bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Ceftriaxone on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in a Rat Model of Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion
Authors: Sattayakhom Apsorn , Kalarat Kosin , Rakmak Thatdao , Tapechum Sompol , Monteil Arnaud , Punsawad Chuchard , Palipoch Sarawoot , Koomhin Phanit
Published: August 2022

Ceftriaxone (CTX) exerts a neuroprotective effect by decreasing glutamate excitotoxicity. We further studied the underlying mechanisms and effects of CTX early post-treatment on behavior in a cerebral hypoperfusion rats. The rats’ common carotid arteries (2VO) were permanently ligated. CTX was treated after ischemia. Biochemical studies were performed to assess antioxidative stress and inflammation. Behavioral and histological studies were then tested on the ninth week after vessel ligation. The 2VO rats showed learning and memory deficits as well as working memory impairments without any motor weakness. The treatment with CTX was found to attenuate white matter damage, MDA production, and interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha production, mainly in the hippocampal area. Moreover, CTX treatment could increase the expression of glia and the glial glutamate transporters, and the neuronal glutamate transporter. Taken together, our data indicate the neuroprotective mechanisms of CTX involving the upregulation of glutamate transporters’ expression. This increased expression contributes to a reduction in glutamate excitotoxicity and oxidative stress as well as pro-inflammatory cytokine production, thus resulting in the protection of neurons and tissue from further damage. The present study highlights the mechanism of the effect of CTX treatment and of the underlying ischemia-induced neuronal damage.
Building Interventions in Mediterranean Towns—Developing a Framework for Selecting the Optimal Spatial Organization and Construction Technology from a Sustainable Development Perspective
Authors: Marović Ivan , Mrak Iva , Ambruš Denis , Krstičević Josip
Published: August 2022

Mediterranean towns and their surroundings show specific characteristics, such as urban structure, presence of complex stratification of heritage, and often seasonality, which makes the choice of spatial organization and construction technology for building construction of high importance in relation to sustainable development. For such purpose, the SOnCT model, based on multi-criteria decision analysis, has been developed which takes into account optimal building interventions in Mediterranean towns from a sustainable development perspective, highlighting their spatial-technical aspects. The presented research answers the questions of how sustainable development goals can be implemented in the case of construction interventions in Mediterranean areas, especially in smaller settlements that present very fragile status and specific characteristics not comparable to northern towns. This paper presents the construction and verification of the evaluation and prioritization model for selecting the optimal spatial organization and construction technology based on the criteria of sustainability, spatial characteristics, and the United Nations’ Sustainable development goals.
Challenges in Glioblastoma Radiomics and the Path to Clinical Implementation
Authors: Martin Philip , Holloway Lois , Metcalfe Peter , Koh Eng-Siew , Brighi Caterina
Published: August 2022

Radiomics is a field of medical imaging analysis that focuses on the extraction of many quantitative imaging features related to shape, intensity and texture. These features are incorporated into models designed to predict important clinical or biological endpoints for patients. Attention for radiomics research has recently grown dramatically due to the increased use of imaging and the availability of large, publicly available imaging datasets. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients stand to benefit from this emerging research field as radiomics has the potential to assess the biological heterogeneity of the tumour, which contributes significantly to the inefficacy of current standard of care therapy. Radiomics models still require further development before they are implemented clinically in GBM patient management. Challenges relating to the standardisation of the radiomics process and the validation of radiomic models impede the progress of research towards clinical implementation. In this manuscript, we review the current state of radiomics in GBM, and we highlight the barriers to clinical implementation and discuss future validation studies needed to advance radiomics models towards clinical application.
A Review of Medicinal Plants of the Himalayas with Anti-Proliferative Activity for the Treatment of Various Cancers
Authors: Regassa Hailemeleak , Sourirajan Anuradha , Kumar Vikas , Pandey Sadanand , Kumar Deepak , Dev Kamal
Published: August 2022

Cancer is a serious and significantly progressive disease. Next to cardiovascular disease, cancer has become the most common cause of mortality in the entire world. Several factors, such as environmental factors, habitual activities, genetic factors, etc., are responsible for cancer. Many cancer patients seek alternative and/or complementary treatments because of the high death rate linked with cancer and the adverse side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Traditional medicine has a long history that begins with the hunt for botanicals to heal various diseases, including cancer. In the traditional medicinal system, several plants used to treat diseases have many bioactive compounds with curative capability, thereby also helping in disease prevention. Plants also significantly contributed to the modern pharmaceutical industry throughout the world. In the present review, we have listed 33 medicinal plants with active and significant anticancer activity, as well as their anticancer compounds. This article will provide a basic set of information for researchers interested in developing a safe and nontoxic active medicinal plant-based treatment for cancer. The research will give a scientific foundation for the traditional usage of these medicinal herbs to treat cancer.
Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Metastasis Suppressors NME1 and NME2 Modify Lipid Metabolism in Fibroblasts
Authors: Mátyási Barbara , Petővári Gábor , Dankó Titanilla , Butz Henriett , Likó István , Lőw Péter , Petit Isabelle , Bittar Randa , Bonnefont-Rousselot Dominique , Farkas Zsolt , Szeniczey Tamás , Molnár Kinga , Pálóczi Krisztina , Buzás Edit I. , Boissan Mathieu , Sebestyén Anna , Takács-Vellai Krisztina
Published: August 2022

Nowadays, extracellular vesicles (EVs) raise a great interest as they are implicated in intercellular communication between cancer and stromal cells. Our aim was to understand how vesicular NME1 and NME2 released by breast cancer cells influence the tumour microenvironment. As a model, we used human invasive breast carcinoma cells overexpressing NME1 or NME2, and first analysed in detail the presence of both isoforms in EV subtypes by capillary Western immunoassay (WES) and immunoelectron microscopy. Data obtained by both methods showed that NME1 was present in medium-sized EVs or microvesicles, whereas NME2 was abundant in both microvesicles and small-sized EVs or exosomes. Next, human skin-derived fibroblasts were treated with NME1 or NME2 containing EVs, and subsequently mRNA expression changes in fibroblasts were examined. RNAseq results showed that the expression of fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism-related genes was decreased significantly in response to NME1 or NME2 containing EV treatment. We found that FASN (fatty acid synthase) and ACSS2 (acyl-coenzyme A synthetase short-chain family member 2), related to fatty acid synthesis and oxidation, were underexpressed in NME1/2-EV-treated fibroblasts. Our data show an emerging link between NME-containing EVs and regulation of tumour metabolism.
Thyroid Disease Prediction Using Selective Features and Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Chaganti Rajasekhar , Rustam Furqan , De La Torre Díez Isabel , Mazón Juan Luis Vidal , Rodríguez Carmen Lili , Ashraf Imran
Published: August 2022

Thyroid disease prediction has emerged as an important task recently. Despite existing approaches for its diagnosis, often the target is binary classification, the used datasets are small-sized and results are not validated either. Predominantly, existing approaches focus on model optimization and the feature engineering part is less investigated. To overcome these limitations, this study presents an approach that investigates feature engineering for machine learning and deep learning models. Forward feature selection, backward feature elimination, bidirectional feature elimination, and machine learning-based feature selection using extra tree classifiers are adopted. The proposed approach can predict Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (primary hypothyroid), binding protein (increased binding protein), autoimmune thyroiditis (compensated hypothyroid), and non-thyroidal syndrome (NTIS) (concurrent non-thyroidal illness). Extensive experiments show that the extra tree classifier-based selected feature yields the best results with 0.99 accuracy and an F1 score when used with the random forest classifier. Results suggest that the machine learning models are a better choice for thyroid disease detection regarding the provided accuracy and the computational complexity. K-fold cross-validation and performance comparison with existing studies corroborate the superior performance of the proposed approach.
Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Multi-National Cohorts of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) of Breast
Authors: Badve Sunil S. , Cho Sanghee , Lu Xiaoyu , Cao Sha , Ghose Soumya , Thike Aye Aye , Tan Puay Hoon , Ocal Idris Tolgay , Generali Daniele , Zanconati Fabrizio , Harris Adrian L. , Ginty Fiona , Gökmen-Polar Yesim
Published: August 2022

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are prognostic in invasive breast cancer. However, their prognostic significance in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has been controversial. To investigate the prognostic role of TILs in DCIS outcome, we used different scoring methods for TILs in multi-national cohorts from Asian and European women. Self-described race was genetically confirmed using QC Infinium array combined with radmixture software. Stromal TILs, touching TILs, circumferential TILs, and hotspots were quantified on H&E-stained slides and correlated with the development of second breast cancer events (BCE) and other clinico-pathological variables. In univariate survival analysis, age older than 50 years, hormone receptor positivity and the presence of circumferential TILs were weakly associated with the absence of BCE at the 5-year follow-up in all cohorts (p < 0.03; p < 0.02; and p < 0.02, respectively, adjusted p = 0.11). In the multivariable analysis, circumferential TILs were an independent predictor of a better outcome (Wald test p = 0.01), whereas younger age was associated with BCE. Asian patients were younger with larger, higher grade, HR negative DCIS lesions, and higher TIL variables. The spatial arrangement of TILs may serve as a better prognostic indicator in DCIS cases than stromal TILs alone and may be added in guidelines for TILs evaluation in DCIS.
Deposition of Pt Nanoparticles by Ascorbic Acid on Composite Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile-Based Carbon Nanofiber for HT-PEM Fuel Cell Cathodes
Authors: Ponomarev Igor I. , Skupov Kirill M. , Zhigalina Olga M. , Khmelenin Dmitry N. , Ponomarev Ivan I. , Vtyurina Elizaveta S. , Cherkovskiy Evgeny N. , Basu Victoria G. , Modestov Alexander D.
Published: August 2022

The efficient use of renewable energy sources requires development of new electrocatalytic materials for electrochemical energy storage systems, particularly fuel cells. To increase durability of high temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cell (HT-PEMFC), Pt/carbon black based catalysts should be replaced by more durable ones, for example Pt/carbon nanofibers (CNF). Here, we report for the first time the quantitative ascorbic acid assisted deposition of Pt onto electrospun polyacrylonitrile-based CNF composite materials. The effect of their subsequent post-treatment at various temperatures (250 and 500 °C) and media (vacuum or argon-hydrogen mixture) on the Pt/C catalyst morphology is investigated. All obtained samples are thoroughly studied by high resolution electron microscopy, and Pt electrochemically active specific surface area was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry.
3D-Structured Au(NiMo)/Ti Catalysts for the Electrooxidation of Glucose
Authors: Balčiūnaitė Aldona , Upskuvienė Daina , Antanaitis Augustas , Šimkūnaitė Dijana , Tamašauskaitė-Tamašiūnaitė Loreta , Vaičiūnienė Jūratė , Norkus Eugenijus
Published: August 2022

In this study, 3D-structured NiMo coatings have been constructed via the widely used electrodeposition method on a Ti surface and decorated with very small Au crystallites by galvanic displacement (Au(NiMo)/Ti). The catalysts have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Different Au(NiMo)/Ti catalysts, which had Au loadings of 1.8, 2.3, and 3.9 µgAu cm−2, were prepared. The electrocatalytic activity of the Au(NiMo)/Ti catalysts was examined with respect to the oxidation of glucose in alkaline media by cyclic voltammetry. It was found that the Au(NiMo)/Ti catalysts with Au loadings in the range of 1.8 up to 3.9 µgAu cm−2 had a higher activity compared to that of NiMo/Ti. A direct glucose-hydrogen peroxide (C6H12O6-H2O2) single fuel cell was constructed with the different Au-loading-containing Au(NiMo)/Ti catalysts as the anode and Pt as the cathode. The fuel cells exhibited an open circuit voltage of ca. 1.0 V and peak power densities up to 8.75 mW cm−2 at 25 °C. The highest specific peak power densities of 2.24 mW µgAu−1 at 25 °C were attained using the Au(NiMo)/Ti catalyst with the Au loading of 3.9 µg cm−2 as the anode.
Electrochemical Characteristics of Nanosized Cu, Ni, and Zn Cobaltite Spinel Materials
Authors: Mostafa Mohamed Mokhtar M. , Bajafar Wejdan , Gu Lin , Narasimharao Katabathini , Abdel Salam Mohamed , Alshehri Abdulmohsen , Khdary Nezar H. , Al-Faifi Sulaiman , Chowdhury Abhishek Dutta
Published: August 2022

For a long time, transition metal oxide systems have been considered well explored materials in heterogeneous catalysis. Amongst, the spinel-type oxides, materials such as cobaltites (Co3O4) received significant attention, owing to their use in many industrial applications. In the present study, nanosized Cu, Ni, and Zn cobaltite spinel oxides were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. Physicochemical characterization of the synthesized materials was performed utilizing XRD, HRTEM, CO2-TPD, and XPS techniques. The textural characteristics (BET-surface area, pore size, etc.) of samples were determined from N2 physisorption measurements at −196 °C. The CO2-electrocatalytic reduction was selected as a model reaction to evaluate the electrochemical performance of the synthesized spinel cobaltites. For Ni, Cu, and Zn spinel materials, hydrogen was produced as the main product at the whole potential, along with other products, such as CO and HCOOH. Despite the advantages, the catalytic electrochemical CO2 reduction performance of spinel cobaltite catalysts is still far from adequate, which is principally ascribed to the low number of active sites combined with poor electrical conductivity.
Copper Incorporated Molybdenum Trioxide Nanosheet Realizing High-Efficient Performance for Hydrogen Production
Authors: Chen Pengzuo , Huang Weixia , Li Kaixun , Feng Dongmei , Tong Yun
Published: August 2022

The development of highly active non-precious metal electrocatalysts is crucial for advancing the practical application of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Doping engineering is one of the important strategies to optimize the electrocatalytic activity of electrocatalysts. Herein, we put forward a simple strategy to optimize the catalytic activity of MoO3 material by incorporating the Cu atoms into the interlayer (denoted as Cu-MoO3). The prepared Cu-MoO3 nanosheet has a larger surface area, higher conductivity, and strong electron interactions, which contributes to optimal reaction kinetics of the HER process. As a result, the Cu-MoO3 nanosheet only needs a small overpotential of 106 mV to reach the geometric current density of 10 mA cm−2. In addition, it also delivers a low Tafel slope of 83 mV dec−1, as well as high stability and Faraday efficiency. Notably, when using the Cu-MoO3 as a cathode to construct the water electrolyzer, it only needs 1.55 V to reach the 10 mA cm−2, indicating its promising application in hydrogen generation. This work provides a novel type of design strategy for a highly active electrocatalyst for an energy conversion system.
Repetitive Sequence Transcription in Breast Cancer
Authors: Arancio Walter , Coronnello Claudia
Published: August 2022

Repetitive sequences represent about half of the human genome. They are actively transcribed and play a role during development and in epigenetic regulation. The altered activity of repetitive sequences can lead to genomic instability and they can contribute to the establishment or the progression of degenerative diseases and cancer transformation. In this work, we analyzed the expression profiles of DNA repetitive sequences in the breast cancer specimens of the HMUCC cohort. Satellite expression is generally upregulated in breast cancers, with specific families upregulated per histotype: in HER2-enriched cancers, they are the human satellite II (HSATII), in luminal A and B, they are part of the ALR family and in triple-negative, they are part of SAR and GSAT families, together with a perturbation in the transcription from endogenous retroviruses and their LTR sequences. We report that the background expression of repetitive sequences in healthy tissues of cancer patients differs from the tissues of non-cancerous controls. To conclude, peculiar patterns of expression of repetitive sequences are reported in each specimen, especially in the case of transcripts arising from satellite repeats.
S1P-Induced TNF-α and IL-6 Release from PBMCs Exacerbates Lung Cancer-Associated Inflammation
Authors: Terlizzi Michela , Colarusso Chiara , Somma Pasquale , De Rosa Ilaria , Panico Luigi , Pinto Aldo , Sorrentino Rosalinda
Published: August 2022

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is involved in inflammatory signaling/s associated with the development of respiratory disorders, including cancer. However, the underlying mechanism/s are still elusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of S1P on circulating blood cells obtained from healthy volunteers and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. To pursue our goal, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and stimulated with S1P. We found that the administration of S1P did not induce healthy PBMCs to release pro-inflammatory cytokines. In sharp contrast, S1P significantly increased the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 from lung cancer-derived PBMCs. This effect was S1P receptor 3 (S1PR3)-dependent. The pharmacological blockade of ceramidase and sphingosine kinases (SPHKs), key enzymes for S1P synthesis, completely reduced the release of both TNF-α and IL-6 after S1P addition on lung cancer-derived PBMCs. Interestingly, S1P-induced IL-6, but not TNF-α, release from lung cancer-derived PBMCs was mTOR- and K-Ras-dependent, while NF-κB was not involved. These data identify S1P as a bioactive lipid mediator in a chronic inflammation-driven diseases such as NSCLC. In particular, the higher presence of S1P could orchestrate the cytokine milieu in NSCLC, highlighting S1P as a pro-tumor driver.
Influence of Nickel Doping on Ultrahigh Toluene Sensing Performance of Core-Shell ZnO Microsphere Gas Sensor
Authors: Li Zhenhua , Li Sijia , Song Zijian , Yang Xueli , Wang Ziyan , Zhang Hao , Guo Lanlan , Sun Caixuan , Liu Hongyan , Shao Junkai , Cheng Yehong , Pan Guofeng
Published: August 2022

As a volatile organic compound, toluene is extremely harmful to the environment and human health. In this work, through a simple one-step solvothermal method, Ni-doped ZnO sensitive materials (0.5, 1, and 2 at% Ni-doped ZnO) with a core-shell morphology were synthesized for the first time for toluene gas detection. The sensing test results showed that the sensor based on 1 at% Ni-doped ZnO exhibited the best toluene sensing performance. The response was up to 210 to 100 ppm toluene at 325 °C. The sensor exhibited high selectivity, fast response/recovery characteristics (2/77 s), and low detection limit (500 ppb, 3.5). Furthermore, we carried out molecular-level research on the sensitive material prepared in this experiment by various characterization methods. The SEM characterization results showed that ZnO and Ni-doped ZnO possessed the core-shell morphology, and the average grain size decreased with the increase in the Ni doping content. The UV–Vis test showed that the band gap of ZnO became smaller with the increase in the Ni doping amount. The enhanced toluene sensing performance of 1 at% Ni-doped ZnO could be ascribed to the structural sensitization and Ni doping sensitization, which are discussed in detail in the sensing mechanism section.
The Effects of Commercial Pesticide Formulations on the Function of In Vitro and In Vivo Assay Systems: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Esimbekova Elena N. , Kalyabina Valeriya P. , Kopylova Kseniya V. , Lonshakova-Mukina Victoria I. , Antashkevich Anna A. , Torgashina Irina G. , Lukyanenko Kirill A. , Kratasyuk Valentina A.
Published: August 2022

Pesticides are commonly used in agriculture and are an important factor of food security for humankind. However, the overuse of pesticides can harm non-target organisms, and, thus, it is vital to comprehensively study their effects on the different metabolic pathways of living organisms. In the present study, enzyme-inhibition-based assays have been used to investigate the effects of commercial pesticide formulations on the key enzymes of the organisms, which catalyze a wide variety of metabolic reactions (protein catabolism, lactic acid fermentation, alcohol metabolism, the conduction of nerve impulses, etc.). Assay conditions have been optimized, and the limitations of the methods used in the study, which are related to the choice of the solvent for commercial pesticide formulations and optical effects occurring when commercial pesticide formulations are mixed with solutions of enzymes and substrates of assay systems, have been revealed. The effects of commercial pesticide formulations on simple chemoenzymatic assay systems (single-enzyme reactions) have been compared to their effects on complex multicomponent molecular systems (multi-enzyme reactions) and organisms (luminescent bacterium). The in vitro assay systems have shown higher sensitivity to pesticide exposure than the in vivo assay system. The sensitivity of the in vitro assay systems increases with the elongation of the chain of conjugated chemoenzymatic reactions. The effects exerted by commercial pesticide formulations with the same active ingredient but produced by different manufacturers on assay system functions have been found to differ from each other.
Associations of Gender Dissatisfaction with Adolescent Mental Distress and Sexual Victimization
Authors: Lian Qiguo , Zuo Xiayun , Yu Chunyan , Lou Chaohua , Tu Xiaowen , Zhou Weijin
Published: August 2022

Gender dissatisfaction is often linked to adverse health outcomes and is an under-researched area of adolescent health. The aim of our study was to examine the associations of gender dissatisfaction with adolescent mental distress and sexual victimization. We conducted a cross-sectional study in April 2019 using a computerized self-administered questionnaire to collect data on the gender dissatisfaction, mental distress, and sexual victimization among Chinese adolescents. We used multivariate logistic models to estimate sex-stratified adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of gender dissatisfaction with mental distress and sexual victimization. Our study involved 538 female and 556 male students from grades 7 to 11. Among the female students, gender dissatisfaction was significantly associated with depression (AOR, 2.04, 95%CI, 1.17–3.58), anxiety (AOR, 2.13, 95%CI, 2.00–2.27), suicidal ideation (AOR, 2.36, 95%CI, 2.02–2.76), sexting victimization (AOR, 1.67, 95%CI, 1.11–2.51), and nonphysical sexual harassment (AOR, 1.72, 95%CI, 1.08–2.76). Among the male students, gender dissatisfaction was significantly associated with oral-–genital contact (AOR, 5.86, 95%CI, 2.74–12.54), attempted sexual assault (AOR, 9.63, 95%CI, 6.91–13.42), and completed sexual assault (AOR, 14.71, 95%CI, 1.16–187.33). Our findings suggest gender dissatisfaction is associated with adolescent mental distress and sexual victimization, underscoring the importance of implementing comprehensive sexual education with gender perspectives in China.
Disruption of the Corticospinal Tract in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Case Series
Authors: Lee Jae , Kim Jong , Byun Dong , Son Su
Published: August 2022

Three patients who exhibited hemiplegic symptoms on conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), during maintenance treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, are reported. All patients exhibited unilateral motor weakness and poor hand function during chemotherapy. Conventional MRI revealed no definite abnormal lesions. However, in diffusion tensor tractography, the affected corticospinal tract on the contralateral side, consistently with clinical dysfunction, revealed disrupted integrity, decreased fractional anisotropy, and increased apparent diffusion coefficient compared to the results of the unaffected side or control participants. Control participants matched for age, sex, and duration from leukemia diagnosis, who underwent chemotherapy but had no motor impairments, exhibited preserved integrity of both corticospinal tracts. Diffusion tensor tractography can help evaluate patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and neurological dysfunction.
Understanding the Role of a Cr Transition Layer in the Hot-Salt Corrosion Behavior of an AlSi Alloy Coating
Authors: Liu Tianxin , Chen Wei , Hu Suying , Xiang Lin , Gao Xu , Xie Zhiwen
Published: August 2022

The effect of a chromium (Cr) transition layer on the hot-salt corrosion behavior of an AlSi alloy coating was studied. Hot-salt corrosion experiments were performed at 650 °C and corrosion kinetic curves were plotted. The weight gain of the AlSi-coated samples increased to 0.89 mg/cm2 at 100 h and then decreased steadily to 0.77 mg/cm2 at 200 h. The weight of the AlSi-coated samples with the addition of a Cr transition layer increased immediately to 0.79 mg/cm2 at 20 h and then gradually increased to 0.85 mg/cm2 at 200 h. This Cr diffusion promoted the preferential creation of an Al2O3 layer, which effectively hindered the upward diffusion of Fe and also resulted in the production of a Cr2O3-SiO2 layer, which impeded the multi-scale salt mixture’s penetration. The Cr diffusion also caused a notable seal-healing effect, which healed the micro-pores. These oxidation and degradation reactions were considerably repressed by the high barrier properties of these oxide layers and the dense surface, resulting in the increased hot-salt corrosion resistance of the AlSi alloy coating. The current findings provide a feasible strategy for the design of a diffusion barrier layer of a thermal protective coating on martensitic stainless steel.
Study on Nanoscale Friction Behavior of TiC/Ni Composites by Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Zheng Min , Qu Dingfeng , Zhu Zongxiao , Chen Weihua , Zhang Zhou , Wu Zhuo , Wang Linjun , Ma Xuezhong
Published: August 2022

To systematically investigate the friction and wear behavior of TiC/Ni composites under microscopic, the molecular dynamics (MD) method was used to simulate nano-friction on the TiC/Ni composite. Mechanical properties, abrasion depth, wear rates, temperature change of the material during friction, the microscopic deformation behavior, and the evolution of nickel-based titanium carbide microstructure at high-speed friction have been systematically studied. It was found that the variation of tangential and normal forces is related to the relative position of the grinding ball and the TiC phase, when the grinding ball is located above the TiC phase, large fluctuations in the frictional force occur and extreme value of normal force appears, shallow abrasion depth and low wear rate. During the friction process, there is a high-stress area between the grinding ball and the TiC phase, generating a large number of dislocations. The presence of the TiC phase hinders the development and extension of defects, resulting in a significant increase in temperature. At the same time, dislocation entanglement occurs, which improves the wear resistance of the workpiece. In addition, it was also found that the internal atomic motion guided by the carbonized phase was related to the position of the grinding ball relative to the reinforced phase, with the reinforced phase presenting a tendency to rotate in different directions when the grinding ball was in different positions relative to the reinforced phase, which in turn affected the deformation of the whole workpiece.
Low and Anisotropic Tensile Strength and Thermal Conductivity in the Single-Layer Fullerene Network Predicted by Machine-Learning Interatomic Potentials
Authors: Mortazavi Bohayra , Zhuang Xiaoying
Published: August 2022

In the latest ground-breaking experimental advancement (Nature (2022), 606, 507), zero-dimensional fullerenes (C60) have been covalently bonded to form single-layer two-dimensional (2D) fullerene network, namely quasi-hexagonal-phase fullerene (qHPC60). Motivated by the aforementioned accomplishment, in this communication, for the first time, we explore the phononic and mechanical properties of the qHPC60 monolayer, employing state-of-the-art machine-learning interatomic potentials. By employing an efficient passive-training methodology, the thermal and mechanical properties were examined with an ab-initio level of accuracy using the classical molecular dynamics simulations. Predicted phonon dispersion confirmed the desirable dynamical stability of the qHPC60 monolayer. Room temperature lattice thermal conductivity is predicted to be ultralow and around 2.9 (5.7) W/m·K along the x(y) directions, which are by three orders of magnitude lower than that of the graphene. Close to the ground state and at room temperature, the ultimate tensile strength of the qHPC60 monolayer along the x(y) directions is predicted to be 7.0 (8.8) and 3.3 (4.2) GPa, respectively, occurring at corresponding strains of around 0.07 and 0.029, respectively. The presented computationally accelerated first-principles results confirm highly anisotropic and remarkably low tensile strength and phononic thermal conductivity of the qHPC60 fullerene network nanosheets.
Study of Electromagnetic Shielding Properties of Composites Based on Glass Fiber Metallized with Metal Films
Authors: Buzko Vladimir , Babushkin Maxim , Ivanin Sergey , Goryachko Alexander , Petriev Iliya
Published: August 2022

The article presents the results of an investigation of composites based on manufactured samples of fiberglass metalized with a submicron film made of brass, neusilber and non-magnetic SS304 stainless steel. It was found that, due to their characteristics, the samples of metallized fiberglass are an effective electromagnetic wave-absorbing filler for various building and construction materials; The developed metallized fiberglass samples are also useful for the creation of EMI-shielding building materials for protection from microwave radiation. With an increase in the proportion of metalized glass fiber, the electromagnetic shielding of the studied composites increases systematically. It is determined that at a concentration of 5 wt.% brass-metallized glass fiber, a test composite material with a thickness of 250 mm is able to shield up to 13.7 and 21.2 dB in the 4G and 5G ranges of cellular communication electromagnetic waves, respectively.
Study on the Performance of Sunflower Quasi-Periodic Photonic Crystal Superlens
Authors: Liu Wei , Liu Hechao , Chen Lixia , Zhang Fan
Published: August 2022

A study for the performance of the Sunflower (circular symmetric structure) quasi-periodic photonic crystal superlens is presented. A series of parameters, including thickness, refractive index and duty cycle, of the Sunflower structure are discussed. The analysis of this study illustrates that the Sunflower structure could provide excellent focusing imaging due to its good circular symmetry and also have negative refraction in low refractive index materials. It provides an important way to choose an alternative to positive refraction lenses in the future.
Significance of Alloying Elements on the Mechanical Characteristics of Mg-Based Materials for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Sharma Sachin Kumar , Saxena Kuldeep Kumar , Malik Vinayak , Mohammed Kahtan A. , Prakash Chander , Buddhi Dharam , Dixit Saurav
Published: August 2022

Magnesium alloys are widely employed in various applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and superior mechanical properties as compared to unalloyed Magnesium. Alloying is considered an important way to enhance the strength of the metal matrix composite but it significantly influences the damping property of pure magnesium, while controlling the rate of corrosion for Mg-based material remains critical in the biological environment. Therefore, it is essential to reinforce the magnesium alloy with a suitable alloying element that improves the mechanical characteristics and resistance to corrosion of Mg-based material. Biocompatibility, biodegradability, lower stress shielding effect, bio-activeness, and non-toxicity are the important parameters for biomedical applications other than mechanical and corrosion properties. The development of various surface modifications is also considered a suitable approach to control the degradation rate of Mg-based materials, making lightweight Mg-based materials highly suitable for biomedical implants. This review article discusses the various binary and ternary Mg alloys, which are mostly composed of Al, Ca, Zn, Mn, and rare earth (RE) elements as well as various non-toxic elements which are Si, Bi, Ag, Ca, Zr, Zn, Mn, Sr, Li, Sn, etc. The effects of these alloying elements on the microstructure, the mechanical characteristics, and the corrosion properties of Mg-based materials were analyzed. The mechanical and corrosion behavior of Mg-based materials depends upon the percentage of elements and the number of alloying elements used in Mg. The outcomes suggested that ZEK100, WE43, and EW62 (Mg-6% Nd-2% Y-0.5% Zr) alloys are effectively used for biomedical applications, having preferable biodegradable, biocompatible, bioactive implant materials with a lower corrosion rate.
First-Principles Calculations of the Structural, Electronic, Optical, and Mechanical Properties of 21 Pyrophosphate Crystals
Authors: Hasan Sahib , Rulis Paul , Ching Wai-Yim
Published: August 2022

Pyrophosphate crystals have a wide array of applications in industrial and biomedical fields. However, fundamental understanding of their electronic structure, optical, and mechanical properties is still scattered and incomplete. In the present research, we report a comprehensive theoretical investigation of 21 pyrophosphates A2M (H2P2O7)2•2H2O with either triclinic or orthorhombic crystal structure. The molecule H2P2O7 is the dominant molecular unit, whereas A = (K, Rb, NH4, Tl), M = (Zn, Cu, Mg, Ni, Co, Mn), and H2O stand for the cation elements, transition metals, and the water molecules, respectively. The electronic structure, interatomic bonding, partial charge distribution, optical properties, and mechanical properties are investigated by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). Most of these 21 crystals are theoretically investigated for the first time. The calculated results show a complex interplay between A, M, H2P2O7, and H2O, resulting in either metallic, half-metallic, or semi-conducting characteristics. The novel concept of total bond order density (TBOD) is used as a single quantum mechanical metric to characterize the internal cohesion of these crystals to correlate with the calculated properties, especially the mechanical properties. This work provides a large database for pyrophosphate crystals and a road map for potential applications of a wider variety of phosphates.
Sustainable Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Raphanus sativus Extract and Its Biomedical Applications
Authors: Al Awadh Ahmed Abdullah , Shet Anil R. , Patil Laxmikant R. , Shaikh Ibrahim Ahmed , Alshahrani Mohammed Merae , Nadaf Roshan , Mahnashi Mater H. , Desai Shivalingsarj V. , Muddapur Uday M. , Achappa Sharanappa , Hombalimath Veeranna S. , Khan Aejaz Abdullatif , Gouse Helen Suban Mohammed , Iqubal S. M. Shakeel , Kumbar Vijay
Published: August 2022

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are one of the most widely used metal oxide nanoparticles in biological applications because of their outstanding biocompatibility, affordability, and low toxicity. In biomedicine, ZnONPs have shown promise, particularly in the disciplines of anticancer and antibacterial fields. In comparison to other standard synthesis methods, the environmentally-friendly synthesis of metallic nanoparticles utilizing various plant extracts is a good option. The current research focuses on the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) from R. sativus leaf extract under various physical conditions (Precipitation method). Analytical methods were used to confirm and characterize the produced ZnONPs. The spherical nature of the produced nanoparticles was established by SEM analysis. The generation of very pure ZnONPs was confirmed by EDS data. The crystalline nature of the produced nanoparticles, with a particle size of 66.47 nm, was confirmed by XRD. The XRD graphs’ presence of the (100), (002), and (101) planes strongly suggest the production of wurtzite ZnO. The visual and infrared area exhibits transmissions of 84 percent in the pH 10 nanoparticles. The band gap of the nanoparticles increases from 3.34 to 3.38 eV when the pH increases. These nanoparticles were effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The effect of several process parameters such as pH and temperature were investigated, and the best conditions were discovered to be pH 12 and 80 °C, respectively. The effect of ZnONPs was tested with human breast cancer cells (MCF-7), and they showed significant cytotoxic results. Collectively, our data suggest that ZnONPs of R. sativus leaf extract inhibit breast cancer cell lines. The ZnONPs are, therefore, a prospective source of chemopreventive drugs that merit additional exploration in order to uncover lead compounds with cancer chemotherapeutic potential.
Vaginal Microbiome in Reproductive Medicine
Authors: Günther Veronika , Allahqoli Leila , Watrowski Rafal , Maass Nicolai , Ackermann Johannes , von Otte Sören , Alkatout Ibrahim
Published: August 2022

The human microbiome has been given increasing importance in recent years. The establishment of sequencing-based technology has made it possible to identify a large number of bacterial species that were previously beyond the scope of culture-based technologies. Just as microbiome diagnostics has emerged as a major point of focus in science, reproductive medicine has developed into a subject of avid interest, particularly with regard to causal research and treatment options for implantation failure. Thus, the vaginal microbiome is discussed as a factor influencing infertility and a promising target for treatment options. The present review provides an overview of current research concerning the impact of the vaginal microbiome on the outcome of reproductive measures. A non-Lactobacillus-dominated microbiome was shown to be associated with dysbiosis, possibly even bacterial vaginosis. This imbalance has a negative impact on implantation rates in assisted reproductive technologies and may also be responsible for habitual abortions. Screening of the microbiome in conjunction with antibiotic and/or probiotic treatment appears to be one way of improving pregnancy outcomes.
Multimodal Diagnostic Methods of Sepsis in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Rogobete Alexandru Florin , Sandesc Dorel
Published: August 2022

The Special Issue “Multimodal Diagnostic Methods in Sepsis in the Critically Ill Patients” published in Diagnostics, Section “Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics”, reports a series of scientific works from varying international authors regarding different methods of diagnosis and identification of clinical signs in critical patients with sepsis [...]
An Experimental and Virtual Approach to Hip Revision Prostheses
Authors: Duta Alina , Popa Dragos-Laurentiu , Vintila Daniela Doina , Buciu Gabriel , Dina Nicolae Adrian , Ionescu Adriana , Berceanu Mihaela Corina , Calin Daniel Cosmin
Published: August 2022

(1) Introduction: The changes in the joint morphology inevitably lead to prosthesis, but the hip pathology is complex. The hip arthroplasty is a therapeutic solution and can be caused, most frequently, by primary and secondary coxarthrosis due to or followed by traumatic conditions. The main aim of this study was to find the method of revision hip prosthesis that preserves as much bone material as possible and has sufficiently good mechanical strength. (2) Materials and Methods: In this study, in a first step, the two revision prostheses were performed on bone components taken from an animal (cow), and then, they were tested on a mechanical testing machine until the prostheses physically failed, and the force causing their failure was determined. (3) Results: These prostheses were then modelled in a virtual environment and tested using the finite element method (FEM) in order to determine their behaviour under loading from normal human gait. Displacement, strain, and stress maps were obtained. (4) Discussion: Discussions on hip revision prostheses, method, and theory analysis are presented at the end of the paper. (5) Conclusions: Important conclusions are drawn based on comparative analyses. The main conclusion shows that the both orthopaedic prostheses provide a very good resistance.
An Evaluation of the Quality of Plain Radiograph Interpretations by Radiology Trainees: A Single Institution Experience
Authors: A Halim Nurliyana Izyan , Mohd Zaki Faizah , Manan Hanani Abdul , Mohamed Zahiah
Published: August 2022

Introduction: The primary communication between the radiologist and referrer is through the radiological report. However, there are incidents of misinterpretation during radiologist training. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the accuracy level and incidence of interpretation errors for plain radiographs among radiology trainees at our institution. Materials and Methods: The present study retrospectively reviewed 508 reported plain radiographs for one year, and two radiologists subsequently evaluated these plain radiographs. The initial diagnosis by the trainee was compared with the radiologists’ evaluation, and the results were categorized as either ‘accurate’, ‘minor discrepancy’, or ‘major discrepancy’. The data were analyzed concerning the overall performance, year of trainee, anatomic area, patient age group, and radiograph type. A chi-square test was performed, with p < 0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results: The overall accuracy rate was 69%, with minor and major discrepancy rates of 21% and 10%, respectively. There was an insignificant increase in overall accuracy with increased years of training, despite a reduction to 58% accuracy among Year 3 trainees. The accuracy level increased between Year 1, Year 2 and Year 4 by 70%, 71% and 75%, respectively (p > 0.05). The accuracy rates for both the adult and pediatric age groups were not statistically significant. The mobile radiographs showed lower accuracy rate of reporting than the plain radiographs. Conclusion: The radiological trainee interpretations for plain radiographs had an average rating with low discrepancy rates. The Year 3 trainees had the lowest accuracy compared to the other trainee groups. However, the present study suggests the need for further research to determine if the current outcomes are outliers or are indicative of a real phenomenon.
Prediction Model for Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus Using Korean Public Health Examination Data (2002–2017)
Authors: Jeong Yong Whi , Jung Yeojin , Jeong Hoyeon , Huh Ji Hye , Sung Ki-Chul , Shin Jeong-Hun , Kim Hyeon Chang , Kim Jang Young , Kang Dae Ryong
Published: August 2022

Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are major chronic diseases that are important factors in the management of cardiovascular disease. In order to prevent the occurrence of chronic diseases, proper health management through periodic health check-ups is necessary. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus according to the health check-up, and to develop a predictive model for hypertension and diabetes according to the health check-up. We used the National Health Insurance Corporation database of Korea and checked whether hypertension or diabetes occurred from that date according to the number of health check-ups over the past 10 years. Compared to those who underwent five health check-ups, those who participated in the first screening had hypertension (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 2.14–2.22), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.30–1.35) and both diseases (OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 2.39–2.53); individuals who underwent 10 screenings had hypertension (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.83–0.88), diabetes mellitus (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.81–0.85) and both diseases (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.79–0.87). Individuals who attended fewer than five screenings compared with individuals who attended five or more screenings had hypertension (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.59–1.62; AUC = 0.66), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.20–1.22; AUC = 0.59) and both diseases (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.72–1.78, AUC = 0.63). The machine learning-based prediction model using XGBoost showed higher performance in all datasets than the conventional logistic regression model in predicting hypertension (accuracy, 0.828 vs. 0.628; F1-score, 0.800 vs. 0.633; AUC, 828 vs. 0.630), diabetes mellitus (accuracy, 0.707 vs. 0.575; F1-score, 0.663 vs. 0.576; AUC, 0.710 vs. 0.575) and both diseases (accuracy, 0.950 vs. 0.612; F1-score, 0.950 vs. 0.614; AUC, 0.952 vs. 0.612). It was found that health check-up had a great influence on the occurrence of hypertension and diabetes, and screening frequency was more important than other factors in the variable importances.
Success Rates of Zygomatic Implants for the Rehabilitation of Severely Atrophic Maxilla: A Systematic Review
Authors: Solà Pérez Aleix , Pastorino David , Aparicio Carlos , Pegueroles Neyra Marta , Khan Rabia Sannam , Wright Simon , Ucer Cemal
Published: August 2022

Zygomatic implants are a treatment solution for patients with severe maxillary atrophy. This treatment option allows delivering immediate fixed teeth within 24 h. Numerous peer-reviewed publications have reported different success rates, resulting in a disagreement on the topic. Therefore, the overall efficacy and predictability of this rehabilitation is still a matter of discussion. With this study, we aimed to identify the published literature on the use of zygomatic implants for the reconstruction of the severely atrophic maxilla and report the cumulative success rate (CSR) as a function of follow-up time. A systematic review of the literature on zygomatic implant for the treatment of severe maxillary atrophy was performed and 196 publications were included in the study. The cumulative success rate of zygomatic implants for the treatment of severe maxillary atrophy was 98.5% at less than 1 year, 97.5% between 1 and 3 years, 96.8% between 3 and 5 years and 96.1% after more than 5 years. The most commonly reported complications were soft tissue dehiscence, rhinosinusitis and prosthetic failures. The treatment of severe lack of bone in the upper maxilla with zygomatic implants is a safe procedure, reaching a cumulative success rate of 96.1% after more than 5 years.