bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Type V Tibial Tubercle Avulsion Fracture with Suspected Complication of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Case Report
Authors: Okamura Hiroki , Ishikawa Hiroki , Ohno Takuya , Fujita Shogo , Nagasaki Kei , Inagaki Katsunori , Kudo Yoshifumi
Published: June 2023

Background and Objectives: Type V tibial tubercle avulsion fractures are extremely rare; therefore, information on them remains limited. Furthermore, although these fractures are intra-articular, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on their assessment via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or arthroscopy. Accordingly, this is the first report to describe the case of a patient undergoing detailed evaluation via MRI and arthroscopy. Case Presentation: A 13-year-old male adolescent athlete jumped while playing basketball, experienced discomfort and pain at the front of his knee, and fell down. He was transported to the emergency room by ambulance after he was unable to walk. The radiographic examination revealed a Type Ⅴ tibial tubercle avulsion fracture that was displaced. In addition, an MRI scan revealed a fracture line extending to the attachment of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL); moreover, high MRI intensity and swelling due to ACL were observed, suggesting an ACL injury. On day 4 of the injury, open reduction and internal fixation were performed. Furthermore, 4 months after surgery, bone fusion was confirmed, and metal removal was performed. Simultaneously, an MRI scan obtained at the time of injury revealed findings suggestive of ACL injury; therefore, an arthroscopy was performed. Notably, no parenchymal ACL injury was observed, and the meniscus was intact. The patient returned to sports 6 months postoperatively. Conclusion: Type V tibial tubercle avulsion fractures are known to be extremely rare. Based on our report, we suggest that MRI should be performed without hesitation if intra-articular injury is suspected.
Mechanical and Magnetic Investigations of Balls Made of AISI 1010 and AISI 1085 Steels after Nitriding and Annealing
Authors: Kaczmarek Sławomir Maksymilian , Michalski Jerzy , Frączek Tadeusz , Dudek Agata , Fuks Hubert , Leniec Grzegorz
Published: June 2023

This paper discusses the changes in the phase composition and magnetic properties of the AISI 1010 and AISI 1085 steels that were nitrided at 570 °C in an ammonia atmosphere for 5 h and that were then annealed at 520 °C in a N2/Ar atmosphere for 4 h. The test samples were made in the form of balls with diameters of less than 5 mm. The thickness of the obtained iron nitride layers was assessed through metallographic tests, while the phase composition was verified through X-ray tests. The magnetic properties were determined using ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) techniques. Our research shows that, during the annealing of iron nitrides with a structure of ε + γ′, the ε phase decomposes first. As a result of this process, an increase in the content of the γ′ phase of the iron nitride is observed. When the ε phase is completely decomposed, the γ′ phase begins to decompose. The observed FMR signals did not come from isolated ions but from more magnetically complex systems, e.g., Fe–Fe pairs or iron clusters. Studies have shown that nitriding and annealing can be used to modify the magnetic properties of the tested steels.
Phase-Optimized Multi-Step Phase Acoustic Metasurfaces for Arbitrary Multifocal Beamforming
Authors: Zhao Jianxin , Wei Xiongwei , Fei Chunlong , Li Yi , Li Zhaoxi , Lou Lifei , Quan Yi , Yang Yintang
Published: June 2023

Focused ultrasound featuring non-destructive and high sensitivity has attracted widespread attention in biomedical and industrial evaluation. However, most traditional focusing techniques focus on the design and improvement of single-point focusing, neglecting the need to carry more dimensions of multifocal beams. Here we propose an automatic multifocal beamforming method, which is implemented using a four-step phase metasurface. The metasurface composed of four-step phases improves the transmission efficiency of acoustic waves as a matching layer and enhances the focusing efficiency at the target focal position. The change in the number of focused beams does not affect the full width at half maximum (FWHM), revealing the flexibility of the arbitrary multifocal beamforming method. Phase-optimized hybrid lenses reduce the sidelobe amplitude, and excellent agreement is observed between the simulation and experiments for triple-focusing beamforming metasurface lenses. The particle trapping experiment further validates the profile of the triple-focusing beam. The proposed hybrid lens can achieve flexible focusing in three dimensions (3D) and arbitrary multipoint, which may have potential prospects for biomedical imaging, acoustic tweezers, and brain neural modulation.
Microrobot Path Planning Based on the Multi-Module DWA Method in Crossing Dense Obstacle Scenario
Authors: Zeng Dequan , Chen Haotian , Yu Yinquan , Hu Yiming , Deng Zhenwen , Zhang Peizhi , Xie Dongfu
Published: June 2023

A hard issue in the field of microrobots is path planning in complicated situations with dense obstacle distribution. Although the Dynamic Window Approach (DWA) is a good obstacle avoidance planning algorithm, it struggles to adapt to complex situations and has a low success rate when planning in densely populated obstacle locations. This paper suggests a multi-module enhanced DWA (MEDWA) obstacle avoidance planning algorithm to address the aforementioned issues. An obstacle-dense area judgment approach is initially presented by combining Mahalanobis distance, Frobenius norm, and covariance matrix on the basis of a multi-obstacle coverage model. Second, MEDWA is a hybrid of enhanced DWA (EDWA) algorithms in non-dense areas with a class of two-dimensional analytic vector field methods developed in dense areas. The vector field methods are used instead of the DWA algorithms with poor planning performance in dense areas, which greatly improves the passing ability of microrobots over dense obstacles. The core of EDWA is to extend the new navigation function by modifying the original evaluation function and dynamically adjusting the weights of the trajectory evaluation function in different modules using the improved immune algorithm (IIA), thus improving the adaptability of the algorithm to different scenarios and achieving trajectory optimization. Finally, two scenarios with different obstacle-dense area locations were constructed to test the proposed method 1000 times, and the performance of the algorithm was verified in terms of step number, trajectory length, heading angle deviation, and path deviation. The findings indicate that the method has a smaller planning deviation and that the length of the trajectory and the number of steps can both be reduced by about 15%. This improves the ability of the microrobot to pass through obstacle-dense areas while successfully preventing the phenomenon of microrobots going around or even colliding with obstacles outside of dense areas.
Development and Characterization of Multi-Alkali Antimonide Photocathodes for High-Brightness RF Photoinjectors
Authors: Mohanty Sandeep Kumar , Krasilnikov Mikhail , Oppelt Anne , Stephan Frank , Sertore Daniele , Monaco Laura , Pagani Carlo , Hillert Wolfgang
Published: June 2023

Due to their excellent photoemissive properties, especially low thermal emittance and high sensitivity in the green wavelength, multi-alkali antimonide photocathodes, in particular, cesium–potassium–antimonide, emerged as prominent photoemissive materials for the electron sources of high-repetition-rate FEL applications. To explore its feasibility of operating in a high-gradient RF gun, DESY collaborated with INFN LASA to develop multi-alkali photocathode materials. In this report, we describe the recipe of K-Cs-Sb photocathodes, which were grown on a Mo substrate by varying the foundational Sb layer thickness using sequential deposition techniques. This report also illustrates the information regarding the film thickness, substrate temperature, deposition rate, and its possible effects on the photocathode’s properties. In addition, the influence of temperature on the cathode degradation is also summarized. Furthermore, in the framework of density functional theory (DFT), we investigated the electronic and optical properties of the K2CsSb material. The optical properties, such as dielectric function, reflectivity, refracting index, and extinction coefficient, were evaluated. The correlation between the calculated and measured optical properties, such as reflectivity, provides a better and more efficient strategy to rationalize and understand the photoemissive material’s properties.
A Novel Approach of Polyethylene Glycol-4000 Hydrogels as Controlled Drug Carriers
Authors: Suhail Muhammad , Chiu I-Hui , Lin I-Ling , Tsai Ming-Jun , Wu Pao-Chu
Published: June 2023

In this study, we developed polyethylene glycol-4000-based hydrogels for ketorolac tromethamine-controlled delivery systems through a free radical polymerization method. The developed hydrogels were subjected to FTIR, TGA, DSC, XRD, SEM, porosity analysis, dynamic swelling analysis, release studies, etc. The successful crosslinking and stability of the prepared hydrogels were confirmed by FTIR, DSC, and TGA analysis. The surface morphology and the reduction in the crystallinity of the polymer after grafting were shown by SEM and XRD analysis. Similarly, the soluble part of the developed hydrogels was eliminated from their insoluble part by the Soxhlet extraction process. Higher dynamic swelling and drug release were observed at high pH values compared to low pH values. High porosity was perceived with high concentrations of the monomers and polymer and decreased with the high incorporation of a crosslinker. The release mechanism of all formulations followed non-Fickian diffusion. The results demonstrate that the developed polyethylene glycol-4000 hydrogels could serve as promising controlled drug delivery carriers.
Sacrificial Doping as an Approach to Controlling the Energy Properties of Adsorption Sites in Gas-Sensitive ZnO Nanowires
Authors: Nalimova Svetlana , Shomakhov Zamir , Bobkov Anton , Moshnikov Vyaсheslav
Published: June 2023

Currently, devices for environmental gas analyses are required in many areas of application. Among such devices, semiconductor-resistive gas sensors differ advantageously. However, their characteristics need further improvement. The development of methods for controlling the surface properties of nanostructured metal oxides for their use as gas sensors is of great interest. In this paper, a method involving the sacrificial doping of ZnO nanowires to control the content of their surface defects (oxygen vacancies) was proposed. Zinc oxide nanowires were synthesized using the hydrothermal method with sodium iodide or bromide as an additional precursor. The surface composition was studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The sensor properties of the isopropyl alcohol vapors at 150 °C were studied. It was shown that a higher concentration of oxygen vacancies/hydroxyl groups was observed on the surfaces of the samples synthesized with the addition of iodine and bromine precursors compared to the pure zinc oxide nanowires. It was also found out that these samples were more sensitive to isopropyl alcohol vapors. A model was proposed to explain the appearance of additional oxygen vacancies in the subsurface layer of the zinc oxide nanowires when sodium iodide or sodium bromide was added to the initial solution. The roles of oxygen vacancies and surface hydroxyl groups in providing the samples with an increased sensitivity were explained. Thus, a method involving the sacrificial doping of zinc oxide nanowires has been developed, which led to an improvement in their gas sensor characteristics due to an increase in the concentration of oxygen vacancies on their surface. The results are promising for percolation gas sensors equipped with additional water vapor traps that work stably in a high humidity.
Escherichia coli Strains Display Varying Susceptibility to Grazing by the Soil Amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum
Authors: NandaKafle Gitanjali , Blasius Lane A. , Seale Tarren , Brözel Volker S.
Published: June 2023

Recent studies have shown that Escherichia coli can survive in different environments, including soils, and they can maintain populations in sterile soil for a long period of time. This indicates that growth-supporting nutrients are available; however, when grown in non-sterile soils, populations decline, suggesting that other biological factors play a role in controlling E. coli populations in soil. Free-living protozoa can affect the bacterial population by grazing. We hypothesized that E. coli strains capable of surviving in non-sterile soil possess mechanisms to protect themselves from amoeba predation. We determined the grazing rate of E. coli pasture isolates by using Dictyostelium discoideum. Bacterial suspensions applied to lactose agar as lines were allowed to grow for 24 h, when 4 μL of D. discoideum culture was inoculated in the center of each bacterial line. Grazing distances were measured after 4 days. The genomes of five grazing-susceptible and five grazing-resistant isolates were sequenced and compared. Grazing distance varied among isolates, which indicated that some E. coli are more susceptible to grazing by protozoa than others. When presented with a choice between grazing-susceptible and grazing-resistant isolates, D. discoideum grazed only on the susceptible strain. Grazing susceptibility phenotype did not align with the phylogroup, with both B1 and E strains found in both grazing groups. They also did not align by core genome phylogeny. Whole genome comparisons revealed that the five most highly grazed strains had 389 shared genes not found in the five least grazed strains. Conversely, the five least grazed strains shared 130 unique genes. The results indicate that long-term persistence of E. coli in soil is due at least in part to resistance to grazing by soil amoeba.
Study of Detection Limits of Carbonate Phases in Mixtures with Basaltic-like Fine Regolith in the MIR (1–5.5 µm) Spectral Range
Authors: Alemanno Giulia , Carli Cristian , Serventi Giovanna , Maturilli Alessandro , Helbert Jörn
Published: June 2023

The presence of minerals formed under the occurrence of liquid water during the first billion years on Mars was a key discovery, but there is still a large number of open issues that make the study of these mineral deposits a main focus of remote sensing and laboratory studies. Moreover, even though there is extensive research related to the study of the spectral behavior of mixtures, we still lack a full understanding of the problem. The main goal of this work is the analysis of the detection limits of hydrated and carbonate phases within mixtures with basaltic-like fine regolith in the spectral region 1.0–5.5 µm (1818–10,000 cm−1). We selected two different basalt samples and mixed them with two carbonate phases: a dolomite and a calcite. Spectral features have been investigated isolating the main carbonate absorption features and overtones; deriving trends of spectral parameters such as band depth, band area, full-width-half-maximum; percentage and grain size variations. The results obtained in this work show how the presence of a basaltic component can strongly influence the appearance of the hydrated and carbonate features showing different trends and intensities depending on the grain size and percentage of the carbonate components.
Glycolipid Biosurfactants in Skincare Applications: Challenges and Recommendations for Future Exploitation
Authors: Adu Simms A. , Twigg Matthew S. , Naughton Patrick J. , Marchant Roger , Banat Ibrahim M.
Published: June 2023

The 21st century has seen a substantial increase in the industrial applications of glycolipid biosurfactant technology. The market value of the glycolipid class of molecules, sophorolipids, was estimated to be USD 409.84 million in 2021, with that of rhamnolipid molecules projected to reach USD 2.7 billion by 2026. In the skincare industry, sophorolipid and rhamnolipid biosurfactants have demonstrated the potential to offer a natural, sustainable, and skin-compatible alternative to synthetically derived surfactant compounds. However, there are still many barriers to the wide-scale market adoption of glycolipid technology. These barriers include low product yield (particularly for rhamnolipids) and potential pathogenicity of some native glycolipid-producing microorganisms. Additionally, the use of impure preparations and/or poorly characterised congeners as well as low-throughput methodologies in the safety and bioactivity assessment of sophorolipids and rhamnolipids challenges their increased utilisation in both academic research and skincare applications. This review considers the current trend towards the utilisation of sophorolipid and rhamnolipid biosurfactants as substitutes to synthetically derived surfactant molecules in skincare applications, the challenges associated with their application, and relevant solutions proposed by the biotechnology industry. In addition, we recommend experimental techniques/methodologies, which, if employed, could contribute significantly to increasing the acceptance of glycolipid biosurfactants for use in skincare applications while maintaining consistency in biosurfactant research outputs.
Challenges for Kinetics Predictions via Neural Network Potentials: A Wilkinson’s Catalyst Case
Authors: Staub Ruben , Gantzer Philippe , Harabuchi Yu , Maeda Satoshi , Varnek Alexandre
Published: June 2023

Ab initio kinetic studies are important to understand and design novel chemical reactions. While the Artificial Force Induced Reaction (AFIR) method provides a convenient and efficient framework for kinetic studies, accurate explorations of reaction path networks incur high computational costs. In this article, we are investigating the applicability of Neural Network Potentials (NNP) to accelerate such studies. For this purpose, we are reporting a novel theoretical study of ethylene hydrogenation with a transition metal complex inspired by Wilkinson’s catalyst, using the AFIR method. The resulting reaction path network was analyzed by the Generative Topographic Mapping method. The network’s geometries were then used to train a state-of-the-art NNP model, to replace expensive ab initio calculations with fast NNP predictions during the search. This procedure was applied to run the first NNP-powered reaction path network exploration using the AFIR method. We discovered that such explorations are particularly challenging for general purpose NNP models, and we identified the underlying limitations. In addition, we are proposing to overcome these challenges by complementing NNP models with fast semiempirical predictions. The proposed solution offers a generally applicable framework, laying the foundations to further accelerate ab initio kinetic studies with Machine Learning Force Fields, and ultimately explore larger systems that are currently inaccessible.
Cellular Internalization and Exiting Behavior of Zwitterionic 4-Armed Star-Shaped Polymers
Authors: Yoshizaki Yuta , Konno Tomohiro
Published: June 2023

The zwitterionic phospholipid polymer poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-n-butyl methacrylate) (PMB) is amphiphilic copolymer, and it has been reported to directly penetrate cell membranes and have good cytocompatibility. Conventional PMBs are linear-type random copolymers that are polymerized by a free radical polymerization technique. In contrast, star-shaped polymers, or simple branched-type polymers, have unique properties compared to the linear types, for example, a viscosity based on the effect of the excluded volume. In this study, a branched architecture was introduced into a PMB molecular structure, and a 4-armed star-shaped PMB (4armPMB) was synthesized by an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique known as living radical polymerization. Linear-type PMB was also synthesized using ATRP. The effects of the polymer architecture on cytotoxicity and cellular uptake were investigated. Both 4armPMB and LinearPMB were successfully synthesized, and these polymers were verified to be water soluble. Pyrene fluorescence in the polymer solution indicated that the architecture had no effect on the behavior of the polymer aggregates. In addition, these polymers caused no cytotoxicity or cell membrane damage. The 4armPMB and LinearPMB penetrated into the cells after a short incubation period, with similar rates. In contrast, the 4armPMB showed a quicker back-diffusion from the cells than that of LinearPMB. The 4armPMB showed fast cellular internalization and exiting behaviors.
Probiotics and Human Milk Differentially Influence the Gut Microbiome and NEC Incidence in Preterm Pigs
Authors: Melendez Hebib Valeria , Taft Diana H. , Stoll Barbara , Liu Jinxin , Call Lee , Guthrie Gregory , Jensen Nick , Hair Amy B. , Mills David A. , Burrin Douglas G.
Published: June 2023

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the leading cause of death caused by gastrointestinal disease in preterm infants. Major risk factors include prematurity, formula feeding, and gut microbial colonization. Microbes have been linked to NEC, yet there is no evidence of causal species, and select probiotics have been shown to reduce NEC incidence in infants. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (BL. infantis), alone and in combination with a human milk oligosaccharide (HMO)—sialylactose (3′SL)—on the microbiome, and the incidence of NEC in preterm piglets fed an infant formula diet. We studied 50 preterm piglets randomized between 5 treatments: (1) Preterm infant formula, (2) Donor human milk (DHM), (3) Infant formula + 3′SL, (4) Infant formula + BL. infantis, and (5) Infant formula and BL. infantis + 3′SL. NEC incidence and severity were assessed through the evaluation of tissue from all the segments of the GI tract. The gut microbiota composition was assessed both daily and terminally through 16S and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of rectal stool samples and intestinal contents. Dietary BL. infantis and 3′SL supplementation had no effect, yet DHM significantly reduced the incidence of NEC. The abundance of BL. infantis in the gut contents negatively correlated with disease severity. Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Clostridium perfringens were significantly more abundant in NEC and positively correlated with disease severity. Our results suggest that pre- and probiotics are not sufficient for protection from NEC in an exclusively formula-based diet. The results highlight the differences in microbial species positively associated with both diet and NEC incidence.
Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1), IGF Binding Protein-3 (IGFBP3) and Growth Response to Daily Zinc Supplementation: A Randomized Trial in Rural Laotian Children
Authors: Barffour Maxwell A. , Bernstein Robin M. , Hinnouho Guy-Marino , Wessells K. Ryan , Arnold Charles D. , Kounnavong Sengchanh , Hess Sonja Y.
Published: June 2023

Objectives: To assess (a) the impact of daily preventive zinc tablets (7 mg; PZ), zinc-containing multiple micronutrient powder (10 mg zinc, and 13 other micronutrients; MNP) or placebo, delivered for 9 months, on Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1) and IGF Binding Protein 3 (IGFBP3) among Laotian children 6–23 months, and (b) whether the effects of PZ and MNP on length-for-age z-scores (LAZ) and weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ) are modified by baseline IGF1 and IGFBP3. Design: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (N = 419). Methods: Plasma IGF1 and IGFBP3 concentrations at baseline and 36 weeks were analyzed by automated chemiluminescent assay. Anthropometry was assessed at baseline, at 18 and 36 weeks. Intervention effects were estimated using ANCOVA. Results: At 36 weeks, geometric mean IGF1 (~39.0–39.2 ng/mL; p = 0.99) and IGFBP3 (2038–2076 ng/mL; p = 0.83) did not differ by group. At 18 weeks (but not at 36 weeks), LAZ in the PZ group (−1.45) was higher than the MNP (−1.70) and control (−1.55) groups (p = 0.01) among children in the highest baseline IGF1 tertile (p for interaction = 0.006). At 36 weeks (but not at 18 weeks), WAZ in the PZ group (−1.55) was significantly higher than the MNP (−1.75) and control (−1.65) groups (p = 0.03), among children in the lowest baseline IGFBP3 tertile (p for interactions = 0.06). Conclusions: Although IGF1 and IGFBP3 did not respond to PZ and MNP, baseline IGF1 and IGFBP3 significantly modified the impact of PZ on linear and ponderal growth, suggesting that IGF1 bioavailability may drive catch-up growth in zinc-supplemented children
The Impact of Anorexia Nervosa and the Basis for Non-Pharmacological Interventions
Authors: Clemente-Suárez Vicente Javier , Ramírez-Goerke Maria Isabel , Redondo-Flórez Laura , Beltrán-Velasco Ana Isabel , Martín-Rodríguez Alexandra , Ramos-Campo Domingo Jesús , Navarro-Jiménez Eduardo , Yáñez-Sepúlveda Rodrigo , Tornero-Aguilera José Francisco
Published: June 2023

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder with an unknown etiology that is characterized by an individual’s preoccupation with their weight and body structure while denying the severity of their low body weight. Due to the fact that anorexia nervosa is multifaceted and may indicate the coexistence of genetic, social, hormonal, and psychiatric disorders, a description of non-pharmacological interventions can be used to ameliorate or reduce the symptoms of this condition. Consequently, the purpose of the present narrative review is to describe the profile’s context in the anorexic person as well as the support they would require from their family and environment. In addition, it is aimed at examining preventative and non-pharmacological interventions, such as nutritional interventions, physical activity interventions, psychological interventions, psychosocial interventions, and physical therapy interventions. To reach the narrative review aims, a critical review was conducted utilizing both primary sources, such as scientific publications, and secondary sources, such as bibliographic indexes, web pages, and databases. Nutritional interventions include nutritional education and an individualized treatment for each patient, physical activity interventions include allowing patients to perform controlled physical activity, psychological interventions include family therapy and evaluation of the existence of other psychological disorders, psychosocial interventions include management of the relationship between the patient and social media and physical therapy interventions include relaxation massages and exercises to relieve pain. All these non-pharmacological interventions need to be individualized based on each patient’s needs.
Consumption Patterns and the Nutritional Contribution of Total, Processed, Fresh, and Fresh-Lean Pork to the U.S. Diet
Authors: Datlow Lindsay Y. , Leventhal Mark , King Jay , Wallace Taylor C.
Published: June 2023

Pork has the potential to provide several macro and micronutrients to the diet, as it is a commonly consumed protein in the United States and across many cultures worldwide. There is an absence of clinical and observational studies that isolate the nutritional contribution of various types of pork intake from that of other red and/or processed meats. The objective of this study was to assess consumption patterns and the nutritional contribution of total, processed, fresh, and fresh-lean pork to the diets of participants aged 2+ years enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2018 data cycles. The recent National Cancer Institute method was used to disaggregate fresh and processed pork intake from the USDA Food Patterns Equivalents Database. The mean intake of total pork among consumers was estimated to be 79.5 ± 0.82, 54.2 ± 0.69, 54.6 ± 0.93, and 45.9 ± 0.73, g/d for men, women, boys, and girls, respectively. Total pork consumption subtly increased intakes of total energy and several macro and micronutrients, decreased diet quality (HEI-2015) scores (adults only), and consumption of other “healthful” food groups. Only subtle but clinically insignificant effects of pork intake on biomarkers of nutritional status were shown. These trends were largely driven by processed pork consumption and the co-consumption of foods such as condiments. Increasing the availability and education around fresh-lean cuts may help to increase intake of protein and other key nutrients across certain subpopulations, without adversely affecting diet quality and biomarkers of health status.
Comparison of Source Attribution Methodologies for Human Campylobacteriosis
Authors: Brinch Maja Lykke , Hald Tine , Wainaina Lynda , Merlotti Alessandra , Remondini Daniel , Henri Clementine , Njage Patrick Murigu Kamau
Published: June 2023

Campylobacter spp. are the most common cause of bacterial gastrointestinal infection in humans both in Denmark and worldwide. Studies have found microbial subtyping to be a powerful tool for source attribution, but comparisons of different methodologies are limited. In this study, we compare three source attribution approaches (Machine Learning, Network Analysis, and Bayesian modeling) using three types of whole genome sequences (WGS) data inputs (cgMLST, 5-Mers and 7-Mers). We predicted and compared the sources of human campylobacteriosis cases in Denmark. Using 7mer as an input feature provided the best model performance. The network analysis algorithm had a CSC value of 78.99% and an F1-score value of 67%, while the machine-learning algorithm showed the highest accuracy (98%). The models attributed between 965 and all of the 1224 human cases to a source (network applying 5mer and machine learning applying 7mer, respectively). Chicken from Denmark was the primary source of human campylobacteriosis with an average percentage probability of attribution of 45.8% to 65.4%, representing Bayesian with 7mer and machine learning with cgMLST, respectively. Our results indicate that the different source attribution methodologies based on WGS have great potential for the surveillance and source tracking of Campylobacter. The results of such models may support decision makers to prioritize and target interventions.
Demonstration of the Early Cardiac Bioavailability of a Non-Specific Cell-Targeted Peptide Using Radionuclide-Based Imaging In Vivo
Authors: Settelmeier Stephan , Varasteh Zohreh , Staniszewska Magdalena , Beerlage Anna-Lena , Zarrad Fadi , Fendler Wolfgang P. , Rischpler Christoph , Notni Johannes , Totzeck Matthias , Herrmann Ken , Rassaf Tienush , Hendgen-Cotta Ulrike B.
Published: June 2023

The cardiac bioavailability of peptide drugs that inhibit harmful intracellular protein–protein interactions in cardiovascular diseases remains a challenging task in drug development. This study investigates whether a non-specific cell-targeted peptide drug is available in a timely manner at its intended biological destination, the heart, using a combined stepwise nuclear molecular imaging approach. An octapeptide (heart8P) was covalently coupled with the trans-activator of transcription (TAT) protein transduction domain residues 48–59 of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (TAT-heart8P) for efficient internalization into mammalian cells. The pharmacokinetics of TAT-heart8P were evaluated in dogs and rats. The cellular internalization of TAT-heart8P-Cy(5.5) was examined on cardiomyocytes. The real-time cardiac delivery of 68Ga-NODAGA-TAT-heart8P was tested in mice under physiological and pathological conditions. Pharmacokinetic studies of TAT-heart8P in dogs and rats revealed a fast blood clearance, high tissue distribution, and high extraction by the liver. TAT-heart-8P-Cy(5.5) was rapidly internalized in mouse and human cardiomyocytes. Correspondingly, organ uptake of hydrophilic 68Ga-NODAGA-TAT-heart8P occurred rapidly after injection with an initial cardiac bioavailability already 10 min post-injection. The saturable cardiac uptake was revailed by the pre-injection of the unlabeled compound. The cardiac uptake of 68Ga-NODAGA-TAT-heart8P did not change in a model of cell membrane toxicity. This study provides a sequential stepwise workflow to evaluate the cardiac delivery of a hydrophilic, non-specific cell-targeting peptide. 68Ga-NODAGA-TAT-heart8P showed rapid accumulation in the target tissue early after injection. The implementation of PET/CT radionuclide-based imaging methodology as a means to assess effective and temporal cardiac uptake represents a useful and critical application in drug development and pharmacological research and can be extended to the evaluation of comparable drug candidates.
Increased Circulating ADMA in Young Male Rats Caused Cognitive Deficits and Increased Intestinal and Hippocampal NLRP3 Inflammasome Expression and Microbiota Composition Alterations: Effects of Resveratrol
Authors: Hsu Mei-Hsin , Huang Yi-Chuan , Chen Yu-Chieh , Sheen Jiunn-Ming , Huang Li-Tung
Published: June 2023

Endothelial dysfunction is characterized by disturbances in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and increased circulating asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) due to the enormous release of free radicals. Increased circulating ADMA may cause endothelial dysfunction and a variety of clinical disorders, such as liver and kidney disease. Young male Sprague-Dawley rats at postnatal day 17 ± 1 received continuous ADMA infusion via an intraperitoneal pump to induce endothelial dysfunction. Four groups of rats (n = 10 per group) were allocated: control, control and resveratrol, ADMA infusion, and ADMA infusion and resveratrol groups. Spatial memory, NLR family pyrin-domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, cytokine expression, tight junction proteins in the ileum and dorsal hippocampus, and microbiota composition were examined. We found cognitive deficits; increased NLRP3 inflammasome in the plasma, ileum, and dorsal hippocampus; decreased ileum and dorsal hippocampal cytokine activation and tight junction proteins; and microbiota composition alterations in the ADMA-infusion young male rats. Resveratrol had beneficial effects in this context. In conclusion, we observed NLRP3 inflammasome activation in peripheral and central dysbiosis in young male rats with increased circulating ADMA, and found that resveratrol had beneficial effects. Our work adds to the mounting evidence that inhibiting systemic inflammation is a promising therapeutic avenue for cognition impairment, probably via the gut-brain axis.
Forms of Life and Linguistic Change: The Case of Trans Communities
Authors: Boncompagni Anna
Published: June 2023

Wittgenstein mentions “forms of life” only on a limited number of occasions in his writings; however, this concept is at the core of his approach to language, as the vast literature on the subject shows. My aim in this paper is neither to adjudicate which of the many competing interpretations of “forms of life” is correct nor to propose a new one. I start with a methodological take on this notion and test it by applying it to a specific case. In my view, the notion of forms of life is a methodological tool that Wittgenstein uses to draw attention to the embeddedness of language in our lives and practices. This reading, I suggest, allows us to oppose those who want to see in Wittgenstein a conservative thinker, based on his remark on forms of life as “the given” that must be accepted. In particular, it becomes possible to put his notion to use in the study of linguistic and social change. Hence, I propose as an example the case of innovative language games in trans communities. In this context, the notion of forms of life enables us to see with more clarity how linguistic change occurs, which also helps us better understand phenomena such as disagreement, conflict, and hermeneutical injustice.
The Analysis and Experiment of Pixel-Matching Method for Space-Dimensional Dual-Coded Spectropolarimeter
Authors: Wang Jiayu , Shi Haodong , Liu Jianan , Li Yingchao , Fu Qiang , Wang Chao , Wang Qi , Liu Haiying , Jiang Huilin
Published: June 2023

In order to meet the high accuracy pixel-matching requirements of space-dimensional dual-coded spectropolarimeter, a dual-coded image pixel-matching method based on dispersion modulation is proposed. The mathematics of the dispersion power and the pixel matching is modeled. The relationship between different pixel-matching coefficients and the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structure similarity index measure (SSIM) of reconstructed images is analyzed. An imaging system experiment consisting of a digital micromirror device (DMD), a micro-polarizer array detector (MPA), and a prism–grating–prism (PGP) is built to reconstruct a spectral linear polarization data cube with 50 spectral channels and linear polarization parameters. The contrast ratio of the reconstructed spectropolarimeter image was raised 68 times against the ground truth. It can be seen from the reconstruction evaluation analysis that the spectral data and polarization data can be matched effectively by optimizing the dispersion coefficient of the PGP. The system can effectively reconstruct when the noise SNR is greater than 15 dB. The PSNR and SSIM of the reconstruction images can be improved by increasing the pixel-matching spacing. The optimal choice of the dual-coded pixel-matching spacing is one super-polarized pixel. The spectral resolution and quality of the spectropolarimeter are improved using the pixel-matching method.
Indoor Visible-Light 3D Positioning System Based on GRU Neural Network
Authors: Yang Wuju , Qin Ling , Hu Xiaoli , Zhao Desheng
Published: June 2023

With the continuous development of artificial intelligence technology, visible-light positioning (VLP) based on machine learning and deep learning algorithms has become a research hotspot for indoor positioning technology. To improve the accuracy of robot positioning, we established a three-dimensional (3D) positioning system of visible-light consisting of two LED lights and three photodetectors. In this system, three photodetectors are located on the robot’s head. We considered the impact of line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) links on the received signals and used gated recurrent unit (GRU) neural networks to deal with nonlinearity in the system. To address the problem of poor stability during GRU network training, we used a learning rate attenuation strategy to improve the performance of the GRU network. The simulation results showed that the average positioning error of the system was 2.69 cm in a space of 4 m × 4 m × 3 m when only LOS links were considered and 2.66 cm when both LOS and NLOS links were considered with 95% of the positioning errors within 7.88 cm. For two-dimensional (2D) positioning with a fixed positioning height, 80% of the positioning error was within 9.87 cm. This showed that the system had a high anti-interference ability, could achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy, and met the requirements of robot indoor positioning.
Laser Heating Method for an Alkali Metal Atomic Cell with Heat Transfer Enhancement
Authors: Li Yang , Zhou Guoqing , Tian Shencheng , Liu Xuejing , Dong Xiangmei , Gao Xiumin
Published: June 2023

Alkali metal atomic cells are crucial components of atomic instruments, such as atomic magnetometers, atomic gyroscopes, and atomic clocks. A highly uniform and stable heating structure can ensure the stability of the alkali metal atom density. The vapor cell of an atomic magnetometer that uses laser heating has no magnetic field interference and ease of miniaturization, making it superior to hot air heating and AC electric heating. However, the current laser heating structure suffers from low heating efficiency and uneven temperature distribution inside the vapor cell. In this paper, we designed a non-magnetic heating structure based on the laser heating principle. We studied the temperature distribution of the heating structure using the finite element method (FEM) and analyzed the conversion and transfer of laser energy. We found that the heat conduction between the vapor cell and the heating chips (colored filters) is poor, resulting in uneven temperature distribution and low heating efficiency in the vapor cell. Therefore, the addition of graphite film to the four surfaces of the vapor cell was an important improvement. This addition helped to balance the temperature distribution and improve the conduction efficiency of the heating structure. It was measured that the power of the heating laser remained unchanged. After the addition of the graphite film, the temperature difference coefficient (CVT) used to evaluate the internal temperature uniformity of the vapor cell was reduced from 0.1308 to 0.0426. This research paper is crucial for improving the heating efficiency of the non-magnetic heating structure and the temperature uniformity of the vapor cell.
Comparative Amino Acid Profile and Antioxidant Activity in Sixteen Plant Extracts from Transylvania, Romania
Authors: Iordache Andreea Maria , Nechita Constantin , Podea Paula , Șuvar Niculina Sonia , Mesaroṣ Cornelia , Voica Cezara , Bleiziffer Ramona , Culea Monica
Published: June 2023

In addition to the naturopathic medicines based on the antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, or antioxidant properties of plant extracts that have been capitalized upon through the pharmaceutical industry, the increasing interest of the food industry in this area requires potent new materials capable of supporting this market. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro amino acid contents and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts from sixteen plants. Our results show high accumulated amino acid contents, mainly of proline, glutamic, and aspartic acid. The most consistent values of essential amino acids were isolated from T. officinale, U. dioica, C. majus, A. annua, and M. spicata. The results of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay indicate that R. officinalis was the most potent antioxidant, followed by four other extracts (in decreasing order): T. serpyllum, C. monogyna, S. officinalis, and M. koenigii. The network and principal component analyses found four natural groupings between samples based on DPPH free radical scavenging activity content. Each plant extracts’ antioxidant action was discussed based on similar results found in the literature, and a lower capacity was observed for most species. An overall ranking of the analyzed plant species can be accomplished due to the range of experimental methods. The literature review revealed that these natural antioxidants represent the best side-effect-free alternatives to synthetic additives, especially in the food processing industry.
Examination of the Effects of Domestic Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Grazing on Wetland and Dry Grassland Habitats
Authors: Fűrész Attila , Penksza Károly , Sipos László , Turcsányi-Járdi Ildikó , Szentes Szilárd , Fintha Gabriella , Penksza Péter , Viszló Levente , Szalai Ferenc , Wagenhoffer Zsombor
Published: June 2023

In nature conservation today, there is a global problem with the aggressive expansion of invasive plant species and the conservation of valuable grassland vegetation. Based on this, the following question has been formed: Is the domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) appropriate for managing various habitat types? How does grazing by water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) affect on grassland vegetation? This study was carried out in four areas of Hungary. One of the sample areas was in the Mátra Mountains, on dry grassland areas where grazing had been applied for two, four and six years. The other sample areas were in the Zámolyi Basin, where wet fens with a high risk of Solidago gigantea and in a typic Pannonian dry grassland were investigated. In all areas, grazing was carried out with domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). During the study, we carried out a coenological survey, examining the change of cover of plant species, their feed values and the biomass of the grassland. According to the results, both the number and cover of economically important grasses (from 28% to 34.6%) and legumes (from 3.4% to 25.4%) increased in Mátra as well as the high proportion of shrubs (from 41.8% to 4.4%) shifted toward grassland species. In the areas of the Zámolyi Basin, invasive Solidago has been suppressed completely, the pasture has been converted completely (from 16% to 1%) and the dominant species has become Sesleria uliginosa. Thus, we have found that grazing with buffalo is suitable as a habitat management method in both dry grasslands and wet grasslands. Therefore, in addition to its effectiveness in the control of Solidago gigantea, grazing with buffalo is successful in both nature conservation and economic aspects of grassland vegetation.
Phytochemical Composition and Detection of Novel Bioactives in Anther Callus of Catharanthus roseus L.
Authors: Bansal Yashika , Mujib A. , Mamgain Jyoti , Dewir Yaser Hassan , Rihan Hail Z.
Published: June 2023

Catharanthus roseus L. (G.) Don is the most widely studied plant because of its high pharmacological value. In vitro culture uses various plant parts such as leaves, nodes, internodes and roots for inducing callus and subsequent plant regeneration in C. roseus. However, till now, little work has been conducted on anther tissue using plant tissue culture techniques. Therefore, the aim of this work is to establish a protocol for in vitro induction of callus by utilizing anthers as explants in MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium fortified with different concentrations and combinations of PGRs. The best callusing medium contains high α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and low kinetin (Kn) concentrations showing a callusing frequency of 86.6%. SEM–EDX analysis was carried out to compare the elemental distribution on the surfaces of anther and anther-derived calli, and the two were noted to be nearly identical in their elemental composition. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of methanol extracts of anther and anther-derived calli was conducted, which revealed the presence of a wide range of phytocompounds. Some of them are ajmalicine, vindolinine, coronaridine, squalene, pleiocarpamine, stigmasterol, etc. More importantly, about 17 compounds are exclusively present in anther-derived callus (not in anther) of Catharanthus. The ploidy status of anther-derived callus was examined via flow cytometry (FCM), and it was estimated to be 0.76 pg, showing the haploid nature of callus. The present work therefore represents an efficient way to produce high-value medicinal compounds from anther callus in a lesser period of time on a larger scale.