bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Implantation Method for Orthodontic Anchor Screws: Basic Research for Clinical Applications
Authors: Tokuyama-Toda Reiko , Umeki Hirochika , Ide Shinji , Kobayashi Fumitaka , Tooyama Shunnosuke , Umehara Mai , Tadokoro Susumu , Tomonari Hiroshi , Satomura Kazuhito
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to determine whether the positional relationship between the underside of the screw head and the surface of the alveolar bone could alter the stress on the two surfaces and affect the stability of implanted anchor screws. First, in order to confirm the extent of the gap between the mini-screw and the bone surface, a mini-screw was placed in the palate of rabbits and examined histologically. As a result, in the conventional screw implantation procedure, oral mucosa between the base of the screw head and the bone creates a spatial gap. Removal of the oral mucosa eliminates this gap. Then, we compared the positional difference of the screw in a contact and gap group by analyzing stress distribution on the bone and screw. Analysis using the finite element method showed that more stress was loaded on both the bone and screw in the gap group than in the contact group. Cortical bone thickness did not affect stress in either group. The effects of different load strengths were similar between groups. A surgical procedure in which mucosal coverings are removed so that implanted anchor mini-screws are in contact with the bone surface was found to reduce the stress load on both the bone and screw. This procedure can be used to prevent undesirable dislodgement of implanted mini-screws.
Suppression of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor-Alpha Overcomes Resistance to Trastuzumab through STAT3-Dependent IL-6 Reduction in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Kim Sangmin , Kim Hyungjoo , Jeong Yisun , You Daeun , Yoon Sun Young , Lo Eunji , Nam Seok Jin , Lee Jeong Eon , Kim Seok Won
Published: February 2023

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) plays an essential role in the proliferation and invasion of malignant cancer cells. However, the functional role of PDGFR alpha (PDGFRA) in HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer has not been fully clarified yet. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of PDGFRA and the therapeutic potential of PDGFR inhibitors as part of an effort to overcome trastuzumab (TRZ) resistance. Aberrant PDGFRA expression is closely associated with decreased survival in HER2+ breast cancers. Therefore, we established BT474 trastuzumab-sensitive (TRZ_S) and trastuzumab-resistant (TRZ_R) cells to investigate the association between PDGFR signaling and TRZ resistance. We found that PDGFRA was significantly upregulated in the BT474 TRZ_R cells. In addition, IL-6 expression, which was also found to be upregulated in the TRZ_R cells, was induced by PDGFC, a ligand of PDGFR. Next, we investigated the effects of ponatinib and sunitinib, PDGFR inhibitors, on the BT474 TRZ_R and HCC1954 (TRZ-resistant cell line) cells. These inhibitors decreased cell viability and migration in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, IL-6 expression was decreased by ponatinib in both the BT474 TRZ_R and HCC1954 cells. In contrast, IL-6 was not suppressed by TRZ, implying that the PDGFRA/STAT3/IL-6 axis is associated with resistance to TRZ. In addition, we found that STAT3 and ERK phosphorylation were increased in the BT474 TRZ_R cells. IL-6 expression was suppressed by a STAT3 inhibitor, indicating that IL-6 expression is modulated downstream of STAT3. Taken together, these results suggest that PDGFRA could serve as a therapeutic target to overcome TRZ resistance.
Biomimetic Remineralized Three-Dimensional Collagen Bone Matrices with an Enhanced Osteostimulating Effect
Authors: Fadeeva Irina S. , Teterina Anastasia Yu. , Minaychev Vladislav V. , Senotov Anatoliy S. , Smirnov Igor V. , Fadeev Roman S. , Smirnova Polina V. , Menukhov Vladislav O. , Lomovskaya Yana V. , Akatov Vladimir S. , Barinov Sergey M. , Komlev Vladimir S.
Published: February 2023

Bone grafts with a high potential for osseointegration, capable of providing a complete and effective regeneration of bone tissue, remain an urgent and unresolved issue. The presented work proposes an approach to develop composite biomimetic bone material for reconstructive surgery by deposition (remineralization) on the surface of high-purity, demineralized bone collagen matrix calcium phosphate layers. Histological and elemental analysis have shown reproduction of the bone tissue matrix architectonics, and a high-purity degree of the obtained collagen scaffolds; the cell culture and confocal microscopy have demonstrated a high biocompatibility of the materials obtained. Adsorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, microcomputed tomography (microCT) and infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction have proven the efficiency of the deposition of calcium phosphates on the surface of bone collagen scaffolds. Cell culture and confocal microscopy methods have shown high biocompatibility of both demineralized and remineralized bone matrices. In the model of heterotopic implantation in rats, at the term of seven weeks, an intensive intratrabecular infiltration of calcium phosphate precipitates, and a pronounced synthetic activity of osteoblast remodeling and rebuilding implanted materials, were revealed in remineralized bone collagen matrices in contrast to demineralized ones. Thus, remineralization of highly purified demineralized bone matrices significantly enhanced their osteostimulating ability. The data obtained are of interest for the creation of new highly effective osteoplastic materials for bone tissue regeneration and augmentation.
Simultaneous and Sensitive Detection of Three Pesticides Using a Functional Poly(Sulfobetaine Methacrylate)-Coated Paper-Based Colorimetric Sensor
Authors: Zhu Jingyang , Yin Xinru , Zhang Weiyi , Chen Meilian , Feng Dongsheng , Zhao Yong , Zhu Yongheng
Published: February 2023

Chlorpyrifos (CHL), profenofos (PRO) and cypermethrin (CYP) are widely used in combination to increase crop yields. However, these three pesticides can cause serious harm to human health and do not easily degrade. In this study, a novel visible paper sensor has been prepared successfully and different colorimetric reactions were utilized to detect the three pesticides simultaneously. The sensor was constructed by grafting a zwitterionic polymer onto a cellulose filter (CF) and placing it on a glass surface modified with PDMS. The branch shape was designed to form multiple detection areas, which were modified with specific pesticides and corresponding chromogenic reagents. The as-prepared colorimetric platform exhibited high sensitivity, a short detection time, a good linear response and a low detection limit (LOD) for the three pesticides (chlorpyrifos: y = 46.801 − 1.939x, R2 = 0.983, LOD = 0.235 mg/L; profenofos: y = 40.068 + 42.5x, R2 = 0.988, LOD = 4.891 mg/L; cypermethrin: y = 51.993 + 1.474x, R2 = 0.993, LOD = 4.053 mg/L). The comparison of the results obtained by the proposed paper sensor and those obtained by spectrophotometry further revealed the stability and reliability of the paper sensor. In particular, the color intensity of the interaction between the pesticides and coloring agents could be directly observed by the human eye. The consistency of the colorimetric/optical assay was proven in real target pesticide samples. Thus, this sensing strategy provides a portable, cost-effective, accurate and visualized paper platform, which could be suitable for application in the fruit and vegetable industry for monitoring CHL, PRO and CYP in parallel.
Influence of Tiapride and Topiramate on Tic Severity and Behavioral/Emotional Problems in Children with Tourette Syndrome: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Zhou Xuanzi , Liao Zhaoying , Li Yi , Wang Nanqing , Xiao Nong
Published: February 2023

Objectives: To investigate the effect of tiapride and topiramate on patients with Tourette syndrome (TS). Methods: This retrospective analysis included 126 children diagnosed with TS at Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from 2019 to 2021, with treatment including tiapride (n = 60) and topiramate (n = 66). Their tic severity values were assessed with the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS). Furthermore, behavioral and emotional problems were assessed with the Conner’s Parent Rating Scale (CPRS) and the Children Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Results: Compared with premedication, the scores of tic severity were significantly decreased in both tiapride and topiramate groups after treatment, especially topiramate. Moreover, it was noted that five subscores of CPRS were significantly reduced in TS patients thanks to medication. However, there was no significant difference in CBCL after treatment, in both tiapride and topiramate groups. Conclusions: Tiapride and topiramate were proven to be effective on tics and some behavioral/emotional problems in TS patients, and topiramate may provide better treatment.
Dominant Gene Expression Profiles Define Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC) from Different Tissues: Validation of a Gene Signature Classifier for Poor Survival in Salivary Gland ACC
Authors: Brayer Kathryn J. , Kang Huining , El-Naggar Adel K. , Andreasen Simon , Homøe Preben , Kiss Katalin , Mikkelsen Lauge , Heegaard Steffen , Pelaez Daniel , Moeyersoms Acadia , Tse David T. , Guo Yan , Lee David Y. , Ness Scott A.
Published: February 2023

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an aggressive malignancy that most often arises in salivary or lacrimal glands but can also occur in other tissues. We used optimized RNA-sequencing to analyze the transcriptomes of 113 ACC tumor samples from salivary gland, lacrimal gland, breast or skin. ACC tumors from different organs displayed remarkedly similar transcription profiles, and most harbored translocations in the MYB or MYBL1 genes, which encode oncogenic transcription factors that may induce dramatic genetic and epigenetic changes leading to a dominant ‘ACC phenotype’. Further analysis of the 56 salivary gland ACC tumors led to the identification of three distinct groups of patients, based on gene expression profiles, including one group with worse survival. We tested whether this new cohort could be used to validate a biomarker developed previously with a different set of 68 ACC tumor samples. Indeed, a 49-gene classifier developed with the earlier cohort correctly identified 98% of the poor survival patients from the new set, and a 14-gene classifier was almost as accurate. These validated biomarkers form a platform to identify and stratify high-risk ACC patients into clinical trials of targeted therapies for sustained clinical response.
Mechanistic Insights on Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Huffman Olivia G. , Chau Danielle B. , Dinicu Andreea I. , DeBernardo Robert , Reizes Ofer
Published: February 2023

Epithelial ovarian cancer is an aggressive disease of the female reproductive system and a leading cause of cancer death in women. Standard of care includes surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy, yet patients continue to experience a high rate of recurrence and metastasis. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) treatment in highly selective patients extends overall survival by nearly 12 months. The clinical studies are highly supportive of the use of HIPEC in the treatment of ovarian cancer, though the therapeutic approach is limited to academic medical centers. The mechanism underlying HIPEC benefit remains unknown. The efficacy of HIPEC therapy is impacted by several procedural and patient/tumor factors including the timing of surgery, platinum sensitivity, and molecular profiling such as homologous recombination deficiency. The present review aims to provide insight into the mechanistic benefit of HIPEC treatment with a focus on how hyperthermia activates the immune response, induces DNA damage, impairs DNA damage repair pathways, and has a synergistic effect with chemotherapy, with the ultimate outcome of increasing chemosensitivity. Identifying the points of fragility unmasked by HIPEC may provide the key pathways that could be the basis of new therapeutic strategies for ovarian cancer patients.
Interferon Gamma-Inducible NAMPT in Melanoma Cells Serves as a Mechanism of Resistance to Enhance Tumor Growth
Authors: Barba Cindy , Ekiz H. Atakan , Tang William Weihao , Ghazaryan Arevik , Hansen Mason , Lee Soh-Hyun , Voth Warren Peter , O’Connell Ryan Michael
Published: February 2023

(1) Background: Immune cells infiltrate the tumor microenvironment and secrete inflammatory cytokines, including interferons (IFNs), to drive antitumor responses and promote tumor clearance. However, recent evidence suggests that sometimes, tumor cells can also harness IFNs to enhance growth and survival. The essential NAD+ salvage pathway enzyme nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) gene is constitutively expressed in cells during normal homeostasis. However, melanoma cells have higher energetic demands and elevated NAMPT expression. We hypothesized that interferon gamma (IFNγ) regulates NAMPT in tumor cells as a mechanism of resistance that impedes the normal anti-tumorigenic effects of IFNγ. (2) Methods: Utilizing a variety of melanoma cells, mouse models, Crispr-Cas9, and molecular biology techniques, we explored the importance of IFNγ-inducible NAMPT during melanoma growth. (3) Results: We demonstrated that IFNγ mediates the metabolic reprogramming of melanoma cells by inducing Nampt through a Stat1 binding site in the Nampt gene, increasing cell proliferation and survival. Further, IFN/STAT1-inducible Nampt promotes melanoma in vivo. (4) Conclusions: We provided evidence that melanoma cells directly respond to IFNγ by increasing NAMPT levels, improving their fitness and growth in vivo (control n = 36, SBS KO n = 46). This discovery unveils a possible therapeutic target that may improve the efficacy of immunotherapies involving IFN responses in the clinic.
Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Nitrophenols via Ag Nanoparticles Supported on Citric-Acid-Modified Polyaniline
Authors: Khani Milad , Sammynaiken Ramaswami , Wilson Lee D.
Published: February 2023

Citric-acid-modified polyaniline (P-CA) and P-CA modified with Ag nanoparticles (Ag@P-CA) were prepared via an in situ reduction method. The physicochemical properties of P-CA and Ag@P-CA were compared to unmodified polyaniline (PANI) and PANI-modified Ag nanoparticles (Ag@PANI). Ag@P-CA had a lower content of aniline oligomers compared to Ag@PANI. P-CA and Ag@P-CA had a greater monolayer adsorption capacity for 2-nitrophenol and lower binding affinity as compared to PANI and Ag@PANI materials. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry characterization provided reason and evidence for the higher conductivity of citric-acid-modified materials (P-CA and Ag@P-CA versus PANI and Ag@PANI). These results showed the potential utility for the optimization of adsorption/desorption and electron transfer steps during the electrochemical oxidation of nitrophenols. The oxidation process employs Ag@P-CA as the electrocatalyst by modifying polyaniline with Ag nanoparticles and citric acid, which was successfully employed to oxidize 2-nitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol with comparable selectivity and sensitivity to their relative concentrations. This work is envisaged to contribute significantly to the selective conversion of nitrophenols and electrocatalytic remediation of such waterborne contaminants.
What Is the Significance of Lysosomal-Mediated Resistance to Imatinib?
Authors: Mlejnek Petr
Published: February 2023

The lysosomal sequestration of hydrophobic weak-base anticancer drugs is one proposed mechanism for the reduced availability of these drugs at target sites, resulting in a marked decrease in cytotoxicity and consequent resistance. While this subject is receiving increasing emphasis, it is so far only in laboratory experiments. Imatinib is a targeted anticancer drug used to treat chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs), and a number of other malignancies. Its physicochemical properties make it a typical hydrophobic weak-base drug that accumulates in the lysosomes of tumour cells. Further laboratory studies suggest that this might significantly reduce its antitumor efficacy. However, a detailed analysis of published laboratory studies shows that lysosomal accumulation cannot be considered a clearly proven mechanism of resistance to imatinib. Second, more than 20 years of clinical experience with imatinib has revealed a number of resistance mechanisms, none of which is related to its accumulation in lysosomes. This review focuses on the analysis of salient evidence and raises a fundamental question about the significance of lysosomal sequestration of weak-base drugs in general as a possible resistance mechanism both in clinical and laboratory settings.
Steering the Metal Precursor Location in Pd/Zeotype Catalysts and Its Implications for Catalysis
Authors: Smulders Luc C. J. , van de Minkelis Johan H. , Meeldijk Johannes D. , Tang Min , Liutkova Anna , Cheng Kang , Roberts S. Tegan , Sunley Glenn J. , Hensen Emiel J. M. , de Jongh Petra E. , de Jong Krijn P.
Published: February 2023

Bifunctional catalysts containing a dehydrogenation–hydrogenation function and an acidic function are widely applied for the hydroconversion of hydrocarbon feedstocks obtained from both fossil and renewable resources. It is well known that the distance between the two functionalities is important for the performance of the catalyst. In this study, we show that the heat treatment of the catalyst precursor can be used to steer the location of the Pd precursor with respect to the acid sites in SAPO-11 and ZSM-22 zeotype materials when ions are exchanged with Pd(NH3)4(NO3)2. Two sets of catalysts were prepared based on composite materials of alumina with either SAPO-11 or ZSM-22. Pd was placed on/in the zeotype, followed by a calcination-reduction (CR) or direct reduction (DR) treatment. Furthermore, catalysts with Pd on the alumina binder were prepared. CR results in having more Pd nanoparticles inside the zeotype crystals, whereas DR yields more particles on the outer surface of the zeotype crystals as is confirmed using HAADF-STEM and XPS measurements. The catalytic performance in both n-heptane and n-hexadecane hydroconversion of the catalysts shows that having the Pd nanoparticles on the alumina binder is most beneficial for maximizing the isomer yields. Pd-on-zeotype catalysts prepared using the DR approach show intermediate performances, outperforming their Pd-in-zeotype counterparts that were prepared with the CR approach.
Gaming Preferences and Personality among School Students
Authors: Rathakrishnan Balan , Bikar Singh Soon Singh , Yahaya Azizi
Published: February 2023

Gaming has vastly developed into numerous genres; nonetheless, most studies in the literature emphasize the violent genre only. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between personality and gaming preferences among school students. This study also aims to investigate the difference in the time spent on gaming based on gender. The third objective involves examining the differences in frequency in playing a video game based on age. The sample group comprised 420 school students aged between 12 and 17 years old, including hardcore and casual gamers. The online survey was conducted using Google Forms, and the participants were requested to answer the demographic questionnaire, Big Five Inventory, and Gaming Preferences Questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software for general descriptive statistics. The results show that there was a significant relationship between gaming preferences role-playing game (RPG), combat, online, and music genres) and personality (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientious, neuroticism, and openness). The results also indicate a difference between gender and the number of hours spent on gaming, but no such difference existed between age and the frequency of playing games. From the psychological perspective, gaming preference is related to their personality and influences the behavior of children and overall health in daily life.
Investigating the Impact of Food Rewards on Children’s Motivation to Participate in Sport
Authors: Shwed Alanna , Bruner Brenda , Law Barbi , Bruner Mark W.
Published: February 2023

Children who are physically active and involved in organized sport report having the unhealthiest diets. Research suggests excessive calories may be attributed to the prevalence of fast food and candy which are often provided as rewards in sport. This study explored the use of food as a reward in youth sport and the perceived impact it has on children’s motivation to participate in recreational soccer and ice hockey. A multiple instrumental case study approach was utilized. Children aged 4–12 (n = 64), parents (n = 30), and coaches (n = 18) were recruited within central and northeastern Ontario, Canada to participate in focus groups and individual interviews. Transcribed audio recordings underwent inductive thematic analysis. Key themes included: Fun and fast: The culture of food in youth soccer and hockey; (Un)importance of food rewards: The how and why of motivating children in sport; and Youth sport is expensive: Gratitude for sponsorship in youth sport. Themes explain the role of food and food rewards as an element of the youth sport culture as well as the importance of sponsors, regardless of food affiliation, in youth sport. Overall, children’s participation and effort would continue without food rewards; however, they continue to be offered food to motivate and celebrate performance in youth sport. Findings highlight the need to increase knowledge and awareness among parents and coaches on what truly motivates children to help foster healthier strategies for celebrating success and supporting lifelong physical activity.
Whole Genome Sequencing of a Chlamydia trachomatis Strain Responsible for a Case of Rectal Lymphogranuloma Venereum in Italy
Authors: Marangoni Antonella , Amadesi Stefano , Djusse Marielle Ezekielle , Foschi Claudio , Gaspari Valeria , Lazzarotto Tiziana , Gaibani Paolo
Published: February 2023

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a systemic sexually transmitted infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis serovars L1 to L3. The current LGV cases in Europe are mainly characterized by an anorectal syndrome, spreading within men who have sex with men (MSM). Whole-genome sequencing of LGV strains is crucial to the study of bacterial genomic variants and to improve strategies for contact tracing and prevention. In this study, we described the whole genome of a C. trachomatis strain (LGV/17) responsible for a case of rectal LGV. LGV/17 strain was isolated in 2017 in Bologna (North of Italy) from a HIV-positive MSM, presenting a symptomatic proctitis. After the propagation in LLC-MK2 cells, the strain underwent whole-genome sequencing by means of two platforms. Sequence type was determined using the tool MLST 2.0, whereas the genovariant was characterized by an ompA sequence evaluation. A phylogenetic tree was generated by comparing the LGV/17 sequence with a series of L2 genomes, downloaded from the NCBI website. LGV/17 belonged to sequence type ST44 and to the genovariant L2f. Nine ORFs encoding for polymorphic membrane proteins A-I and eight encoding for glycoproteins Pgp1-8 were detected in the chromosome and in the plasmid, respectively. LGV/17 was closely related to other L2f strains, even in the light of a not-negligible variability. The LGV/17 strain showed a genomic structure similar to reference sequences and was phylogenetically related to isolates from disparate parts of the world, indicative of the long-distance dynamics of transmission.
Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Surface Water Resources in Arid Regions Using Downscaled Regional Circulation Model and Soil Water Assessment Tool, a Case Study of Amman-Zerqa Basin, Jordan
Authors: Al-Hasani Ibrahim , Al-Qinna Mohammed , Hammouri Nezar Atalla
Published: February 2023

Water scarcity, aggravated by climate change impacts, threatens all sectors in arid regions and hampers sustainable development plans. This work aims to assess the potential impacts of climate change on surface water resources of Amman-Zerqa Basin, Jordan, using the Soil Water Assessment Tool model (SWAT) and outputs from the Downscaled Regional Circulation Model. Future scenarios were developed based on combining two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs 4.5 and 8.5). A reference scenario from 1973 to 2015 was used to compare the current climate with future climates and their impacts on hydrological processes. Hydrologic modeling outputs showed very good performance ratings for calibration and validation periods. Statistical bias correction of the Downscale Regional Circulation Model (GCM) indicated that linear scaling for precipitation data was the best-performing bias correction method, along with variance scaling and distribution mapping methods for minimum and maximum temperature, respectively. The coupled future model simulations indicated a reduction in crucial water balance components under all modeled scenarios. The simulated reductions range between 3.7% and 20.7% for precipitation, 22.3–41.6% for stream flow, 25.0–47.0% for surface runoff, 0.5–13.4% for evapotranspiration, and 21.5–41.4% for water yield, from conservative to the severe scenario, respectively. In conclusion, spatial analyses indicated the presence of three zones of impact. Thus, future climate and hydrological adaptation measures should focus on the provided zoning.
Microstructural, Corrosion, and Mechanical Characterization of Friction Stir Welded Al 6022-to-ZEK100 Mg Joints
Authors: Ding Qingli , Das Hrishikesh , Upadhyay Piyush , Sousa Bryer C. , Karayagiz Kubra , Powell Adam , Mishra Brajendra
Published: February 2023

Friction stir welded (FSW) aluminum–magnesium lightweight vehicle joints have gained significant interest due to their high strength-to-weight ratio. In this work, the corrosion resistance of this material is analyzed through electrochemical tests, which include open circuit potential (OCP) inspection and potentiodynamic polarization (PD) scanning. Weight loss measurements tested the corrosion rate of the FSW weld through cyclic corrosion testing (CCT) according to the standard SAEJ 2334. Mechanical properties were also investigated, including lap-shear strength, micro- and nano-hardness mapping, and true stress–strain curves as a function of local processing history. The electrochemical results indicate that the center weld zone’s corrosion property stays between the two base alloys. Indentation-based testing demonstrated that the weld zone behaves differently from base alloys. Lap shear strength surprisingly did not drop much even after eight weeks of cyclic corrosion tests, indicating that the joint did not allow any ingress of the electrolyte.
Biosensors in Food and Healthcare Industries: Bio-Coatings Based on Biogenic Nanoparticles and Biopolymers
Authors: Popescu Melania , Ungureanu Camelia
Published: February 2023

Biosensors use biological materials, such as enzymes, antibodies, or DNA, to detect specific analytes. These devices have numerous applications in the health and food industries, such as disease diagnosis, food safety monitoring, and environmental monitoring. However, the production of biosensors can result in the generation of chemical waste, which is an environmental concern for the developed world. To address this issue, researchers have been exploring eco-friendly alternatives for immobilising biomolecules on biosensors. One solution uses bio-coatings derived from nanoparticles synthesised via green chemistry and biopolymers. These materials offer several advantages over traditional chemical coatings, such as improved sensitivity, stability, and biocompatibility. In conclusion, the use of bio-coatings derived from green-chemistry synthesised nanoparticles and biopolymers is a promising solution to the problem of chemical waste generated from the production of biosensors. This review provides an overview of these materials and their applications in the health and food industries, highlighting their potential to improve the performance and sustainability of biosensors.
Yttria-Doped Ceria Surface Modification Layer via Atomic Layer Deposition for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Kim Hyeontaek , Park Yongchan , Jeong Davin , Hong Soonwook
Published: February 2023

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is performed to obtain less than 1 nm thick yttria-doped ceria (YDC) layers as cathode functional layers to increase the surface oxygen incorporation rate for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs). Introducing a YDC surface modification layer (SML) has revealed that the optimized yttria concentration in YDC can catalyze surface oxygen exchange kinetics at the interface between the electrolyte and cathode. The YDC SML-containing fuel cell performs 1.5 times better than the pristine fuel cell; the result is an increased exchange current density at the modified surface. Moreover, a heavily doped YDC SML degrades the performance of LT-SOFCs, owing to the weakened oxygen surface kinetics due to the increased migration energy of the oxygen ions.
The Design and Characterization of New Chitosan, Bioglass and ZnO-Based Coatings on Ti-Zr-Ta-Ag
Authors: Prodana Mariana , Ionita Daniela , Stoian Andrei Bogdan , Demetrescu Ioana , Mihai Geanina Valentina , Enăchescu Marius
Published: February 2023

The starting point of this study is a new alloy with rare metals such as Ta and Zr that has Ag in the composition, proven antibacterial properties. New coatings on Ti-Zr-Ta-Ag capable of improving the alloys’ properties and to be suitable for more applications have yet to be fabricated. New formulations based on chitosan (Ch) and bioglass (BG) were designed as multifunctional coatings to be deposited from suspensions on the mentioned alloy. To make the suspensions used for deposition, several samples were made containing Ch, BG and ZnO in various mass ratios. A number of solutions with different component ratios were produced and analyzed by ζ potential and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) to determine the most stable mixture, which was subsequently deposited on the Ti-Zr-Ta-Ag samples. The mixtures and the samples obtained after applying the coating were characterized from a morphological and compositional standpoint using Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Further analyses on the properties of the coating were performed using contact angle and roughness analysis. Zeta potential measurements demonstrated evidence of a good stability of the coatings. The size of the ceramic particles is between 1 and 10 μm. From the SEM, the morphology of all the components from the mixture containing chitosan, bioglass and ZnO are shown to be present on the surface. From the FTIR determination, all the functional groups that appear demonstrated evidence of the presence of BG, ZnO and chitosan. The contact angle values of the coated samples are in the hydrophilic domain but are higher compared to the uncoated alloy values. Such behavior is promising in a potential bioapplication.
Using Quantum Nodes Connected via the Quantum Cloud to Perform IoT Quantum Network
Authors: Subhi Doaa , Bacsardi Laszlo
Published: February 2023

Computer networks consist of millions of nodes that need constant protection because of their continued vulnerability to attacks. Classical security methods for protecting such networks will not be effective enough if quantum computers become widespread. On the other hand, we can exploit the capabilities of quantum computing and communications to build a new quantum communication network. In this paper, we focused on enhancing the performance of the classical client–server Internet application. For this sake, we introduced a novel Internet of Things (IoT) quantum network that provides high security and Quality of Service (QoS) compared with the traditional IoT network. This can be achieved by adding quantum components to the traditional IoT network. Quantum counterpart nodes, channels, and servers are used. In order to establish a secure communication between the quantum nodes and the quantum server, we defined a new Communication Procedure (CP) for the suggested IoT quantum network. The currently available quantum computer has a small qubit size (from 50 to 433 qubits). The proposed IoT quantum network allows us to overcome this problem by concatenating the computation efforts of multiple quantum nodes (quantum processors).
Diversity of the Pteridoflora of Montane Northwestern Mexico
Authors: Tejero-Díez J. Daniel , Contreras-Medina Raúl , Torres-Díaz Alin N. , González-Elizondo M. Socorro , Sánchez-González Arturo , Luna-Vega Isolda
Published: February 2023

This study compiles and updates the checklist of ferns and lycophytes from the Sierra Madre Occidental (SMOc). For this, we revised information on these taxa from regional floristic studies, databases, and herbaria. Our updated list includes 312 species, of which 276 are ferns and 36 are lycophytes integrated into 27 families and 75 genera. The richest families are Pteridaceae (118), Polypodiaceae (31), Selaginellaceae (30), Aspleniaceae (25), and Dryopteridaceae (25). The three most diverse genera were Selaginella (30), Asplenium (25), and Myriopteris (22). The species-rich Mexican states that include the SMOc are Durango (166 species), Chihuahua (149), and Jalisco (146). As in other tropical mountains, species richness in the SMOc is concentrated at the elevation interval of 1500 to 2000 m (236 species). The mid-mountain vegetation forests (Quercus and Pinus-Quercus forests) harbor the most pteridoflora richness (52% of the species). Four species of ferns are listed as threatened in the Mexican Official Norm NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, 17 species are listed in the IUCN, and only one tree ferns are in CITES. The SMOc has a Nearctic affinity, and its fern and lycophyte diversity are lower than in other Mexican Transition Zone mountain chains, such as the Sierra Madre del Sur, the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, and the Sierra Madre Oriental. Notwithstanding, its biological composition is unique and distinctive. The species number reported in the SMOc represents 31% of the pteridoflora diversity recorded in Mexico.
Two Distinct Life History Strategies of Atlantic Sturgeon in the Ogeechee River, Georgia
Authors: Wirgin Isaac , Fox Adam G. , Maceda Lorraine , Waldman John
Published: February 2023

Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) is an anadromous, widely distributed, highly migratory sturgeon subspecies that occurs in rivers and marine waters along the North American Atlantic Coast. This fish has shown widespread declines and has been afforded conservation protections, including some based in the U.S. on the delineation of Distinct Population Segments (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act. The management of Atlantic sturgeon will benefit from the knowledge of its population structure as well as the ability to uniquely identify individuals (in relation to population origin) that are vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors at sites outside of their natal estuaries. We used microsatellite analysis to estimate the genetic population structure of Atlantic sturgeon from 13 spawning rivers ranging from the St. Lawrence River, Quebec to the Satilla River, Georgia. Individual Based Assignment (IBA) testing was used to estimate the contribution of each population to mixed-stock aggregations in coastal waters and in a non-natal estuary. An unexpected finding was the discovery of two distinct genetic clusters of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon in the Ogeechee River, Georgia, with specimens in the two clusters differing significantly in terms of mean total length. Additionally, three distinct genetic clusters were detected within the Satilla River juvenile collection, along with two clusters within the Edisto River sample. In F1ST and FST analyses, the extent of the pairwise genetic differentiation between the two genetic clusters in the Ogeechee River and the three in the Satilla River was greater than that between all other pairwise comparisons among rivers in the South Atlantic DPS. In contrast, we found no evidence of the genetic partitioning of juvenile sturgeon within the neighboring Savannah or Altamaha river populations. Using IBA, we found that the overall Ogeechee River population made a moderate contribution (8.3%) to the overall mixed-stock collections (n = 1512) from coastal North Carolina to the Bay of Fundy. Surprisingly, all of the Ogeechee River-assigned specimens (n = 125) in these mixed-stock aggregations were representatives of only one of the two Ogeechee River genetic clusters. These results suggest that the two Ogeechee River genetic clusters exhibit significantly different life history strategies, with one being resident and the second being highly migratory.
Analysis of Government Policy Sentiment Regarding Vacation during the COVID-19 Pandemic Using the Bidirectional Encoder Representation from Transformers (BERT)
Authors: Yulita Intan Nurma , Wijaya Victor , Rosadi Rudi , Sarathan Indra , Djuyandi Yusa , Prabuwono Anton Satria
Published: February 2023

To address the COVID-19 situation in Indonesia, the Indonesian government has adopted a number of policies. One of them is a vacation-related policy. Government measures with regard to this vacation policy have produced a wide range of viewpoints in society, which have been extensively shared on social media, including YouTube. However, there has not been any computerized system developed to date that can assess people’s social media reactions. Therefore, this paper provides a sentiment analysis application to this government policy by employing a bidirectional encoder representation from transformers (BERT) approach. The study method began with data collecting, data labeling, data preprocessing, BERT model training, and model evaluation. This study created a new dataset for this topic. The data were collected from the comments section of YouTube, and were categorized into three categories: positive, neutral, and negative. This research yielded an F-score of 84.33%. Another contribution from this study regards the methodology for processing sentiment analysis in Indonesian. In addition, the model was created as an application using the Python programming language and the Flask framework. The government can learn the extent to which the public accepts the policies that have been implemented by utilizing this research.
Surgical Atrial Septal Patch Endocarditis in a Patient with a Complete Corrected Atrioventricular Canal Defect: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Serban Adela , Achim Alexandru , Gavan Dana Elena , Tomoaia Raluca , Molnar Adrian , Suceveanu Mihai , Axente Dan Damian , Mot Stefan , Dadarlat-Pop Alexandra
Published: February 2023

Infective endocarditis (IE) is common in patients with corrected congenital heart disease (CHD) with a residual lesion, but is rarely found on surgical patches used to close atrial septal defects (ASDs). This is also reflected in the current guidelines that do not recommend antibiotic therapy for patients with a repaired ASD with no residual shunt six months after closure (percutaneous or surgical). However, the situation could be different in the case of mitral valve endocarditis, which causes leaflet disruption with severe mitral insufficiency and could seed the surgical patch. We present herein a 40-year-old male patient with a past medical history of a complete surgically corrected atrioventricular canal defect performed in childhood who presented with fever, dyspnea and severe abdominal pain. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TTE and TEE) revealed vegetation at the level of the mitral valve and the interatrial septum. The CT scan confirmed ASD patch endocarditis and multiple septic emboli, guiding the therapeutic management. An accurate evaluation of cardiac structures should be mandatory when a systemic infection is detected in CHD patients, even if the defects were surgically corrected, because the detection and eradication of such infectious foci as well as a surgical reintervention are particularly difficult to achieve in this subpopulation.
Fetal Health Classification from Cardiotocograph for Both Stages of Labor—A Soft-Computing-Based Approach
Authors: Das Sahana , Mukherjee Himadri , Roy Kaushik , Saha Chanchal Kumar
Published: February 2023

To date, cardiotocography (CTG) is the only non-invasive and cost-effective tool available for continuous monitoring of the fetal health. In spite of a marked growth in the automation of the CTG analysis, it still remains a challenging signal processing task. Complex and dynamic patterns of fetal heart are poorly interpreted. Particularly, the precise interpretation of the suspected cases is fairly low by both visual and automated methods. Also, the first and second stage of labor produce very different fetal heart rate (FHR) dynamics. Thus, a robust classification model takes both stages into consideration separately. In this work, the authors propose a machine-learning-based model, which was applied separately to both the stages of labor, using standard classifiers such as SVM, random forest (RF), multi-layer perceptron (MLP), and bagging to classify the CTG. The outcome was validated using the model performance measure, combined performance measure, and the ROC-AUC. Though AUC-ROC was sufficiently high for all the classifiers, the other parameters established a better performance by SVM and RF. For suspicious cases the accuracies of SVM and RF were 97.4% and 98%, respectively, whereas sensitivity was 96.4% and specificity was 98% approximately. In the second stage of labor the accuracies were 90.6% and 89.3% for SVM and RF, respectively. Limits of agreement for 95% between the manual annotation and the outcome of SVM and RF were (−0.05 to 0.01) and (−0.03 to 0.02). Henceforth, the proposed classification model is efficient and can be integrated into the automated decision support system.
Digital Self-Interference Cancellation for Full-Duplex UAV Communication System over Time-Varying Channels
Authors: Tian Lu , Shi Chenrui , Xu Zhan
Published: February 2023

Full-duplex unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication systems are characterized by mobility, so the self-interference (SI) channel characteristics change over time constantly. In full-duplex UAV communication systems, the difficulty is to eliminate SI in time-varying channels. In this paper, we propose a pilot-aid digital self-interference cancellation (SIC) method. First, the pilot is inserted into the data sequence uniformly, and the time-varying SI is modeled as a linear non-causal function. Then, the time-varying SI channel is estimated by the discrete prolate spheroidal basis expansion model (BEM). The error of block edge channel estimation is reduced by cross-block interpolation. The result of channel estimation is convolved with the transmitted data to obtain the reconstructed SI, which is subtracted from the received signal to achieve SIC. The simulation results show that the SIC performance of the proposed method outperforms the dichotomous coordinate descent recursive least square (DCD-RLS) and normalized least mean square (NLMS) algorithms. When the interference to noise ratio (INR) is 25 dB, the performance index normalized least mean square (NMSE) is reduced by 5.5 dB and 4 dB compared with DCD-RLS and NLMS algorithms, which can eliminate SI to the noise floor, and the advantage becomes more obvious as the INR increases.
Integral Backstepping Sliding Mode Control for Unmanned Autonomous Helicopters Based on Neural Networks
Authors: Wan Min , Chen Mou , Lungu Mihai
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we propose an adaptive control approach to deal with the problems of input saturation, external disturbances, and uncertainty in the unmanned autonomous helicopter system. The dynamics of the system take into account the presence of input saturation, uncertainty, and external disturbances. Auxiliary systems are built to handle the input saturation. The neural networks are applied to approximate the uncertain terms. The control scheme combining integral backstepping and sliding mode control is developed in position and attitude subsystems, respectively. In the closed-loop system, the boundedness of the signals is proved by means of the Lyapunov theory. The simulation demonstrates that the approach has good robustness and tracking performance.
Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles as Emerging Aquatic Pollutants: An Evaluation of the Nanotoxicity in the Freshwater Shrimp Larvae Atya lanipes
Authors: Cruz-Rosa Stefani , Pérez-Reyes Omar
Published: February 2023

Nanoparticles are man-made materials defined as materials smaller than 100 nm in at least one dimension. Titanium oxide nanoparticles are of great interest because of their extensive use in self-care products. There is a lack of nanotoxicological studies of TiO2 NPs in benthic organisms to have evidence about the effects of these pollutants in freshwater ecosystems. Atya lanipes is a scraper/filter that can provide a good nanotoxicological model. This study aims to determine how the TiO2 NPs can develop a toxic effect in the larvae of the Atya lanipes shrimp and to document lethal and sublethal effects after acute exposures to TiO2 NP suspensions of: 0.0, 1.0, 10.0, 50.0, 100.0, and 150.0 mg/L. The results show that early exposure to TiO2 NPs in Atya lanipes creates an increase in mortality at 48 and 72 h exposures, hypoactivity in movements, and morphological changes, such as less pigmentation and the presence of edema in exposed larvae. In conclusion, TiO2 NPs are toxic contaminants in the larval stage of the Atya lanipes. It is necessary to regulate these nanoparticles for purposes of the conservation of aquatic biodiversity, especially for freshwater shrimp larvae and likely many other larvae of filter-feeding species.
Color-Evasive/Conscious? A Content Analysis of How Engineering Faculty Discuss Race and Racism in a U.S.-Based Equity-Focused STEM Professional Development Program
Authors: Espinoza Kristine Jan Cruz , Rincón Blanca E.
Published: February 2023

Against a backdrop of calls for increased access and participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the United States have emerged as critical access points for Latina/o/x and other Students of Color. Federal grants can become important levers for building institutional capacity for broadening participation in STEM and transforming HSIs toward better serving Students of Color, specifically as it relates to curricula and pedagogy. In this study, we focus on the engineering faculty at an HSI who are participants in a National Science Foundation-funded, equity-focused professional development program. Operationalizing Bonilla-Silva’s color-evasive racial ideology framework, we use content analysis techniques to explore how engineering faculty discuss race and racism as part of the professional development experience. First, we find that engineering faculty largely rely on color-evasive racial frameworks (i.e., abstract liberalism, minimization of racism) when describing their motivations for participating in the program. Moreover, we find that engineering faculty responses depict a range of surprise and familiarity when reflecting on issues of race and racism. Finally, regardless of prior exposure to module concepts, at the end of the program, the majority of action projects reflect a recognition of race and racism as important.
Synthesis of ZnO Nanorods and Its Application in Zinc-Silver Secondary Batteries
Authors: Nguyen Van Tu , Nguyen Hung Tran , Tran Nu Huong
Published: February 2023

In this paper, ZnO nanorods were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and used as anodes for zinc-silver batteries. The Tafel and EIS curve analysis results show that ZnO nanorods have better anti-corrosion and charge transport properties than ZnO powders. At 0.1 C discharge conditions, the ZnO electrode exhibits more stable cycle efficiency than the powder electrode; after 25 cycles, the capacity is higher by 95%. The superior electrochemical performance is due to the ZnO nanorods having the ability to conduct electrons and increase the surface area. Therefore, the possible growth mechanism of ZnO nanorods has been investigated.