bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Biophotonic Techniques for Phototherapy Enhancement: Cerenkov Radiation as a Bridge between Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation Treatment
Authors: Spyratou Ellas , Kokkinogoulis Kyriakos , Tsigaridas Georgios , Kareliotis Georgios , Platoni Kalliopi , Makropoulou Mersini , Efstathopoulos Efstathios P.
Published: February 2023

In oncology, tremendous research has been conducted on the use of alternative minimally invasive techniques for cancer treatment and diagnosis. The use of biophotonic techniques as a standalone treatment or together with conventional imaging techniques has gained interest among researchers in recent years, while biophotonic therapies such as photothermal and photodynamic therapies tend to bring the use of non-ionizing radiation in therapy back into the spotlight due to the progressive development of optical instrumentation, enhancement agents, molecular probes, light sources and nanocarriers. Thus, the coupling of non-ionizing with ionizing radiation (IR) and the combination of nanomedicine with nuclear medicine procedures are considered to be revolutionary strategies to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of biophotonic modalities and to develop theranostic applications for the better diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Recently, the low-intensity Cerenkov light emitted by tissues as a byproduct of the IR–biostructure interaction has been suggested as an effective internal light source that can trigger phototherapy and guide radiotherapy dosimetry using Cerenkov imaging. This review also provides an overview of in vitro and in vivo studies regarding the use of Cerenkov radiation produced by X-rays or radionucleotides and combined with nanoparticles as a hybrid method to induce enhanced photothermal and photodynamic therapies.
Aspergillus Section Terrei and Antifungals: From Broth to Agar-Based Susceptibility Testing Methods
Authors: Vahedi-Shahandashti Roya , Hahn Lisa , Houbraken Jos , Lass-Flörl Cornelia
Published: February 2023

Providing timely antifungal treatment to patients suffering from life-threatening invasive fungal infections (IFIs) is essential. Due to the changing epidemiology and the emergence of antifungal resistance in Aspergillus, the most commonly responsible mold of IFIs, antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) has become increasingly important to guide clinical decisions. This study assessed the essential agreement (EA) between broth microdilution methods (the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST)) and the Etest of amphotericin B (AmB), liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB), and isavuconazole (ISA) against 112 Aspergillus section Terrei. An EA within ±2 dilutions of ≥90% between the two methods was considered acceptable. Excellent EA was found between EUCAST and CLSI of AmB and ISA (98.2% and 95.5%, respectively). The correlation of Etest results and EUCAST/CLSI was not acceptable (<90%) for any tested antifungal; however, Etest and CLSI for AmB (79.6%) and ISA (77.6%) showed a higher EA than Etest and EUCAST for AmB (49.5%) and ISA (46.4%). It was concluded that the Etest method requires its own clinical breakpoints (CBPs) and epidemiological cutoff values (ECVs), and interpreting Etest results using EUCAST and CLSI-adapted CBPs and ECVs could result in misinterpretation as Etest shows lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs).
Immunocyte Infiltration Analysis and Immunohistochemistry Identify EVL as a Potential Prognostic Biomarker for Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Du Yan , Zhu Lin , Li Xin , Shi Huaqing , Jiang Wenkai , Zhou Wence
Published: February 2023

Ena-VASP-like (EVL), a member of the Enabled/vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein family, is functionally expressed in various cancers. This study explored the prognostic value and potential mechanism of EVL in pancreatic cancer (PC). RNA-seq obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used to evaluate EVL expression differences, and clinical samples were collected for validation. The prognostic value of EVL was evaluated by survival data obtained from TCGA and clinical samples. The biological pathways involved in EVL were evaluated by functional enrichment analysis such as GO, KEGG, and GSEA. We used immune infiltration analysis to estimate the correlation between EVL and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs). The expression of EVL is down-regulated in PC tissues, which is an independent factor affecting survival time. Survival analysis suggested EVL-high expression was associated with good prognosis in PC patients. The results of the enrichment analysis suggested that the biological function of EVL was closely related to the immune mechanism. Tumor immune infiltration analysis showed that high expression of EVL was accompanied by high levels of immune infiltration. Furthermore, EVL was strongly correlated with the content of immune cells such as CD8+ T cells, B cells, regulatory T cells, CD4+ Tem cells, and follicular Th cells. EVL is a potential independent prognostic marker and immunotherapy target for PC. Mechanistically, EVL may affect the prognosis by extensively promoting immune cell infiltration, including strengthening the anti-tumor immune response of CD8+ T cells.
Data Analysis of Impaired Renal and Cardiac Function Using a Combination of Standard Classifiers
Authors: Tasic Danijela , Furundzic Drasko , Djordjevic Katarina , Galovic Slobodanka , Dimitrijevic Zorica , Radenkovic Sonja
Published: February 2023

We examine the significance of the predictive potential of EPI cystatin C (EPI CysC) in combination with NTproBNP, sodium, and potassium in the evaluation of renal function in patients with cardiorenal syndrome using standard mathematical classification models from the domain of artificial intelligence. The criterion for the inclusion of subjects with combined impairment of heart and kidney function in the study was the presence of newly discovered or previously diagnosed clinically manifest cardiovascular disease and acute or chronic kidney disease in different stages of evolution. In this paper, five standard classifiers from the field of machine learning were used for the analysis of the obtained data: ensemble of neural networks (MLP), ensemble of k-nearest neighbors (k-NN) and naive Bayes classifier, decision tree, and a classifier based on logistic regression. The results showed that in MLP, k-NN, and naive Bayes, EPI CysC had the highest predictive potential. Thus, our approach with utility classifiers recognizes the essence of the disorder in patients with cardiorenal syndrome and facilitates the planning of further treatment.
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Ecosystem Services Driven by Human Modification over the Past Seven Decades: A Case Study of Sihu Agricultural Watershed, China
Authors: Lin Haowen , Yun Hong
Published: February 2023

Understanding the effects of human modification on ecosystem services is critical for effectively managing multiple services and achieving long-term sustainability. The historical dynamics of ecosystem services are important for detecting the impacts before and after intensive modification and deserve further study. To this end, we quantified the spatiotemporal dynamics of 11 ecosystem services across the Sihu agricultural watershed in 1954, 1983, 2001, and 2018. We used the Spearman coefficient, self-organized maps clustering, and redundancy analysis to explore the spatial patterns and potential modification drivers of temporal variations of ecosystem service provision. The results revealed the following: (1) The spatial correlations among ecosystem services in a single year were inconsistent with the ecosystem service change associations during two-time steps. The snapshot correlations at one time led to misunderstandings (such as water yield and runoff control or soil carbon sequestration, and habitat quality changed direction from synergy to trade-off) and missed synergies (such as water purification and recreational potential); (2) Most ecosystem services could be synergetic in one bundle with multifunctionality before intensive modification, but later transformed to single or limited services dominated bundles, especially in lake-polder areas; (3) Lake reclamation and hydraulic infrastructure were the most significant modification indicators explaining the variation of ecosystem services (30.9% of variance explained by lake reclamation in 1954, 38.2% of variance explained by hydraulic infrastructure in 2018). Meanwhile, changes in dominant drivers also indicated the transition from lake-based ecosystem service supply to engineered service. An improved understanding of the spatiotemporal pattern of ecosystem services and the underlying human modification influence is vital for realizing the sustainability and multifunctionality of agricultural watershed.
The Contribution of Music Abilities and Phonetic Aptitude to L2 Accent Faking Ability
Authors: Coumel Marion , Groß Christine , Sommer-Lolei Sabine , Christiner Markus
Published: February 2023

This study examined how second language (L2) speakers’ individual differences in music perception abilities, singing abilities and phonetic aptitude relate to their L2 phonological awareness. To measure participants’ L2 phonological awareness, we used an accent faking paradigm, where participants were asked to speak in their native language (German) while imitating a strong L2 accent (English). We measured their musical abilities with the AMMA test and their singing abilities with two singing tasks and a self-report questionnaire. Their phonetic aptitude was assessed with a combination of phonological short-term memory tasks (forward and backward digit span tasks), and language perception and production tasks, in which participants needed to process and imitate sounds from unfamiliar languages. A regression analysis revealed that singing abilities and phonetic aptitude could predict participants’ English faking abilities. This suggests that being able to sing could help learners produce and memorise highly accurate L2 sounds, although their performance could also partly be explained by innate learning capacities such as phonetic aptitude. This study also proposes a new combination of tests to obtain a well-rounded assessment of individual differences in phonetic aptitude.
Aminodihydrophthalazinedione Sodium Transdermal Therapeutic System Specific Activity on an ExperimentalModel of Extensive Liver Resection
Authors: Kuznetsova Eugenia G. , Salomatina Lydia A. , Kuryleva Olga M. , Kirsanova Lyudmila A. , Gonikova Zalina Z. , Nikolskaya Alla O. , Shagidulin Murat Yu. , Shmerko Natalya P. , Sevastianov Victor I.
Published: February 2023

Previously, the authors showed that the application of the aminodihydrophthalazinedione sodium (ADPS) immunomodulator transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) to laboratory animals provides bioavailability analogous to the intramuscular administration of this drug at the same dose. At the same time, its maximum blood concentration is significantly reduced, and the retention time of the drug in the body is increased more than 10-fold, which can contribute to prolonging the drug effect. The aim of the work was to identify a possible positive effect of the transdermal administration of the ADPS immunomodulator on reparative liver regeneration on an experimental model of extensive liver resection (ELR). It has been shown that at a period of 48 h after ELR, the percutaneous administration of the immunomodulator has a pronounced stimulating effect on the mitotic activity of rat liver cells; by 72 h after ELR, an accelerated rate of recovery of hepatic homeostasis in the body was observed in laboratory animals in groups with the application of the ADPS TTS versus the control group.
Adverse Ocular Effects of Systemic Medications
Authors: Green Michael B. , Duker Jay S.
Published: February 2023

While ocular complications of systemic medications are uncommon, it is important to recognize that vision-threatening toxicities can occur. This review details the vision-threatening adverse effects of a select group of commonly prescribed systemic medications and describes the recommended screening guidelines for those that are particularly high risk.
Synthetic Analogues of Gibbilimbol B Induce Bioenergetic Damage and Calcium Imbalance in Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: Amaral Maiara , Varela Marina T. , Kant Ravi , Christodoulides Myron , Fernandes João Paulo S. , Tempone Andre G.
Published: February 2023

Chagas disease is an endemic tropical disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which affects around 7 million people worldwide, mostly in development countries. The treatment relies on only two available drugs, with severe adverse effects and a limited efficacy. Therefore, the search for new therapies is a legitimate need. Within this context, our group reported the anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of gibbilimbol B, a natural alkylphenol isolated from the plant Piper malacophyllum. Two synthetic derivatives, LINS03018 (1) and LINS03024 (2), demonstrated a higher antiparasitic potency and were selected for mechanism of action investigations. Our studies revealed no alterations in the plasma membrane potential, but a rapid alkalinization of the acidocalcisomes. Nevertheless, compound 1 exhibit a pronounced effect in the bioenergetics metabolism, with a mitochondrial impairment and consequent decrease in ATP and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Compound 2 only depolarized the mitochondrial membrane potential, with no interferences in the respiratory chain. Additionally, no macrophages response of nitric oxide (NO) was observed in both compounds. Noteworthy, simple structure modifications in these derivatives induced significant differences in their lethal effects. Thus, this work reinforces the importance of the mechanism of action investigations at the early phases of drug discovery and support further developments of the series.
Modulation of Immunity, Antioxidant Status, Performance, Blood Hematology, and Intestinal Histomorphometry in Response to Dietary Inclusion of Origanum majorana in Domestic Pigeons’ Diet
Authors: Amer Hala Y. , Hassan Rasha I. M. , Mustafa Fatma El-Zahraa A. , EL-Shoukary Ramadan D. , Rehan Ibrahim F. , Zigo František , Lacková Zuzana , Gomaa Walaa M. S.
Published: February 2023

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of adding Origanum majorana (OM) powder to domestic pigeon diets on growth performance, feeding and drinking behaviour, blood hematology, blood biochemical parameters, blood inflammatory and oxidative markers, carcass characteristics, the weights of lymphoid organs, and and intestinal cecal, and bursa of Fabricius histology. A random distribution of fifty-four unsexed pigeon squabs (30 days old, average body weight; 321 g ± 7.5) into three groups was done. The first group was fed the grower basal diet without adding OM powder, while OM powder was added at levels of 0.5 and 1% to the basal diets of the second and third groups, respectively. The changes in growth performance parameters and feeding and drinking behavior under OM powder’s effect were insignificant. However, the lymphoid organs (spleen and thymus) significantly increased in weight (p < 0.05) in the OM-fed groups. Moreover, blood examination showed positive responses to OM powder in terms of blood cell counts (RBCs andWBCs), and the values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, lymphocyte numbers, levels of globulin, and glutathione peroxidase enzyme were significantly increased. The numbers of heterophils, the ratio of heterophil to lymphocyte, malondialdehyde levels were reduced (p < 0.05). Histomorphometry examination revealed increases in intestinal villi height, cecal thickness, and bursal follicle area and number. These results indicated that adding OM powder to the pigeon diet may improve their immunity, increase their antioxidant status, and correct some hematological disorders.
3-(5-Phenyl-2H-tetrazol-2-yl)pyridine
Authors: Ershov Ivan S. , Esikov Kirill A. , Nesterova Olga M. , Skryl’nikova Mariya A. , Khramchikhin Andrey V. , Shmaneva Nadezda T. , Chernov Ivan S. , Chernova Ekaterina N. , Puzyk Aleksandra M. , Sivtsov Eugene V. , Pavlyukova Yuliya N. , Trifonov Rostislav E. , Ostrovskii Vladimir A.
Published: February 2023

3-(5-Phenyl-2H-tetrazol-2-yl)pyridine was synthesized by treating 5-phenyl-1H-tetrazole with pyridin-3-ylboronic acid under Chan–Evans–Lam coupling conditions. The structure and identity were confirmed by 1H, 13C-NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and TLC. The molecular structure was studied experimentally by sequential X-ray diffraction analysis and theoretically by DFT B3LYP quantum chemistry calculation.
Study on NO2 Barrier Properties of RTV Silicone Rubber by Incorporation of Functional Graphene Oxide
Authors: Huang Zhen , Zhang Jinshuai , Wang Zheng , Peng Xiangyang , Fang Jiapeng , He Chunqing , Fang Pengfei
Published: February 2023

In this study, functional graphene oxide (f-GO) nanosheets were prepared to enhance the NO2 resistibility of room-temperature-vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber. A nitrogen dioxide (NO2) accelerated aging experiment was designed to simulate the aging process of nitrogen oxide produced by corona discharge on a silicone rubber composite coating, and then electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to test the process of conductive medium penetration into silicone rubber. After exposure to the same concentration (115 mg·L−1) of NO2 for 24 h, at an optimal filler content of 0.3 wt.%, the impedance modulus of the composite silicone rubber sample was 1.8 × 107 Ω·cm2, which is an order of magnitude higher than that of pure RTV. In addition, with an increase in filler content, the porosity of the coating decreases. When the content of the nanosheet increases to 0.3 wt.%; the porosity reaches a minimum value 0.97 × 10−4%, which is 1/4 of the porosity of the pure RTV coating, indicating that this composite silicone rubber sample has the best resistance to NO2 aging.
Analysis of the Technical Condition of a Late 19th Century Public Building in Łódź
Authors: Grzmil Wioletta , Zapała-Sławeta Justyna , Juruś Jagoda
Published: February 2023

Heritage building structures in many situations contribute unique value to national cultural heritage. In engineering practice, monitoring of historic structures includes visual assessment. This article assesses the condition of the concrete in one of the most recognizable buildings in Łódź, the former German Reformed Gymnasium, located at Tadeusza Kościuszki Avenue. The paper reports a visual assessment of the structure and the degree of technical wear affecting selected structural components of the building. A historical analysis of the building’s state of preservation, characterization of the structural system, and an assessment of the condition of the floor-slab concrete were carried out. The state of preservation of the eastern and southern facades of the building was found to be satisfactory, while on the western side (with the courtyard) the facade is in a poor state of preservation. Tests were also conducted out on concrete samples taken from individual ceilings. The concrete cores were tested for compressive strength, water absorption, density, porosity, and carbonation depth. Corrosion processes including the degree of carbonization and the phase composition of the concrete were identified by X-ray diffraction. The results are indicative of the high quality of the concrete produced more than 100 years ago.
Synthesis of Boron-Doped Carbon Nanomaterial
Authors: Chesnokov Vladimir V. , Prosvirin Igor P. , Gerasimov Evgeny Yu. , Chichkan Aleksandra S.
Published: February 2023

A new method for the synthesis of boron-doped carbon nanomaterial (B-carbon nanomaterial) has been developed. First, graphene was synthesized using the template method. Magnesium oxide was used as the template that was dissolved with hydrochloric acid after the graphene deposition on its surface. The specific surface area of the synthesized graphene was equal to 1300 m2/g. The suggested method includes the graphene synthesis via the template method, followed by the deposition of an additional graphene layer doped with boron in an autoclave at 650 °C, using a mixture of phenylboronic acid, acetone, and ethanol. After this carbonization procedure, the mass of the graphene sample increased by 70%. The properties of B-carbon nanomaterial were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, and adsorption-desorption techniques. The deposition of an additional graphene layer doped with boron led to an increase of the graphene layer thickness from 2–4 to 3–8 monolayers, and a decrease of the specific surface area from 1300 to 800 m2/g. The boron concentration in B-carbon nanomaterial determined by different physical methods was about 4 wt.%.
The Influence of Magnetic Fields on the Electrical Conductivity of Membranes based on Cotton Fabric, Honey, and Microparticles of Carbonyl Iron and Silver
Authors: Bica Ioan , Iacobescu Gabriela-Eugenia
Published: February 2023

In the present work, we report that the manufacturing of new environmentally friendly and low-cost materials with electrical conductivity can be roughly and finely tuned by an external magnetic field for technical and biomedical applications. With this aim in mind, we prepared three types of membranes based on cotton fabric impregnated with bee honey, carbonyl iron microparticles (CI), and silver microparticles (SmP). In order to study the influence of the metal particles and the magnetic field on the electrical conductivity of membranes, electrical devices were made. Using the “volt-amperometric” method, it was found that the electrical conductivity of the membranes is influenced by the mass ratio (mCI: mSmP) and by the B values of the magnetic flux density. It was observed that in the absence of an external magnetic field, adding microparticles of carbonyl iron mixed with silver microparticles in mass ratios (mCI: mSmP) of 1:0, 1:0.5, and 1:1 causes the electrical conductivity of the membranes based on cotton fabrics impregnated with honey to increase 2.05, 4.62, and 7.52 times, respectively, compared with that of the membrane based on cotton fabrics impregnated with honey alone. When applying a magnetic field, the electrical conductivity of the membranes with microparticles of carbonyl iron and silver increases with increasing magnetic flux density B. We conclude that the membranes are very good candidates for the fabrication of devices to be used in biomedical applications due to the possibility of remote, magnetically induced release of the bioactive compounds from honey and silver microparticles into the area of interest during medical treatment.
Research on Recycling of Phosphorus Tailings Powder in Open-Graded Friction Course Asphalt Concrete
Authors: Xiao Yue , Ju Xinjiang , Li Chao , Wang Tianlei , Wu Rui
Published: February 2023

The reuse in high-value materials is one of the important resource utilization approaches of phosphorus tailings. At present, a mature technical system has been formed on the reuse of phosphorus slag in building materials, and silicon fertilizers in the extraction of yellow phosphorus. But there is a lack of research on the high-value reuse of phosphorus tailings. In order to make safe and effective utilization of phosphorus tailing resources, this research concentrated on how to solve easy agglomeration and difficult dispersion of phosphorus tailing micro-powder, when it was recycled in road asphalt. In the experimental procedure, phosphorus tailing micro-powder is treated in two methods. One method is to directly add it with different contents in asphalt to form a mortar. Dynamic shear tests were used to explore the effect of phosphorus tailing micro-powder on the high-temperature rheological properties of asphalt influence mechanism of material service behavior. The other method is to replace the mineral powder in asphalt mixture. The effect of phosphate tailing micro-powder on the water damage resistance in open-graded friction course (OGFC) asphalt mixtures was illustrated, based on the Marshall stability test and the freeze–thaw split test. The research results show that the performance indicators of the modified phosphorus tailing micro-powder meet the requirements for mineral powder in road engineering. Compared with standard OGFC asphalt mixtures, the residual stability of immersion and freeze–thaw splitting strength were improved when replace the mineral powder. The residual stability of immersion increased from 84.70% to 88.31%, and freeze–thaw splitting strength increased from 79.07% to 82.61%. The results indicate that phosphate tailing micro-powder has a certain positive effect on the water damage resistance. These performance improvements can be attributed to the larger specific surface area for phosphate tailing micro-powder than ordinary mineral powder, which can effectively adsorb asphalt and form structural asphalt. The research results are expected to support the large-scale reuse of phosphorus tailing powder in road engineering.
Evaluation of the Impact and Fracture Toughness of a Nanostructured Bainitic Steel with Low Retained Austenite Content
Authors: Brunčko Mihael , Kirbiš Peter , Anžel Ivan , Gusel Leo , Feizpour Darja , Irgolič Tomaž , Vuherer Tomaž
Published: February 2023

The impact and fracture toughness of a nanostructured, kinetically activated bainitic steel was determined using Standard methods. Prior to testing, the steel was quenched in oil and aged naturally for a period of 10 days in order to obtain a fully bainitic microstructure with a retained austenite content below 1%, resulting in a high hardness of 62HRC. The high hardness originated from the very fine microstructure of bainitic ferrite plates formed at low temperatures. It was determined that the impact toughness of the steel in the fully aged condition improved remarkably, whereas the fracture toughness was in line with expectations based on the extrapolated data available in the literature. This suggests that a very fine microstructure is most beneficial to rapid loading conditions, whereas material flaws such as coarse nitrides and non-metallic inclusions are the major limitation for obtaining a high fracture toughness.
Effects of Film Thickness of ALD-Deposited Al2O3, ZrO2 and HfO2 Nano-Layers on the Corrosion Resistance of Ti(N,O)-Coated Stainless Steel
Authors: Dinu Mihaela , Wang Kaiying , Mouele Emile S. Massima , Parau Anca C. , Vladescu (Dragomir) Alina , Liang Xinhua , Braic Viorel , Petrik Leslie Felicia , Braic Mariana
Published: February 2023

The goal of this stydy was to explore the potential of the enhanced corrosion resistance of Ti(N,O) cathodic arc evaporation-coated 304L stainless steel using oxide nano-layers deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD). In this study, we deposited Al2O3, ZrO2, and HfO2 nanolayers of two different thicknesses by ALD onto Ti(N,O)-coated 304L stainless steel surfaces. XRD, EDS, SEM, surface profilometry, and voltammetry investigations of the anticorrosion properties of the coated samples are reported. The amorphous oxide nanolayers homogeneously deposited on the sample surfaces exhibited lower roughness after corrosion attack compared to the Ti(N,O)-coated stainless steel. The best corrosion resistance was obtained for the thickest oxide layers. All samples coated with thicker oxide nanolayers augmented the corrosion resistance of the Ti(N,O)-coated stainless steel in a saline, acidic, and oxidising environment (0.9% NaCl + 6% H2O2, pH = 4), which is of interest for building corrosion-resistant housings for advanced oxidation systems such as cavitation and plasma-related electrochemical dielectric barrier discharge for breaking down persistent organic pollutants in water.
Magnetic Hyperthermia and Antibacterial Response of CuCo2O4 Nanoparticles Synthesized through Laser Ablation of Bulk Alloy
Authors: Ali Imran , Jamil Yasir , Khan Saeed Ahmed , Pan Yunxiang , Shah Aqeel Ahmed , Chandio Ali Dad , Gilani Sadaf Jamal , Bin Jumah May Nasser , Fazal Yusra , Chen Jun , Shen Zhonghua
Published: February 2023

The wide variety of uses for nanoparticles (NPs) is due to their unique combination of features in a single assembly. The arc melted copper-cobalt ingot sample were qualitatively studied using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Later, using the fabricated alloy as a target material for Nd:YAG laser ablation, CuCo2O4 NPs were synthesized. The magnetic properties of the synthesized NPs were studied using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). To determine the composition and morphology of the synthesized NPs, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques were used. The TEM and DLS showed that particles were spherical in shape with an average size of 32 nm and 28 nm, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized NPs was studied against S. aureus and E. coli strains as positive and negative controls using a standard approach. CuCo2O4 nanoparticles exhibited non-mutagenic potential against S. typhimurium TA-98 and TA-100 strains. Furthermore, the magnetic hyperthermia study of CuCo2O4 nanofluid was examined using a lab-made apparatus. The specific absorption rates (SAR) of 4.57 and 5.17 W/g were determined for the magnetic field strength of 230 μT and 247 μT, respectively. The study shows antibacterial activity and magnetic hyperthermia potential of the synthesized nanoparticles.
Electro-Thermo-Convection of a Dielectric Liquid in the External DC and AC Electric Fields
Authors: Nekrasov Oleg , Smorodin Boris
Published: February 2023

The electro-thermo-convection of a dielectric liquid in a horizontal capacitor is investigated under the autonomous charge injection from the cathode and heating from above. In the case of a DC electric field, the linear stability analysis is carried out, and the thresholds of monotonic and oscillatory instability are determined. The finite difference method is used for the numerical simulation of the nonlinear behavior of electro-thermo-convective patterns: stationary convection and traveling waves. In the case of AC, electric field transient and permanent oscillations are analyzed. Two types of stable solutions are found. The modulated traveling waves are characterized by the quasiperiodic oscillations of convective characteristics. Another solution is modulated electroconvection (MEC). The patterns of MEC oscillate around some average flow synchronously with the external AC field and do not move laterally. The average intensity of convective mixing in modulated traveling waves is several times less than in modulated electroconvection. The spatiotemporal evolution of the stream function, temperature, and charge distributions for different types of transient and permanent solutions are analyzed.
A Mental Workload Classification Method Based on GCN Modified by Squeeze-and-Excitation Residual
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Zhao Zitong , Qu Hongquan , Liu Chang’an , Pang Liping
Published: February 2023

In some complex labor production and human–machine interactions, such as subway driving, to ensure both the efficient and rapid completion of work and the personal safety of staff and the integrity of operating equipment, the level of mental workload (MW) of operators is monitored at all times. In existing machine learning-based MW classification methods, the association information between neurons in different regions is almost not considered. To solve the above problem, a graph convolution network based on the squeeze-and-excitation (SE) block is proposed. For a raw electroencephalogram (EEG) signal, the principal component analysis (PCA) dimensionality reduction operation is carried out. After that, combined with the spatial distribution between brain electrodes, the dimensionality reduction data can be converted to graph structure data, carrying association information between neurons in different regions. In addition, we use graph convolution neural network (GCN) modified by SE residual to obtain final classification results. Here, to adaptively recalibrate channel-wise feature responses by explicitly modelling interdependencies between channels, the SE block is introduced. The residual connection can ease the training of networks. To discuss the performance of the proposed method, we carry out some experiments using the raw EEG signals of 10 healthy subjects, which are collected using the MATB-II platform based on multi-task aerial context manipulation. From the experiment results, the structural reasonableness and the performance superiority of the proposed method are verified. In short, the proposed GCN modified by the SE residual method is a workable plan of mental workload classification.
Some Operations and Properties of the Cubic Intuitionistic Set with Application in Multi-Criteria Decision-Making
Authors: Faizi Shahzad , Svitenko Heorhii , Rashid Tabasam , Zafar Sohail , Sałabun Wojciech
Published: February 2023

This paper proposes some operations on the cubic intuitionistic set along with useful properties. We propose the internal cubic intuitionistic set (ICIS), the external cubic intuitionistic set (ECIS), P-order, R-order order (P-(R-) order), P-union, R-union (P-(R-) union), P-intersection, and R-intersection (P-(R-) intersection). We further investigate several properties of the P-(R-) union and P-(R-) intersection of ICISs and ECISs, and present some examples in this context. Some important theorems related to ICISs and ECISs are also presented with proof. Finally, an application example is given to measure the effectiveness and significance of the proposed operations by solving a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem.
Oral Health and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome
Authors: Vujovic Sanja , Desnica Jana , Stevanovic Momir , Mijailovic Sara , Vojinovic Radisa , Selakovic Dragica , Jovicic Nemanja , Rosic Gvozden , Milovanovic Dragan
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: Oral disorders, frequently observed in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome, can profoundly affect patients’ daily lives and well-being, as oral health represents a fundamental part of general health. Saliva plays an essential part in maintaining and protecting oral health, so the decrease in its quantity and quality leads to chronic oral discomfort alongside a broad spectrum of problems. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the oral health of patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome and establish its effect on the different domains of their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Materials and Methods: The research was designed as an observational case–control study with prospective data collection. Eighty patients, divided into two groups based on their oral status, participated in the study. All subjects underwent a complete oral examination. The OHRQoL was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). Results: The most prevalent oral manifestation was exfoliative cheilitis, while 30% of subjects complained of chewing and swallowing difficulties. The OHIP-14 summary score was significantly higher in the patients with oral lesions (26.0 (5.0) vs. 17.0 (4.0), respectively; p < 0.001). Oral manifestations, systemic involvement, medication, and periodontal indexes were significantly associated with OHIP-14 scores. Conclusions: Patients with oral alterations had a substantially decreased OHRQoL. These findings emphasize the importance of oral diseases for patients’ well-being. Therefore, it is essential for dentists to be included in the multidisciplinary teams managing primary Sjögren’s syndrome, as improving patients’ oral status would lead to better oral health and enhanced OHRQoL.
Association of Homozygous PROP1 Mutation in a Saudi Family with Combined Pituitary Hormone Deficiency
Authors: Almatrafi Ahmed , Hibshi Ali , Basit Sulman
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: Combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) is a rare heterogeneous disease. It is characterized by the deficiency of growth hormone (GH) and shortage of at least one or more other hormones of the pituitary gland including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and prolactin. Rare pathogenic variants in nearly 30 genes have been identified as an underlying cause of CPHD pathogenicity. Among these genes, paired-like homeobox 1 (PROP1) has been reported to be the most common cause of CPHD. Materials and Methods: In the present study, we investigated a large family of Saudi origin with three adult sisters suffering from short stature in combination of secondary amenorrhea. Results: Whole-exome sequencing followed by Sanger sequencing shows a homozygous missense variant (NM_006261.5; c.211C > T; p.R71C) in the PROP1 gene segregating with the disease phenotype within the family. In silico analysis studies show that this variant is highly conserved among several orthologues and is predicted as likely pathogenic using various bioinformatics tools. Conclusions: Our finding presents the first Saudi familial case of autosomal recessive form of CPHD caused by the PROP1 variant.
The Relationship between the Presence of an Earlobe Crease and Overactive Bladder: A Cross-Sectional Case-Controlled Study
Authors: Ueda Yasufumi , Matsuo Tomohiro , Kawada Ken , Ito Hidenori , Mitsunari Kensuke , Ohba Kojiro , Imamura Ryoichi
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: To examine the relationship between the presence of earlobe crease (EC) and overactive bladder (OAB). Materials and Methods: The earlobes of the participants were examined macroscopically. ECs were further divided into four groups (grades 0–3) according to severity. Subjective symptoms were assessed using the OAB symptom score (OABSS), and objective findings were assessed using uroflowmetry. The relationship between these findings and the presence or absence and severity of EC was also examined. A score of ≥2 points on OABSS question 3 (urinary urgency), with a total score of ≥3 points, indicated OAB. Results: We analyzed 246 participants, including 120 (48.8%) in the EC group and 126 (51.2%) in the non-EC (N-EC) group. On the OABSS, the EC group scored higher than the N-EC group for all questions and for the total score. The total OABSS of EC grade 3 was the highest of all groups. A total of 115 (95.8%) patients in the EC group (100% in grade 3) and 69 (54.8%) in the N-EC group met the OAB criteria (p < 0.001). The voided volume and maximum flow rate of the EC group were significantly lower than those of the N-EC group (both p < 0.001). The post-void residual urine volume in the EC group was significantly higher than that in the N-EC group (p = 0.029). Multivariate analysis revealed that EC was an independent risk factor for OAB (odds ratio, 8.15; 95% confidence interval, 2.84–24.75; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The presence of an earlobe crease may be a predictive marker for OAB.
Clinical Benefit of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Infusion in Ovarian Function Rejuvenation: Evidence from a Before-After Prospective Pilot Study
Authors: Garavelas Athanasios , Mallis Panagiotis , Michalopoulos Efstathios , Nikitos Eros
Published: February 2023

Background: The intraovarian administration of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) acts beneficially for the stimulation of follicle production in women presenting different forms of ovarian dysfunction. This pilot study aimed to evaluate and provide significant data regarding the efficacy of PRP to rejuvenate the ovaries. Methods: A total of 253 women aged 22–56 years, were divided into five groups, based on their status. All participants signed for informed consent for the current study. Blood sampling, preparation of PRP and intraovarian infusion of the latter were performed on all participants. The evaluation of PRP efficacy, a two-month follow-up detecting the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), was performed for all participants. For women with advanced ages (>48 years), the restoration and regularity of the menstrual cycle were additionally evaluated. Results: After the two-month follow-up, the majority of the participants presented improvement in their hormonal profiles. Additionally, 17% of the women in this pilot study successfully conceived. The restoration of the menstrual cycle was detected in 15% of the women with advanced ages. Conclusions: Intraovarian infusion of autologous PRP exhibited remarkable evidence and promising results to restore ovarian insufficiency.
Qigong Exercise Balances Oxygen Supply and Acid-Base to Modulate Hypoxia: A Perspective Platform toward Preemptive Health & Medicine
Authors: Zhang Junjie , Su Qingning , Li Shengwen Calvin
Published: February 2023

Qigong is a meditative movement with therapeutic effects and is commonly practiced in Eastern medicine. A growing body of evidence validates its health benefits, leading to mechanistic questions about how it works. We propose a novel mechanism by which the “acid” caused by hypoxia affects metabolism, and the way it is neutralized through Qigong practice involves the body’s blood flow and vasculature modifications. Specifically, Qigong exercise generates an oxygen supply and acid-base balance against the hypoxic effects of underlying pathological conditions. We also propose that Qigong exercise mediated and focused on the local hypoxia environment of tissues might normalize the circulation of metabolic and inflammation accumulation in the tumor tissue and restore the normal metabolism of tissues and cells through calm, relaxation, and extreme Zen-style breathing that gravitates toward preemptive health and medicine. Thus, we propose the mechanisms of action related to Qigong, intending to unify Eastern and Western exercise theory.
Erythrocyte Membrane Biophysical Changes Mediated by Pooled Immunoglobulin G and Hematin: Electrokinetic and Lipid Peroxidation Studies
Authors: Doltchinkova Virjinia , Kitanova Meglena , Nikolov Rumen , Stoyanova-Ivanova Angelina , Petkov Ognyan , Dikova Yoana , Vitkova Victoria
Published: February 2023

Pooled Immunoglobulin G (IgG), hematin and the membrane-disruptive amphipathic peptide melittin have received attention as powerful biomacromolecules for biomedical and pharmacology applications. Their action on surface properties, oxidation status and epifluorescence properties measured in vitro provide useful information about the functional activity of upper biomacromolecules in erythrocytes in vivo. The hemolysis of erythrocyte membranes, as well as changes in hematocrit and the morphology of erythrocytes, was investigated here via fluorescence microscopy using FITC-concanavalin A binding to cells. The effect of melittin on the membrane capacitance and resistance of model lipid bilayers was probed via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Lipid bilayer capacitance was higher in the presence of 0.10 g/L melittin compared to that in the control, which is likely related to bilayer thinning and alterations of the dielectric permittivity of melittin-treated membranes. The biomolecule interactions with red blood cells were probed in physiological media in which the surface of erythrocyte membranes was negatively charged. Surface parameters of erythrocytes are reported upon IgG/hematin and IgG/melittin treatment. Pooled IgG in the presence of melittin, preincubated IgG/hematin preparations promoted a significant decrease in the electrokinetic potential of erythrocytes (Rh-positive). A malondialdehyde (MDA) assay revealed a high rate of lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes treated with IgG/hematin or IgG/melittin preparations. This finding might be a result of pooled IgG interactions with the hematin molecule and the subsequent conformational changes in the protein molecule altering the electrokinetic properties of the erythrocyte membrane related to the Rh group type of erythrocytes. The pooled IgG and hematin are reported to have important consequences for the biophysical understanding of the immunopathological mechanisms of inflammatory, autoimmune and antibody-mediated pathological processes.
Chitosan–sEPDM and Melatonin–Chitosan–sEPDM Composite Membranes for Melatonin Transport and Release
Authors: Păncescu Florentina Mihaela , Rikabi Abbas Abdul Kadhim Klaif , Oprea Ovidiu Cristian , Grosu Alexandra Raluca , Nechifor Aurelia Cristina , Grosu Vlad-Alexandru , Tanczos Szidonia-Katalin , Dumitru Florina , Nechifor Gheorghe , Bungău Simona Gabriela
Published: February 2023

Melatonin is the hormone that focuses the attention of the researchers in the medical, pharmaceutical, materials, and membranes fields due to its multiple biomedical implications. The variety of techniques and methods for the controlled release of melatonin is linked to the multitude of applications, among which sports medicine occupies a special place. This paper presents the preparation and characterization of composite membranes based on chitosan (Chi) and sulfonated ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (sEPDM). The membranes were obtained by controlled vacuum evaporation from an 8% sEPDM solution in toluene (w/w), in which chitosan was dispersed in an ultrasonic field (sEPDM:Chi = 1:1, w/w). For the comparative evaluation of the membranes’ performances, a melatonin-chitosan-sulfonated ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (Mel:Chi:sEPDM = 0.5:0.5:1.0, w/w/w) test membrane was made. The prepared membranes were morphologically and structurally characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis (EDAX), thermal analysis (TG, DSC), thermal analysis coupled with chromatography and infrared analysis, and contact angle measurements, but also from the point of view of performance in the process of transport and release of melatonin in dedicated environments (aqueous solutions with controlled pH and salinity). The prepared membranes can release melatonin in amounts between 0.4 mg/cm2·per day (sEPDM), 1.6 mg/ cm2·per day (Chi/sEPDM), and 1.25 mg/cm2·per day (Mel/Chi/SEPDM).
Existing Filtration Treatment on Drinking Water Process and Concerns Issues
Authors: Razali Mashitah Che , Wahab Norhaliza Abdul , Sunar Noorhazirah , Shamsudin Nur Hazahsha
Published: February 2023

Water is one of the main sources of life’s survival. It is mandatory to have good-quality water, especially for drinking. Many types of available filtration treatment can produce high-quality drinking water. As a result, it is intriguing to determine which treatment is the best. This paper provides a review of available filtration technology specifically for drinking water treatment, including both conventional and advanced treatments, while focusing on membrane filtration treatment. This review covers the concerns that usually exist in membrane filtration treatment, namely membrane fouling. Here, the parameters that influence fouling are identified. This paper also discusses the different ways to handle fouling, either based on prevention, prediction, or control automation. According to the findings, the most common treatment for fouling was prevention. However, this treatment required the use of chemical agents, which will eventually affect human health. The prediction process was usually used to circumvent the process of fouling development. Based on our reviews up to now, there are a limited number of researchers who study membrane fouling control based on automation. Frequently, the treatment method and control strategy are determined individually.