bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation insight into Abu Zenima clay deposits as a prospective raw material source for ceramics industry: Remote Sensing and Characterization
Authors: Maged Ali , Abu El-Magd Sherif Ahmed , Radwan Ahmed E. , Kharbish Sherif , Zamzam Sara
Published: January 2023

The rapid development and mutations have heightened ceramic industrialization to supply the countries' requirements worldwide. Therefore, the continuous exploration for new reserves of possible ceramic-raw materials is needed to overwhelm the increased demand for ceramic industries. In this study, the suitability assessment of potential applications for Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) clay deposits at Abu Zenima area, as raw materials in ceramic industries, was extensively performed. Remote sensing data were employed to map the Kaolinite-bearing formation as well as determine the additional occurrences of clay reserves in the studied area. In this context, ten representative clayey materials from the Matulla Formation were sampled and examined for their mineralogical, geochemical, morphological, physical, thermal, and plasticity characteristics. The mineralogical and chemical compositions of starting clay materials were examined. The physicochemical surface properties of the studied clay were studied utilizing SEM–EDX and TEM. The particle-size analysis confirmed the adequate characteristics of samples for white ceramic stoneware and ceramic tiles manufacturing. The technological and suitability properties of investigated clay deposits proved the industrial appropriateness of Abu Zenima clay as a potential ceramic raw material for various ceramic products. The existence of high kaolin reserves in the studied area with reasonable quality and quantity has regional significance. It would significantly help reduce the manufacturing cost and overwhelm the high consumption rate. The ceramic manufacturers in the investigated areas are expected to bring steady producers into the industry in the long term to gain the advantage of low-cost raw materials, labor, and factory construction.
Effects of Aficamten on cardiac contractility in a feline translational model of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Sharpe Ashley N. , Oldach Maureen S. , Rivas Victor N. , Kaplan Joanna L. , Walker Ashley L. , Kovacs Samantha L. , Hwee Darren T. , Cremin Peadar , Morgan Bradley P. , Malik Fady I. , Harris Samantha P. , Stern Joshua A.
Published: January 2023

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most prevalent inherited cardiac disease in humans and cats and lacks efficacious pharmacologic interventions in the preclinical phase of disease. LV outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) is commonly observed in HCM-affected patients and is a primary driver of heart failure symptoms and reduced quality of life. Novel small-molecule cardiac myosin inhibitors target actin-myosin interactions to alleviate overactive protein interactions. A prospective, randomized, controlled cross-over study was performed to evaluate pharmacodynamic effects of two doses (0.3 and 1 mg/kg) of a next-in-class cardiac myosin inhibitor,aficamten(CK-3773274, CK-274), on cardiac function in cats with the A31PMYBPC3mutation and oHCM. Dose-dependent reductions in LV systolic function, LVOT pressure gradient, and isovolumetric relaxation times compared to baseline were observed. Promising beneficial effects of reduced systolic function warrant further studies of this next-in-class therapeutic to evaluate the benefit of long-term administration in this patient population.
A computational study on the structure–function relationships of plant caleosins
Authors: Saadat Fatemeh
Published: January 2023

Plant cells store energy in oil bodies constructed by structural proteins such as oleosins and caleosins. Although oil bodies usually accumulate in the seed and pollen of plants, caleosins are present in various organs and organelles. This issue, coupled with the diverse activities of caleosins, complicates the description of these oleo-proteins. Therefore, the current article proposes a new classification based on the bioinformatics analysis of the transmembrane topology of caleosins. Accordingly, the non-membrane class are the most abundant and diverse caleosins, especially in lower plants. Comparing the results with other reports suggests a stress response capacity for these caleosins. However, other classes play a more specific role in germination and pollination. A phylogenetic study also revealed two main clades that were significantly different in terms of caleosin type, expression profile, molecular weight, and isoelectric point (P < 0.01). In addition to the biochemical significance of the findings, predicting the structure of caleosins is necessary for constructing oil bodies used in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Anisotropic distortion in the perceived direction of motion on the arm
Authors: Kuroki Scinob
Published: January 2023

Skin covers the entire body, and its thickness and distribution of mechanoreceptors vary markedly across body parts. It has been shown that the brain is not able to fully compensate for such anisotropy, and as a result, the representational space of touch differs depending on which parts the stimulus is applied to. Here, by contrasting the hand and arm, we investigated the difference in perceived motion. Using a large-area braille display, we were able to present precisely controlled touchable motion stimuli with randomizing stimulus trajectories and varying the size. We found a new perceptual illusion in which the motion direction of stimuli perceived on the arm is rotated regionally, or even flipped. In particular, obliquely moving stimuli that move toward the distal radial are perceived as move toward the proximal radial, and stimuli that move toward the proximal ulnar are perceived as move toward the distal ulnar. This illusion was not observed on the palm, regardless of compensation for the stimulus size. Current study adds a clear example of how presenting the same motion stimuli to different body parts results in a different perception, emphasizing that the perceived tactile space is not uniform and needs to be examined in detail.
Self-cleaning superhydrophobic fly ash geopolymer
Authors: Chindaprasirt Prinya , Jitsangiam Peerapong , Pachana Pumipat K. , Rattanasak Ubolluk
Published: January 2023

Building materials with hydrophobic surfaces can exhibit increased service life by preventing moisture absorption or diffusion through their surfaces. For concrete used in construction, this hydrophobicity can prevent the corrosion of reinforcing steel bars. Geopolymers are a new cement-free binding material that have been extensively studied to replace Portland cement. However, similar to normal concrete, geopolymers are susceptible to the intake of moisture. This paper presents the fabrication of a superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface on a fly ash geopolymer as a method to prevent moisture intake. A composite coating of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) solution containing dispersed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or calcium stearate (CS) microparticles was applied by dip-coating to form the hydrophobic surface. Additionally, fly ash was incorporated with the PTFE and CS microparticles to increase surface roughness and reduce material cost. The experimental results showed that the coating containing CS microparticles yielded a hydrophobic surface with a contact angle of 140°, while those containing PTFE microparticles provided a superhydrophobic surface with a contact angle of 159°. The incorporation of fly ash resulted in increased surface roughness, leading to a larger contact angle and a smaller sliding angle. A contact angle of 153° with a sliding angle of 8.7° was observed on the PTFE/fly ash-coated surface. The cleaning process was demonstrated with a test whereby dust was removed by water droplets rolling off the surface. The tested coating exhibited self-cleaning and waterproofing properties and could thus improve the sustainability of materials in building construction.
Plasmonic vortices for tunable manipulation of target particles, using arrays of elliptical holes in a gold layer
Authors: Ghanei Amir Mohammad , Aghili Abolfazl , Darbari Sara , Talebi Nahid
Published: January 2023

Here, we numerically prove that light with linear polarization can be coupled to surface plasmon polaritons at an elliptical hole perforated in a gold layer to generate plasmonic vortex (PV). Benefiting from the smooth variation of the minor to major ellipse axes, a gradual variation in the phase profile of the generated PV is achieved. Regarding this, three types of independent arrays of elliptical holes are presented, which can produce uniform and high quality PVs with different topological charges at the center of the arrays. The first array can produce PV with topological charges of + 1 and − 1, depending on the polarization orientation of the incident light. In the second one, the topological charge of the PV can be switched between 0 and + 2, by switching the polarization direction of the incident light. In the third array, a robust PV with topological charge of + 1 is generated independent of possible tolerances in the polarization orientation. In order to use the generated PVs for plasmonic tweezing application, there are side fringes around the central vortex of the arrays that should be eliminated. To produce a single vortex, we propose metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structures, screening excessive fringes and allowing the central PVs to leak out. It is also demonstrated by simulation that target particles, such as gold and polystyrene spheres of subwavelength dimensions, can be efficiently manipulated by our MIM designs, suitable for different applications including local mixing, and applying switchable torque or force to target particles to explore their complete elastic characteristics.
Evolution of orbital angular momentum spectrum of broadband Laguerre–Gaussian beam in OPCPA process
Authors: Wang Aotian , Yu Lianghong , Li Jinfeng , Liang Xiaoyan
Published: January 2023

In this study, we numerically simulate the evolution of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) spectrum of a vortex laser beam in the optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) process, which is an effective technical method to realize ultra-intense and ultra-short vortex laser amplification. The results show that the proportion of the vortex laser beam with 100% topological charge (TC) of 1 decreases to 97.44% with the enhancement of the saturation amplification after amplification by a 15 mm length LBO pumped by a 526.5 nm laser with a pump intensity of 1.74 GW/cm2. Conversely, the beams with other topological charges generate and increase with the amplification. The simulation results are consistent with our previous experimental results. Meanwhile, compared with non-collinear OPCPA, collinear OPCPA can maintain well the proportion of TC $$l = 1$$

l
=
1

.
A follow-up study of early intensive behavioral intervention program for children with Autism in Syria
Authors: Mounzer Wissam , Stenhoff Donald M. , Alkhateeb Jamal M. , Al Khatib Amal J.
Published: January 2023

We examined the sustained effects of early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) on 66 children with autism spectrum disorder who participated in the Future Center’s EIBI program. Children were assessed using the childhood autism rating scale (CARS), autism behavior checklist (ABC), and adaptive behavior scale (ABS-Arabic) 3 years after leaving the program. Continued positive effects were observed in several areas, including adaptive behavior and autism symptoms. However, participants’ social skills might have declined on the ABS-Arabic after service withdrawal. Additionally, a significant negative association (p < .001) was found between participants’ performance on the CARS and the number of weekly trials. This is encouraging, given the lack of EIBI services and regional instability. Future research should increase the sample size and use a more rigorous design.
A model for estimating the brainstem volume in normal healthy individuals and its application to diffuse axonal injury patients
Authors: Fujimoto Gaku , Ubukata Shiho , Sugihara Genichi , Oishi Naoya , Aso Toshihiko , Murai Toshiya , Ueda Keita
Published: January 2023

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a subtype of traumatic brain injury that causes acute-phase consciousness disorders and widespread chronic-phase brain atrophy. Considering the importance of brainstem damage in DAI, a valid method for evaluating brainstem volume is required. We obtained volume measurements from 182 healthy adults by analyzing T1-weighted magnetic resonance images, and created an age-/sex-/intracranial volume-based quantitative model to estimate the normal healthy volume of the brainstem and cerebrum. We then applied this model to the volume measurements of 22 DAI patients, most of whom were in the long-term chronic phase and had no gross focal injury, to estimate the percentage difference in volume from the expected normal healthy volume in different brain regions, and investigated its association with the duration of posttraumatic amnesia (which is an early marker of injury severity). The average loss of the whole brainstem was 13.9%. Moreover, the percentage loss of the whole brainstem, and particularly of the pons and midbrain, was significantly negatively correlated with the duration of posttraumatic amnesia. Our findings suggest that injury severity, as denoted by the duration of posttraumatic amnesia, is among the factors affecting the chronic-phase brainstem volume in patients with DAI.
Effects of manufacturing errors of gear macro-geometry on gear performance
Authors: Chung Woo-Jin , Park Young-Jun , Choi Chanho , Kim Su-Chul
Published: January 2023

In gear design, gear performance metrics such as safety factors for tooth root stress and surface durability, peak-to-peak static transmission error (PPSTE), efficiency, mass, and volume are considered. They are calculated by the geometric parameters of gear macro- and micro-geometry, and manufacturing errors related to gear geometry significantly affect gear performance. However, previous studies have only focused on the micro-geometry errors. In this study, Monte Carlo-type robustness analysis was performed considering the manufacturing errors for tooth thickness, tip diameter, and center distance. Gear performance metrics except PPSTE were calculated based on the international standards and geometric characteristics. PPSTE was evaluated analytically due to lack of standards. When the errors were considered, two gear pairs with the safety factors satisfying the design requirements and similar performance for PPSTE, efficiency, mass, and volume showed different gear performances. There were many samples in gear pair 1 that could not satisfy the design requirements of safety factors, and gear pair 2 had the robustness of PPSTE not only at the specific torque but also with wide torque range when compared to gear pair 1. These results imply that considering the gear macro-geometry errors and robustness of PPSTE is significantly important when designing gears.
Application of infrared thermography for estimating residual stress in ground anchors for maintenance
Authors: Min Dae-Hong , Jang Byeong-su , Yoon Hyung-Koo
Published: January 2023

Characterizing the integrity of ground anchors is essential for examining their usability in the maintenance of soil structure. However, the lift-off test, which is generally used for this purpose, has limitations when applied to covering all installed ground anchors. The objective of this study is to assess the possibility of using infrared thermography to measure the residual stress in ground anchors as a noncontact technique that bypasses the disadvantages associated with existing techniques. A preliminary experiment is performed to determine the exact emissivity of the tested materials. Both passive and active methods, as representative techniques in infrared thermography, are applied. In the large-scale experiment, infrared images of four installed strands with growing stress in the range of 0–400 kPa at 100 kPa intervals are used in the passive method of measurement. For the active method, these same stress ranges are applied to a heated anchor head using a UTM machine. The results of the passive method show that the temperature increased and decreased according to load and unload steps. Values for the cooling rate index are deduced through the active method results, and reliable behavior are observed at 10 and 15 min. The number of pixels with huge temperature changes also changed with the loading step in both passive and active methods. This study demonstrates that infrared thermography is a suitable alternative method for assessing the residual stress in ground anchors as a type of noncontact technique.
New thioxothiazolidinyl-acetamides derivatives as potent urease inhibitors: design, synthesis, in vitro inhibition, and molecular dynamic simulation
Authors: Dastyafteh Navid , Noori Milad , Nazari Montazer Mohammad , Zomorodian Kamiar , Yazdanpanah Somayeh , Iraji Aida , Khalili Ghomi Minoo , Javanshir Shahrzad , Asadi Mehdi , Dianatpour Mehdi , Biglar Mahmood , Larijani Bagher , Amanlou Massoud , Mahdavi Mohammad
Published: January 2023

To identify potent urease inhibitors, in the current study, a series of thioxothiazolidinyl-acetamides were designed and synthesized. The prepared compounds were characterized by spectroscopic techniques, including FTIR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, and elemental analysis. In the enzymatic assessments, it was demonstrated that all derivatives had significant urease inhibition with IC50 values in the range of 1.473–9.274 µM in comparison with the positive control hydroxyurea (IC50 = 100.21 ± 2.5 µM) and thiourea (IC50 = 23.62 ± 0.84 µM). Compound 6i (N-benzyl-3-butyl-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidine-5-carboxamide) was the most active agent with an IC50 value of 1.473 µM. Additionally, kinetic investigation and in silico assessments of 6i was carried out to understand the type of inhibition and behavior of the most potent derivative within the binding site of the enzyme. Noteworthy, the anti-urease assay against P. vulgaris revealed 6e and 6i as the most active agents with IC50 values of 15.27 ± 2.40 and 17.78 ± 3.75 µg/mL, respectively. Antimicrobial evaluations of all compounds reveal that compounds 6n and 6o were the most potent antimicrobial agents against the standard and resistant S. aureus. 6n and 6o also showed 37 and 27% inhibition in the development of biofilm by S. aureus at 512 µg/ml. Furthermore, the MTT test showed no toxicity up to 100 µM. Taken together, the study suggests that the synthesized thioxothiazolidinyl-acetamides bases derivatives may serve as potential hits as urease inhibitors.
C5L2 modulates BDNF production in human dental pulp stem cells via p38α pathway
Authors: Irfan Muhammad , Chung Seung
Published: January 2023

Tissue injury affects nerve fibers and triggers an immune response, leading to inflammation. The complement system gets activated during inflammatory conditions and has been reported to be involved in the regeneration process. We have demonstrated that the C5a receptor (C5aR) has crucial roles in regeneration and healing processes including nerve sprouting and hard tissue formation. Another C5a-like 2 receptor (C5AR2; C5L2) has been cloned which is still considered controversial due to limited studies. We previously established that C5L2 regulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) secretion in pulp fibroblasts. However, there is no study available on human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), especially in the inflammatory context. Stem cell therapy is an emerging technique to treat and prevent several diseases. DPSCs are a great option to be considered due to their great ability to differentiate into a variety of cells and secrete nerve regeneration factors. Here, we demonstrated that C5L2 modulates BDNF secretion in DPSCs. Our results stated that C5L2 silencing through siRNA could increase BDNF production, which could accelerate the nerve regeneration process. Moreover, stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enhanced BDNF production in C5L2 silenced DPSCs. Finally, we quantified BDNF secretion in supernatant and cell lysates using ELISA. Our results showed enhanced BDNF production in C5L2 silenced DPSCs and hampered by the p38MAPKα inhibitor. Taken together, our data reveal that C5L2 modulates BDNF production in DPSCs via the p38MAPKα pathway.
A sugar modified amphiphilic cationic nano-adjuvant ceased tumor immune suppression and rejuvenated peptide vaccine induced antitumor immunity in cervical cancer
Authors: Mohapatra Adityanarayan , Rajendrakumar Santhosh Kalash , Cherukula Kondareddy , Park Myong-Suk , Padmanaban Sathiyamoorthy , Vasukuty Arathy , Mohanty Ayeskanta , Lee Jae Young , Bae Woo Kyun , Park In-kyu
Published: January 2023

Antigen presenting cell (APC) targeting amphiphilic cationic nanoadjuvant induced a significant antitumor immune response which supressed both primary and secondary tumor growth in TC-1 tumor model.
Flux-assisted synthesis of tungsten-doped layered perovskite oxychloride with promoted visible-light-responsive O2 evolution performance
Authors: Song Xiangyao , Du Shiwen , Xing Xiangying , Dong Beibei , Feng Zhaochi , Cheng Fei
Published: January 2023

The O2-evolving activity of W-doped and flux-treated Ba2Bi3Ta2O11Cl is significantly promoted due to the reduced charge recombination and activation energy.
Optimization of chemical synthesis with heuristic algorithms
Authors: Chen Jialu , Xu Wenjun , Zhang Ruiqin
Published: January 2023

Heuristic algorithms have been used in optimizing cross-coupling yields.
A tertiary phosphine oxide ligand-based recyclable system for the Suzuki–Miyaura and Negishi reactions: evidence for pseudo-homogeneous catalysis
Authors: King Andrew K. , Brar Aneelman , Findlater Michael
Published: January 2023

A recyclable palladium catalyst is generated from readily available commercial materials and applied in Suzuki–Miyaura and Negishi coupling reactions. The nature of the catalyst is explored and proposed to be pseudo-homogeneous in nature.
Fluorescent phenothiazine-fused boron complexes for ratiometric hypochlorite imaging
Authors: Wang Hong , Zhang Changli , Jiang Zhiyong , Xu Li , Liu Zhipeng
Published: January 2023

Phenothiazine–Boranil-based fluorescent probes for ratiometric imaging of OCl− in living cells were developed.
Recent insights into BCN nanomaterials – synthesis, properties and applications
Authors: Kaur Manjot , Singh Kulwinder , Vij Ankush , Kumar Akshay
Published: January 2023

This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the synthesis, properties and applications of boron carbon nitride in consort with recent developmental trends and future perspectives.
Development of a CSDF-ME method using a new deep eutectic solvent for the microextraction and determination of antibiotic drugs in wastewater and urine samples
Authors: Yaqoub Anwar Rasheed , Jamil Lazgin Abdi , Moinfar Soleyman
Published: January 2023

In this study, we report the synthesis and application of a novel three-component deep eutectic solvent (DES) as a promising solvent for the extraction of antibiotics from wastewater and urine.
A novel COF-based Cu heterogeneous catalyst for a green Suzuki cross-coupling reaction under mild conditions
Authors: Feng Hui-Jun , Sun Xue , Wang Jun-Wen
Published: January 2023

A novel Cu-based “single atom” heterogeneous catalyst for a Suzuki cross-coupling reaction at room temperature with excellent yield was synthesized.
Dynamic multispectral detection of bacteria with nanoplasmonic markers
Authors: Zapata-Farfan Jennyfer , Kafshgari Morteza Hasanzadeh , Patskovsky Sergiy , Meunier Michel
Published: January 2023

Cost-effective bacterial detection system based on dynamic properties enhanced with nanoplasmonic biomarkers: a promising analytical approach with significantly reduced detection time.
All-dielectric terahertz metasurfaces with dual-functional polarization manipulation for orthogonal polarization states
Authors: Yue Zhen , Li Jitao , Li Jie , Zheng Chenglong , Liu Jingyu , Zou Die , Xu Hang , Yang Fan , Li Hui , Wu Liang , Zhang Yating , Zhang Yan , Yao Jianquan
Published: January 2023

Dual-functional polarization manipulation for orthogonal states of polarization in the terahertz frequency range.
Heterocyclic Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction of metalla-aromatics and mechanistic analysis of site selectivity
Authors: Lin Zuzhang , Cai Yapeng , Zhang Yaowei , Zhang Hong , Xia Haiping
Published: January 2023

We describe unique polyhalogenated heteroarene candidates for site-selective cross-coupling, which shows high catalytic performances in the functionalization of polycyclic metalla-aromatics with excellent photophysical properties.
A critical review on robust self-cleaning properties of lotus leaf
Authors: Wang Lei
Published: January 2023

The robust self-cleaning of a lotus leaf is the most classic and powerful phenomenon in nature, whose hybrid papillae and biological wax guarantee its functions.
High performance flexible electromagnetic interference shielding material realized using ZnO nanorod decorated polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-MXene composite nanofibers
Authors: Lee Sol , Kim Minje , Cao Viet Anh , Park Joomin , Yoon Ick-Jae , Park Pangun , Nah Junghyo
Published: January 2023

A ZnO NR decorated PVDF-MXene composite NF EMI shielding material exhibiting superb absorption dominant EMI SE, flexibility, and multi-functionality.
Lower semicontinuity inGSBDfor nonautonomous surface integrals
Authors: De Cicco Virginia , Scilla Giovanni
Published: January 2023

We provide a sufficient condition for lower semicontinuity of nonautonomous noncoercive surface energies defined on the space ofGSBDpfunctions, whose dependence on thex-variable isW1,1or evenBV: the notion ofnonautonomous symmetric joint convexity, which extends the analogous definition devised for autonomous integrands in Friedrichet al.[J. Funct. Anal.280(2021) 108929] where the conservativeness of the approximating vector fields is assumed. This condition allows to extend to our setting a nonautonomous chain formula inSBVobtained in Ambrosioet al.[Manuscr. Math.140(2013) 461–480], and this is a key tool in the proof of the lower semicontinuity result. This new joint convexity can be checked explicitly for some classes of surface energies arising from variational models of fractures in inhomogeneous materials.
Electron energy loss spectroscopy of K0.7Fe1.7Se2 superconductor
Authors: He Ming , Zhu Yongzheng , Ma Ke , Zhang Zhi-Hua
Published: January 2023

Electronic structure and microstructure of ternary selenide superconductor K0.7Fe1.7Se2 have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy band structure calculations. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) was performed to study K0.7Fe1.7Se2 experimentally. The individual inter-bands transitions were identified through the comparison between the energy loss peak positions with the partial density of states (PDOS) obtained by first principle calculation. The electron energy-loss near-edge fine structure (ELNES) were analyzed, the core-hole effect was found to play a key role in the simulation of ELNES. The results can present some insight into the interaction between superconductivity and electronic structure in this group of iron-related superconductor.
Ein steiniger Weg – Komplikationen eines verlorenen Gallensteins
Authors: Ponse Dikyi Joyce , Classen Martina Heim , Jeker Raphael
Published: January 2023

Anamnese Ein 88-jähriger Patient stellte sich mit seit mehr als 4 Monaten dauerndem wiederkehrendem Fieber, Schwäche und Übelkeit ohne Erbrechen vor. Mehrere Krankenhausaufenthalte folgten, aber der Grund dafür blieb unklar. 11 Jahre zuvor war eine laparoskopische Cholezystektomie erfolgt.

Untersuchung Laborchemisch zeigten sich eine Leukozytose und erhöhtes C-reaktives Protein. Die CT-Untersuchung des Abdomens ergab einen grossen Abszess, der von der intraabdominalen Höhle bis zum Subkutangewebe nahe der Lendenwirbelsäule L2 bis L5 reichte.

Diagnose Vermutet wurde ein intraperitonealer Abszess im Rahmen eines verlorenen Gallensteins bei der Cholezystektomie vor 11 Jahren.

Therapie und Verlauf Der Patient wurde operiert und mit Antibiotika behandelt. Postoperativ erlitt er ein Delir. Nach längerer sekundärer Wundheilung und Antibiotikatherapie war der Patient infektfrei und konnte nach einer Rehabilitation nach Hause entlassen werden.

Folgerung Die Diagnosestellung wurde durch die für geriatrische Patienten häufig atypische Klinik erschwert. Diagnostische Verzögerungen und rezidivierende Hospitalisierungen erhöhen das Morbiditäts- und Letalitätsrisiko. Obwohl der Gallenstein nie geborgen werden konnte, war eine andere Ursache seiner Beschwerden unwahrscheinlich, zumal der Patient seitdem infektfrei blieb.
Treatment Outcomes of Adenoid Cystic Carcinomas of the Head and Neck Region—A Single-Institution Experience
Authors: Rafi Malu , Kumar Rejnish , Thomas Kainickal Cessal , George Nebu Abraham , George Preethi Sara , Ramadas Kunnambath
Published: January 2023

Objectives This study was undertaken to evaluate the characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with adenoid cystic carcinomas of the head and neck region treated at a tertiary cancer center in south India.

Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study done on patients treated at the institute between 2004 and 2011. Clinicopathological details and treatment outcomes were captured from the treatment records to estimate the treatment outcomes and factors affecting them.

Results There were a total of 140 patients with mean age of presentation of 46 years and a median follow-up of 65 months. The most common single site of presentation was the oral cavity. One-hundred eighteen patients (84.3%) underwent primary surgical resection in which 38% had negative surgical margins. Ninety-nine patients were given adjuvant radiotherapy and 18 patients received radical radiotherapy, mostly for surgically inaccessible and inoperable tumors.

Median time to recurrence and distant metastasis was 37 and 34 months, respectively. The overall survival and disease-free survival estimate using the Kaplan–Meier method were 92.3 and 71.9%, respectively, at 5 years. Surgical removal of the primary tumor and the nodal stage had the most significant impact on the overall survival outcomes of these patients.

Conclusion Surgery remains the most impactful treatment modality in the management of these rare epithelial tumors. The use of adjuvant radiotherapy may help to tackle the issues of perineural spread and inadequate surgical margins in technically difficult sites. Radical radiotherapy also has impressive response rates.
The Effect of Protease-Activated Receptor-1 (PAR-1) Inhibition on Endothelial-Related Biomarkers in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Nilsen Dennis W. T. , Røysland Michelle , Ueland Thor , Aukrust Pål , Michelsen Annika E. , Staines Harry , Barvik Ståle , Kontny Frederic , Nordrehaug Jan Erik , Bonarjee Vernon V. S.
Published: January 2023

Background Vorapaxar has been shown to reduce cardiovascular mortality in post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Pharmacodynamic biomarker research related to protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) inhibition with vorapaxar in humans has short follow-up (FU) duration and is mainly focused on platelets rather than endothelial cells.

Aim This article assesses systemic changes in endothelial-related biomarkers during vorapaxar treatment compared with placebo at 30 days' FU and beyond, in patients with coronary heart disease.

Methods Local substudy patients in Norway were included consecutively from two randomized controlled trials; post-MI subjects from TRA2P-TIMI 50 and non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) patients from TRACER. Aliquots of citrated blood were stored at –80°C. Angiopoietin-2, angiopoietin-like 4, vascular endothelial growth factor, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, von Willebrand factor, thrombomodulin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and -2 were measured at 1-month FU and at study completion (median 2.3 years for pooled patients).

Results A total of 265 consecutive patients (age median 62.0, males 83%) were included. Biomarkers were available at both FUs in 221 subjects. In the total population, angiopoietin-2 increased in patients on vorapaxar as compared with placebo at 1-month FU (p = 0.034). Angiopoietin-like 4 increased (p = 0.028) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 decreased (p = 0.025) in favor of vorapaxar at final FU. In post-MI subjects, a short-term increase in E-selectin favoring vorapaxar was observed, p = 0.029. Also, a short-term increase in von Willebrand factor (p = 0.032) favoring vorapaxar was noted in NSTEMI patients.

Conclusion Significant endothelial biomarker changes during PAR-1 inhibition were observed in post-MI and NSTEMI patients.
The network structure of the corneal endothelium
Authors: Xuan Bryan , Whitaker Oliver , Wilson Mark
Published: January 2023

A generic network model is applied to study the structure of the mammalian corneal endothelium. The model has been shown to reproduce the network properties of a wide range of systems, from low-dimensional inorganic glasses to colloidal nanoparticles deposited on a surface. Available extensive experimental microscopy results are analyzed and combined to highlight the behavior of two key metrics, the fraction of hexagonal rings (p6) and the coefficient of variation of the area. Their behavior is analyzed as a function of patient age, the onset of diabetes, and contact lens wearing status. Wearing contact lenses for ∼10 years is shown to change the endothelium structure by the equivalent of ∼30 years contact lens-free. Model network configurations are obtained using a Monte Carlo bond-switching algorithm, with the resulting topologies controlled by two potential model parameters (the bond and angular force constants) and the Monte Carlo temperature. The effect of systematically varying these parameters is investigated. In addition, the effect of constraining the ring size distribution is investigated. The networks generated with relatively weak bond force constants are shown to correlate best with the experimental information. The importance of extracting the full ring size distribution (rather than simply the fraction of hexagons) is discussed.
Prediction of antibody binding to SARS-CoV-2 RBDs
Authors: Wang Eric
Published: January 2023

The ability to predict antibody–antigen binding is essential for computational models of antibody affinity maturation and protein design. While most models aim to predict binding for arbitrary antigens and antibodies, the global impact of SARS-CoV-2 on public health and the availability of associated data suggest that a SARS-CoV-2-specific model would be highly beneficial. In this work, we present a neural network model, trained on ∼315 000 datapoints from deep mutational scanning experiments, that predicts escape fractions of SARS-CoV-2 RBDs binding to arbitrary antibodies. The antibody embeddings within the model constitute an effective sequence space, which correlates with the Hamming distance, suggesting that these embeddings may be useful for downstream tasks such as binding prediction. Indeed, the model achieves Spearman correlation coefficients of 0.46 and 0.52 on two held-out test sets. By comparison, correlation coefficients calculated using existing structure and sequence-based models do not exceed 0.28. The correlation coefficient against dissociation constants of antibodies binding to SARS-CoV-2 RBD variants is 0.46. Additionally, the residue-level escapes are highest in the antibody epitope, correlating well with experimentally measured escapes. We further study the effect of antibody chain use, embedding dimension size and feed-forward and convolutional architectures on the model results. Lastly, we find that the inference time of our model is significantly faster than previous models, suggesting that it could be a useful tool for the accurate and rapid prediction of antibodies binding to SARS-CoV-2 RBDs.

Availability and implementation

The model and associated code are available for download at https://github.com/ericzwang/RBD_AB.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
PrioriTree: a utility for improving phylodynamic analyses in BEAST
Authors: Gao Jiansi , May Michael R , Rannala Bruce , Moore Brian R
Published: January 2023

Phylodynamic methods are central to studies of the geographic and demographic history of disease outbreaks. Inference under discrete-geographic phylodynamic models—which involve many parameters that must be inferred from minimal information—is inherently sensitive to our prior beliefs about the model parameters. We present an interactive utility, PrioriTree, to help researchers identify and accommodate prior sensitivity in discrete-geographic inferences. Specifically, PrioriTree provides a suite of functions to generate input files for—and summarize output from—BEAST analyses for performing robust Bayesian inference, data-cloning analyses and assessing the relative and absolute fit of candidate discrete-geographic (prior) models to empirical datasets.

Availability and implementation

PrioriTree is distributed as an R package available at https://github.com/jsigao/prioritree, with a comprehensive user manual provided at https://bookdown.org/jsigao/prioritree_manual/.
Gas in the myocardium: a fatal presentation of Clostridium perfringens: a case report
Authors: Khan Hafiz Muhammad Waqas , Yousaf Amman , Ahmad Muhammad , Changezi Hameem U
Published: January 2023

Background

Clostridium perfringens is a well-known cause of gas gangrene with a very high mortality rate. Multiple cases of internal organs have been reported in the literature; however, non-traumatic spontaneous gas gangrene due to C. perfringens with solely cardiac involvement in a patient without any risk factors has not been reported before.

Case Summary

A 52-year-old male presented to the emergency department with chest pain and exertional dyspnoea for three days. The patient was haemodynamically stable initially, and the physical examination was unremarkable. Initial laboratory workup revealed elevated D-dimer and troponin levels. Computerized tomography (CT) of the chest was negative for pulmonary embolism but showed a hypodense focus in the cardiac silhouette. Acute coronary syndrome protocol was initiated; however, invasive cardiac workup was negative. The patient had rapid clinical deterioration with development of respiratory failure, shock, and multiorgan failure within 24 h. A transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated an abnormal echogenic focus, corresponding to CT chest area. Despite aggressive treatment, the patient passed away within 36 h. Later, the patient’s blood culture grew C. perfringens. A limited autopsy showed an abscess cavity in the interventricular septum, pathology of which revealed acute myocarditis and fibrinous pericarditis.

Discussion

Unlike other reported cases of C. perfringens with cardiac abscess, our patient had no known risk factors, and no other organs were involved. We conclude from this case that an air focus on the CT scan in the myocardium can be suggestive of a spontaneous gas gangrene of the myocardium, and the patients should be treated accordingly.
The associations of dental aesthetics, oral health-related quality of life and satisfaction with aesthetics in an adult population
Authors: Närhi Linnea , Mattila Minttu , Tolvanen Mimmi , Pirttiniemi Pertti , Silvola Anna-Sofia
Published: January 2023

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the gender-specific associations between dental aesthetics, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and satisfaction with dental aesthetics in an adult population.

Materials and methods

The study population consisted of 1780 individuals (822 males and 958 females) from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966). Dental aesthetics were evaluated from digital 3D dental models using the Aesthetic Component (AC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Layperson and orthodontist panels evaluated the dental aesthetics of a smaller sample (n = 100). OHRQoL was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Satisfaction with dental aesthetics was asked with one separate question. Gender-specific analyses consisted of Mann–Whitney U-tests and Spearman’s correlation coefficients.

Results

More than half of the population had an aesthetically acceptable occlusion, and most of the individuals were satisfied with the aesthetics. The most severe aesthetic impairments were associated with the psychological dimensions of OHIP-14. There were significant but weak associations of AC and satisfaction with aesthetics, and satisfaction with aesthetics and OHRQoL. Significant gender differences were found, men having higher mean AC scores but women reporting lower OHRQoL.

Conclusion

At the population level, most of the individuals were satisfied with their aesthetics, despite different dental aesthetic conditions. The most severe aesthetic impairments were associated with decreased psychological well-being, women reporting more impacts compared to men.
The tradeoff strategy between growth and survival in Quercus variabilis seedlings: determining the most limiting resource in the field drive shoot dieback
Authors: Wang Miaomiao , Cheng Zhongqian , Li Guolei , Wang Jiaxi , Uscola Mercedes
Published: January 2023

Shoot dieback is an important survival strategy in juvenile Quercus spp. However, it is unknown how nursery practices can influence the regulatory mechanisms of shoot dieback after planting. Furthermore, there is scarce information about the interactive effects between container depth and nursery fertilization on field seedling performance, and in combination with field weed control. Here, Quercus variabilis seedlings were cultivated the first year in with two container depths (25 cm, D40; 36 cm, D60) and with two nitrogen-loading levels (25, N25; 100 mg seedling−1, N100) in the nursery, and the following year, they were out-planted with/without weed elimination. We evaluated first year seedlings’ functional traits after nursery culture (plant and root morphology and nutritional status) and second year field performance (survival, shoot dieback, growth and nutrient increments), and their relationship. Independently of nursery culture, weed management was an irreplaceable practice to optimize seedling field performance. Seedlings grown in deep containers (D60) showed enhanced field growth and nutrient acquisition and reduced shoot dieback. Fertilization increased N and K loading (content and concentration) in the nursery, but showed no effect in the field. Low quality seedlings (low fertilization and normal container) maintained high survival rates at the expense of increasing shoot dieback rate. Thus, field survival did not differ among seedlings with differing nursery practices. Together, deep container and high N fertilization, increased plant nutritional reserves (content) and improved root system development, consequently, mitigating field shoot dieback. Under our experimental conditions, improved seedling quality by the use of deep container (D60) was sufficient to optimize field seedling performance without weed competition. However, both, deep container and nitrogen loading (D60-N100) were the best nursery practices to optimize seedling success without weed control in the field. Our study highlights that shoot dieback is a paramount trade-off strategy between growth and survival, which should be considered as an important indicator for further evaluating seedling field performance.
Perturbation bounds for (nearly) orthogonally decomposable tensors with statistical applications
Authors: Auddy Arnab , Yuan Ming
Published: January 2023

We develop deterministic perturbation bounds for singular values and vectors of orthogonally decomposable tensors, in a spirit similar to classical results for matrices such as those due to Weyl, Davis, Kahan and Wedin. Our bounds demonstrate intriguing differences between matrices and higher order tensors. Most notably, they indicate that for higher order tensors perturbation affects each essential singular value/vector in isolation, and its effect on an essential singular vector does not depend on the multiplicity of its corresponding singular value or its distance from other singular values. Our results can be readily applied and provide a unified treatment to many different problems involving higher order orthogonally decomposable tensors. In particular, we illustrate the implications of our bounds through connected yet seemingly different high-dimensional data analysis tasks: the unsupervised learning scenario of tensor SVD and the supervised task of tensor regression, leading to new insights in both of these settings.
A numerical approach for solving a class of two-dimensional variable-order fractional optimal control problems using Gegenbauer operational matrix
Authors: Soufivand Farzaneh , Soltanian Fahimeh , Mamehrashi Kamal
Published: January 2023

This study presents a spectral method for solving the two-dimensional variable-order fractional optimal control problems (2D-VOFOCPs). In this work, a dynamic system with variable-order fractional derivatives appears. The Caputo derivative, which is one of the most widely used and essential types of fractional derivatives, has been used to construct operational matrices. The shifted Gegenbauer polynomials are used as orthogonal bases. For this purpose, at first, the control and state functions are approximated by the shifted Gegenbauer polynomials with unknown coefficients. Then, by substituting the approximated functions into initial and boundary conditions, the dynamical system and the objective function, an algebraic equation system is achieved. The solution of the obtained system of the algebraic equation is equivalent to the solution of 2D-VOFOCP. Furthermore, the convergence of the method is studied. Eventually, two numerical examples are presented to illustrate the applicability and accuracy of the proposed method.
Correctly Establishing and Interpreting Oxygenation Status in Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Lucas Fabienne , Connell Nathan T , Tolan Nicole V
Published: January 2023

Background

As hypoxemia and hypoxia are central elements of disease pathophysiology and disease-related morbidity and mortality in individuals affected by sickle cell disease (SCD), clinical management aims to optimize oxygenation.

Content

Hypoxemia is primarily screened for with pulse oximetry. However, in SCD pulse oximetry can inaccurately reflect arterial saturation, posing the risk of undetected (occult) hypoxemia. Solely relying on pulse oximetry might therefore lead to misdiagnosis or mismanagement, with devastating effects on tissue oxygenation. The interpretation of oxygenation status is multifaceted, and “oxygen saturation” is often used as an umbrella term to refer to distinctly different measured quantities—estimated oxygen saturation (O2Sat), hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SO2) by either pulse oximetry or co-oximetry, and fractional oxyhemoglobin (FO2Hb). While in many clinical situations this ambiguous use is of little consequence, O2Sat, SO2, and FO2Hb cannot be used interchangeably in the setting of SCD, as dyshemoglobins, anemia, cardiopulmonary comorbidities, concomitant medications, and frequent transfusions need to be accounted for. This article describes the parameters that determine blood and tissue oxygen concentration, discusses laboratory method performance characteristics and the correct interpretation of currently available clinical laboratory testing, and reviews the literature on noninvasive vs invasive oxygenation measurements in SCD.

By correctly establishing and interpreting oxygenation parameters, clinical and laboratory teams can ensure high-quality, equitable healthcare, counteracting systemic exacerbations of health disparities frequently experienced by individuals with SCD.