raw materials that could be repurposed in the process of manufacturing and preparing food, or as feed for livestock. This review offers an overview of the sources and techniques of the sustainable isolation of bioactive substances and proteins from various sources that might represent waste in the preparation or production of food of plant origin. The aim is to uncover novel approaches to use waste and byproducts from the process of making food to provide this waste food an additional benefit, not forgetting the expectations of the end user, the consumer. For the successful isolation of bioactive ingredients and proteins from food of plant origin, it is crucial to develop more eco-friendly and efficient extraction techniques with a low CO2 footprint while considering the economic aspects.
Chemistry of Dimer Acid Production from Fatty Acids and the Structure–Property Relationships of Polyamides Made from These Dimer Acids
Authors: Frihart Charles R.
Published: August 2023

While there is abundant literature on using a wide range of biomaterials to make polymers for various adhesive applications, most researchers have generally overlooked developing new adhesives from commercially available bio-based dimerized fatty acids. Some of the literature on the chemistry taking place during the clay-catalyzed dimerization of unsaturated fatty acids is generally misleading in that the mechanisms are not consistent with the structures of these dimers and a by-product isostearic acid. A selective acid-catalyzed interlayer model is much more logical than the widely accepted model of clay-catalyzed Diels–Alder reactions. The resulting dimers have a variety of linkages limiting large crystal formation either as oligomeric amides or polyamides. These highly aliphatic fatty acid dimers are used to make a wide range of hot melt polyamide adhesives. The specific structures and amounts of the diacids and diamines and their relative ratios have a big effect on the bio-based polyamide mechanical properties, but analysis of the structure–property relationships has seldom been attempted, since the data are mainly in the patent literature. The diacids derived from plant oils are valuable for making polyamides because of their very high bio-based content and highly tunable properties.
Study on the Influence of Fluid Pulsation on Hydraulic Impactor Performance in Drilling Engineering
Authors: Cui Haibo , Li Wei , Xiao Hongbing , Wang Yufei , Chen Wei , Liu Wenting
Published: August 2023

The combination of the hydraulic impactor and positive displacement motor (PDM) is becoming more and more popular in drilling engineering. However, the negatives of the PDM on the impactor cannot be ignored. To improve the performance of the technique, the influence of fluid pulsation from the PDM on the hydraulic impactor was studied first; then, the structure of the impactor was optimized to improve its impact force; finally, field tests were carried out in 2 wells in the shallow formation. The results indicate that the fluid fluctuation generated in the PDM can restrain the performance of the impactor, and that the impact force can be increased by 24.4% to 28.6% through the optimization of design. Field tests show that this technique can further improve the drilling efficiency and rotating stability of the polycrystalline diamond compact bit, and that the rate of penetration and bit footage increase by 32.5% and 34.6%, respectively. In the study, the effect of inlet fluid fluctuation on the performance of the hydraulic impactor was studied using the computational fluid dynamics method. This is unlike other studies that have mostly considered the inlet fluid as a steady flow. Furthermore, the performance of the combine used of the impactor and PDM can be improved through structural optimization.