bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sox9 Inhibits Cochlear Hair Cell Fate by Upregulating Hey1 and HeyL Antagonists of Atoh1
Authors: Veithen Mona , Huyghe Aurélia , Van Den Ackerveken Priscilla , Fukada So-ichiro , Kokubo Hiroki , Breuskin Ingrid , Nguyen Laurent , Delacroix Laurence , Malgrange Brigitte
Published: August 2023

It is widely accepted that cell fate determination in the cochlea is tightly controlled by different transcription factors (TFs) that remain to be fully defined. Here, we show that Sox9, initially expressed in the entire sensory epithelium of the cochlea, progressively disappears from differentiating hair cells (HCs) and is finally restricted to supporting cells (SCs). By performing ex vivo electroporation of E13.5–E14.5 cochleae, we demonstrate that maintenance of Sox9 expression in the progenitors committed to HC fate blocks their differentiation, even if co-expressed with Atoh1, a transcription factor necessary and sufficient to form HC. Sox9 inhibits Atoh1 transcriptional activity by upregulating Hey1 and HeyL antagonists, and genetic ablation of these genes induces extra HCs along the cochlea. Although Sox9 suppression from sensory progenitors ex vivo leads to a modest increase in the number of HCs, it is not sufficient in vivo to induce supernumerary HC production in an inducible Sox9 knockout model. Taken together, these data show that Sox9 is downregulated from nascent HCs to allow the unfolding of their differentiation program. This may be critical for future strategies to promote fully mature HC formation in regeneration approaches.
Gasdermin E (GSDME)—A New Potential Marker of Psoriasis and Its Metabolic Complications: The First Combined Study on Human Serum, Urine and Tissue
Authors: Nowowiejska Julia , Baran Anna , Pryczynicz Anna , Hermanowicz Justyna Magdalena , Sieklucka Beata , Pawlak Dariusz , Flisiak Iwona
Published: August 2023

Psoriasis is a frequent and incurable skin disease whose pathogenesis is still not fully understood. It is characterized by immune disturbances leading to hyperproliferation and improper differentiation of keratinocytes. Gasdermin E (GSDME) is a protein from the gasdermin family involved in the processes of inflammation and cell death based on apoptosis, necroptosis and pyroptosis. It has never been studied in psoriatics’ sera or urine before. Our study enrolled 60 patients with psoriasis and 30 volunteers without dermatoses as controls. Serum and urinary GSDME concentrations were examined by ELISA and tissue expression of GSDME by immunohistochemistry. Serum GSDME concentration was significantly higher in patients than controls (p < 0.05). There were no differences in urinary GSDME concentrations between patients and controls. GSDME expression was significantly higher in the psoriatic plaque than non-lesional patients’ skin and compared to controls (both p < 0.001). There was no correlation between serum GSDME or its lesional expression and psoriasis severity, age or disease duration. GSDME serum concentration was significantly negatively correlated with BMI, triglycerides and glucose concentrations. The obtained results suggest the engagement of GSDME in psoriasis pathogenesis. It could potentially become a new non-invasive psoriasis marker. Considering its pro-apoptotic influence, GSDME could be compensatively elevated to direct cells towards apoptosis, whereas under other circumstances, it may lead to pyroptosis and sustain inflammation. GSDME may exert a protective influence on the metabolic complications in psoriasis which requires further studies.
T Cells in Atherosclerosis: Key Players in the Pathogenesis of Vascular Disease
Authors: Hinkley Hannah , Counts Daniel A. , VonCanon Elizabeth , Lacy Michael
Published: August 2023

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the accumulation of lipid-rich plaques within arterial walls. T cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in which they help orchestrate immune responses and contribute to plaque development and instability. Here, we discuss the recognition of atherosclerosis-related antigens that may trigger T cell activation together with additional signaling from co-stimulatory molecules and lesional cytokines. Although few studies have indicated candidates for the antigen specificity of T cells in atherosclerosis, further research is needed. Furthermore, we describe the pro-atherogenic and atheroprotective roles of diverse subsets of T cells such as CD4+ helper, CD8+ cytotoxic, invariant natural killer, and γδ T cells. To classify and quantify T cell subsets in atherosclerosis, we summarize current methods to analyze cellular heterogeneity including single cell RNA sequencing and T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing. Further insights into T cell biology will help shed light on the immunopathology of atherosclerosis, inform potential therapeutic interventions, and pave the way for precision medicine approaches in combating cardiovascular disease.
Cancer Vaccine Therapeutics: Limitations and Effectiveness—A Literature Review
Authors: Kaczmarek Mariusz , Poznańska Justyna , Fechner Filip , Michalska Natasza , Paszkowska Sara , Napierała Adrianna , Mackiewicz Andrzej
Published: August 2023

In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in tumor microenvironment-associated cancer vaccine therapies. These innovative treatments aim to activate and enhance the body’s natural immune response against cancer cells by utilizing specific antigens present in the tumor microenvironment. The goal is to achieve a complete clinical response, where all measurable cancer cells are either eliminated or greatly reduced in size. With their potential to revolutionize cancer treatment, these therapies represent a promising avenue for researchers and clinicians alike. Despite over 100 years of research, the success of therapeutic cancer vaccines has been variable, particularly in advanced cancer patients, with various limitations, including the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment, the presence of immunosuppressive cells, and the potential for tumor escape mechanisms. Additionally, the effectiveness of these therapies may be limited by the variability of the patient’s immune system response and the difficulty in identifying appropriate antigens for each patient. Despite these challenges, tumor microenvironment-targeted vaccine cancer therapies have shown promising results in preclinical and clinical studies and have the potential to become a valuable addition to current cancer treatment and “curative” options. While chemotherapeutic and monoclonal antibody treatments remain popular, ongoing research is needed to optimize the design and delivery of these therapies and to identify biomarkers that can predict response and guide patient selection. This comprehensive review explores the mechanisms of cancer vaccines, various delivery methods, and the role of adjuvants in improving treatment outcomes. It also discusses the historical background of cancer vaccine research and examines the current state of major cancer vaccination immunotherapies. Furthermore, the limitations and effectiveness of each vaccine type are analyzed, providing insights into the future of cancer vaccine development.
Physical Properties and Cellular Metabolic Characteristics of 3D Spheroids Are Possible Definitive Indices for the Biological Nature of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts
Authors: Nishikiori Nami , Takada Kohichi , Sato Tatsuya , Miyamoto Sho , Watanabe Megumi , Hirakawa Yui , Sekiguchi Shohei , Furuhashi Masato , Yorozu Akira , Takano Kenichi , Miyazaki Akihiro , Suzuki Hiromu , Ohguro Hiroshi
Published: August 2023

The current study’s objective was to elucidate some currently unknown biological indicators to evaluate the biological nature of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). For this purpose, four different CAFs, CAFS1, CAFS2, SCC17F and MO-1000, were established using surgical specimens from oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) with different clinical malignant stages (CAFS1 and CAFS2, T2N0M0, stage II; SCC17F and MO-1000, T4aN2bM0, stage IVA). Fibroblasts unrelated to cancer (non-CAFs) were also prepared and used as controls. Initially, confirmation that these four fibroblasts were indeed CAFs was obtained by their mRNA expression using positive and negative markers for the CAF or fibroblasts. To elucidate possible unknown biological indicators, these fibroblasts were subjected to a cellular metabolic analysis by a Seahorse bioanalyzer, in conjugation with 3D spheroid cultures of the cells and co-cultures with a pancreas ductal carcinoma cell line, MIA PaCa-2. The mitochondrial and glycolytic functions of human orbital fibroblasts (HOF) were nearly identical to those of Graves’-disease-related HOF (GOF). In contrast, the characteristics of the metabolic functions of these four CAFs were different from those of human conjunctival fibroblasts (HconF), a representative non-CAF. It is particularly noteworthy that CAFS1 and CAFS2 showed markedly reduced ratios for the rate of oxygen consumption to the extracellular acidification rate, suggesting that glycolysis was enhanced compared to mitochondrial respiration. Similarly, the physical aspects, their appearance and stiffness, of their 3D spheroids and fibroblasts that were induced effects based on the cellular metabolic functions of MIA PaCa-2 were also different between CAFs and non-CAFs, and their levels for CAFS1 or SCC17F were similar to those for CAFS2 or MO-1000 cells, respectively. The findings reported herein indicate that cellular metabolic functions and the physical characteristics of these types of 3D spheroids may be valuable and useful indicators for estimating potential biological diversity among various CAFs.
Modifying Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Methylene Blue Adsorbents: A Review
Authors: Doan Linh
Published: August 2023

Methylene blue (MB) is a hazardous chemical that is widely found in wastewater, and its removal is critical. One of the most common methods to remove MB is adsorption. To enhance the adsorption process, magnetic adsorbents, particularly those based on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION), play a vital role. This study focuses on comparing recent novel SPION-based MB adsorbents and how to acquire the critical parameters needed to evaluate the adsorption and desorption mechanisms, including isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamic properties. Moreover, the review article also discusses the future aspects of these adsorbents.
Perioperative Management of a Pediatric Patient with Beckwith–Wiedemann Syndrome Undergoing a Partial Glossectomy According to Egyedi/Obwegeser
Authors: Izzi Antonio , Marchello Vincenzo , Manuali Aldo , Cassano Lazzaro , Di Francesco Andrea , Mastromatteo Annalisa , Recchia Andreaserena , Tonti Maria Pia , D’Onofrio Grazia , Del Gaudio Alfredo
Published: August 2023

Here, we report the perioperative management of a clinical case of a 6 year, 5 month old girl suffering from Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome undergoing a partial glossectomy procedure in a patient with surgical indication for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), difficulty swallowing, feeding, and speech. On surgery day, Clonidine (4 µg/kg) was administered. Following this, a general anesthesia induction was performed by administering Sevoflurane, Fentanyl, continuous intravenous Remifentanil, and lidocaine to the vocal cords, and a rhinotracheal intubation with a size 4.5 tube was carried out. Before starting the procedure, a block of the Lingual Nerve was performed with Levobupivacaine. Analgosedation was maintained with 3% Sevoflurane in air and oxygen (FiO2 of 40%) and Remifentanil in continuous intravenous infusion at a rate of 0.08–0.15 µg/kg/min. The surgical procedure lasted 2 h and 32 min. At the end of the surgery, the patient was under close observation during the first 72 h. In the pediatric patient with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome submitted to major maxillofacial surgery, the difficulty in managing the airways in the preoperative phase during intubation and in the post-operative phase during extubation should be considered.
QTL Mapping and Genome-Wide Association Study Reveal Genetic Loci and Candidate Genes Related to Soluble Solids Content in Melon
Authors: Yan Honglang , Wang Kang , Wang Manman , Feng Lulu , Zhang Huimin , Wei Xiaoyun
Published: August 2023

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an economically important Cucurbitaceae crop grown around the globe. The sweetness of melon is a significant factor in fruit quality and consumer appeal, and the soluble solids content (SSC) is a key index of melon sweetness. In this study, 146 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from two oriental melon materials with different levels of sweetness containing 1427 bin markers, and 213 melon accessions containing 1,681,775 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were used to identify genomic regions influencing SSC. Linkage mapping detected 10 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) distributed on six chromosomes, seven of which were overlapped with the reported QTLs. A total of 211 significant SNPs were identified by genome-wide association study (GWAS), 138 of which overlapped with the reported QTLs. Two new stable, co-localized regions on chromosome 3 were identified by QTL mapping and GWAS across multiple environments, which explained large phenotypic variance. Five candidate genes related to SSC were identified by QTL mapping, GWAS, and qRT-PCR, two of which were involved in hydrolysis of raffinose and sucrose located in the new stable loci. The other three candidate genes were involved in raffinose synthesis, sugar transport, and production of substrate for sugar synthesis. The genomic regions and candidate genes will be helpful for molecular breeding programs and elucidating the mechanisms of sugar accumulation.
Mutual Modulation of the Activities of Human CYP2D6 and Four UGTs during the Metabolism of Propranolol
Authors: Yang Fan , Sharma Sangeeta Shrestha , Bureik Matthias , Parr Maria Kristina
Published: August 2023

Cytochromes P450 (CYP) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) are two enzyme families that play an important role in drug metabolism, catalyzing either the functionalization or glucuronidation of xenobiotics. However, their mutual interactions are poorly understood. In this study, the functional interactions of human CYP2D6 with four human UGTs (UGT1A7, UGT1A8, UGT1A9, and UGT2A1) were investigated using our previously established co-expression model system in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The substrate employed was propranolol because it is well metabolized by CYP2D6. Moreover, the CYP2D6 metabolite 4-hydroxypropranolol is a known substrate for the four UGTs included in this study. Co-expression of either UGT1A7, UGT1A8, or UGT1A9 was found to increase the activity of CYP2D6 by a factor of 3.3, 2.1 or 2.8, respectively, for the conversion of propranolol to 4-hydroxypropranolol. In contrast, UGT2A1 co-expression did not change CYP2D6 activity. On the other hand, the activities of all four UGTs were completely suppressed by co-expression of CYP2D6. This data corroborates our previous report that CYP2D6 is involved in functional CYP-UGT interactions and suggest that such interactions can contribute to both adverse drug reactions and changes in drug efficacy.
Evaluation of Abfraction Lesions Restored with Three Dental Materials: A Comparative Study
Authors: Costăchel Bogdan Constantin , Bechir Anamaria , Burcea Alexandru , Mihai Laurența Lelia , Ionescu Tudor , Marcu Olivia Andreea , Bechir Edwin Sever
Published: August 2023

Background: Abfraction lesions are manifested as damage to hard tissues in the cervical area of dental crowns. The study aimed to assess the direct restoration of abfraction lesions according to the modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria for 24 months. The restorations were accomplished with Fuji Bulk–GC, Omnichroma Flow-Tokuyama, and Beautifil® II–Shofu dental materials, and the therapy was or was not associated with wearing thermoformed mouthguards. Methods: From the 53 selected and analyzed patients (n = 53), 28 patients (with restorations of abfraction lesions) belonged to the 1st group and 25 patients (with 105 restorations, who also wore mouthguards) belonged to the 2nd group. Blind determination assessments were effectuated at baseline and after 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Results showed that, regardless of the rating score, there are no significant statistical differences in the evaluation criteria between the two groups of patients Conclusions: For each material, the scores of USPHS criterion presented good clinical performances after 24 months, with no significant statistical differences between the fillings and the applied therapy in the two groups of patients.
RETRACTED: Traditional and Recent Root Canal Irrigation Methods and Their Effectiveness: A Review
Authors: Iandolo Alfredo , Pisano Massimo , Buonavoglia Alessio , Giordano Francesco , Amato Alessandra , Abdellatif Dina
Published: August 2023

According to contemporary dental standards, the primary goal of endodontic therapy is the chemo-mechanical cleaning of the complex root canal system. Watering root canals with approved solutions and activating them are essential parts of this operation. This review outlines various irrigant activation methods for root canal therapy. Specifically, a comparison among the methods of manual dynamic activation, sonics (subsonic, sonic, and ultrasonic), internal heating, and lasers, was conducted. The results in this work were gathered using Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases by searching the following keywords: sodium hypochlorite, cleaning, activation, and irrigation methods. The present work concluded that the use of irrigant activation has a greater benefit than its absence. Regardless, it is impossible to point to a single effective activation method.
Further Characterization of the Polycrystalline p-Type β-Ga2O3 Films Grown through the Thermal Oxidation of GaN at 1000 to 1100 °C in a N2O Atmosphere
Authors: Wei Sufen , Liu Yi , Shi Qianqian , He Tinglin , Shi Feng , Lee Ming-kwei
Published: August 2023

The development of good-conductivity p-type β-Ga2O3 is crucial for the realization of its devices and applications. In this study, nitrogen-doped p-type β-Ga2O3 films with the characteristics of enhanced conductivity were fabricated through the thermal oxidation of GaN in a N2O atmosphere. To obtain insights into the underlying mechanism of the thermally activated transformation process, additional measurements of the oxidized films were performed at temperatures of 1000, 1050, and 1100 °C. Room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra showed a moderate ultraviolet emission peak at 246 nm, confirming the generation of gallium oxide with a band gap of approximately 5.0 eV. The characteristics of polycrystalline and anisotropic growth were confirmed via normalized X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns. The amount of incorporated nitrogen was analyzed via secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to examine the effects of oxidation temperature. Furthermore, the ionization energy of the acceptor in the films oxidized at 1000, 1050, and 1100 °C was calculated and analyzed using temperature-dependent Hall test results. The results indicated that nitrogen doping played a significant role in determining p-type electrical properties. The activation energy of polycrystalline β-Ga2O3, prepared via the thermal oxidation of GaN in the N2O atmosphere, was estimated to be 147.175 kJ·mol−1 using an Arrhenius plot. This value was significantly lower than that obtained via both the dry and wet oxidation of GaN under O2 ambient conditions, thus confirming the higher efficiency of the thermal oxidation of GaN in a N2O atmosphere.
In Situ Growth of High-Performance ZnAl-Layered Double Hydroxides/Al2O3 Composite Coatings on Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Ying Lixia , Zhao Chao , Sun Zexian , Nie Chongyang , Liu Ruxin , Wang Zhiyong , Wu Yunlong
Published: August 2023

In this research, high-performance ZnAl-layered double hydroxides (ZnAl-LDHs) with different Zn2+ concentrations were prepared on the surface of an anodized 1060 aluminum alloy using the in situ growth method, and the influence of Zn2+ concentration on corrosion resistance and tribological behavior was further explored. The surface morphology, element distribution, phase composition, and mechanical performance of ZnAl-LDHs/anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) composite coatings were tested and analyzed. Subsequently, the investigation of the anti-corrosion properties and tribological behavior of as-prepared composite coatings and AAO were conducted experimentally. The results show that with the increase in Zn2+ concentration, the thickness and bonding strength of the coatings gradually increase, and the hardness progressively decreases. The ZnAl-LDHs/AAO composite coating with a Zn2+ concentration of 0.3 mol/L exhibits the best anti-corrosion ability, which has the minimum corrosion current density of 2.435 × 10−9 A/cm2. This can be attributed to the uniform and compact ZnAl-LDH films where the porous structure of the AAO is well sealed. Moreover, the excellent friction-reduction and anti-wear properties of ZnAl-LDHs/AAO composite coatings with larger Zn2+ concentrations are verified using a ball-on-disc rotating wear tester under dry wear. A reasonable mechanism for improving tribological properties of resulting ZnAl-LDHs/AAO composite coatings is proposed.
Effects of Synchronous Bias Mode and Duty Cycle on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AlTiN Coatings Deposited via HiPIMS
Authors: Tang Jian-Fu , Huang Shi-Yu , Chen I-Hong , Shen Guan-Lun , Chang Chi-Lung
Published: August 2023

The good mechanical properties of metal nitrides make them ideal surface coatings for cutting tools and mold components. Conventional TiN coatings have largely been replaced by AlTiN due to their superior mechanical properties and resistance to high temperatures. In this study, we investigated the application of bias voltage to the substrate to enhance ion bombardment during the synthesis of protective AlTiN coatings using high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) with synchronous trigger-direct current (ST-DC) bias voltage. The ST-DC parameters included the duty cycle duration (3%, 6%, 12%, 18%) and turn-on time, which included synchronous (TD0) or a trigger delay of 50 μs (TD50). Scanning electron microscope images revealed that the highest deposition rate (22.1 nm/min) was achieved using TD50 with a duty cycle of 3%. The results obtained using an electron probe microanalyzer and X-ray diffractometer revealed the formation of an h-AlN structure when the Al/Ti ratio was between 0.71 and 0.74. Transmission electron microscopy and nanoindentation results revealed that transforming DC bias into synchronous bias to boost the bias output time (i.e., increasing the duty cycle) increased AlTiN grain refinement (from ~100 nm to ~55 nm) with a corresponding increase in hardness (from 22.7 GPa to 24.7 GPa) as well as an increase in residual stress within the AlTiN coating (from 0.16 GPa to −51 GPa). The excellent adhesion performance of the coatings provided further evidence indicating the importance of duty cycle and trigger delay when using pulsed-DC bias in HiPIMS.
Influence of Thermo-Mechanical Process and Nb-V Microalloying on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Fe–Mn–Al–C Austenitic Steel
Authors: Zhao Ting , Hao Xiaohong , Wang Yuefeng , Chen Chen , Wang Tiansheng
Published: August 2023

In present study, a novel Nb-V microalloyed Fe–Mn–Al–C steel and a non-microalloyed Fe–Mn–Al–C austenitic steel were treated with different thermo-mechanical processes. The microstructure of the test steels was observed by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, electron probe micro-analyzer, and X-ray diffractometer. A tensile test was conducted to estimate the mechanical properties of the test steels. Results show that the equiaxed austenitic grains are obtained in both test steels, while hot rolling reduces the grain size significantly. The grain size of the Fe–Mn–Al–C steel decreases by 40%–55% after the addition of Nb-V due to the precipitation of nanoscale (Nb,V)C particles within the austenite matrix. Compared with the solid solution treated specimens, the strength of the hot-rolled or aged specimens is improved. Meanwhile, the strength of the Fe–Mn–Al–C steel with Nb-V microalloying is also increased by 55 MPa due to the precipitation strengthening and fine grain strengthening, while the elongation is decreased. The Nb-V microalloyed Fe–Mn–Al–C steel, after hot rolling + aging treatment, obtains the maximum strength, with the yield and tensile strength of 669 MPa and 1001 MPa, respectively. The strengthening mechanisms that contribute significantly to the yield strength are solid solution strengthening and dislocation strengthening. They are 185 MPa and 211 MPa, respectively, for the Nb-V microalloyed Fe–Mn–Al–C steel at hot rolling + aging conditions. Meanwhile, the segregation of carbon atoms after aging treatment also improves the yield strength significantly.
Research on the Corrosion Resistance of an Epoxy Resin-Based Self-Healing Propylene Glycol-Loaded Ethyl Cellulose Microcapsule Coating
Authors: Zhang Shudi , Liu Linkun , Xu Yuheng , Lei Quanda , Bing Jiahui , Zhang Tao
Published: August 2023

In this work, ethyl cellulose was used as a wall material, propanetriol as a core material, polyvinyl alcohol as a stabilizer and gelatin as an emulsifier. Self-healing microcapsules with a slow-release effect were prepared using the solvent evaporation method. Various analytical techniques, such as 3D confocal microscopy (LCSM), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), thermal weight loss analysis (TGA), laser particle size tester and electrochemical impedance polarization, are utilized. The morphology, distribution, particle size, corrosion resistance and self-healing ability of the prepared microcapsules and resin-based coatings were characterized and analyzed. The results show that the cross-sectional core–shell structure is clearly seen in the LCSM, showing a smooth, hollow, spherical shape. OM and laser particle size testers have shown that the size of the microcapsules decreases over time. Also, in OM, the microcapsules are uniformly distributed in the emulsion with a smooth and non-adherent surface. In SEM, the microcapsule particle size is about 150 μm, the shell wall thickness is about 18 μm, and the hollow structure of ruptured microcapsules is obvious. FT-IR and TGA confirmed the successful encapsulation of the formulated microcapsules. The results show that when the core-wall mass ratio is 1.2:1 and the amount of microcapsule is 10% of the coating amount, the prepared microcapsule has high thermal stability and certain wear resistance. By electrochemical and immersion experiments, it was found that a 3.5 wt % NaCl solution has the best impedance, the lowest corrosion current density, and good adhesion and tensile toughness. The results showed that glycerol was successfully released from the broken microcapsules and self-healed, forming an anticorrosive coating with excellent corrosion resistance and self-healing ability.
Securing Financial Transactions with a Robust Algorithm: Preventing Double-Spending Attacks
Authors: Hashim Hasan , Alzighaibi Ahmad Reda , Elessawy Amaal Farag , Gad Ibrahim , Abdul-Kader Hatem , Elsaid Asmaa
Published: August 2023

A zero-confirmation transaction is a transaction that has not yet been confirmed on the blockchain and is not yet part of the blockchain. The network propagates zero-confirmation transactions quickly, but they are not secured against double-spending attacks. In this study, the proposed method is used to secure zero-confirmation transactions by using the security hashing algorithm 512 in elliptic curve cryptography (ECDSA) instead of the security hashing algorithm 256. This is to generate a cryptographic identity to secure the transactions in zero-confirmation transactions instead of security hashing algorithm 256. The results show that SHA-512 is greater than SHA-256 in throughput. Additionally, SHA-512 offers better throughput performance than SHA-256 while also having a larger hash size. Results also show that SHA-512 is more secure than SHA-256.
Biology and Behavior of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Contagion with Emphasis on Treatment Strategies, Risk Assessment, and Resilience
Authors: Baldwin James , Noorali Samina , Vaseashta Ashok
Published: August 2023

The emergence of novel pathogens is a well-known epidemiological risk; however, the unexpected emergence of a truly novel coronavirus-mediated pandemic due to SARS-CoV-2 underscored the significance of understanding this contagion. The pandemic, due to novel coronavirus, termed COVID-19, caused unprecedented social, economic, and educational disruptions on a scale never seen before. In addition to social protocols, safe, effective, and affordable vaccines were developed within months, the cornerstone of the mitigation of this pandemic. We present an overview of the evolution of the pandemic from a historical perspective and describe its biology and behavior, especially the immunological aspects of the disease. We further provide an overview of therapeutics, treatment, and vaccine development to mitigate SARS-CoV-2. It is critical to understand the transmission mechanism of the disease to control and mitigate its progression. We describe cohort studies to identify secondary and tertiary syndromes. The transmission characteristics help its diagnosis and detection. During the pandemic, a lot of emphasis was placed on personal protection equipment. It is now concluded that the virus particles are spread by aerosol dispersion. While the recommended distance may not have been sufficient, the use of personal protective equipment and social distancing was helpful in close-quarters environments. Such protocols, in conjunction with safe and effective vaccines and personal hygiene, are among the safe practices. While we learn from our experience, this review provides a holistic overview of the pandemic and encapsulates the event in a historical context. In doing so, we hope to understand the SARS-CoV-2 virus and take sufficient precautionary measures to mitigate consequences during any subsequent similar pandemics. In addition to a wide-spectrum automated analytics system introduced by the authors earlier, we propose the use of artificial intelligence in conjunction with data analytics to minimize the risk of speculatively diagnosing agents incorrectly by employing a novel concept of cloud-based presumptive diagnosis.
Hierarchical Structure of Glucosamine Hydrochloride Crystals in Antisolvent Crystallization
Authors: Du Shichao , Yu Chuanping , Zhang Ping , Lu Jianxing , Gong Junbo , Xue Fumin , Wang Yan
Published: August 2023

The crystal morphology of glucosamine hydrochloride (GAH) during antisolvent crystallization was investigated in this work. Particles of different shapes, such as plate-like crystals, leaflike clusters, fan-like dendrites, flower-like aggregates, and spherulites, were produced by tuning the type of antisolvents and crystallization operating conditions. The hierarchical structures of GAH crystals tended to be formed in a water + isopropanol mixture. The effects of operation parameters on the polycrystalline morphology were studied, including crystallization temperature, solute concentration, feeding rate of GAH aqueous solution, solvent-to-antisolvent mass ratio, and stirring rate. The evolution process of GAH spherulites was monitored using SEM, indicating a crystallographic branching mode. The crystal habit was predicted to identify the dominant faces. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed and the interaction energy of solute or solvent molecules on crystal surfaces was calculated. The experimental and simulation studies help to understand the branching mechanism and design a desired particle morphology.
Capturing the True Cost of Breast Cancer Treatment: Molecular Subtype and Stage-Specific per-Case Activity-Based Costing
Authors: Wilkinson Anna N. , Seely Jean M. , Rushton Moira , Williams Phillip , Cordeiro Erin , Allard-Coutu Alexandra , Look Hong Nicole J. , Moideen Nikitha , Robinson Jessica , Renaud Julie , Mainprize James G. , Yaffe Martin J.
Published: August 2023

Background: Breast cancer (BC) treatment is rapidly evolving with new and costly therapeutics. Existing costing models have a limited ability to capture current treatment costs. We used an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) method to determine a per-case cost for BC treatment by stage and molecular subtype. Methods: ABC was used to proportionally integrate multidisciplinary evidence-based patient and provider treatment options for BC, yielding a per-case cost for the total duration of treatment by stage and molecular subtype. Diagnostic imaging, pathology, surgery, radiation therapy, systemic therapy, inpatient, emergency, home care and palliative care costs were included. Results: BC treatment costs were higher than noted in previous studies and varied widely by molecular subtype. Cost increased exponentially with the stage of disease. The per-case cost for treatment (2023C$) for DCIS was C$ 14,505, and the mean costs for all subtypes were C$ 39,263, C$ 76,446, C$ 97,668 and C$ 370,398 for stage I, II, III and IV BC, respectively. Stage IV costs were as high as C$ 516,415 per case. When weighted by the proportion of molecular subtype in the population, case costs were C$ 31,749, C$ 66,758, C$ 111,368 and C$ 289,598 for stage I, II, III and IV BC, respectively. The magnitude of cost differential was up to 10.9 times for stage IV compared to stage I, 4.4 times for stage III compared to stage I and 35.6 times for stage IV compared to DCIS. Conclusion: The cost of BC treatment is rapidly escalating with novel therapies and increasing survival, resulting in an exponential increase in treatment costs for later-stage disease. We provide real-time, case-based costing for BC treatment which will allow for the assessment of health system economic impacts and an accurate understanding of the cost-effectiveness of screening.
Redefining Radiology: A Review of Artificial Intelligence Integration in Medical Imaging
Authors: Najjar Reabal
Published: August 2023

This comprehensive review unfolds a detailed narrative of Artificial Intelligence (AI) making its foray into radiology, a move that is catalysing transformational shifts in the healthcare landscape. It traces the evolution of radiology, from the initial discovery of X-rays to the application of machine learning and deep learning in modern medical image analysis. The primary focus of this review is to shed light on AI applications in radiology, elucidating their seminal roles in image segmentation, computer-aided diagnosis, predictive analytics, and workflow optimisation. A spotlight is cast on the profound impact of AI on diagnostic processes, personalised medicine, and clinical workflows, with empirical evidence derived from a series of case studies across multiple medical disciplines. However, the integration of AI in radiology is not devoid of challenges. The review ventures into the labyrinth of obstacles that are inherent to AI-driven radiology—data quality, the ’black box’ enigma, infrastructural and technical complexities, as well as ethical implications. Peering into the future, the review contends that the road ahead for AI in radiology is paved with promising opportunities. It advocates for continuous research, embracing avant-garde imaging technologies, and fostering robust collaborations between radiologists and AI developers. The conclusion underlines the role of AI as a catalyst for change in radiology, a stance that is firmly rooted in sustained innovation, dynamic partnerships, and a steadfast commitment to ethical responsibility.
A Virtual, 3D Multimodal Approach to Victim and Crime Scene Reconstruction
Authors: Villa Chiara , Lynnerup Niels , Jacobsen Christina
Published: August 2023

In the last two decades, forensic pathology and crime scene investigations have seen a rapid increase in examination tools due to the implementation of several imaging techniques, e.g., CT and MR scanning, surface scanning and photogrammetry. These tools encompass relatively simple visualization tools to powerful instruments for performing virtual 3D crime scene reconstructions. A multi-modality and multiscale approach to a crime scene, where 3D models of victims and the crime scene are combined, offers several advantages. A permanent documentation of all evidence in a single 3D environment can be used during the investigation phases (e.g., for testing hypotheses) or during the court procedures (e.g., to visualize the scene and the victim in a more intuitive manner). Advanced computational approaches to understand what might have happened during a crime can also be applied by, e.g., performing a virtual animation of the victim in the actual context, which can provide important information about possible dynamics during the event. Here, we present an overview of the different techniques and modalities used in forensic pathology in conjunction with crime scene investigations. Based on our experiences, the advantages and challenges of an image-based multi-modality approach will be discussed, including how their use may introduce new visualization modalities in court, e.g., virtual reality (VR) and 3D printing. Finally, considerations about future directions in research will be mentioned.
Comparisons of Dental Anomalies in Orthodontic Patients with Impacted Maxillary and Mandibular Canines
Authors: Stabryła Joanna , Zadurska Małgorzata , Plakwicz Paweł , Kukuła Krzysztof Tadeusz , Czochrowska Ewa Monika
Published: August 2023

To assess the presence and possible associations between the type of dental anomalies and maxillary and mandibular canine impactions in orthodontic patients treated for canine impaction, panoramic radiographs of orthodontic patients treated for canine impaction were assessed for the presence of associated dental anomalies. A random sample of orthodontic patients without canine impaction matched for age and gender served as controls. Descriptive and exact inferential statistics were implemented in order to assess potential associations between canine impaction and dental anomalies. A total of 102 orthodontic patients with 70 maxillary (MaxCI) and 32 mandibular (ManCI) canine impactions were assessed. The control group included 117 orthodontic patients. Dental anomalies were present in more than 50% of patients with impacted canines and in 20% of the controls. Tooth agenesis was significantly more common in the MaxCI group when compared to the ManCI group, while supernumerary teeth and canine transmigration were registered more often in the ManCI group. When compared to the control group, peg-shaped maxillary lateral incisors and tooth agenesis were significantly more prevalent in the MaxCI group, while canine transmigration, supernumerary teeth, the agenesis of mandibular incisors and tooth transpositions were significantly more prevalent in the ManCI group. The impaction of other teeth was significantly more common in both canine impaction groups when compared to the controls. The prevalence of dental anomalies in orthodontic patients with impacted canines was higher than in orthodontic patients without canine impaction. Different types of tooth anomalies were found in the MaxCI and ManCI groups.
Hybrid Fusion of High-Resolution and Ultra-Widefield OCTA Acquisitions for the Automatic Diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Li Yihao , El Habib Daho Mostafa , Conze Pierre-Henri , Zeghlache Rachid , Le Boité Hugo , Bonnin Sophie , Cosette Deborah , Magazzeni Stephanie , Lay Bruno , Le Guilcher Alexandre , Tadayoni Ramin , Cochener Béatrice , Lamard Mathieu , Quellec Gwenolé
Published: August 2023

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) can deliver enhanced diagnosis for diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study evaluated a deep learning (DL) algorithm for automatic DR severity assessment using high-resolution and ultra-widefield (UWF) OCTA. Diabetic patients were examined with 6×6 mm2 high-resolution OCTA and 15×15 mm2 UWF-OCTA using PLEX®Elite 9000. A novel DL algorithm was trained for automatic DR severity inference using both OCTA acquisitions. The algorithm employed a unique hybrid fusion framework, integrating structural and flow information from both acquisitions. It was trained on data from 875 eyes of 444 patients. Tested on 53 patients (97 eyes), the algorithm achieved a good area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for detecting DR (0.8868), moderate non-proliferative DR (0.8276), severe non-proliferative DR (0.8376), and proliferative/treated DR (0.9070). These results significantly outperformed detection with the 6×6 mm2 (AUC = 0.8462, 0.7793, 0.7889, and 0.8104, respectively) or 15×15 mm2 (AUC = 0.8251, 0.7745, 0.7967, and 0.8786, respectively) acquisitions alone. Thus, combining high-resolution and UWF-OCTA acquisitions holds the potential for improved early and late-stage DR detection, offering a foundation for enhancing DR management and a clear path for future works involving expanded datasets and integrating additional imaging modalities.
UHFUS: A Valuable Tool in Evaluating Exocrine Gland Abnormalities in Sjögren’s Disease
Authors: Fulvio Giovanni , Izzetti Rossana , Aringhieri Giacomo , Donati Valentina , Ferro Francesco , Gabbriellini Giovanna , Mosca Marta , Baldini Chiara
Published: August 2023

Sjögren’s Disease (SjD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the salivary and lacrimal glands, leading to xerostomia and xerophthalmia. Ultrasonography of Major Salivary Glands (SGUS) is a well-established tool for the identification of the salivary glands’ abnormalities in SjD. Recently, a growing interest has arisen in the assessment of the other exocrine glands with ultrasonography: lacrimal glands (LGUS) and labial salivary glands (LSGUS). The objective of this study is to explore the practical applications of ultra-high frequency ultrasound (UHFUS) in the assessment of lacrimal glands and labial salivary glands. Indeed, UHFUS, with its improved spatial resolution compared to conventional ultrasonography, allows for the evaluation of microscopic structures and has been successfully applied in various medical fields. In lacrimal glands, conventional high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) can detect characteristic inflammatory changes, atrophic alterations, blood flow patterns, and neoplastic lesions associated with SjD. However, sometimes it is challenging to identify lacrimal glands characteristics, thus making UHFUS a promising tool. Regarding labial salivary glands, limited research is available with conventional HFUS, but UHFUS proves to be a good tool to evaluate glandular inhomogeneity and to guide labial salivary glands biopsy. The comprehensive understanding of organ involvement facilitated by UHFUS may significantly improve the management of SjD patients.
Deep Learning-Based Classification of Chest Diseases Using X-rays, CT Scans, and Cough Sound Images
Authors: Malik Hassaan , Anees Tayyaba , Al-Shamaylehs Ahmad Sami , Alharthi Salman Z. , Khalil Wajeeha , Akhunzada Adnan
Published: August 2023

Chest disease refers to a variety of lung disorders, including lung cancer (LC), COVID-19, pneumonia (PNEU), tuberculosis (TB), and numerous other respiratory disorders. The symptoms (i.e., fever, cough, sore throat, etc.) of these chest diseases are similar, which might mislead radiologists and health experts when classifying chest diseases. Chest X-rays (CXR), cough sounds, and computed tomography (CT) scans are utilized by researchers and doctors to identify chest diseases such as LC, COVID-19, PNEU, and TB. The objective of the work is to identify nine different types of chest diseases, including COVID-19, edema (EDE), LC, PNEU, pneumothorax (PNEUTH), normal, atelectasis (ATE), and consolidation lung (COL). Therefore, we designed a novel deep learning (DL)-based chest disease detection network (DCDD_Net) that uses a CXR, CT scans, and cough sound images for the identification of nine different types of chest diseases. The scalogram method is used to convert the cough sounds into an image. Before training the proposed DCDD_Net model, the borderline (BL) SMOTE is applied to balance the CXR, CT scans, and cough sound images of nine chest diseases. The proposed DCDD_Net model is trained and evaluated on 20 publicly available benchmark chest disease datasets of CXR, CT scan, and cough sound images. The classification performance of the DCDD_Net is compared with four baseline models, i.e., InceptionResNet-V2, EfficientNet-B0, DenseNet-201, and Xception, as well as state-of-the-art (SOTA) classifiers. The DCDD_Net achieved an accuracy of 96.67%, a precision of 96.82%, a recall of 95.76%, an F1-score of 95.61%, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 99.43%. The results reveal that DCDD_Net outperformed the other four baseline models in terms of many performance evaluation metrics. Thus, the proposed DCDD_Net model can provide significant assistance to radiologists and medical experts. Additionally, the proposed model was also shown to be resilient by statistical evaluations of the datasets using McNemar and ANOVA tests.
Evaluation of Augmentation Methods in Classifying Autism Spectrum Disorders from fMRI Data with 3D Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Jönemo Johan , Abramian David , Eklund Anders
Published: August 2023

Classifying subjects as healthy or diseased using neuroimaging data has gained a lot of attention during the last 10 years, and recently, different deep learning approaches have been used. Despite this fact, there has not been any investigation regarding how 3D augmentation can help to create larger datasets, required to train deep networks with millions of parameters. In this study, deep learning was applied to derivatives from resting state functional MRI data, to investigate how different 3D augmentation techniques affect the test accuracy. Specifically, resting state derivatives from 1112 subjects in ABIDE (Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange) preprocessed were used to train a 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify each subject according to presence or absence of autism spectrum disorder. The results show that augmentation only provide minor improvements to the test accuracy.
A Brain Morphometry Study with Across-Site Harmonization Using a ComBat-Generalized Additive Model in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Shiohama Tadashi , Maikusa Norihide , Kawaguchi Masahiro , Natsume Jun , Hirano Yoshiyuki , Saito Keito , Takanashi Jun-ichi , Levman Jacob , Takahashi Emi , Matsumoto Koji , Yokota Hajime , Hattori Shinya , Tsujimura Keita , Sawada Daisuke , Uchida Tomoko , Takatani Tomozumi , Fujii Katsunori , Naganawa Shinji , Sato Noriko , Hamada Hiromichi
Published: August 2023

Regional anatomical structures of the brain are intimately connected to functions corresponding to specific regions and the temporospatial pattern of genetic expression and their functions from the fetal period to old age. Therefore, quantitative brain morphometry has often been employed in neuroscience investigations, while controlling for the scanner effect of the scanner is a critical issue for ensuring accuracy in brain morphometric studies of rare orphan diseases due to the lack of normal reference values available for multicenter studies. This study aimed to provide across-site normal reference values of global and regional brain volumes for each sex and age group in children and adolescents. We collected magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of 846 neurotypical participants aged 6.0–17.9 years (339 male and 507 female participants) from 5 institutions comprising healthy volunteers or neurotypical patients without neurological disorders, neuropsychological disorders, or epilepsy. Regional-based analysis using the CIVET 2.1.0. pipeline provided regional brain volumes, and the measurements were across-site combined using ComBat-GAM harmonization. The normal reference values of global and regional brain volumes and lateral indices in our study could be helpful for evaluating the characteristics of the brain morphology of each individual in a clinical setting and investigating the brain morphology of ultra-rare diseases.