bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Updates on Functional and Morphologic Features via State-of-the-Art Testing in Some Clinically Evident Ocular Diseases
Authors: Yu Minzhong , Kurup Shree K.
Published: August 2023

Recent research on functional and morphologic features is relevant to the diagnosis of ocular diseases [...]
Urinary Tract Infections: Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Authors: Pietropaolo Amelia
Published: August 2023

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common pathologies that can affect patients of every age and background [...]
Association between Biomarkers of Inflammation and 10-Year Changes in Aortic Stiffness: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Swamynathan Rithvik , Varadarajan Vinithra , Nguyen Hieu , Wu Colin O. , Liu Kiang , Bluemke David A. , Kachenoura Nadjia , Redheuil Alban , Lima João A. C. , Ambale-Venkatesh Bharath
Published: August 2023

Background. Chronic inflammation is associated with incident cardiovascular events. We study the association between biomarkers of inflammation and subclinical vascular dysfunction measured as proximal aortic stiffness. Methods. MRI imaging was performed in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) at baseline (2000) and at the 10-year follow-up. Aortic arch pulse wave velocity (PWV) and ascending and descending aorta distensibility (AAD, DAD) were measured in 1223 asymptomatic individuals at both exams. Linear regression was used to study the association of baseline inflammation—C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL6), and fibrinogen (Fib)—with baseline and 10-year changes in aortic stiffness (PWV, AAD, DAD). Results. The mean age of the participants was 59 ± 9 years, 47.8% of them were men, 32.6% were hypertensive at baseline, and 7.6% were diabetic. At baseline and follow-up, the mean AAD values were, respectively, 1.73 × 10−3 mmHg−1 and 1.57 × 10−3 mmHg−1, the mean DAD values were 2.19 × 10−3 mmHg−1 and 1.99 × 10−3 mmHg−1, and the mean PWV values were 8.10 m/s and 8.99 m/s. At baseline, the AAD (in 10−3 mmHg−1) and DAD (in 10−3 mmHg−1) were inversely associated with CRP (in mg/L) (AAD coeff: −0.047, p-value: 0.011, DAD coeff: −0.068, p-value: <0.001) and IL6 (in pg/mL) (AAD coeff: −0.098, p-value: 0.003, DAD coeff: −0.14, p-value: <0.001) in a univariable analysis but not after adjustment for demographic variables or cardiovascular risk factors. The baseline DAD was inversely associated with Fib (in mg/dL) (coeff: −0.334, p-value: 0.001). The baseline PWV (in m/s) was positively associated with IL6 (in pg/mL) in a univariable analysis (coeff: 0.054, p-value: 0.014). In a longitudinal analysis, the 10-year changes in DAD were inversely associated with CRP, even after adjustment for demographics and risk factors (DAD coeff: −0.08, p-value 0.044). Conclusions. Higher CRP levels at baseline were independently associated with a 10-year increase in aortic stiffness, measured as decreased aortic distensibility.
Resilience of Medium-to-High-Rise Ductile Coupled Shear Walls Located in Canadian Seismic Zones and Strengthened with Externally Bonded Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite: Nonlinear Time History Assessment
Authors: Abbaszadeh Ali , Chaallal Omar
Published: August 2023

Coupled shear walls (CSWs) are structural elements used in reinforced concrete (RC) buildings to provide lateral stability and resistance against seismic and wind forces. When subjected to high levels of seismic loading, CSWs exhibit nonlinear deformation through cracking and crushing in concrete and yielding in reinforcements, thereby dissipating a significant amount of energy, leading to their permanent deformation. Externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (EB-FRP) sheets have proven to be effective in strengthening RC structures against various loading and environmental conditions. In addition, their high strength-to-weight ratio makes them an attractive solution as they can be easily applied without significantly increasing the structure’s weight. This study investigates the effectiveness of using EB-FRP sheets to reduce residual displacement in CSWs during severe earthquake loadings. Two series of 15-story and 20-story CSWs in Western and Eastern Canadian seismic zones, which serve as representative models for medium- and high-rise structures, were evaluated through nonlinear time history analysis. The numerical simulation of all CSWs and strengthened elements was carried out using the RUAUMOKO 2D software. The findings of this study provided evidence of the effectiveness of EB-FRP sheets in reducing residual deformation in CSWs. Additionally, significant reductions in the rotation of the coupling beams (CBs) and the inter-story drift ratio were observed. The results also revealed that bonding vertical FRP sheets to boundary elements and confining enhancement by wrapping CBs and wall piers is a very effective configuration in mitigating residual deformations.
Role of Nuclear Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping Compared to New Alternative Imaging Methods
Authors: Cuccurullo Vincenzo , Rapa Marco , Catalfamo Barbara , Cascini Giuseppe Lucio
Published: August 2023

With the emergence of sentinel node technology, many patients can be staged histopathologically using lymphatic mapping and selective lymphadenectomy. Structural imaging by using US, CT and MR permits precise measurement of lymph node volume, which is strongly associated with neoplastic involvement. Sentinel lymph node detection has been an ideal field of application for nuclear medicine because anatomical data fails to represent the close connections between the lymphatic system and regional lymph nodes, or, more specifically, to identify the first draining lymph node. Hybrid imaging has demonstrated higher accuracy than standard imaging in SLN visualization on images, but it did not change in terms of surgical detection. New alternatives without ionizing radiations are emerging now from “non-radiological” fields, such as ophthalmology and dermatology, where fluorescence or opto-acoustic imaging, for example, are widely used. In this paper, we will analyze the advantages and limits of the main innovative methods in sentinel lymph node detection, including innovations in lymphoscintigraphy techniques that persist as the gold standard to date.
Nursing Care Plan for Patients with Tay–Sachs—A Rare Paediatric Disease
Authors: Cortés-Martín Jonathan , Piqueras-Sola Beatriz , Sánchez-García Juan Carlos , Reinoso-Cobo Andrés , Ramos-Petersen Laura , Díaz-Rodríguez Lourdes , Rodríguez-Blanque Raquel
Published: August 2023

Tay–Sachs disease is classified as a rare paediatric disease of metabolic origin. It is an autosomal recessive inherited disease. The gene responsible for the disease is known as HEXA, and it is located on chromosome 15(15q23). There is currently no effective treatment for Tay–Sachs disease; hence, it is an incurable disease in which patients do not live for more than five years, meaning that nursing care takes on greater importance to maintain quality of life. The main objective of this work is to develop a specific standard nursing care plan by applying an inductive research method supported by nursing methodology using the NANDA-NIC-NOC taxonomy and validated by the Delphi method. This care plan will improve the knowledge of health professionals on this topic and support future studies on the disease. Following its implementation, the care plan proposed in this study aims to increase the quality of life of patients diagnosed with this disease.
The Effect of Price Discrimination on Fairness Perception and Online Hotel Reservation Intention
Authors: Chen Yi-Fen , Pang Tzu-Ting , Kuslina Boedi Hartadi
Published: August 2023

In light of the development of online travel agencies (OTAs), the rules of the entire tourism industry have changed. Due to the ease of finding information and comparing products, consumers can choose a hotel not only by room type, but also by rate, according to their preferences. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of price discrimination on the fairness perception toward reservation intentions. The interaction effects of the brand familiarity and the type of consumers on the fairness perception were also examined. The study used an experimental design, with 2 price discriminations × 2 brand familiarities × 2 regulatory focuses, on a total of 320 valid subjects. The results showed that advantaged-price discriminations had higher fairness perceptions than equal-price discriminations, and that higher fairness perceptions had higher reservation intentions. The interaction effect of brand familiarity showed no significant impact on the fairness perceptions, while the regulatory focus had a mitigating effect on the price discrimination and on the fairness perceptions. This study provides insights into the relationship between online price discrimination and tourism, and it contributes to the literature on hospitality. It also provides the managerial implications for online hotels in developing pricing strategies.
Survey on Cardiogenic Shock and the Use of ECMO and Impella in Spanish Cardiac Critical Care Units
Authors: Martínez-Sellés Manuel , García Carreño Jorge , Martínez-Solano Jorge , Sousa Iago , Juárez-Fernández Miriam
Published: August 2023

Background: Previous studies suggest variability in the management of cardiogenic shock (CS). Methods: An anonymous survey was sent to Spanish hospitals. Results: We obtained 50 answers, mainly from cardiologists (36–72%). The annual average of ECMOs is 16.7 ± 11.3 applications in CS patients and of Impellas is 8.7 ± 8.3 applications in CS patients. Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation is used in the majority of CS ECMOs (31–62%), and Impella is used in 7 (14%). In 36 (72%) cases, ECMO is used as a treatment for cardiac arrest. In 10 cases, ECMO removal is percutaneous (20%). In 25 (50%) cases, age is a relative contraindication; 17 have a mobile ECMO team (34%); and 23 (46%) have received ECMO patients from other centers in the last year. Pre-purged ECMO is only used in 16 (32%). ECMO implantation is carried out under ultrasound guidance in 31 (62%), only with angiography in 3 (6%) and with both in 11 (22%). The Swan–Ganz catheter is used routinely in 8 (16%), only in doubtful cases in 24 (48%), and in most cases in 8 (16%). The ECMO awake strategy is used little or not at all in 28 (56%), in selected cases in 17 (34%), and routinely in 5 (10%). Conclusion: Our study shows a huge variation in the management of patients with CS.
Interested but Uncertain: Carbon Markets and Data Sharing among U.S. Crop Farmers
Authors: Han Guang , Niles Meredith T.
Published: August 2023

The potential for farmers and agriculture to sequester carbon and contribute to global climate change goals is widely discussed. However, there is currently low participation in agricultural carbon markets and a limited understanding of farmer perceptions and willingness to participate. Furthermore, farmers’ concerns regarding data privacy may complicate participation in agricultural carbon markets, which necessitates farmer data sharing with multiple entities. This study aims to address research gaps by assessing farmers’ willingness to participate in agricultural carbon markets, identifying the determinants of farmers’ willingness regarding carbon markets participation, and exploring how farmers’ concerns for data privacy relate to potential participation in agricultural carbon markets. Data were collected through a multistate survey of 246 farmers and analyzed using descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and multinomial regression models. We find that the majority of farmers (71.8%) are aware of carbon markets and would like to sell carbon credits, but they express high uncertainty about carbon market information, policies, markets, and cost impacts. Just over half of farmers indicated they would share their data for education, developing tools and models, and improving markets and supply chains. Farmers who wanted to participate in carbon markets were more likely to have higher farm revenues, more likely to share their data overall, more likely to share their data with private organizations, and more likely to change farming practices and had more positive perceptions of the impact of carbon markets on farm profitability. In conclusion, farmers have a general interest in carbon market participation, but more information is needed to address their uncertainties and concerns.
The Effect of Steel Electropolishing on the Tribological Behavior of a Steel–Bronze Pair in the Mixed and Boundary Lubrication Regimes
Authors: Mašović Robert , Miler Daniel , Čular Ivan , Jakovljević Suzana , Šercer Mario , Žeželj Dragan
Published: August 2023

Electropolishing at high current densities without agitation of the electrolyte results in a pitting phenomenon that produces dimple-like surface features. Although pitting is unfavorable in the electropolishing process, its effect on surface modification, such as surface texturing, has not been thoroughly investigated. Surface topography and chemical composition analyses of electropolished steel revealed surface pits and an oxide surface layer, indicating the presence of surface texture and coating. The resulting surface is characterized by negative skewness and high kurtosis values. The tribological behavior of the electropolished steel-bronze pair is investigated by evaluating coefficients of friction and bronze wear using sliding tests conducted in mixed and boundary lubrication regimes. The results are compared to those of the ground steel-bronze pair. In the mixed and upper range of the boundary lubrication regime, coefficients of friction reduction up to 30% and shorter running-in phases are observed for electropolished steel (electropolished steel μavg = 0.019 vs. ground steel μavg = 0.028). In contrast, the coefficient of friction increased in the lower range of boundary lubrication regime by 50% (electropolished steel μavg = 0.098 vs. ground steel μavg = 0.065). Electropolishing, as a cost- and time-effective method applicable to complex geometries, presents an alternative method for achieving surface modifications aimed at friction reduction and improved tribological behavior for non-conformal contacts in the boundary and mixed lubrication regimes.
Finite Element Analysis of Hierarchical Metamaterial-Based Patterns for Generating High Expansion in Skin Grafting
Authors: Gupta Vivek , Chanda Arnab
Published: August 2023

Burn injuries are very common due to heat, accidents, and fire. Split-thickness skin grafting technique is majorly used to recover the burn sites. In this technique, the complete epidermis and partial dermis layer of the skin are used to make grafts. A small amount of skin is passed into the mesher to create an incision pattern for higher expansion. These grafts are transplanted into the burn sites with the help of sutures for recovering large burn areas. Presently, the maximum expansion possible with skin grafting is very less (<3), which is insufficient for covering larger burn area with a small amount of healthy skin. This study aimed to determine the possibility of employing innovative auxetic skin graft patterns and traditional skin graft patterns with three levels of hierarchy. Six different hierarchical skin graft designs were tested to describe the biomechanical properties. The meshing ratio, Poisson’s ratio, expansion, and induced stresses were quantified for each graft model. The computational results indicated that the expansion potential of the 3rd order auxetic skin graft was highest across all the models. These results are expected to improve burn surgeries and promote skin transplantation research.
Improving PFSA Membranes Using Sulfonated Nanodiamonds
Authors: Shvidchenko Alexandr V. , Odinokov Alexei S. , Primachenko Oleg N. , Gofman Iosif V. , Yevlampieva Natalia P. , Marinenko Elena A. , Lebedev Vasily T. , Kuklin Alexander I. , Kulvelis Yuri V.
Published: August 2023

Aquivion®-type perfluorosulfonic acid membranes with a polytetrafluoroethylene backbone and short side chains with sulfonic acid groups at the ends have great prospects for operating in hydrogen fuel cells. To improve the conducting properties of membranes, various types of nanofillers can be used. We prepared compositional Aquivion®-type membranes with embedded detonation nanodiamond particles. Nanodiamonds were chemically modified with sulfonic acid groups to increase the entire amount of ionogenic groups involved in the proton conductivity mechanism in compositional membranes. We demonstrated the rise of proton conductivity at 0.5–2 wt.% of sulfonated nanodiamonds in membranes, which was accompanied by good mechanical properties. The basic structural elements, conducting channels in membranes, were not destroyed in the presence of nanodiamonds, as follows from small-angle neutron scattering data. The prepared compositional membranes can be used in hydrogen fuel cells to achieve improved performance.
The Cost Benefit of Refinery Effluent Pretreatment Upstream of Membrane Bioreactors
Authors: Dizayee Kasro Kakil Hassan , Raheem Adil Mohammed , Judd Simon J.
Published: August 2023

The established classical method of treating oil refinery effluent is flotation followed by biological treatment. Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) offer more advanced treatment, producing a clarified and potentially reusable treated effluent, but demand robust pretreatment to remove oil and grease (O&G) down to consistent, reliably low levels. An analysis of a full-scale conventional oil refinery ETP (effluent treatment plant) based on flotation alone, coupled with projected performance, energy consumption and costs associated with a downstream MBR, have demonstrated satisfactory performance of flotation-based pretreatment. The flotation processes, comprising an API (American Petroleum Institute) separator followed by dissolved air flotation (DAF), provided ~90% removal of both total suspended solids (TSS) and O&G coupled with 75% COD (chemical oxygen demand) removal. The relative energy consumption and cost of the pretreatment, normalised against both the volume treated and COD removed, was considerably less for the API-DAF sequence compared to the MBR. The combined flotation specific energy consumption in kWh was found to be almost an order of magnitude lower than for the MBR (0.091 vs. 0.86 kWh per m3 effluent treated), and the total cost (in terms of the net present value) around one sixth that of the MBR. However, the nature of the respective waste streams generated and the end disposal of waste solids differ significantly between the pretreatment and MBR stages.
Structure and Physical Properties of Ceramic Materials Based on ZrO2-Sc2O3 for SOFC Electrolytic Membranes Obtained from Powders of Melted Solid Solutions with a Similar Composition
Authors: Agarkov Dmitrii , Borik Mikhail , Buzaeva Ekaterina , Korableva Galina , Kulebyakin Alexey , Kuritsyna Irina , Larina Nataliya , Kyashkin Vladimir , Lomonova Elena , Milovich Filipp , Myzina Valentina , Ryabochkina Polina , Tabachkova Nataliya , Zakharov Denis
Published: August 2023

This paper presents the results of studying the phase composition, luminescent characteristics, and ionic conductivity of ceramic scandium-stabilized solid solutions of zirconium dioxide containing 9 and 10 mol% Sc2O3. Ceramic samples were prepared by sintering powders obtained by grinding melted solid solutions of the same composition. A comparative analysis of the obtained data with similar characteristics of single crystals has been carried out. Differences in the phase composition of ceramics and initial single crystals were found. The effect of the structure and properties of grain boundaries on the ionic conductivity of ceramic samples is discussed. It is shown that the differences in the ionic conductivity of ceramic samples and crystals are mainly due to changes in the structure and phase composition.
Jurassic Uranium-Thorium Deposit of Peralkaline Granitic Rocks, Bokan Mountain, Prince of Wales Island, Southeastern Alaska
Authors: Dostal Jaroslav
Published: August 2023

The Lower Jurassic (ca. 177 Ma) Bokan Mountain granitic complex, located on southern Prince of Wales Island, southernmost Alaska hosts a high-grade uranium-thorium deposit with past production. The complex is a circular body (~3 km in diameter) which intruded Paleozoic granitoids as well as metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks of the Alexander Terrane of the North American Cordillera. This shallow seated intrusion, which is composed of fractionated peralkaline granites, is a zoned body with a dominant core of arfvedsonite granite and a rim of aegirine granite. All the rock-forming minerals typically record a two-stage growth history and aegirine and arfvedsonite were the last major phases to crystallize from the magma. Both arfvedsonite and aegirine granites have overlapping compositions. The rocks have high contents of rare earth elements, Th, U and high field strength elements (Zr, Nb, Hf and Ta) and low contents of Sr, Ba, Eu and Ti, typical of peralkaline granites. The complex hosts structurally controlled rare metal mineralization, which is associated with the late-stage of magma evolution and hydrothermal fluids. Fluorine complexing played a role during the transportation of rare metals in hydrothermal fluids. The U-Th deposit, which occurs at the margin of the aegirine granite zone, includes structurally controlled shear zone-hosted lenses and irregularly shaped pipe-like orebodies. U-Th mineralization is associated with desilicified and albitized granitic rocks and includes mainly uranothorite and uraninite. These minerals mostly form small ovoids in veinlets typically 0.1 to 1 mm wide. The mine produced about 77,000 t of ore at a grade of ~0.76% U3O8 and 3% of ThO2. The parent magma of the pluton was likely derived from a metasomatized lithospheric source (mantle or lower crust), which was enriched by subduction related processes during Paleozoic time.
The Marine Factor 3,5-Dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl Alcohol Represses Adipogenesis in Mouse 3T3-L1 Adipocytes In Vitro: Regulating Diverse Signaling Pathways
Authors: Yamaguchi Masayoshi , Yoshiike Kenji , Watanabe Hideaki , Watanabe Mitsugu
Published: August 2023

The augmentation of adipocytes in the adipose tissues brings disordered pathophysiological conditions, including type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The phenolic antioxidant 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (DHMBA) prevents oxidative stress as radical scavenging in cells. However, the role of the disorder as a pharmacologic factor has been poorly understood. This study elucidates the regulatory effects of DHMBA on adipogenesis in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes in vitro. The 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured in DMEM containing 10% calf fetal serum in the presence of DHMBA. Culturing with DHMBA repressed the growth of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes cultured in a medium without differentiation factors. Interestingly, when 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured in a medium including differentiation factors containing insulin, DHMBA did not affect the number of cells with the differentiation process of adipogenesis. Culturing with DHMBA (1, 10, or 100 μM) inhibited lipid accumulation in adipocytes and repressed adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. The potent inhibitory effects of DHMBA on adipogenesis were seen at the later stage of culture. Adipogenesis was inhibited by the presence of wortmannin, PD98059, or Bay 11-7082, which are inhibitors of pathways related to insulin signaling pathway. Notably, the suppressive effects of DHMBA on adipogenesis were expressed by the presence of these inhibitors. DHMBA treatment declined the levels of PPARy and C/EBPα related to preadipocyte differentiation and PI3 kinase 100α, Akt, MAPK, phosphor-MAPK, and mTOR implicated in the insulin signaling pathway, leading to adipogenesis promotion. Thus, DHMBA may inhibit adipogenesis via regulating diverse signaling pathways, providing a new strategy for the therapy of obesity.
Therapeutic Potential of Marine Probiotics: A Survey on the Anticancer and Antibacterial Effects of Pseudoalteromonas spp.
Authors: Eze Osita C. , Berebon Dinebari P. , Emencheta Stephen C. , Evurani Somtochukwu A. , Okorie Chibundo N. , Balcão Victor M. , Vila Marta M. D. C.
Published: August 2023

Due to the increasing limitations and negative impacts of the current options for preventing and managing diseases, including chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation, alternative therapies are needed, especially ones utilizing and maximizing natural products (NPs). NPs abound with diverse bioactive primary and secondary metabolites and compounds with therapeutic properties. Marine probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that inhabit marine environments and can benefit their hosts by improving health, growth, and disease resistance. Several studies have shown they possess potential bioactive and therapeutic actions against diverse disease conditions, thus opening the way for possible exploitation of their benefits through their application. Pseudoalteromonas spp. are a widely distributed heterotrophic, flagellated, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, and gram-negative marine probiotic bacteria species with reported therapeutic capabilities, including anti-cancer and -bacterial effects. This review discusses the basic concepts of marine probiotics and their therapeutic effects. Additionally, a survey of the anticancer and antibacterial effects of Pseudoalteromonas spp. is presented. Finally, marine probiotic production, advances, prospects, and future perspectives is presented.
Development of Avocado and Lemon Oil Emulgels Based on Natural Products: Phycocyanin and Pectin
Authors: Tello Patricia , Calero Nuria , Santos Jenifer , Trujillo-Cayado Luis A.
Published: August 2023

Phycocyanin (PC), a natural product obtained from algae, is attracting attention due to its health benefits, such as its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This work studies the use of PC as the main stabilizer in avocado and lemon oil emulgels, a format for drug delivery. The influence of PC concentration on droplet size distribution, rheological properties, and physical stability is studied using a laser diffraction technique, rheological measurements, and multiple light scattering. The 5 wt.% PC emulsions show the lowest droplet size and, consequently, the best stability against creaming and droplet growth. Emulsions formulated with PC as the only stabilizer show a slight pseudoplastic character with an apparent viscosity below 10 mPa·s at 2 Pa. This indicates that these emulsions undergo creaming with aging time. In order to reduce creaming, pectin is incorporated into the 5 wt.% PC emulsion at different concentrations. Interestingly, yield stress and an incipient gel character are observed due to the presence of pectin. This is why the creaming mechanism is reduced. In conclusion, PC forms a layer that protects the interface against coalescence and Ostwald ripening. And, pectin is incorporated to reduce creaming. This research has the potential to make valuable contributions to diverse fields, such as health, medicine, and encapsulation technology.
Evaluation of Strategies for Reducing Vancomycin-Piperacillin/Tazobactam Incompatibility
Authors: Martin Mena Anthony , Négrier Laura , Treizebré Anthony , Guilbert Marie , Bonnaire Lucille , Daniau Valentine , Leba Bonki Gabie , Odou Pascal , Genay Stéphanie , Décaudin Bertrand
Published: August 2023

Background: Drug incompatibility is defined as a physical-chemical reaction between two or more injectable drugs and that results mainly in precipitation or insolubility. Several strategies for reducing incompatibilities have been implemented empirically in intensive care units. However, these strategies have never been compared directly (and particularly in terms of the particulate load and drug mass flow rate) under standardized conditions. The objective of the present in vitro study was to evaluate the impact of various strategies for preventing incompatibility between simultaneously infused vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam. Methods: An in-line filter, a dilute vancomycin solution (5 mg/mL), and an alternative saline administration line were evaluated separately. The infusion line outlet was connected to a dynamic particle counter. The antibiotic concentration was measured in an HPLC-UV assay. Result: The use of an in-line filter and an alternative saline administration route did not significantly reduce the particulate load caused by vancomycin-piperacillin/tazobactam incompatibility. Dilution of the vancomycin solution was associated with a significantly lower particulate load and maintenance of the vancomycin mass flow rate. Discussion: It is important to systematically compare the efficacy of strategies for preventing drug incompatibility. The use of diluted vancomycin solution gave the best results in the case of vancomycin-piperacillin/tazobactam incompatibility.
Dendritic Cell-Derived Exosomes in Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Luo Shumin , Chen Jing , Xu Fang , Chen Huan , Li Yiru , Li Weihua
Published: August 2023

Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles released by diverse types of cells for complex intercellular communication. Numerous studies have shown that exosomes can regulate the body’s immune response to tumor cells and interfere with the tumor microenvironment (TME). In clinical trials on dendritic cell (DC)-based antitumor vaccines, no satisfactory results have been achieved. However, recent studies suggested that DC-derived exosomes (DEXs) may be superior to DC-based antitumor vaccines in avoiding tumor cell-mediated immunosuppression. DEXs contain multiple DC-derived surface markers that capture tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and promote immune cell-dependent tumor rejection. These findings indicate the necessity of the further development and improvement of DEX-based cell-free vaccines to complement chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other immunotherapies. In this review, we highlighted the recent progress of DEXs in cancer immunotherapy, particularly by concentrating on landmark studies and the biological characterization of DEXs, and we summarized their important role in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and clinical application in targeted cancer immunotherapy. This review could enhance comprehension of advances in cancer immunotherapy and contribute to the elucidation of how DEXs regulate the TIME, thereby providing a reference for utilizing DEX-based vaccines in clinical practice.
The Genus Diospyros: A Review of Novel Insights into the Biological Activity and Species of Mozambican Flora
Authors: Ribeiro Adriana , Serrano Rita , da Silva Isabel B. Moreira , Gomes Elsa T. , Pinto João F. , Silva Olga
Published: August 2023

Species of the Diospyros L. genus (Ebenaceae family) have been largely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of several diseases, especially infectious ones. To date, active major compounds such as naphthoquinones, triterpenoids, and tannins have been isolated and pharmacologically validated from Diospyros species. The present study summarizes the information available in the literature on the species described in the Flora of Mozambique. To do so, scientific databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) were searched using various keywords and Boolean connectors to gather and summarize the information. Of the 31 native and naturalized species in the Flora of Mozambique, 17 are used in different regions of Africa and were described for their traditional uses. They were reported to treat more than 20 diseases, mostly infectious, in the gastrointestinal and oral cavity compartments. This work provides an overview of the therapeutical potential of Diospyros species and explores novel insights on the antimicrobial potential of extracts and/or isolated compounds of these Mozambican species.
Application of Silicon, Zinc, and Zeolite Nanoparticles—A Tool to Enhance Drought Stress Tolerance in Coriander Plants for Better Growth Performance and Productivity
Authors: Mahmoud Abdel Wahab M. , Rashad Hassan M. , Esmail Sanaa E. A. , Alsamadany Hameed , Abdeldaym Emad A.
Published: August 2023

Drought stress in arid regions is a serious factor affecting yield quantity and quality of economic crops. Under drought conditions, the application of nano-elements and nano-agents of water retention improved the water use efficiency, growth performance, and yield quantity of drought-stressed plants. For this objective, two field experiments were performed and organized as randomized complete block designs with six replications. The treatments included kaolin (5 t. ha−1) bentonite (12.5 t. ha−1), perlite (1.25 t.ha−1), N-zeolite (1.3 L.ha−1), N-silicon (2.5 L.ha−1), and N-zinc (2.5 L.ha−1). The current study showed that the application of silicon, zinc, and zeolite nanoparticles only positively influenced the morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties of the drought-stressed coriander plant. Exogenous application of N-silicon, N-zinc, and N-zeolite recorded the higher growth parameters of drought-stressed plants; namely, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, leaf area, and root length than all the other treatments in both seasons. The improvement ratio, on average for both seasons, reached 17.93, 17.93, and 18.85% for plant fresh weight, 73.46, 73.46, and 75.81% for plant dry weight, 3.65, 3.65, and 3.87% for leaf area, and 17.46, 17.46, and 17.16% for root length of drought-stressed plants treated with N-silicon, N-zinc, and N-zeolite, respectively. For physiological responses, the application of N-zeolite, N-silicon, and N-zinc significantly increased leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, chlorophyll fluorescence, and photosystem II efficiency compared with the control in both seasons, respectively. Similar results were observed in antioxidant compounds, nutrient accumulation, and phytohormones. In contrast, those treatments markedly reduced the value of transpiration rate, nonphotochemical quenching, MDA, ABA, and CAT compared to control plants. Regarding the seed and oil yield, higher seed and oil yields were recorded in drought-stressed plants treated with N-zeolite followed by N-silicon and N-zinc than all the other treatments. Application of N-zeolite, N-silicon and N-zinc could be a promising approach to improve plant growth and productivity as well as to alleviate the adverse impacts of drought stress on coriander plants in arid and semi-arid areas.
A Comparison of Different Stomatal Density Phenotypes of Hordeum vulgare under Varied Watering Regimes Reveals Superior Genotypes with Enhanced Drought Tolerance
Authors: Robertson Brittany Clare , Han Yong , Li Chengdao
Published: August 2023

Enhancing the water-use efficiency (WUE) of barley cultivars may safeguard yield deficits during periods of low rainfall. Reduced stomatal density is linked to enhanced WUE, leading to improved drought resistance across plant genera. In this study, 10 barley varieties exhibiting a range of stomatal density phenotypes were grown under differing soil water contents to determine whether stomatal density influences the capacity of genotypes to resist low water availability. The low-stomatal-density genotype Hindmarsh showed the least impact on biomass production during early development, with a 37.13% decrease in dry biomass during drought treatment. Low-stomatal-density genotypes additionally outcompeted high-stomatal-density genotypes under water-deprivation conditions during the reproductive phase of development, exhibiting 19.35% greater wilting resistance and generating 54.62% more heads relative to high-stomatal-density genotypes (p < 0.05). Finally, a correlation analysis revealed a strong negative linear relationship between stomatal density and the traits of head number (r = −0.71) and the number of days until wilting symptoms (r = −0.67) (p < 0.05). The combined results indicate that low-stomatal-density genotypes show promising attributes for high WUE, revealing novel barley varieties that may be useful to future breed improvement for drought tolerance.
Responses of Ephemeral Plants to Precipitation Changes and Their Effects on Community in Central Asia Cold Desert
Authors: Mu Xiaohan , Zheng Xinjun , Huang Gang , Tang Lisong , Li Yan
Published: August 2023

In the context of global climate change, changes in precipitation patterns will have profound effects on desert plants, particularly on shallow-rooted plants, such as ephemeral plants. Therefore, we conducted an experiment on artificial control of precipitation for four dominant ephemeral plants, Erodium oxyrhinchum, Alyssum linifolium, Malcolmia scorpioides, and Hyalea pulchella, in the southern edge of Gurbantunggut Desert. We measured the importance value and some growth parameters of the four species under increased or decreased precipitation and constructed trait correlation networks for each of the four species. We also compared the response of increased or decreased precipitation to vegetation coverage. The results show that drought significantly reduced the survival rate, seed production and weight, and aboveground biomass accumulation of ephemeral plants. The four ephemeral plants showed different tolerance and response strategies to precipitation changes. E. oxyrhinchum and M. scorpioides can avoid drought by accelerating life history, and E. oxyrhinchum, A. linifolium, and H. pulchella can alleviate the negative effects of drought by adjusting leaf traits. However, the response of different species to the wet treatment was not consistent. Based on the results of the trait correlation network, we consider A. linifolium belongs to the ruderal plant, E. oxyrhinchum and M. scorpioides belong to the competitive plants, and H. pulchella belongs to the stress-tolerant plant. The outstanding trait coordination ability of E. oxyrhinchum makes it show absolute dominance in the community. This indicate that ephemeral plants can adapt to precipitation changes to a certain extent, and that distinct competitive advantages in growth or reproduction enabled species coexistence in the same ecological niche. Nevertheless, drought significantly reduces their community cover and the ecological value of ephemeral plants. These findings established the basis to predict vegetation dynamics in arid areas under precipitation changes.
Isotope Detection in Microwave-Assisted Laser-Induced Plasma
Authors: Alamri Ali M. , Viljanen Jan , Kwong Philip , Alwahabi Zeyad T.
Published: August 2023

Isotope detection and identification is paramount in many fields of science and industry, such as in the fusion and fission energy sector, in medicine and material science, and in archeology. Isotopic information provides fundamental insight into the research questions related to these fields, as well as insight into product quality and operational safety. However, isotope identification with established mass-spectrometric methods is laborious and requires laboratory conditions. In this work, microwave-assisted laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (MW-LIBS) is introduced for isotope detection and identification utilizing radical and molecular emission. The approach is demonstrated with stable B and Cl isotopes in solids and H isotopes in liquid using emissions from BO and BO2, CaCl, and OH molecules, respectively. MW-LIBS utilizes the extended emissive plasma lifetime and molecular-emission signal-integration times up to 900 μs to enable the use of low (~4 mJ) ablation energy without compromising signal intensity and, consequently, sensitivity. On the other hand, long plasma lifetime gives time for molecular formation. Increase in signal intensity towards the late microwave-assisted plasma was prominent in BO2 and OH emission intensities. As MW-LIBS is online-capable and requires minimal sample preparation, it is an interesting option for isotope detection in various applications.
Molecular Processes Leading to Shear Banding in Entangled Polymeric Solutions
Authors: Boudaghi Mahdi , Edwards Brian J. , Khomami Bamin
Published: August 2023

The temporal and spatial evolution of shear banding during startup and steady-state shear flow was studied for solutions of entangled, linear, monodisperse polyethylene C3000H6002 dissolved in hexadecane and benzene solvents. A high-fidelity coarse-grained dissipative particle dynamics method was developed and evaluated based on previous NEMD simulations of similar solutions. The polymeric contribution to shear stress exhibited a monotonically increasing flow curve with a broad stress plateau at intermediate shear rates. For startup shear flow, transient shear banding was observed at applied shear rates within the steady-state shear stress plateau. Shear bands were generated at strain values where the first normal stress difference exhibited a maximum, with lifetimes persisting for up to several hundred strain units. During the lifetime of the shear bands, an inhomogeneous concentration distribution was evident within the system, with higher polymer concentration in the slow bands at low effective shear rate; i.e., γ˙<τR−1, and vice versa at high shear rate. At low values of applied shear rate, a reverse flow phenomenon was observed in the hexadecane solution, which resulted from elastic recoil of the molecules within the slow band. In all cases, the shear bands dissipated at high strains and the system attained steady-state behavior, with a uniform, linear velocity profile across the simulation cell and a homogeneous concentration.
Influence of the Matrix Material and Tribological Contact Type on the Antifriction Properties of Hybrid Reinforced Polyimide-Based Nano- and Microcomposites
Authors: Buslovich Dmitry , Panin Sergey , Luo Jiangkun , Pogosyan Ksenya , Alexenko Vladislav , Kornienko Lyudmila
Published: August 2023

This paper addresses peculiarities in the formation and adherence of a tribofilm on the wear track surface of antifriction PI- and PEI-based composites, as well as a transfer film (TF) on a steel counterface. It is shown that during hot pressing, PTFE nanoparticles melted and coalesced into micron-sized porous inclusions. In the PEI matrix, their dimensions were much larger (up to 30 µm) compared to those in the PI matrix (up to 6 µm). The phenomenon eliminated their role as effective uniformly distributed nanofillers, and the content of 5 wt.% was not always sufficient for the formation of a tribofilm or a significant decrease in the WR values. At the loaded content, the role of MoS2 and graphite (Gr) microparticles was similar, although filling with MoS2 microparticles more successfully solved the problem of adhering to a PTFE-containing tribofilm in the point tribological contact. This differed under the linear tribological contact. The higher roughness of the steel counterpart, as well as the larger area of its sliding surface with the same PTFE content in the three-component PI- and PEI-based composites, did not allow for a strong adherence of either the stable PTFE-containing tribofilm on the wear track surface or the TF on the steel counterpart. For the PEI-based composites, the inability to shield the steel counterpart from the more reactive polymer matrix, especially under the conditions of PTFE deficiency, was accompanied by multiple increases in the WR values, which were several times greater than that of neat PEI.
Treatment of Chronic Pain in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Hip and Knee with a Combination of Hydroxytyrosol, Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Curcumin: Results of a Pilot Study
Authors: Madero López Fernando , Velázquez Alonso Lucinda , Clemente Garulo Daniel , López Robledillo Juan Carlos
Published: August 2023

Chronic pain is the most common symptom of osteoarthritis and is very often accompanied by limitations in the performance of activities of daily living and has a negative impact on patients’ quality of life. It is estimated that 14% of the elderly population routinely use NSAIDs for pain management, not without serious adverse effects. Objective: We aimed to test the efficacy and possible side effects of OliminaDol (encapsulated combination of purified hydroxytyrosol, omega-3 fatty acids and curcumin) in the treatment of chronic osteoarthritis pain. Seventy-four patients with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis who had chronic pain were selected. The therapeutic intervention consisted of self-administering one capsule of the supplement every 12 h for 30 days. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for pain assessment. The efficacy was assessed by comparing the means of pain intensity at baseline and at the end of treatment. The data on the National Cancer Institute (NCI-CTCAE) version 4 criteria were also analyzed. Results: Thirty-six patients were evaluable for the primary objective. The mean value + standard deviation of pain intensity measured by the VAS scale at day +1 was 5.78 + 0.15 and the mean value of pain 30 days after initiation of treatment was 4.19 + 0.22. There was a decrease in pain intensity of 1.63 + 2.28 with p = 0.000. A total of 27 patients (75%) had pain reduction and in 19 of them (52.7%), the difference was greater than 2 points on the VAS scale. OliminaDOL administration was associated with very few and insignificant side effects, notably constipation in two patients (5.4%) and a fishy taste in three patients (8.1%). Conclusions: The administration of OliminaDOL produced a significant decrease in the mean value of pain intensity without side effects. These results, together with other published studies, demonstrate the possibility that some supplements, or a combination of them as in our case, can be an alternative for the treatment of chronic pain.
Smartphone Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry from a Boat for Coastal Cliff Face Monitoring Compared with Pléiades Tri-Stereoscopic Imagery and Unmanned Aerial System Imagery
Authors: Bessin Zoé , Jaud Marion , Letortu Pauline , Vassilakis Emmanuel , Evelpidou Niki , Costa Stéphane , Delacourt Christophe
Published: August 2023

Many issues arise from the recession of sea cliffs, including threats to coastal communities and infrastructure. The best proxy to study cliff instability processes is the cliff face evolution. Unfortunately, due to its verticality, this proxy is difficult to observe and measure. This study proposed and compared three remote sensing methods based on structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry or stereorestitution: boat-based SfM photogrammetry with smartphones, unmanned aerial system (UAS) or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry with centimetric positioning and Pléiades tri-stereo imagery. An inter-comparison showed that the mean distance between the point clouds produced by the different methods was about 2 m. The satellite approach had the advantage of covering greater distances. The SfM photogrammetry approach from a boat allowed for a better reconstruction of the cliff foot (especially in the case of overhangs). However, over long distances, significant geometric distortions affected the method. The UAS with centimetric positioning offered a good compromise, but flight autonomy limited the extent of the monitored area. SfM photogrammetry from a boat can be used as an initial estimate for risk management services following a localized emergency. For long-term monitoring of the coastline and its evolution, satellite photogrammetry is recommended.