bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlations of Salivary and Blood Glucose Levels among Six Saliva Collection Methods
Authors: Cui Yangyang , Zhang Hankun , Zhu Jia , Liao Zhenhua , Wang Song , Liu Weiqiang
Published: March 2022

Background: Saliva has been studied as a better indicator of disorders and diseases than blood. Specifically, the salivary glucose level is considered to be an indicator of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, saliva collection methods can affect the salivary glucose level, thereby affecting the correlation between salivary glucose and blood glucose. Therefore, this study aims to identify an ideal saliva collection method and to use this method to determine the population and individual correlations between salivary glucose and blood glucose levels in DM patients and healthy controls. Finally, an analysis of the stability of the individual correlations is conducted. Methods: This study included 40 age-matched DM patients and 40 healthy controls. In the fasting state, saliva was collected using six saliva collection methods, venous blood was collected simultaneously from each study participant, and both samples were analyzed at the same time using glucose oxidase peroxidase. A total of 20 DM patients and 20 healthy controls were arbitrarily selected from the above participants for one week of daily testing. The correlations between salivary glucose and blood glucose before and after breakfast were analyzed. Finally, 10 DM patients and 10 healthy controls were arbitrarily selected for one month of daily testing to analyze the stability of individual correlations. Results: Salivary glucose levels were higher in DM patients than healthy controls for the six saliva collection methods. Compared with unstimulated saliva, stimulated saliva had decreased glucose level and increased salivary flow. In addition, unstimulated parotid salivary glucose was most correlated with blood glucose level (R2 = 0.9153), and the ROC curve area was 0.9316, which could accurately distinguish DM patients. Finally, it was found that the correlations between salivary glucose and blood glucose in different DM patients were quite different. The average correlation before breakfast was 0.83, and the average correlation after breakfast was 0.77. The coefficient of variation of the correlation coefficient before breakfast within 1 month was less than 5%. Conclusion: Unstimulated parotid salivary glucose level is the highest and is most correlated with blood glucose level, which can be accurately used to distinguish DM patients. Meanwhile, the correlation between salivary glucose and blood glucose was found to be relatively high and stable before breakfast. In general, the unstimulated parotid salivary glucose before breakfast presents an ideal saliva collecting method with which to replace blood-glucose use to detect DM, which provides a reference for the prediction of DM.
Overcoming Steroid Resistance in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia—The State-of-the-Art Knowledge and Future Prospects
Authors: Kośmider Kamil , Karska Katarzyna , Kozakiewicz Agata , Lejman Monika , Zawitkowska Joanna
Published: March 2022

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy among children. Despite the enormous progress in ALL therapy, resulting in achieving a 5-year survival rate of up to 90%, the ambitious goal of reaching a 100% survival rate is still being pursued. A typical ALL treatment includes three phases: remission induction and consolidation and maintenance, preceded by a prednisone prephase. Poor prednisone response (PPR) is defined as the presence of ≥1.0 × 109 blasts/L in the peripheral blood on day eight of therapy and results in significantly frequent relapses and worse outcomes. Hence, identifying risk factors of steroid resistance and finding methods of overcoming that resistance may significantly improve patients’ outcomes. A mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK-ERK) pathway seems to be a particularly attractive target, as its activation leads to steroid resistance via a phosphorylating Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death (BIM), which is crucial in the steroid-induced cell death. Several mutations causing activation of MAPK-ERK were discovered, notably the interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) pathway mutations in T-cell ALL and rat sarcoma virus (Ras) pathway mutations in precursor B-cell ALL. MAPK-ERK pathway inhibitors were demonstrated to enhance the results of dexamethasone therapy in preclinical ALL studies. This report summarizes steroids’ mechanism of action, resistance to treatment, and prospects of steroids therapy in pediatric ALL.
Transcriptional Regulation of RIP2 Gene by NFIB Is Associated with Cellular Immune and Inflammatory Response to APEC Infection
Authors: Sun Hongyan , Li Naying , Tan Jishuang , Li Huan , Zhang Jibin , Qu Lujiang , Lamont Susan J.
Published: March 2022

Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) can cause localized or systemic infection, resulting in large economic losses per year, and impact health of humans. Previous studies showed that RIP2 (receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 2) and its signaling pathway played an important role in immune response against APEC infection. In this study, chicken HD11 cells were used as an in vitro model to investigate the function of chicken RIP2 and the transcription factor binding to the RIP2 core promoter region via gene overexpression, RNA interference, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, dual luciferase reporter assay, CHIP-PCR, CCK-8, and flow cytometry assay following APEC stimulation. Results showed that APEC stimulation promoted RIP2 expression and cells apoptosis, and inhibited cells viability. Knockdown of RIP2 significantly improved cell viability and suppressed the apoptosis of APEC-stimulated cells. Transcription factor NFIB (Nuclear factor I B) and GATA1 (globin transcription factor 1) binding site was identified in the core promoter region of RIP2 from −2300 bp to −1839 bp. However, only NFIB was confirmed to be bound to the core promoter of RIP2. Overexpression of NFIB exacerbated cell injuries with significant reduction in cell viability and increased cell apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines levels, whereas opposite results were observed in NFIB inhibition treatment group. Moreover, RIP2 was up-regulated by NFIB overexpression, and RIP2 silence mitigated the effect of NFIB overexpression in cell apoptosis, inflammation, and activation of NFκB signaling pathways. This study demonstrated that NFIB overexpression accelerated APEC-induced apoptosis and inflammation via up-regulation of RIP2 mediated downstream pathways in chicken HD11 cells.
Disruption of LLM9428/OsCATC Represses Starch Metabolism and Confers Enhanced Blast Resistance in Rice
Authors: Liao Yongxiang , Ali Asif , Xue Zhenzhen , Zhou Xia , Ye Wenwei , Guo Daiming , Liao Yingxiu , Jiang Pengfei , Wu Tingkai , Zhang Hongyu , Xu Peizhou , Chen Xiaoqiong , Zhou Hao , Liu Yutong , Wang Wenming , Wu Xianjun
Published: March 2022

Catalases (CATs) are important self-originating enzymes and are involved in many of the biological functions of plants. Multiple forms of CATs suggest their versatile role in lesion mimic mutants (LMMs), H2O2 homeostasis and abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. In the current study, we identified a large lesion mimic mutant9428 (llm9428) from Ethyl-methane-sulfonate (EMS) mutagenized population. The llm9428 showed a typical phenotype of LMMs including decreased agronomic yield traits. The histochemical assays showed decreased cell viability and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the leaves of llm9428 compared to its wild type (WT). The llm9428 showed enhanced blast disease resistance and increased relative expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes. Studies of the sub-cellular structure of the leaf and quantification of starch contents revealed a significant decrease in starch granule formation in llm9428. Genetic analysis revealed a single nucleotide change (C > T) that altered an amino acid (Ala > Val) in the candidate gene (Os03g0131200) encoding a CATALASE C in llm9428. CRISPR-Cas9 targetted knockout lines of LLM9428/OsCATC showed the phenotype of LMMs and reduced starch metabolism. Taken together, the current study results revealed a novel role of OsCATC in starch metabolism in addition to validating previously studied functions of CATs.
Effect of Drought and Methyl Jasmonate Treatment on Primary and Secondary Isoprenoid Metabolites Derived from the MEP Pathway in the White Spruce Picea glauca
Authors: Perreca Erica , Eberl Franziska , Santoro Maricel Valeria , Wright Louwrance Peter , Schmidt Axel , Gershenzon Jonathan
Published: March 2022

White spruce (Picea glauca) emits monoterpenes that function as defensive signals and weapons after herbivore attack. We assessed the effects of drought and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment, used as a proxy for herbivory, on monoterpenes and other isoprenoids in P. glauca. The emission of monoterpenes was significantly increased after MeJA treatment compared to the control, but drought suppressed the MeJA-induced increase. The composition of the emitted blend was altered strongly by stress, with drought increasing the proportion of oxygenated compounds and MeJA increasing the proportion of induced compounds such as linalool and (E)-β-ocimene. In contrast, no treatment had any significant effect on the levels of stored monoterpenes and diterpenes. Among other MEP pathway-derived isoprenoids, MeJA treatment decreased chlorophyll levels by 40%, but had no effect on carotenoids, while drought stress had no impact on either of these pigment classes. Of the three described spruce genes encoding 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS) catalyzing the first step of the MEP pathway, the expression of only one, DXS2B, was affected by our treatments, being increased by MeJA and decreased by drought. These findings show the sensitivity of monoterpene emission to biotic and abiotic stress regimes, and the mediation of the response by DXS genes.
Characterization of the Gene Expression Profile Response to Drought Stress in Populus ussuriensis Using PacBio SMRT and Illumina Sequencing
Authors: Li Wenlong , Liu Zhiwei , Feng He , Yang Jingli , Li Chenghao
Published: March 2022

In this study, we characterized the gene expression profile in the roots of Populus ussuriensis at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 120 h after the start of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought stress using PacBio single-molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT-seq) and Illumina RNA sequencing. Compared to the control, 2244 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and many of these DEGs were associated with the signal transduction, antioxidant system, ion accumulation and drought-inducing proteins. Changes in certain physiological and biochemical indexes, such as antioxidant activity and the contents of Ca2+, proline, and total soluble sugars, were further confirmed in P. ussuriensis roots. Furthermore, most of the differentially expressed transcription factors were members of the AP2/ERF, C2H2, MYB, NAC, C2C2 and WRKY families. Additionally, based on PacBio SMRT-seq results, 5955 long non-coding RNAs and 700 alternative splicing events were identified. Our results provide a global view of the gene expression profile that contributes to drought resistance in P. ussuriensis and meaningful information for genetic engineering research in the future.
Transition Metal Complexes of Schiff Base Ligands Prepared from Reaction of Aminobenzothiazole with Benzaldehydes
Authors: Sunjuk Mahmoud , Al-Najjar Lana , Shtaiwi Majed , El-Eswed Bassam , Al-Noaimi Mousa , Al-Essa Luay , Sweidan Kamal
Published: March 2022

Schiff bases have played significant roles in the development of inorganic or coordination chemistry. Three Schiff base (NB, CB and HB) ligands, prepared for the reaction of 2-amino-6-methoxy-benzothiazole with 2-Nitrobenzaldehyde, 2-chlorobenzaldehyde and 2,4-Dihydroxybenzaldehyed, respectively, were investigated for their transition metal complexes, which were prepared by reacting the ligand (2:1 molar ratio) with Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), Cr(III) and Fe(III) chlorides. The nature of the interaction between the metal ions and ligands (L) was studied with the aid of magnetic susceptibility, elemental analysis, FTIR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Based on the magnetic superstability and elemental analysis results, octahedral structures of the complexes, such as [ML2Cl2] or [ML2Cl(OH)], were proposed for Cu(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) in which the ligand (L:NB, CB or HB) is bidentate through the azomethine and benzothiazole nitrogen. For Cr(III) and Fe(III) complexes, octahedral ML2Cl(OH)2 or ML2(OH)3 structures were proposed, where one ligand is monodentate and the other is bidentate. The azomethine ν(-HC=N-) and 1H-NMR peaks of NB and CB were shifted to a higher frequency and downfield, respectively, upon complexation with metal ions. The bonding of OH groups of HB to Co(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) enables π-backdonation from these metals to the azomethine of Schiff bases and the consequent shift of ν(-HC=N-) to a lower frequency and changes in the intensity of the 1H-NMR peak of OH. On the other hand, this backdonation was not evidenced in the FTIR of HB complexes with high-charge Cr(III) and Fe(III) ions.
Ultrasound-Assisted Wound (UAW) Debridement in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Flores-Escobar Sebastián , Álvaro-Afonso Francisco Javier , García-Álvarez Yolanda , López-Moral Mateo , Lázaro-Martínez José Luis , García-Morales Esther
Published: March 2022

A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out to investigate the effect of ultrasound-assisted wound (UAW) debridement in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). All selected studies were evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool to assess the risk of bias for randomized controlled trials. PubMed and Web of Science were searched in October 2021 to find randomized clinical trials (RCT) assessing the effect of UAW debridement on DFUs. RevMan v5.4. was used to analyze the data with the Mantel–Haenszel method for dichotomous outcomes. A total of 8 RCT met our inclusion criteria, with 263 participants. Concerning the healing rate comparing UAW versus the control group, a meta-analysis estimated the pooled OR at 2.22 (95% CI 0.96–5.11, p = 0.06), favoring UAW debridement, with low heterogeneity (x2 = 7.47, df = 5, p = 0.19, I2 = 33%). Time to healing was similar in both groups: UAW group (14.25 ± 10.10 weeks) versus the control group (13.38 ± 1.99 weeks, p = 0.87). Wound area reduction was greater in the UAW debridement group (74.58% ± 19.21%) than in the control group (56.86% ± 25.09%), although no significant differences were observed between them (p = 0.24). UAW debridement showed higher healing rates, a greater percentage of wound area reduction, and similar healing times when compared with placebo (sham device) and standard of care in patients with DFUs, although no statistically significant differences were observed between groups.
Changes in Underweight Status and Risk of Hip Fracture: A Korean Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Han Sangsoo , Park Jiwon , Jang Hae-Dong , Han Kyungdo , Lee Choungah , Kim Wonseok , Hong Jae-Young
Published: March 2022

Being underweight is associated with a high risk of hip fracture. However, the impact of change in underweight status on the risk of hip fracture is unknown. This study is performed to investigate the relationship between change in underweight status and risk of hip fracture. This study included 1,713,225 subjects aged ≥40 years who underwent two consecutive national health screenings between 2007 and 2009. We prospectively assessed the risk of hip fracture between 2010 and 2018 according to changes in underweight status. We divided the participants into four groups according to the change in underweight status: consistent non-underweight (non-underweight to non-underweight), became non-underweight (underweight to non-underweight), became underweight (non-underweight to underweight), and consistent underweight (underweight to underweight). Compared with the consistent non-underweight group, the became non-underweight (0.74/1000 person years (PY) increase in incidence rate (IR); adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.72; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42–2.07), became underweight (1.71/1000 PY increase in IR; adjusted HR 2.22; 95% CI 1.96–2.53), and consistent underweight (1.3/1000 PY increase in IR; adjusted HR 2.18; 95% CI 1.89–2.53) groups had a significantly increased risk of hip fracture (p < 0.001). Change in underweight status was significantly associated with a risk of hip fracture.
Investigation of Clofazimine Resistance and Genetic Mutations in Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates
Authors: Park Sanghee , Jung Jihee , Kim Jiyeon , Han Sang Bong , Ryoo Sungweon
Published: March 2022

Recently, as clofazimine (CFZ) showed a good therapeutic effect in treating multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), the anti-tuberculosis activity and resistance were re-focused. Here, we investigated the CFZ resistance and genetic mutations of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (DR-Mtb) isolates to improve the diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant TB patients. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CFZ was examined by resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) with two reference strains and 122 clinical isolates from Korea. The cause of CFZ resistance was investigated in relation to the therapeutic history of patients. Mutations of Rv0678, Rv1979c and pepQ of CFZ resistant isolates were analyzed by PCR and DNA sequencing. The rate of CFZ resistance with MIC > 1 mg/L was 4.1% in drug-resistant Mtb isolates. The cause of CFZ resistance was not related to treatment with CFZ or bedaquiline. A CFZ susceptibility test should be conducted regardless of dugs use history. The four novel mutation sites were identified in the Rv0678 and pepQ genes related to CFZ resistance in this study.
Cerebral Tissue Oxygen Saturation Is Enhanced in Patients following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Schmidt Götz , Kreissl Hannes , Vigelius-Rauch Ursula , Schneck Emmanuel , Edinger Fabian , Nef Holger , Böning Andreas , Sander Michael , Koch Christian
Published: March 2022

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a relevant alteration in cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) could be detected following TAVI. Retrospective data analysis included 275 patients undergoing TAVI between October 2016 and December 2020. Overall, rSO2 significantly increased following TAVI (64.6 ± 10% vs. 68.1 ± 10%, p < 0.01). However, a significant rise was only observed in patients with a preoperative rSO2 < 60%. Of the hemodynamic confounders studied, hemoglobin, mean arterial pressure and blood pH were lowered, while central venous pressure and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) were slightly elevated (PaCO2: 39 (36–43) mmHg vs. 42 (37–47) mmHg, p = 0.03; pH: 7.41 (7.3–7.4) vs. 7.36 (7.3–7.4), p < 0.01). Multivariate linear regression modeling identified only hemoglobin as a predictor of altered rSO2. Patients with a EuroScore II above 4% and an extended ICU stay were found to have lower rSO2, while no difference was observed in patients with postoperative delirium or between the implanted valve types. Further prospective studies that eliminate differences in potential confounding variables are necessary to confirm the rise in rSO2. Future research should provide more information on the value of cerebral oximetry for identifying high-risk patients who will require further clinical interventions in the setting of the TAVI procedure.
A New Preclinical Decision Support System Based on PET Radiomics: A Preliminary Study on the Evaluation of an Innovative 64Cu-Labeled Chelator in Mouse Models
Authors: Benfante Viviana , Stefano Alessandro , Comelli Albert , Giaccone Paolo , Cammarata Francesco Paolo , Richiusa Selene , Scopelliti Fabrizio , Pometti Marco , Ficarra Milene , Cosentino Sebastiano , Lunardon Marcello , Mastrotto Francesca , Andrighetto Alberto , Tuttolomondo Antonino , Parenti Rosalba , Ippolito Massimo , Russo Giorgio
Published: March 2022

The 64Cu-labeled chelator was analyzed in vivo by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to evaluate its biodistribution in a murine model at different acquisition times. For this purpose, nine 6-week-old female Balb/C nude strain mice underwent micro-PET imaging at three different time points after 64Cu-labeled chelator injection. Specifically, the mice were divided into group 1 (acquisition 1 h after [64Cu] chelator administration, n = 3 mice), group 2 (acquisition 4 h after [64Cu]chelator administration, n = 3 mice), and group 3 (acquisition 24 h after [64Cu] chelator administration, n = 3 mice). Successively, all PET studies were segmented by means of registration with a standard template space (3D whole-body Digimouse atlas), and 108 radiomics features were extracted from seven organs (namely, heart, bladder, stomach, liver, spleen, kidney, and lung) to investigate possible changes over time in [64Cu]chelator biodistribution. The one-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey Honestly Significant Difference test revealed that, while heart, stomach, spleen, kidney, and lung districts showed a very low percentage of radiomics features with significant variations (p-value < 0.05) among the three groups of mice, a large number of features (greater than 60% and 50%, respectively) that varied significantly between groups were observed in bladder and liver, indicating a different in vivo uptake of the 64Cu-labeled chelator over time. The proposed methodology may improve the method of calculating the [64Cu]chelator biodistribution and open the way towards a decision support system in the field of new radiopharmaceuticals used in preclinical imaging trials.
PDE Formation and Iterative Docking Control of USVs for the Straight-Line-Shaped Mission
Authors: Zhou Yusi , Wu Nailong , Yuan Haodong , Pan Feng , Shan Zhiyong , Wu Chao
Published: March 2022

In this paper, an intelligent control scheme of formation collision avoidance and iterative docking is proposed for full-actuated unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). The artificial potential field method is integrated into the partial differential equation (PDE) formation control approach, which can improve the collision-avoidance performance of the formation. During the docking process of the straight-line formation, the USV agent is expected to track the desired commands accurately. Considering the possibility of docking failure, an iterative learning model predictive control (ILMPC) scheme is introduced. Once the moving USV fails in docking on the stationary USV, the moving agent can return to the origin to re-execute the docking process. The ILMPC method has the advantages of model predictive control and the iterative learning, so it can consider the future process dynamics in the time domain and overcome periodic disturbances. Simulation results show that USVs can avoid collisions with each other in the straight-line-formation mission. Furthermore, the USV agent can dock one-by-one successfully when interference exists.
Decreased Irradiance and Nutrient Enrichment Mitigate the Negative Effect of Ocean Warming on Growth and Biochemical Compositions of a Canopy-Forming Marine Macroalga
Authors: Charan Harshna , Inomata Eri , Endo Hikaru , Sato Yoichi , Okumura Yutaka , Aoki Masakazu N.
Published: March 2022

Heatwaves under global warming have negative impacts on ecosystem primary producers. This warming effect may be synergized or antagonized by local environments such as light and nutrient availability. However, little is known about the interactive effects of warming, irradiance, and nutrients on physiology of marine macroalgae, which are dominant in coastal ecosystems. The present study examined the combined effects of warming (23 and 26 °C), irradiance (30 and 150 µmol photon m−2 s−1), and nutrients (enriched and non-enriched) on specific growth rate (SGR) and biochemical compositions of the canopy-forming marine macroalga Sargassum fusiforme. The negative effect of warming on SGR and ratio of chlorophyll (Chl) c to Chl a was antagonized by decreased irradiance. Moreover, the negative effect of temperature elevation on carbon content was antagonized by nutrient enrichment. These results suggest that the effect of warming on the growth and carbon accumulation of this species can be mitigated by decreased irradiance and nutrient enrichment.
LACE Index to Predict the High Risk of 30-Day Readmission: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rajaguru Vasuki , Han Whiejong , Kim Tae Hyun , Shin Jaeyong , Lee Sang Gyu
Published: March 2022

The LACE index accounts for: Length of stay (L), Acuity of admission (A), Comorbidities (C), and recent Emergency department use (E). This study aimed to explore the LACE index to predict the high risk of 30-day readmission in patients with diverse disease conditions by an updated systematic review. A systematic review carried out by electronic databases from 2011–2021. The studies included a LACE index score for 30-day of readmission and patients with all types of diseases and were published in the English language. The meta-analysis was performed by using a random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval. Of 3300 records, a total of 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. The country of publication was primarily the USA (n = 7) and study designs were retrospective and perspective cohorts. The average mean age was 64 years. The C-statistics was 0.55 to 0.81. The pooled random effects of relative risk readmission were overall (RR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.12–0.34) and it was favorable. The subgroup analysis of the opted disease-based relative risk of readmissions of all causes, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, and neurological diseases were consistent and statistically significant at p < 0.001 level. Current evidence of this review suggested that incorporating a high-risk LACE index showed favorable to risk prediction and could be applied to predict 30-day readmission with chronic conditions. Future study would be planned to predict the high risk of 30-day readmission in acute clinical care for utility, and applicability of promising LACE index in South Korean hospitals.
Multifactor Market Indexes
Authors: Liu Wei , Kolari James W.
Published: March 2022

This paper combines the CRSP market index with multiple factors to create a single multifactor market index. Empirical tests of different multifactor market indexes indicate that: (1) Sharpe ratios substantially increase and GRS test statistics decrease as multifactors are incrementally added to the CRSP index; and (2) the resultant multifactor market indexes are significantly priced in cross-sectional tests of associated beta loadings with t-values exceeding 3.0 in most cases.
Urban Green Spaces Restoration Using Native Forbs, Site Preparation and Soil Amendments—A Case Study
Authors: Rojas Jaime Aguilar , Dhar Amalesh , Naeth M. Anne
Published: March 2022

Restoration of urban green spaces with native flora is especially important for promoting various ecosystem services. Although there have been years of research on land reclamation, ecological restoration and plant establishment, there is a lack of knowledge on how to reintegrate the native ecological component, specifically forb species in urban green spaces. We evaluated the restoration potential of 24 native forbs using different site preparation (herbicide, tillage, herbicide with tillage and control) and soil amendment (100% compost, 50% compost with 50% topsoil, 20% compost with 80% topsoil and control) treatments in a recreational park in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Soil texture and nutrients generally increased with increased compost application rate; some declined within a year, others increased. Based on survival and growth analysis, the forb species with the highest potential for use in urban green spaces were Penstemon procerus, Fragaria virginiana, Heuchera cylindrica, Agastache foeniculum, Antennaria microphylla, Mentha arvensis and Geum aleppicum. Native forb species response was more prominent with soil amendment than site preparation. Treatments with greater amounts of compost had greater survival, growth, species richness, cover and noxious weed cover than control treatments. This study suggests amendment of soil with compost can positively influence forb species restoration in urban green spaces; under some conditions site preparation may be required.
Early Salivary miRNA Expression in Extreme Low Gestational Age Newborns
Authors: Siddaiah Roopa , Emery Lucy , Stephens Heather , Donnelly Ann , Erkinger Jennifer , Wisecup Kimberly , Hicks Steven D. , Kawasawa Yuka Imamura , Oji-Mmuo Christiana , Amatya Shaili , Silveyra Patricia
Published: March 2022

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression playing a key role in organogenesis. MiRNAs are studied in tracheal aspirates (TA) of preterm infants. However; this is difficult to obtain in infants who are not intubated. This study examines early salivary miRNA expression as non-invasive early biomarkers in extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGANs). Methods: Saliva was collected using DNA-genotek swabs, miRNAs were analyzed using RNA seq and RT PCR arrays. Salivary miRNA expression was compared to TA using RNA seq at 3 days of age, and longitudinal changes at 28 days of age were analyzed using RT PCR arrays in ELGANs. Results: Approximately 822 ng of RNA was extracted from saliva of 7 ELGANs; Of the 757 miRNAs isolated, 161 miRNAs had significant correlation in saliva and TA at 3 days of age (r = 0.97). Longitudinal miRNA analysis showed 29 miRNAs downregulated and 394 miRNAs upregulated at 28 days compared to 3 days of age (adjusted p < 0.1). Bioinformatic analysis (Ingenuity Pathway Analysis) of differentially expressed miRNAs identified organismal injury and abnormalities and cellular development as the top physiological system development and cellular function. Conclusion: Salivary miRNA expression are source for early biomarkers of underlying pathophysiology in ELGANs.
Considering Strain Variation and Non-Type Strains for Yeast Metabolic Engineering Applications
Authors: Yi Xiunan , Alper Hal S.
Published: March 2022

A variety of yeast species have been considered ideal hosts for metabolic engineering to produce value-added chemicals, including the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as well as non-conventional yeasts including Yarrowia lipolytica, Kluyveromyces marxianus, and Pichia pastoris. However, the metabolic capacity of these microbes is not simply dictated or implied by genus or species alone. Within the same species, yeast strains can display distinct variations in their phenotypes and metabolism, which affect the performance of introduced pathways and the production of interesting compounds. Moreover, it is unclear how this metabolic potential corresponds to function upon rewiring these organisms. These reports thus point out a new consideration for successful metabolic engineering, specifically: what are the best strains to utilize and how does one achieve effective metabolic engineering? Understanding such questions will accelerate the host selection and optimization process for generating yeast cell factories. In this review, we survey recent advances in studying yeast strain variations and utilizing non-type strains in pathway production and metabolic engineering applications. Additionally, we highlight the importance of employing portable methods for metabolic rewiring to best access this metabolic diversity. Finally, we conclude by highlighting the importance of considering strain diversity in metabolic engineering applications.
Direct Bonding Method for Completely Cured Polyimide by Surface Activation and Wetting
Authors: Meng Ying , Gao Runhua , Wang Xinhua , Huang Sen , Wei Ke , Wang Dahai , Mu Fengwen , Liu Xinyu
Published: March 2022

Polymer adhesives have emerged as a promising dielectric passivation layer in hybrid bonding for 3D integration, but they raise misalignment problems during curing. In this work, the synergistic effect of oxygen plasma surface activation and wetting is utilized to achieve bonding between completed cured polyimides. The optimized process achieves a void-less bonding with a maximum shear strength of 35.3 MPa at a low temperature of 250 °C in merely 2 min, significantly shortening the bonding period and decreasing thermal stress. It is found that the plasma activation generates hydrophilic groups on the polyimide surface, and the wetting process further introduces more −OH groups and water molecules on the activated polyimide surface. The synergistic process of plasma activation and wetting facilitates the bridging of polyimide interfaces to achieve bonding, providing an alternative path for adhesive bonding in 3D integration.
Influence of Laser Irradiation Settings, during Diode-Assisted Endodontics, on the Intraradicular Adhesion of Self-Etch and Self-Curing Luting Cement during Restoration—An Ex Vivo Study
Authors: Farmakis Eleftherios Terry R. , Beer Franziska , Tzoutzas Ioannis , Kurzmann Christoph , Shokoohi-Tabrizi Hassan Ali , Pantazis Nikos , Moritz Andreas
Published: March 2022

Background: Diode-assisted endodontics is nowadays utilized for pulp space disinfection, but little is known on the bonding potential of this lased root dentin when the tooth is restored with an intracanal polymer post. Objectives: to investigate the influence of diode laser irradiation settings, in laser-assisted endodontics, on the intraradicular bonding of composite materials. Methods: Sixteen two-rooted, maxillary first premolars were collected, prepared up to F4 (Protaper Universal. Dentsply-Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland), and randomly assigned in two groups: group A (chopped mode or short pulse), diode irradiated according to protocol, pulse 25 ms, power 2.5 W, and group B (microchopped mode or ultrashort pulse), pulse 25 μs, peak power 12 W (both groups GentleRay. KaVo Dental, Biberach an der Riss, Germany). Buccal canals were irradiated, palatal ones served as controls. Canals were then obturated, post space was created in all canals, and quartz-fiber posts (ICE light Danville. Danville Materials, San Ramon, CA, USA) were cemented by self-etch self-curing cement (Max Cem Elite. Kerr, West Collins Orange, CA, USA) (Max Cem Elite. Kerr, Brea, CA, USA). A week later, teeth were sectioned horizontally in 1 mm increments. Push-out test was conducted in a Zwick testing machine (Zwick Roell, Ulm, Germany) at 1 mm/min speed, and the force required to dislodge the post from each specimen (F-max) was recorded. Weibull regression models were applied for statistical analyses. Results: Differences in F-max by group (control vs. chopped mode vs. microchopped mode) and height (meaning the apical-to-coronal position of each specimen along the root) were statistically significant (p < 0.05 in all cases). Conclusions: Short pulses (or chopped mode) had a profound positive effect on the quality of intraradicular bonding, while Ultrashort pulses (or microchopped mode) affected it negatively. In addition, apically positioned bonding proved weaker compared with more coronally located specimens.
Assessment of Böhme Abrasion Value of Natural Stones through Artificial Neural Networks (ANN)
Authors: Strzałkowski Paweł , Köken Ekin
Published: March 2022

This present study explored the Böhme abrasion value (BAV) of natural stones through artificial neural networks (ANNs). For this purpose, a detailed literature survey was conducted to collect quantitative data on the BAV of different natural stones from Turkey. As a result of the ANN analyses, several predictive models (M1–M13) were established by using the rock properties, such as the dry density (ρd), water absorption by weight (wa), Shore hardness value (SHV), pulse wave velocity (Vp), and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of rocks. The performance of the established predictive models was evaluated by using several statistical indicators, and the performance analyses indicated that four of the established models (M1, M5, M10, and M11) could be reliably used to estimate the BAV of natural stones. In addition, explicit mathematical formulations of the proposed ANN models were also introduced in this study to let users implement them more efficiently. In this context, the present study is believed to provide practical and straightforward information on the BAV of natural stones and can be declared a case study on how to model the BAV as a function of different rock properties.
Selective-Area Epitaxy of InGaAsP Buffer Multilayer for In-Plane InAs Nanowire Integration
Authors: Zannier Valentina , Li Ang , Rossi Francesca , Yadav Sachin , Petersson Karl , Sorba Lucia
Published: March 2022

In order to use III–V compound semiconductors as active channel materials in advanced electronic and quantum devices, it is important to achieve a good epitaxial growth on silicon substrates. As a first step toward this, we report on the selective-area growth of GaP/InGaP/InP/InAsP buffer layer nanotemplates on GaP substrates which are closely lattice-matched to silicon, suitable for the integration of in-plane InAs nanowires. Scanning electron microscopy reveals a perfect surface selectivity and uniform layer growth inside 150 and 200 nm large SiO2 mask openings. Compositional and structural characterization of the optimized structure performed by transmission electron microscopy shows the evolution of the major facet planes and allows a strain distribution analysis. Chemically uniform layers with well-defined heterointerfaces are obtained, and the topmost InAs layer is free from any dislocation. Our study demonstrates that a growth sequence of thin layers with progressively increasing lattice parameters is effective to efficiently relax the strain and eventually obtain high quality in-plane InAs nanowires on large lattice-mismatched substrates.
Synthesis, DFT Molecular Geometry and Anticancer Activity of Symmetrical 2,2′-(2-Oxo-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-1,3(2H)-diyl) Diacetate and Its Arylideneacetohydrazide Derivatives
Authors: Dhahri Manel , Khan Firdos Alam , Emwas Abdul-Hamid , Alnoman Rua B. , Jaremko Mariusz , Rezki Nadjet , Aouad Mohamed Reda , Hagar Mohamed
Published: March 2022

To identify new candidate anticancer compounds, we here report the synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives: diethyl 2,2′-(2-oxo-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-1,3(2H)-diyl) diacetate and its arylideneacetohydrazide derivatives, using ultrasonic irradiation and conventional heating. The compounds were confirmed by Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (JEOL, Tokyo, Japan) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy (Thermoscientific, Waltham, MA, USA). The molecular structure and electronic properties of the studied compounds were predicted for the acetohydrazide hydrazones. These compounds exist as a mixture of configurational and conformational isomerism as well as amido-amidic acid tautomerism. The NMR spectral data proved the predominance of syn-E amido isomers. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) predicted stability in the gas phase and showed that syn-E amido isomers are the most stable in the presence of an electron donating group, while the anti-isomer is the most stable in the presence of electron-attracting substituents. The anticancer activity of these synthetic compounds 6a, 6b and 6c towards both colon cancer (HCT-116) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells was examined by MTT assay and DAPI staining. The MTT assay revealed a strong antiproliferative effect against the cancer cells at low concentrations, and interestingly, no significant inhibitory action against the non-cancerous cell line, HEK-293. The IC50 values for HCT-116 were 29.5 + 4.53 µM, 57.9 + 7.01 µM and 40.6 + 5.42 µM for 6a, 6b, and 6c, respectively. The IC50 values for HeLa cells were 57.1 + 6.7 µM, 65.6 + 6.63 µM and 33.8 + 3.54 µM for 6a, 6b, and 6c, respectively. DAPI staining revealed that these synthesized benzimidazole derivatives caused apoptotic cell death in both the colon and cervical cancer cells. Thus, these synthetic compounds demonstrate encouraging anticancer activity as well as being safe for normal human cells, making them attractive candidates as anticancer agents.
Heat Source Modeling and Residual Stress Analysis for Metal Directed Energy Deposition Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Kiran Abhilash , Li Ying , Hodek Josef , Brázda Michal , Urbánek Miroslav , Džugan Jan
Published: March 2022

The advancement in additive manufacturing encourages the development of simplified tools for deep and swift research of the technology. Several approaches were developed to reduce the complexity of multi-track modeling for additive manufacturing. In the present work, a simple heat source model called concentrated heat source was evaluated for single- and multi-track deposition for directed energy deposition. The concentrated heat source model was compared with the widely accepted Goldak heat source model. The concentrated heat source does not require melt pool dimension measurement for thermal model simulation. Thus, it reduces the considerable time for preprocessing. The shape of the melt pool and temperature contour around the heat source was analyzed for single-track deposition. A good agreement was noticed for the concentrated heat source model melt pool, with an experimentally determined melt pool, using an optical microscope. Two heat source models were applied to multi-track 3D solid structure thermo-mechanical simulation. The results of the two models, for thermal history and residual stress, were compared with experimentally determined data. A good agreement was found for both models. The concentrated heat source model reported less than the half the computational time required for the Goldak model. The validated model, for 3D solid structure thermo-mechanical simulation, was used to analyze thermal stress evolution during the deposition process. The material deposition on the base plate at room temperature results in lower peak temperatures in the layers near the base plate. Consequently, the higher thermal stress in the layers near the base plate was found, compared to the upper layers during the deposition process.
Low-Cost AR-Based Dimensional Metrology for Assembly
Authors: Nawab Rahma , Allen Angela Davies
Published: March 2022

The goal of this study was to create and demonstrate a system to perform fast and inexpensive quality dimensional inspection for industrial assembly line applications with submillimeter uncertainty. Our focus is on the positional errors of the assembled pieces on a larger part as it is assembled. This is achieved by using an open-source photogrammetry architecture to gather a point cloud data of an assembled part and then comparing this to a computer-aided design (CAD) model. The point cloud comparison to the CAD model is used to quantify errors in position using the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm. Augmented reality is utilized to view the errors in a live-video feed and effectively display said errors. The initial demonstration showed an assembled position error of 9 mm ± 0.4 mm for a 40-mm high post.
Model Reference Adaptive Control-Based Autonomous Berthing of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle under Environmental Disturbance
Authors: Baek Seungdae , Woo Joohyun
Published: March 2022

Surface-vehicle berthing is a complex and challenging task. It involves complicated ship dynamics owing to a large drift angle and the time-varying environmental disturbances induced by wind, wave, and current. Therefore, berthing requires state processing at each step and a controller that can respond to the non-linear behavior of the unmanned surface vehicle (USV). Herein, a systematic approach for the autonomous berthing of a USV is proposed. A state-machine approach is proposed to solve state transitions in the berthing step. A model reference adaptive controller was adopted to cope with the uncertainty of USV dynamics during berthing. Herein, the theoretical background and design of the adaptive controller are described. Simulation for the validation of the proposed method was conducted using the robot operating system Gazebo-based simulator. Finally, the respective performances of the proposed method and conventional controller were compared. Using the proposed berthing approach, an accurate and stable docking of small USVs became achievable.
Fault Diagnosis of Motor Vibration Signals by Fusion of Spatiotemporal Features
Authors: Wang Lijing , Zhang Chunda , Zhu Juan , Xu Fengxia
Published: March 2022

This paper constructs a spatiotemporal feature fusion network (STNet) to enhance the influence of spatiotemporal features of signals on the diagnostic performance during motor fault diagnosis. The STNet consists of the spatial feature processing capability of convolutional neural networks (CNN) and the temporal feature processing capability of recurrent neural networks (RNN). It is used for fault diagnosis of motor vibration signals. The network uses dual-stream branching to extract the fault features of motor vibration signals by a convolutional neural network and gated recurrent unit (GRU) simultaneously. The features are also enhanced by using the attention mechanism. Then, the temporal and spatial features are fused and input into the softmax function for fault discrimination. After that, the fault diagnosis of motor vibration signals is completed. In addition, several sets of experimental evaluations are conducted. The experimental results show that the vibration signal processing method combined with spatiotemporal features can effectively improve the recognition accuracy of motor faults.
Progressive Improvement of the Model of an Exoskeleton for the Lower Limb by Applying the Modular Modelling Methodology
Authors: Hess-Coelho Tarcisio Antonio , Cortez Milton , Moura Rafael Traldi , Forner-Cordero Arturo
Published: March 2022

Among the variety of applications of exoskeletons, it is possible to mention motor rehabilitation, enhancement of human capabilities and providing support to different types of tasks. Despite the remarkable achievements in this field, two major issues still need to be improved in the exoskeleton design methodology, the mechanical design and the controller. Considering that the dynamic modelling approach plays a key role in these issues, this article proposes the use of modular modelling methodology for the development of exoskeletons. Initially, the conceptual design of a lower limb exoskeleton is presented, then its kinematic and dynamic models are calculated. Finally, some performed simulations demonstrate the model consistency and the actuator torques estimation.
Real-Time Motor Fault Diagnosis Based on TCN and Attention
Authors: Zhang Hui , Ge Baojun , Han Bin
Published: March 2022

Motor failure can result in damage to resources and property. Real-time motor fault diagnosis technology can detect faults and diagnosis in time to prevent serious consequences caused by the continued operation of the machine. Neural network models can easily and accurately fault diagnose from vibration signals. However, they cannot notice faults in time. In this study, a deep learning model based on a temporal convolutional network (TCN) and attention is proposed for real-time motor fault diagnosis. TCN can extract features from shorter vibration signal sequences to allow the system to detect and diagnose faults faster. In addition, attention allows the model to have higher diagnostic accuracy. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed model is able to detect faults in time when they occur and has an excellent diagnostic accuracy.