bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of the Absorption Characteristics of Non-Uniform Acoustic Absorbers with Grazing Flow
Authors: Ou Yang , Zhao Yonghui
Published: February 2023

In this paper, planar and the cylindrical broadband non-uniform acoustic absorbers were constructed, both of which use broadband absorption units (BAUs) as their building blocks. The impedance boundary Navier–Stokes equation (IBNSE) method was developed to predict the absorption characteristics of the lined duct with non-uniform acoustic absorbers, in which each small piece of perforated plate is acoustically equivalent to a semi-empirical impedance model through the boundary condition. A total of four semi-empirical impedance models were compared under different control parameters. The full Navier–Stokes equation (FNSE) method was used to verify the accuracy of these impedance models. It was found that the IBNSE method with the Goodrich model had the highest prediction accuracy. Finally, the planar and the cylindrical non-uniform acoustic absorbers were constructed through spatial extensions of the BAU. The transmission losses and the absorption coefficients of the rectangular duct–planar acoustic absorber (RDPAA) and annular duct–cylindrical acoustic absorber (ADCAA) systems under grazing flow were predicted, respectively. The results demonstrated that the broadband absorption of the designed non-uniform acoustic absorbers was achieved. The developed IBNSE method with Goodrich model was accurate and computationally efficient, and can be used to predict the absorption characteristics of an acoustically treated duct in the presence of grazing flow.
A Bibliometric and Word Cloud Analysis on the Role of the Internet of Things in Agricultural Plant Disease Detection
Authors: Patil Rutuja Rajendra , Kumar Sumit , Rani Ruchi , Agrawal Poorva , Pippal Sanjeev Kumar
Published: February 2023

Agriculture has observed significant advancements since smart farming technology has been introduced.The Green Movement played an essential role in the evolution of farming methods. The use of smart farming is accelerating at an unprecedented rate because it benefits both farmers and consumers by enabling more effective crop budgeting. The Smart Agriculture domain uses the Internet of Things, which helps farmers to monitor irrigation management, estimate crop yields, and manage plant diseases. Additionally, farmers can learn about environmental trends and, as a result, which crops to cultivate and how to apply fungicides and insecticides. This research article uses the primary and subsidiary keywords related to smart agriculture to query the Scopus database. The query returned 146 research articles related to the keywords inputted, and an analysis of 146 scientific publications, including journal articles, book chapters, and patents, was conducted. Node XL, Gephi, and VOSviewer are open-source tools for visualizing and exploring bibliometric networks. New facets of the data are revealed, facilitating intuitive exploration. The survey includes a bibliometric analysis as well as a word cloud analysis. This analysis focuses on publication types and publication regions, geographical locations, documents by year, subject area, association, and authorship. The research field of IoT in agricultural plant disease detection articles is found to frequently employ English as the language of publication.
Probing the Fragmentation Pathways of an Argon Dimer in Slow Ion–Dimer Collisions
Authors: Siddiki Md Abul Kalam Azad , Tribedi Lokesh C. , Misra Deepankar
Published: February 2023

We report the development of a supersonic jet assembly to study electron transfer collisions with atoms, molecules, and van der Waals clusters. A comparative study of Ar monomer and dimer cations is presented for different capture-associated channels with a 2.5 keV/u O2+ projectile beam. For the Ar+ + Ar+ fragmentation channel, the interatomic relaxation channels are discussed. The vacancies of the dimer single site or double site show the dependence on capture mechanisms. In the Ar2+ + Ar+ fragmentation channel, double capture, in addition to the single ionization process, dominates. The orientation effect reflects the maximum yield at around 50 and 130 degrees, and angular distributions are nearly symmetric about the axis perpendicular to the dimer axis.
Enabling Online Search and Fault Inference for Batteries Based on Knowledge Graph
Authors: Zhang Zhengjie , Sun Yefan , Zhang Lisheng , Cheng Hanchao , Cao Rui , Liu Xinhua , Yang Shichun
Published: February 2023

The safety of batteries has become a major obstacle to the promotion and application of electric vehicles, and the use of cloud-based vehicle practical big data to summarize the fault knowledge of batteries to improve product quality and reduce maintenance costs has attracted widespread attention from academia and industrial communities. In this paper, a method is proposed to construct the battery fault knowledge graph which supports online knowledge query and fault inference. Reliability models for battery undervoltage, inconsistency, and capacity loss are built based on cloud data, and are deployed and continuously updated in the cloud platform to accommodate the migration of the models to different battery products. A bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) neural network was established for knowledge extraction of fault logs, and the results were imported into Neo4j to form a battery fault knowledge graph. Finally, a fault knowledge online query front-end interface was built to conduct inference tests on battery faults of a manufacturer, which proves the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Finite Element Models of Gold Nanoparticles and Their Suspensions for Photothermal Effect Calculation
Authors: Terrés-Haro José , Monreal-Trigo Javier , Hernández-Montoto Andy , Ibáñez-Civera Francisco , Masot-Peris Rafael , Martínez-Máñez Ramón
Published: February 2023

(1) Background: The ability of metal nanoparticles to carry other molecules and their electromagnetic interactions can be used for localized drug release or to heat malignant tissue, as in the case of photothermal treatments. Plasmonics can be used to calculate their absorption and electric field enhancement, which can be further used to predict the outcome of photothermal experiments. In this study, we model the nanoparticle geometry in a Finite Element Model calculus environment to calculate the effects that occur as a response to placing it in an optical, electromagnetic field, and also a model of the experimental procedure to measure the temperature rise while irradiating a suspension of nanoparticles. (2) Methods: Finite Element Method numerical models using the COMSOL interface for geometry and mesh generation and iterative solving discretized Maxwell’s equations; (3) Results: Absorption and scattering cross-section spectrums were obtained for NanoRods and NanoStars, also varying their geometry as a parameter, along with electric field enhancement in their surroundings; temperature curves were calculated and measured as an outcome of the irradiation of different concentration suspensions; (4) Conclusions: The results obtained are comparable with the bibliography and experimental measurements.
Production of Arthrospira platensis: Effects on Growth and Biochemical Composition of Long-Term Acclimatization at Different Salinities
Authors: Markou Giorgos , Kougia Eleni , Arapoglou Dimitris , Chentir Imene , Andreou Varvara , Tzovenis Ioannis
Published: February 2023

Arthrospira platensis is an edible cyanobacterium with high nutritional value. Even though A. platensis is not a marine species, it can be adapted to higher salinities, a strategy that could allow mass cultivation using brackish or saline water. In this work A. platensis was long-term adapted at different salinities (5–60 g/L NaCl added as natural sea salt) to evaluate the growth and biochemical composition of the biomass produced. Biomass production was enhanced in salinity up to 40 g/L NaCl, while at 60 g/L NaCl biomass production slightly decreased. However, it displayed higher values compared to the conventional Zarrouk growth medium. By increasing the salinity, carbohydrate content increases, while proteins, phycocyanin, carotenoids, and total phenolics decreased. Biomass content in lipids, and chlorophyll along with the antioxidant capacity of extracts, was not significantly affected. A. platensis tended to increase the unsaturated fatty acids, while amino acid composition was not significantly affected by the increased salinity. However, in vitro protein digestibility was negatively affected when salinity was above 20 g/L NaCl. It was macroscopically observed that trichomes were longer at higher salinities, and especially at 40 g/L NaCl. The results suggest that A. platensis when acclimated in long-term can be grown successfully at various salinities.
Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin 9 as a Modifier of Lipid Metabolism in Atherosclerosis
Authors: Poznyak Anastasia V. , Sukhorukov Vasily N. , Eremin Ilya I. , Nadelyaeva Irina I. , Gutyrchik Nikita A. , Orekhov Alexander N.
Published: February 2023

Despite being the most common treatment strategy in the management of atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular disease, classical statin therapy has certain disadvantages, including numerous side effects. In addition, a regimen with daily administration of the drug is hard to comply with. Thus, there is a need for modern and more efficient therapeutic strategies in CVD treatment. There is extensive evidence indicating that PCSK9 promotes atherogenesis through a variety of mechanisms. Thus, new treatment methods can be developed that prevent or alleviate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by targeting PCSK9. Comprehensive understanding of its atherogenic properties is a necessary precondition for the establishment of new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we will summarize the available data on the role of PCSK9 in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. In the last section, we will consider existing PCSK9 inhibitors.
Reversal of Azole Resistance in Candida albicans by Human Neutrophil Peptide
Authors: Khan Mohammad Imran , Choudhry Hani , Jahan Sadaf , Rather Irfan A.
Published: February 2023

With the spread of AIDS and the increase in immunocompromised patients, multi-drug-resistant fungal infections have become a serious concern among clinicians, predominantly in the developing world. Therefore, developing novel strategies and new drugs is essential to overcome drug resistance in fungal pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides of human origin have been investigated as a potential treatment against Candida infections. In this study, human neutrophil peptide (HNP) was tested for its antifungal activity alone and in combination with fluconazole (FLC) against azole-susceptible and resistant C. albicans isolates, following CLSI guidelines. Susceptibility and combination interactions were also confirmed by MUSE cell viability assay and isobolograms for synergistic combinations, respectively. The effect of HNP on biofilm inhibition was determined spectrophotometrically and microscopically. Drug susceptibility testing showed minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) ranging from 7.813 to 62.5 µg/mL and 15.625 to 250 µg/mL against all the tested C. albicans strains. The combination activity of FLC with HNP exhibited synergistic and additive interactions in 43% of each and indifferent interaction in 14%, and none of the combinations showed antagonistic interaction. Furthermore, HNB inhibited biofilm formation in all the tested C. albicans isolates. At the respective MICs, HNP exhibited inhibitory effects on the activity of the drug efflux pumps and their genes. These results warrant the application of HNP as a mono- or combination therapy with FLC to treat azole-resistant C. albicans.
Natural Bioactive Epigallocatechin-Gallate Promote Bond Strength and Differentiation of Odontoblast-like Cells
Authors: Garcia-Contreras Rene , Chavez-Granados Patricia Alejandra , Jurado Carlos Alberto , Aranda-Herrera Benjamin , Afrashtehfar Kelvin I. , Nurrohman Hamid
Published: February 2023

The (-)-Epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) metabolite is a natural polyphenol derived from green tea and is associated with antioxidant, biocompatible, and anti-inflammatory effects. Objective: To evaluate the effects of EGCG to promote the odontoblast-like cells differentiated from human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs); the antimicrobial effects on Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans, and Staphylococcus aureus; and improve the adhesion on enamel and dentin by shear bond strength (SBS) and the adhesive remnant index (ARI). Material and methods: hDSPCs were isolated from pulp tissue and immunologically characterized. EEGC dose-response viability was calculated by MTT assay. Odontoblast-like cells were differentiated from hDPSCs and tested for mineral deposition activity by alizarin red, Von Kossa, and collagen/vimentin staining. Antimicrobial assays were performed in the microdilution test. Demineralization of enamel and dentin in teeth was performed, and the adhesion was conducted by incorporating EGCG in an adhesive system and testing with SBS-ARI. The data were analyzed with normalized Shapiro–Wilks test and ANOVA post hoc Tukey test. Results: The hDPSCs were positive to CD105, CD90, and vimentin and negative to CD34. EGCG (3.12 µg/mL) accelerated the differentiation of odontoblast-like cells. Streptococcus mutans exhibited the highest susceptibility < Staphylococcus aureus < Escherichia coli. EGCG increased (p < 0.05) the dentin adhesion, and cohesive failure was the most frequent. Conclusion: (-)-Epigallocatechin-gallate is nontoxic, promotes differentiation into odontoblast-like cells, possesses an antibacterial effect, and increases dentin adhesion.
Evaluating Leaders’ Strategic Thinking and Entrepreneurial Characteristics Using Semantic Analysis
Authors: Georgakalou Maria , Kamariotou Maria , Kitsios Fotis
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this paper is to identify whether a person’s entrepreneurial characteristics can be sought in written texts, and it deals with aspects such as understanding hidden feelings by looking only at a person’s written texts. The transcripts of their speeches, interviews, and press conferences were analyzed in terms of semantic categories of words that were included with the use of General Inquirer software, which was developed in Harvard in order to support content analysis. Representatives clearly articulate and work together to establish the organization’s values, ascertain its objectives, create and carry out a strategic plan, and cultivate and interact with the organization’s perspective. A leader needs to be appointed, but they also need to have the ability to demonstrate their aspirations, excite their audience, and visualize their followers. In addition to this, they need to have the determination to take risks. This paper could be helpful for assessors of modern businesses as well as investigators of political and social sciences who are seeking to determine the perspective that is encountered in the literary documents of a particular person. A large variety of written documents from numerous people that have lived in a variety of historical eras and countries, regardless of gender and educational or professional background were examined. The common characteristic is that they were leading personalities in any of the following categories: their country, social movements, sports, art, business and social life.
A Factorial Design and Simplex Optimization of a Bismuth Film Glassy Carbon Electrode for Cd(II) and Pb(II) Determination
Authors: Finšgar Matjaž , Rajh Barbara
Published: February 2023

This work presents the use of a fractional two-level factorial design to determine the influence of different factors involved in the development of the square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry method. A fractional factorial design of eight different electrodes using a bismuth film glassy carbon electrode (BiFGCE) was formulated, and the impact of the factors on the analytical performance of the electrodes was determined. The impact of six factors (deposition potential, deposition time, potential step, amplitude, frequency, and the concentration of Bi(III)) was tested for Cd(II) and Pb(II) determination. Next, simplex optimization was carried out to improve the electroanalytical performance of the BiFGCE. The objective of simplex optimization was to simultaneously obtain a low limit of quantification, a wide linear concentration range, high sensitivity, high accuracy, and good precision for the new BiFGCE developed. By employing the latter approach, an optimization criterion was improved by several orders of magnitude. Moreover, the possible interference effect of different species was tested using two optimized BiFGCE. Furthermore, a real sample analysis of tap water with two optimized BiFGCEs was also carried out.
Benign Pediatric Jawbone Lesions: A 10-Year Clinical and Radiological Pilot Study
Authors: Crasnean Emil , Ban Alina , Hedeșiu Mihaela , Roman Raluca , Dinu Cristian , Băciuț Mihaela , Văcăraș Sergiu , Mitre Ileana , Almășan Oana , Nechita Vlad-I. , Armencea Gabriel , Bran Simion , Onișor Florin
Published: February 2023

This study aimed at presenting a retrospective longitudinal analysis of the pediatric jaw lesions treated at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, over a timeframe of ten years (2012 to 2022). The clinical and radiological characteristics of the jawbone lesions, the treatment outcome, and the recurrence incidence were described. All consecutive patients aged below 18 years, with histologically diagnosed odontogenic tumors (OTs), nonodontogenic tumors (non-OTs), or odontogenic cysts (OCs) were included. Age, dentition type, clinical symptoms, preoperative and postoperative radiological tests, histological diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up information one year following the diagnoses were all examined. Eighty-two cases were included. The ratio of men to women was 1.15:1, with the mandible predominating by 64.4%. Inflammatory radicular cysts predominated in 31.7% of cases. A total of 42.68% of the patients were asymptomatic. Enucleation was the most frequent surgical technique (45.1%), followed by cystectomies (28%) and marsupialization (14.6%). The overall recurrence rate was 7.3%; the most recurrent histopathological lesion was the odontogenic keratocyst. This study sheds new light on the clinical and radiological characteristics, treatment outcomes, and recurrence rate of juvenile jawbone lesions in children and adolescents. The diagnosis and treatment of jawbone lesions in children and adolescents can be enhanced with the use of epidemiological, clinical, and imagistic information.
Clinical Follow-Up without Radiographs Is Sufficient after Most Nonoperatively Treated Distal Radius Fractures in Children
Authors: Perhomaa Marja , Stöckell Markus , Pokka Tytti , Lieber Justus , Niinimäki Jaakko , Sinikumpu Juha-Jaakko
Published: February 2023

Distal forearm fractures are common in children and are usually treated nonoperatively. No consensus has been reached on how to perform clinical and radiographic follow-up of these fractures. Our aim was to study whether radiographic and clinical follow-up is justified. We included 100 consecutive patients with non-operatively treated distal forearm fractures who were treated at Oulu University Hospital in 2010–2011. The natural history of the fractures during the nonoperative treatment was analyzed by measuring the potential worsening of the alignment during the follow-up period. The limits of acceptable fracture position were set according to the current literature using “strict” or “wide” criteria for alignment. We determined the rate of worsening fracture position (i.e., patients who reached the threshold of unacceptable alignment). In relation to splinting, we evaluated how many patients benefited from clinical follow-up. Most of the fractures (98%) preserved acceptable alignment during the entire follow-up period when wide criteria were used. The application of stricter criteria for alignment in radiographs showed loss of reduction in 19% of the fractures. Worsening of the alignment was recognized at a mean of 13 days (range 5–29) after the injury. One in three (32%) patients needed some intervention due to splint loosening or failure. Radiographic follow-up of nonoperatively treated distal forearm fractures remains questionable. Instead, clinical follow-up is important, as 32% of patients needed their splints fixed.
The Impact of Hepatic Artery Thrombosis on the Outcome of Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplantations
Authors: Stefanowicz Marek , Kaliciński Piotr , Kowalewski Grzegorz , Kowalski Adam , Ciopiński Mateusz , Szymczak Marek , Kwiecińska Agnieszka , Patkowski Waldemar , Zieniewicz Krzysztof , Grzelak Ireneusz , Kamińska Diana , Ismail Hor
Published: February 2023

The aim of our study was to assess risk factors for hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) and to evaluate the impact of HAT management on long-term outcomes after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We retrospectively analyzed 400 patients who underwent primary LDLT between 1999 and 2020. We compared preoperative data, surgical factors, complications, and patient and graft survivals in patients with HAT (HAT Group) and without HAT (non-HAT Group). A total of 27 patients (6.75%) developed HAT. Acute liver failure, a hepatic artery (HA) anastomosis diameter below 2 mm, and intraoperative HA flow dysfunction were significantly more common in the HAT Group (p < 0.05, p = 0.02026, and p = 0.0019, respectively). In the HAT Group, 21 patients (77.8%) underwent urgent surgical revision. The incidence of biliary stenosis and retransplantation was significantly higher in the HAT Group (p = 0.00002 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Patient and graft survivals were significantly worse in the HAT Group (p < 0.05). The close monitoring of HA flow with Doppler ultrasound during the critical period of 2 to 3 weeks after LDLT and the immediate attempt of surgical revascularization may attenuate the elevated risk of biliary stenosis, graft loss, and the need for retransplantation due to HAT.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection as a Possible Trigger for IgA-Associated Vasculitis: A Case Report
Authors: Machura Edyta , Krakowczyk Helena , Bąk-Drabik Katarzyna , Szczepańska Maria
Published: February 2023

Background: IgA-associated vasculitis (IgAV), formerly known as Henoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP) disease, is the most common type of systemic vasculitis observed during developmental age. Available published studies associate the outbreak of the disease with streptococci, adenovirus, parvovirus, mycoplasma, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza infection in approximately 50% of patients with HSP, while some emerging reports have described a few cases of COVID-19 infection being associated with HSP in both adults and children. Case presentation: a 7-year-old girl was diagnosed with HSP, fulfilling the four required clinical criteria (palpable purpura and abdominal pain, arthralgia and edema, and periodic renal involvement). Infection with SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed via the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies. The disclosure of the Henoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP) disease was preceded by a mild, symptomatically treated infection of the upper respiratory tract. High levels of inflammatory markers were observed during hospitalization, including leukocytosis, an increased neutrophil count and a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). All of these markers are associated with IgAV gastrointestinal bleeding, which was also associated with rotavirus diarrhea observed in the patient. Conclusions: This case presented by us and similar cases presented by other authors indicate the possible role of SARS-CoV-2 in the development of HSP, but this assumption requires further research and evidence-based verification.
A Literature Review on the Role of Hope in Promoting Positive Youth Development across Non-WEIRD Contexts
Authors: Bowers Rachael M. , Bowers Edmond P.
Published: February 2023

Theoretical and empirical evidence has identified hope as a key adolescent strength that is linked to positive youth developmental outcomes. Although hope must be understood from a cultural lens, most of the evidence regarding adolescent hope is derived from samples of white youth from Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) nations. Therefore, in order to have a more comprehensive and global understanding of the antecedents, outcomes, and processes of hope, we apply a positive youth development perspective in order to review the literature (N = 52 studies) on hope from diverse cultural and international contexts. In organizing the findings by global region, our review provides evidence of the shared function of hope in promoting positive youth developmental outcomes and the usefulness of the Child Hope Scale across contexts. Family and parental relationships were identified as key assets in promoting hope; however, there exists cultural and contextual variation in what aspects of these relationships promote hope. We conclude this review by considering the priorities for research, practice, and policy, based on these findings.
The Respiratory Management of the Extreme Preterm in the Delivery Room
Authors: Escrig-Fernández Raquel , Zeballos-Sarrato Gonzalo , Gormaz-Moreno María , Avila-Alvarez Alejandro , Toledo-Parreño Juan Diego , Vento Máximo
Published: February 2023

The fetal-to-neonatal transition poses an extraordinary challenge for extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, and postnatal stabilization in the delivery room (DR) remains challenging. The initiation of air respiration and the establishment of a functional residual capacity are essential and often require ventilatory support and oxygen supplementation. In recent years, there has been a tendency towards the soft-landing strategy and, subsequently, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation has been generally recommended by international guidelines as the first option for stabilizing ELBW in the delivery room. On the other hand, supplementation with oxygen is another cornerstone of the postnatal stabilization of ELBW infants. To date, the conundrum concerning the optimal initial inspired fraction of oxygen, target saturations in the first golden minutes, and oxygen titration to achieve desired stability saturation and heart rate values has not yet been solved. Moreover, the retardation of cord clamping together with the initiation of ventilation with the patent cord (physiologic-based cord clamping) have added additional complexity to this puzzle. In the present review, we critically address these relevant topics related to fetal-to-neonatal transitional respiratory physiology, ventilatory stabilization, and oxygenation of ELBW infants in the delivery room based on current evidence and the most recent guidelines for newborn stabilization.
Therapeutic Effects of Aloe saponaria against Ulcerative Colitis Induced by Dextran Sulfate Sodium
Authors: Kweon Do Yeong , Song Hee Jin , Kim Ji Eun , Jin You Jeong , Roh Yu Jeong , Seol Ayun , Park Ju Min , Lee Eun Suk , Choi Won Sik , Hwang Dae Youn
Published: February 2023

Aloe vera (A. vera) has been studied as a treatment option for ulcerative colitis (UC), but there is a lack of scientific evidence showing whether treatment with Aloe saponaria (A. saponaria) can also be beneficial. To investigate the therapeutic potential of A. saponaria as a treatment for UC, clinical symptoms, histopathological characteristics of the colon, inflammatory response, and toxicity were analyzed in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mice after administration of aqueous extracts of A. saponaria (AAS) for 7 days. The total polyphenol and tannin content of AAS was 272 µg/g and 163 µg/g, respectively. AAS exhibited significant antioxidant activity. Several clinical symptoms, including body weight, colon length, and hematochezia, remarkably improved in the DSS+AAS treated group compared to the DSS+Vehicle-treated group. In addition, similar improvements were detected in the histopathological characteristics and mucin-secreting ability in the colon of DSS-induced UC mice after the administration of AAS. The levels of infiltrated inflammatory cells and cytokine expression were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner in the colon of the DSS+AAS-treated group. These alterations in inflammatory response were accompanied by a significant recovery of the protein kinase C/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (PKC/ERK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/serine-threonine protein kinase (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathways. However, the levels of key markers for hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity consistently remained between those of the DSS+AAS-treated and the No groups. Therefore, the results of the present study provide novel evidence that AAS may improve the clinical symptoms and attenuate the inflammatory response in DSS-induced UC mice and does not have any significant hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity.
The Quest for Neurodegenerative Disease Treatment—Focusing on Alzheimer’s Disease Personalised Diets
Authors: Palimariciuc Matei , Balmus Ioana-Miruna , Gireadă Bogdan , Ciobica Alin , Chiriță Roxana , Iordache Alin-Constantin , Apostu Mihai , Dobrin Romeo Petru
Published: February 2023

Dementia represents a clinical syndrome characterised by progressive decline in memory, language, visuospatial and executive function, personality, and behaviour, causing loss of abilities to perform instrumental or essential activities of daily living. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which accounts for up to 80% of all dementia cases. Despite that extensive studies regarding the etiology and risk factors have been performed in recent decades, and how the current knowledge about AD pathophysiology significantly improved with the recent advances in science and technology, little is still known about its treatment options. In this controverted context, a nutritional approach could be a promising way to formulate improved AD management strategies and to further analyse possible treatment strategy options based on personalised diets, as Nutritional Psychiatry is currently gaining relevance in neuropsychiatric disease treatment. Based on the current knowledge of AD pathophysiology, as well as based on the repeatedly documented anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of different functional foods, we aimed to find, describe, and correlate several dietary compounds that could be useful in formulating a nutritional approach in AD management. We performed a screening for relevant studies on the main scientific databases using keywords such as “Alzheimer’s disease”, “dementia”, “treatment”, “medication”, “treatment alternatives”, “vitamin E”, “nutrition”, “selenium”, “Ginkgo biloba”, “antioxidants”, “medicinal plants”, and “traditional medicine” in combinations. Results: nutrients could be a key component in the physiologic and anatomic development of the brain. Several nutrients have been studied in the pursuit of the mechanism triggered by the pathology of AD: vitamin D, fatty acids, selenium, as well as neuroprotective plant extracts (i.e., Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, Curcuma longa), suggesting that the nutritional patterns could modulate the cognitive status and provide neuroprotection. The multifactorial origin of AD development and progression could suggest that nutrition could greatly contribute to the complex pathological picture. The identification of adequate nutritional interventions and the not yet fully understood nutrient activity in AD could be the next steps in finding several innovative treatment options for neurodegenerative disorders.
Advances in Molecular Regulation of Prostate Cancer Cells by Top Natural Products of Malaysia
Authors: Prieto Jose M. , Hanafi Mohd Mukrish Mohd
Published: February 2023

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains both a global health burden and a scientific challenge. We present a review of the molecular targets driving current drug discovery to fight this disease. Moreover, the preventable nature of most PCa cases represents an opportunity for phytochemicals as chemopreventive when adequately integrated into nutritional interventions. With a renovated interest in natural remedies as a commodity and their essential role in cancer drug discovery, Malaysia is looking towards capitalizing on its mega biodiversity, which includes the oldest rainforest in the world and an estimated 1200 medicinal plants. We here explore whether the list of top Malay plants prioritized by the Malaysian government may fulfill the potential of becoming newer, sustainable sources of prostate cancer chemotherapy. These include Andrographis paniculate, Centella asiatica, Clinacanthus nutans, Eurycoma longifolia, Ficus deltoidea, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Marantodes pumilum (syn. Labisia pumila), Morinda citrifolia, Orthosiphon aristatus, and Phyllanthus niruri. Our review highlights the importance of resistance factors such as Smac/DIABLO in cancer progression, the role of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in cancer metastasis, and the regulation of PCa cells by some promising terpenes (andrographolide, Asiatic acid, rosmarinic acid), flavonoids (isovitexin, gossypin, sinensetin), and alkylresorcinols (labisiaquinones) among others.
Ten Lessons for Effective Place-Based Climate Adaptation Planning Workshops
Authors: Stern Marc J. , Hurst Kristin F. , Brousseau Jennifer J. , O’Brien Caleb , Hansen Lara J.
Published: February 2023

Community efforts to consider climate change within local planning processes are increasingly common. Place-based climate adaptation workshops are commonly employed tools within these larger processes. The research, to date, on these phenomena has yielded mixed results, and the empirical evidence regarding what makes these workshops more or less effective has been mostly based on small samples in disparate contexts. In an effort to seek consensus regarding what factors lead to effective workshop outcomes, including participant learning and the motivation to take action; improved adaptation planning processes and implementation; and the development or strengthening of positive relationships between the participants, twenty-two experienced climate adaptation workshop facilitators participated in a Delphi study involving iterative surveys followed by focus groups. In this short report, we present a synthesis of consensus-based recommendations resulting from the Delphi study for enhancing place-based climate adaptation workshop outcomes. These recommendations address recruitment; fitting the local context; adequately preparing the participants; clarifying the objectives; facilitation strategies; promoting local leadership, efficacy and accountability; and providing post-workshop support. We discuss the role of these strategies in developing feelings of collective efficacy, local leadership and accountability through social learning.
Anti-Melanogenic and Anti-Oxidative Effects of Nostoc verrucosum (ashitsuki) Extracts
Authors: Sato Kazuomi , Hiraga Yosuke , Yamaguchi Yuji , Sakaki Setsuko , Takenaka Hiroyuki
Published: February 2023

Nostoc verrucosum, an edible microalgal species, forms colonies in streams. Here, we investigated the antimelanogenic and anti-oxidative effects of N. verrucosum extracts. We collected N. verrucosum from Toyama Prefecture, Japan, and successfully cultured it in indoor cultivation systems. Aqueous, methanol, and hexane extracts of N. verrucosum were prepared for various experiments. To elucidate the antimelanogenic effects of N. verrucosum, we performed tyrosinase assay, melanin content assay, western blotting, and real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Anti-oxidative effects were evaluated using the 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay. The methanol and hexane extracts significantly inhibited melanin synthesis in B16F1 melanoma cells. Western blotting showed that 12.5 and 25.0 µg/mL N. verrucosum hexane extract suppressed tyrosinase activity. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed that N. verrucosum hexane extract inhibited α-melanocyte stimulating hormone-enhanced tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, TRP-2, and melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) mRNA expression. On the contrary, N. verrucosum hexane extract did not alter microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (Mitf) transcription. The ABTS assay showed that all extracts had radical scavenging activities, and the IC50 values of the aqueous and methanol extracts were 294.6 and 172.8 µg/mL, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that N. verrucosum is a suitable candidate for the development of antimelanogenic agents, cosmetics, or functional food ingredients.
Datasets of Groundwater Level and Surface Water Budget in a Central Mediterranean Site (21 June 2017–1 October 2022)
Authors: Delle Rose Marco , Martano Paolo
Published: February 2023

This note makes available five years of data gathered in a measurement site equipped with a micrometeorological station and two monitoring wells. Series of data of hydrological and atmospheric variables make it possible to estimate the flux of water across the atmosphere-land interface and to calculate the water budget, which are crucial topics in climate and environmental sciences. The water-table measures began during 2017, one of the driest years of the whole instrumental period of climate history for the Central Mediterranean. Data from the micrometeorological station have been used to construct two more datasets of daily and monthly totals of different terms of the surface water budget, from which the net infiltration has been estimated. An apparent decreasing trend characterizes both the data time series of groundwater level and estimated infiltration in the considered period.
Root Maturation of an Immature Dens Invaginatus Despite Unsuccessful Revitalization Procedure: A Case Report and Recommendations for Educational Purposes
Authors: Ludwig Julia , Reymus Marcel , Winkler Alexander , Soliman Sebastian , Krug Ralf , Krastl Gabriel
Published: February 2023

Background: The clinical management of teeth with complex dens invaginatus (DI) malformations and apical periodontitis may be challenging due to the lack of routine. The aim of this case report is to describe the endodontic treatment of an immature tooth with DI and to discuss strategies for preclinical training for teeth with such malformations. Case report: A 9-year-old male presented with an immature maxillary incisor with DI (Oehlers Type II) and apical periodontitis which was diagnosed by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Revitalization was initially attempted but then abandoned after failure to generate a stable blood clot. Nevertheless, considerable increase in both root length and thickness could be detected after medication with calcium hydroxide followed by root canal filling with MTA as an apical plug. Conclusions: The endodontic management of teeth with DI requires thorough treatment planning. In immature teeth, under certain conditions, root maturation may occur even with conventional apexification procedures. From an educational perspective, different strategies including CBCT and 3D-printed transparent tooth models for visualization of the complex internal morphology and redesigned 3D-printed replica with various degrees of difficulty for endodontic training, can be used to overcome the challenges associated with endodontic treatment of such teeth.
UAV Path Planning Optimization Strategy: Considerations of Urban Morphology, Microclimate, and Energy Efficiency Using Q-Learning Algorithm
Authors: Souto Anderson , Alfaia Rodrigo , Cardoso Evelin , Araújo Jasmine , Francês Carlos
Published: February 2023

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS) has been suggested as a potential communications alternative due to their fast implantation, which makes this resource an ideal solution to provide support in scenarios such as natural disasters or intentional attacks that may cause partial or complete disruption of telecommunications services. However, one limitation of this solution is energy autonomy, which affects mission life. With this in mind, our group has developed a new method based on reinforcement learning that aims to reduce the power consumption of UAV missions in disaster scenarios to circumvent the negative effects of wind variations, thus optimizing the timing of the aerial mesh in locations affected by the disruption of fiber-optic-based telecommunications. The method considers the K-means to stagger the position of the resource stations—from which the UAVS launched—within the topology of Stockholm, Sweden. For the UAVS’ locomotion, the Q-learning approach was used to investigate possible actions that the UAVS could take due to urban obstacles randomly distributed in the scenario and due to wind speed. The latter is related to the way the UAVS are arranged during the mission. The numerical results of the simulations have shown that the solution based on reinforcement learning was able to reduce the power consumption by 15.93% compared to the naive solution, which can lead to an increase in the life of UAV missions.
Toward Prediction of Financial Crashes with a D-Wave Quantum Annealer
Authors: Ding Yongcheng , Gonzalez-Conde Javier , Lamata Lucas , Martín-Guerrero José D. , Lizaso Enrique , Mugel Samuel , Chen Xi , Orús Román , Solano Enrique , Sanz Mikel
Published: February 2023

The prediction of financial crashes in a complex financial network is known to be an NP-hard problem, which means that no known algorithm can efficiently find optimal solutions. We experimentally explore a novel approach to this problem by using a D-Wave quantum annealer, benchmarking its performance for attaining a financial equilibrium. To be specific, the equilibrium condition of a nonlinear financial model is embedded into a higher-order unconstrained binary optimization (HUBO) problem, which is then transformed into a spin-1/2 Hamiltonian with at most, two-qubit interactions. The problem is thus equivalent to finding the ground state of an interacting spin Hamiltonian, which can be approximated with a quantum annealer. The size of the simulation is mainly constrained by the necessity of a large number of physical qubits representing a logical qubit with the correct connectivity. Our experiment paves the way for the codification of this quantitative macroeconomics problem in quantum annealers.
A Review of Magnetic Gear Technologies Used in Mechanical Power Transmission
Authors: Ruiz-Ponce Gerardo , Arjona Marco A. , Hernandez Concepcion , Escarela-Perez Rafael
Published: February 2023

This paper presents a literature review on magnetic gears, highlighting the advantages of using these technologies for mechanical power transmission applications in wind energy conversion systems and transportation, such as in electric vehicles. Magnetic gear technologies have important advantages over their mechanical counterparts. They can perform the speed change and torque transmission between input and output shafts by a contactless mechanism with a quiet operation and overload protection without the issues associated with conventional mechanical gears. The paper describes the fundamentals and operating principle of the field-modulated magnetic gear topologies and investigates the magnetic torque transmission mechanism. However, despite all the advantages highlighted in different research and development reports, there is still no convincing evidence to show that magnetic gear technologies are an acceptable alternative for industrial applications. The aim of this paper is to summarize previous work on magnetic gears to identify the topologies most suited for mechanical power transmission systems in wind energy conversion systems and electric vehicle applications. These applications will show that research and development of magnetic gear technologies contribute significantly to solutions for sustainable systems, a subject to which our current civilization must pay a lot of attention.
Operational Issues of Contemporary Distribution Systems: A Review on Recent and Emerging Concerns
Authors: Loji Kabulo , Sharma Sachin , Loji Nomhle , Sharma Gulshan , Bokoro Pitshou N.
Published: February 2023

Distribution systems in traditional power systems (PS) constituted of passive elements and the distribution issues were then limited to voltage and thermal constraints, harmonics, overloading and unbalanced loading, reactive power compensation issues, faults and transients, loss minimization and frequency stability problems, to name a few. Contemporary distribution systems are becoming active distributed networks (ADNs) that integrate a substantially increasing amount of distributed energy resources (DERs). DERS include distributed generation (DG) sources, energy storage resources and demand side management (DSM) options. Despite their evidenced great benefits, the large-scale deployment and integration of DERs remain a challenge as they subsequently lead to the network operational and efficiency issues, hampering PS network reliability and stability. This paper carries out a comprehensive literature survey based on the last decade’s research on operational challenges reported and focusing on dispatchable and non-dispatchable DGs grid integration, on various demand response (DR) mechanisms and, on battery energy storage system (BESS) charging and discharging challenges, with the aim to pave the way to developing suitable optimization techniques that will solve the coordination of multiple renewable sources, storage systems and DRs to minimize distribution systems’ operational issues and thus improve stability and reliability. This paper’s findings assist the researchers in the field to conduct further research and to help PS planners and operators decide on appropriate relevant technologies that address challenges inherent to DG grid integration.
Nitrogen-Doped Porous Carbon Nanosheets Based on a Schiff Base Reaction for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries Anode
Authors: Li Mai , Cheng Zhi , Sun Jingrui , Tian Yu , He Jiawei , Chen Yutian , Bai Yang , Liu Zhiming
Published: February 2023

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have already gained significant attention because they have satisfactory energy density and no memory effect, making them one of the most widely used energy storage systems. In commercial LIBs, graphite is widely used as an anode material due to its excellent electrical conductivity and structural stability; however, as they are limited by their restricted theoretical capacity, there is an urgent need for the development of novel anode materials for LIBs. For this purpose, we designed a nitrogen-doped two-dimensional layered porous carbon material (2D-PNC) based on a covalent organic framework (COF) generated by a Schiff base reaction as a precursor. The characterization analysis results show that 2D-PNC is made of stacked two-dimensional ultra-thin carbon sheets with a porous structure. This unique structure is beneficial for electrolyte impregnation and lithium-ion storage, resulting in excellent electrochemical performance of 2D-PNC, which shows a high specific capacity of 573 mAh g−1 after 380 cycles at 0.5 A g−1. The results show that 2D-PNC provides the possibility of a practical application of high-performance lithium-ion batteries.