bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lymphatic Complications Prevention and Soft Tissue Reconstruction after Soft Tissue Sarcoma Resection in the Limbs
Authors: Scaglioni Mario F. , Meroni Matteo , Fritsche Elmar , Fuchs Bruno
Published: January 2022

Background and Objectives: The definitive treatment of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) requires a radical surgical removal of the tumor, which often leads to large soft tissue defects. When they are located in the limbs, significant damage to the lymphatic pathways is not uncommon. In the present article, we present different techniques aimed at both reconstructing the defect and restoring sufficient lymph drainage, thus preventing short- and long-term lymphatic complications. Materials and Methods: Between 2018 and 2020, 10 patients presenting a soft tissue defect with lymphatic impairment received a locoregional reconstruction by means of either pedicled or free SCIP flap. Seven patients required a second flap to reach a good dead space obliteration. In six cases, we performed an interpositional flap, namely a soft tissue transfer with lymphatic tissue preservation, and in four cases a lymphatic flow-through flap. In all cases, the cause of the defect was STS surgical excision. The average age was 60.5 years old (ranging 39–84), seven patients were females and six were males. Results: All the patients were successfully treated. In two cases, minor post-operative complications were encountered (infected seroma), which were conservatively managed. No secondary procedures were required. The average follow-up was 8.9 months (ranging 7–12 months). No signs of lymphedema were reported during this time. In all cases, complete range of motion (ROM) and a good cosmetic result were achieved. Conclusions: A reconstructive procedure that aims not only to restore the missing volume, but also the lymphatic drainage might successfully reduce the rate of postoperative complications. Both lymphatic interpositional flaps and lymphatic flow-through flaps could be effective, and the right choice must be done according to each patient’s needs.
Development and Validation of Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior Questionnaire among Indian Adults
Authors: Selvaraj Siddharthan , Naing Nyi , Wan-Arfah Nadiah , Karobari Mohmed , Marya Anand , Prasadh Somasundaram
Published: January 2022

Background and objectives: The Indian population faces numerous challenges to attain better oral hygiene due to a lack of oral health literacy. For the past 10 years, the prevalence of dental-related conditions in India has become a considerable problem in every state of India. A health-education-based oral health promotion strategy will be an ideal choice for the Indian population instead of endorsing conventional oral health promotion. The use of unsuitable tools to measure may lead to misleading and vague findings that might result in a flawed plan for cessation programs and deceitful effectiveness. Therefore, the research aimed to develop and validate an instrument that can assess the oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior (KAB) of adults in India. Materials and Methods: This study was carried among adults in India, who live in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. A questionnaire was fabricated and then validated using content, face, as well as construct. The knowledge domain was validated using item response theory analysis (IRT), whereas exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to validate the behavior domain and attitude. Results: Four principal sections, i.e., knowledge, attitude, demography and behavior, were used to fabricate a questionnaire following validation. Following analysis of item response theory on the knowledge domain, all analyzed items in the domain were within the ideal range of difficulty and discrimination. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was 0.65 for the attitude and 0.66 for the behavior domain. A Bartlett’s test of sphericity was conducted and demonstrated that outcomes for both domains were highly significant (p < 0.001). The factor analysis resulted in three factors with a total of eight items in the attitude domain and three factors with a total of seven items in the behavior domain depicting satisfactory factor loading (>0.3). Across the three factors, i.e., knowledge, attitude and behavior, internal consistency reliability was tested using Cronbach’s alpha, and the values obtained were 0.67, 0.87, 0.67, and 0.88, respectively. Conclusions: The findings of this study that assessed validity and reliability showed that the developed questionnaire had an acceptable psychometric property for measuring oral health KAB among adults in India.
Therapeutic Exercise and Conservative Injection Treatment for Early Knee Osteoarthritis in Athletes: A Scoping Review
Authors: Tognolo Lucrezia , Maccarone Maria Chiara , De Trane Stefania , Scanu Anna , Masiero Stefano , Fiore Pietro
Published: January 2022

Background and Objectives: Recent evidence highlighted a higher prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (kOA) among young and former ex-professional athletes. Although the practice of a highly demanding sport is considered a predisposing factor for the knee joint cartilage degeneration, articular cartilage seems to positively respond to a moderate load increase. We aim to investigate recent evidence on the conservative management of early kOA in athletes, with a particular emphasis on therapeutic exercise and injection treatment, in order to highlight whether there are any indications that can influence clinical and rehabilitation practice. Materials and Methods: A scoping review was conducted, screening MEDLINE and PEDro databases for studies published over the past twenty years on the topic. Studies in English, with accessible abstracts, were included in the review. The PICO framework was used (P—patient: athletes, I—Intervention: conservative treatment with therapeutic exercise or injection therapies, C—Comparison: not needed, O—Outcomes: clinical outcomes). Clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, and longitudinal studies were considered. Results: Four studies were finally included in the review. Therapeutic exercise seems to have beneficial effects on prevention of cartilage degeneration, on pain reduction, and on physical function enhancement. On the other hand, in mild to moderate stages of kOA the intra-articular viscosupplementation with Hyaluronic Acid showed a medium to long-term improvement in joint pain and function. The Platelet Rich Plasma treatment also showed a significant improvement in pain and function up to 12 months. Conclusions: Despite the heterogeneity of the studies considered, a multimodal treatment combining therapeutic exercise and moderate aerobic activity (such as running) should be indicated to prevent kOA development. In cases of symptomatic kOA it may be indicated to add minimally invasive injection therapy that seems to contribute to the improvement of motor function and symptomatology.
Concurrence of Marjolin’s Ulcer in the Lower Limb in a Patient with Idiopathic Multicentric Castleman Disease: A Case Report
Authors: Chou Ping-Ruey , Tsai Kun-Bow , Chang Chao-Wei , Lin Tzu-Yu , Kuo Yur-Ren
Published: January 2022

Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is characterized by the benign proliferation of lymphoid cells in multiple regions. However, the co-occurrence of epithelial malignancy and idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is rarely reported. Herein, we present a case of iMCD mimicking lymph nodal metastasis of Marjolin’s ulcer in the lower extremity. A 53-year-old male presented with an unhealed chronic ulcer on the left lower leg and foot accompanied by an enlarged mass in the left inguinal region. Intralesional biopsy was performed, and pathological examination showed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Imaged studies revealed left calcaneus bone invasion, and lymph nodal metastasis was suspected by the cancer TNM staging of T4N2M0 pre-operatively. The patient received below-knee amputation and lymph node dissection; intraoperative histological examination showed no lymphatic nodal malignancy and diagnosed the patient as having iMCD with lymphadenopathy. The patient recovered uneventfully and was referred to a hematologist for further treatment.
Surgical and Anatomic Consideration in Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy of a Patient with Damaged Sinonasal Anatomy Post–Caldwell-Luc Surgery: A Case Report
Authors: Hsu Chia-Chen , Lee Lung-Chi , Kuo Bo-I , Lee Che-Jui , Liu Fang-Yu
Published: January 2022

Background: The Caldwell-Luc (CL) procedure, an outdated operative procedure that is used to treat inflammatory sinus diseases, is rarely performed presently. However, physicians may encounter patients with a history of CL surgery who develop considerable postoperative changes that may lead to diagnostic confusion in imaging evaluation; increase the difficulty of future surgery, such as sinonasal surgery; and increase the incidence of future intraoperative complications. Case summary: A 67-year-old man with a surgical history of chronic sinusitis reported epiphora of the left eye for five years. Balloon dacryocystoplasty was attempted but failed. Endo-DCR (Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy) was indicated; however, preoperative CT (computed tomography) imaging and nasal endoscopic examination showed sinonasal anomalies and the loss of internal landmarks for localizing the lacrimal sac. Preoperative CT results indicated previous CL surgery. Endo-DCR was performed with the aid of nasal forceps and a 20-gauge vitreoretinal fiberoptic endoilluminator. A six-month follow-up revealed the complete resolution of symptoms and no signs of recurrence. Conclusions: Epiphora might be a delayed complication of the CL procedure. Before performing endo-DCR, ophthalmologists should be familiar with the sinonasal anatomy and carefully assess preoperative imaging to identify anatomical variations. Nasal forceps and transcanalicular illumination can assist in determining the precise location of the lacrimal sac during endo-DCR.
3D Patient-Specific Virtual Models for Presurgical Planning in Patients with Recto-Sigmoid Endometriosis Nodules: A Pilot Study
Authors: Borghese Giulia , Coppola Francesca , Raimondo Diego , Raffone Antonio , Travaglino Antonio , Bortolani Barbara , Lo Monaco Silvia , Cercenelli Laura , Maletta Manuela , Cattabriga Arrigo , Casadio Paolo , Mollo Antonio , Golfieri Rita , Paradisi Roberto , Marcelli Emanuela , Seracchioli Renato
Published: January 2022

Background and Objective: In recent years, 3D printing has been used to support surgical planning or to guide intraoperative procedures in various surgical specialties. An improvement in surgical planning for recto-sigmoid endometriosis (RSE) excision might reduce the high complication rate related to this challenging surgery. The aim of this study was to build novel presurgical 3D models of RSE nodules from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compare them with intraoperative findings. Materials and Methods: A single-center, observational, prospective, cohort, pilot study was performed by enrolling consecutive symptomatic women scheduled for minimally invasive surgery for RSE between November 2019 and June 2020 at our institution. Preoperative MRI were used for building 3D models of RSE nodules and surrounding pelvic organs. 3D models were examined during multi-disciplinary preoperative planning, focusing especially on three domains: degree of bowel stenosis, nodule’s circumferential extension, and bowel angulation induced by the RSE nodule. After surgery, the surgeon was asked to subjectively evaluate the correlation of the 3D model with the intra-operative findings and to express his evaluation as “no correlation”, “low correlation”, or “high correlation” referring to the three described domains. Results: seven women were enrolled and 3D anatomical virtual models of RSE nodules and surrounding pelvic organs were generated. In all cases, surgeons reported a subjective “high correlation” with the surgical findings. Conclusion: Presurgical 3D models could be a feasible and useful tool to support surgical planning in women with recto-sigmoidal endometriotic involvement, appearing closely related to intraoperative findings.
Acute Presentation of Large Size Clear Cell Ovarian Carcinoma as Double Torsed Ovarian Tumor
Authors: Bužinskienė Diana , Rudaitis Vilius , Misevičiūtė Karolina
Published: January 2022

We report a 46-year-old patient who presented to the emergency department with complaints of acute abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. An abdominal CT scan revealed a large (207 × 155 × 182 mm) thin-walled inhomogeneous tumor connected to the uterus and right ovary. Emergency surgery laparotomy was performed. Inside the abdominal cavity, a 30 × 30 cm heterogenous, dark blue tumor in the right adnexa area, torsed two times, weighing 3700 g was found. Histological examination revealed right ovary clear cell carcinoma. We emphasize the rare nature of the histology and presentation of this case report. Ovarian clear cell carcinomas are relatively rare malignancies, presenting in 5 to 10% of ovarian malignant tumors in the west.
Fundamental Investigation for Processing of Pb-Cu-S-Bearing Materials
Authors: Zschiesche Christoph , Antrekowitsch Jürgen
Published: January 2022

The processing of polymetallic materials provides some challenges to every flowsheet. Within Aurubis Cu-Pb-metallurgical flowsheet, a broad range of raw materials and intermediates are processed. Continuous improvements are required to adapt the flowsheet according to the changing material quantity and quality. Therefore, thermodynamic modeling is the desired and most efficient way to conduct scenario analysis. Hence, databases and software are becoming better and better as the acceptance of this method increased. Further understanding is promoted by conducting experimental test work to validate the calculated results. In this research work, the impact of various oxygen potential on the formation of the condensed phases’ slag, matte, speiss and crude lead were investigated. A frequent check of slag metallurgy, in particular, the iron and lead concentration, provide feedback if the metallurgical process is operating at the right oxygen potential. Following, the calculated distribution coefficients for Cu, Pb, As, Sb, Sn and Ni between matte/speiss and speiss/lead are discussed.
Effects of Actual Marine Atmospheric Pre-Corrosion and Pre-Fatigue on the Fatigue Property of 7085 Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Shi Laixin , Xiang Lin , Tao Jianquan , Liu Jun , Chen Qiang , Zhong Yong
Published: January 2022

Effects of actual marine atmospheric precorrosion and prefatigue on the fatigue property of 7085-T7452 aluminum alloy were investigated by using the methods of marine atmospheric outdoor exposure tests and constant amplitude axial fatigue tests. Marine atmospheric corrosion morphologies, fatigue life, and fatigue fractography were analyzed. After three months of outdoor exposure, both pitting corrosion and intergranular corrosion (IGC) occurred, while the latter was the dominant marine atmospheric corrosion mode. Marine atmospheric precorrosion could result in a dramatical decrease in the fatigue life of the as-received 7085-T7452 aluminum alloy, while selective prefatigue can improve the total fatigue life of the precorroded specimen. The mechanism of the actual marine atmospheric corrosion and its effects on the fatigue life of the 7085-T7452 aluminum alloy were also discussed.
Role of Al in the Solution Strengthening of Mg–Al Binary Alloys
Authors: Liu Tingting , Liu Yanglu , Xiao Lu , Zhou Shibo , Song Bo
Published: January 2022

Mg–Al binary alloys in the concentration range from 0 to 4.0 wt.% Al have been prepared under conventional casting conditions. The as-cast Mg and Mg–Al alloys after solution treatment were processed via hot extrusion at 350 °C. The results show that Al has a positive influence on grain refinement and solution strengthening. The as-extruded Mg–Al alloys are fully recrystallized, and the tensile yield strength of the binary alloys is two times higher than that of pure Mg. Furthermore, the elongations of Mg–Al alloys are much higher than that of pure Mg. In addition, Mg and Mg–Al alloys were further studied by the viscoplastic self-consistent (VPSC) model to explore the activation and evolution of deformation modes. The simulation results match well with the experimental results.
Designing Advanced Biomedical Biodegradable Mg Alloys: A Review
Authors: Jamel Murtatha M. , Jamel Mostafa M. , Lopez Hugo F.
Published: January 2022

The increased demand for alloys that can serve as implantation devices with outstanding bio-properties has led to the development of numerous biomedical Mg-based alloys. These alloys have been extensively investigated for their performance in living tissue with mixed results. Hence, there are still major concerns regarding the use of magnesium alloys for such applications. Among the issues raised are elevated corrosion rates, hydrogen generation, and the maintenance of mechanical integrity for designated healing times. In addition, toxicity can arise from the addition of alloying elements that are intended to improve the mechanical integrity and corrosion resistance of Mg alloys. The current work reviews the recent advances in the development of Mg alloys for applications as bio-absorbable materials in living organic environments. In particular, it attempts to develop a roadmap of effective factors that can be utilized when designing Mg alloys. Among the factors reviewed are the effects of alloying additions and processing methods on the exhibited mechanical properties and corrosion rates in simulated bio-fluids used in biomedical applications.
Effect of Ca Element on Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of Single-Phase Mg–Sc Alloy
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Peng Cheng , Huang Jin , Zhao Yanchun , Han Tingzhuang , Wang Guangang , Wu Liang , Huang Guangsheng
Published: January 2022

The effect of Ca on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of a single-phase Mg–Sc alloy was investigated. The microstructure was characterized by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Corrosion behavior was measured by hydrogen evolution tests and electrochemical measurements. With the addition of microalloyed Ca, the grain size of Mg-0.3Sc alloy is refined and the Mg2Ca phase particle is precipitated. The corrosion test results reveal that the addition of microalloyed Ca is beneficial to the corrosion resistance of Mg-0.3Sc single-phase alloy, which is related to the grain refinement and the protective performance of the corrosion product film. As the content of Ca increases, the corrosion resistance of the alloy first increases and then decreases, which is mainly related to the microstructure of the alloy.
Air-Hardening Die-Forged Con-Rods—Achievable Mechanical Properties of Bainitic and Martensitic Concepts
Authors: Gramlich Alexander , Lange Robert , Zitz Udo , Büßenschütt Klaus
Published: January 2022

Three air-hardening forging steels are presented, concerning their microstructure and their mechanical properties. The materials have been produced industrially and achieve either bainitic or martensitic microstructures by air-cooling directly from the forging heat. The bainitic steels are rather conservative steel concepts with an overall alloy concentration of approximately 3 wt.%, while the martensitic concept is alloyed with 4 wt.% manganese (and additional elements), and therefore belongs to the recently developed steel class of medium manganese steels. The presented materials achieve high strengths (YS: 720 MPa to 850 MPa, UTS: 1055 MPa to 1350 MPa), good elongations (Au: 4.0% to 5.9%, At: 12.3% to 14.9%), and impact toughnesses (up to 37 J) in the air-hardened condition. It is shown that air-hardened steels achieve properties close to standard Q + T steels, while being produced with a significantly reduced heat treatment.
Effect of Rotational Speed on Static and Fatigue Properties of Rotary Friction Welded Dissimilar AA7075/AA5083 Aluminium Alloy Joints
Authors: Sasmito Agus , Ilman Mochammad Noer , Iswanto Priyo Tri , Muslih Rifai
Published: January 2022

In this work, rotary friction welding processes of dissimilar AA7075/AA5083 aluminium alloy rods with the diameter of 15 mm were performed at varying rotational speeds, typically 370 to 2500 rpm. The aim of this research is to improve mechanical properties, in particular, strength and fatigue performance of the weld joints. Several experiments including macro and microstructural examinations, Vickers microhardness measurements, tensile tests, fatigue tests and residual stress measurements were carried out. Results showed that at higher rotational speeds, typically 540 rpm or above, the dissimilar AA7075/AA5083 rotary friction weld joints revealed a static fracture in the AA5083 base metal side, indicating that the joint efficiency is more than 100%. It seemed that the best weld joint was achieved at the rotational speed of 1200 rpm, in which the friction heat was sufficient to form metallurgical bonding without causing excessive flash and burn-off. In such a condition, the fatigue strength of the weld joint was slightly higher than AA5083 base metal, but it was lower than AA7075 base metal. It was confirmed that the crack origin is observed at the interface followed by fatigue crack growth towards AA5083 side, and the growth of crack seemed to be controlled by microstructure and residual stress.
Effect of Austempering below and above Ms on the Microstructure and Wear Performance of a Low-Carbon Bainitic Steel
Authors: Wei Zhirui , Hu Haijiang , Liu Man , Tian Junyu , Xu Guang
Published: January 2022

The microstructure and wear performance of a low-carbon steel treated by austempering below and above martensite start temperature (Ms) were investigated. The results show that the bainite, fresh martensite (FM) and retained austenite (RA) were observed in samples austempered above Ms. Except for the three above phases, the athermal martensite (AM) was also observed in samples austempered below Ms. The bainite transformation was accelerated and finer bainite was obtained due to the AM formation in samples austempered below Ms. In addition, the strength and hardness were improved with the decrease of the isothermal temperature and time, whereas the total elongation decreased with the increasing isothermal time and the decreasing isothermal temperature. Moreover, the materials austempered below Ms exhibited better wear performance than the ones treated above Ms, which is attributed to the improved impact toughness by the finer bainite and the enhanced hardness by AM. The best wear resistance was obtained in the samples austempered at 300 °C below Ms for 200 s, due to the highest hardness and considerable impact toughness.
Visual Feature Learning on Video Object and Human Action Detection: A Systematic Review
Authors: Li Dengshan , Wang Rujing , Chen Peng , Xie Chengjun , Zhou Qiong , Jia Xiufang
Published: January 2022

Video object and human action detection are applied in many fields, such as video surveillance, face recognition, etc. Video object detection includes object classification and object location within the frame. Human action recognition is the detection of human actions. Usually, video detection is more challenging than image detection, since video frames are often more blurry than images. Moreover, video detection often has other difficulties, such as video defocus, motion blur, part occlusion, etc. Nowadays, the video detection technology is able to implement real-time detection, or high-accurate detection of blurry video frames. In this paper, various video object and human action detection approaches are reviewed and discussed, many of them have performed state-of-the-art results. We mainly review and discuss the classic video detection methods with supervised learning. In addition, the frequently-used video object detection and human action recognition datasets are reviewed. Finally, a summarization of the video detection is represented, e.g., the video object and human action detection methods could be classified into frame-by-frame (frame-based) detection, extracting-key-frame detection and using-temporal-information detection; the methods of utilizing temporal information of adjacent video frames are mainly the optical flow method, Long Short-Term Memory and convolution among adjacent frames.
A Review on Additive Manufacturing of Micromixing Devices
Authors: Garcia-Cardosa Marina , Granados-Ortiz Francisco-Javier , Ortega-Casanova Joaquín
Published: January 2022

In recent years, additive manufacturing has gained importance in a wide range of research applications such as medicine, biotechnology, engineering, etc. It has become one of the most innovative and high-performance manufacturing technologies of the moment. This review aims to show and discuss the characteristics of different existing additive manufacturing technologies for the construction of micromixers, which are devices used to mix two or more fluids at microscale. The present manuscript discusses all the choices to be made throughout the printing life cycle of a micromixer in order to achieve a high-quality microdevice. Resolution, precision, materials, and price, amongst other relevant characteristics, are discussed and reviewed in detail for each printing technology. Key information, suggestions, and future prospects are provided for manufacturing of micromixing machines based on the results from this review.
Engineering Biological Tissues from the Bottom-Up: Recent Advances and Future Prospects
Authors: Wang Xiaowen , Wang Zhen , Zhai Wenya , Wang Fengyun , Ge Zhixing , Yu Haibo , Yang Wenguang
Published: January 2022

Tissue engineering provides a powerful solution for current organ shortages, and researchers have cultured blood vessels, heart tissues, and bone tissues in vitro. However, traditional top-down tissue engineering has suffered two challenges: vascularization and reconfigurability of functional units. With the continuous development of micro-nano technology and biomaterial technology, bottom-up tissue engineering as a promising approach for organ and tissue modular reconstruction has gradually developed. In this article, relevant advances in living blocks fabrication and assembly techniques for creation of higher-order bioarchitectures are described. After a critical overview of this technology, a discussion of practical challenges is provided, and future development prospects are proposed.
Overview of 3D-Printed Silica Glass
Authors: Zhang Han , Huang Long , Tan Mingyue , Zhao Shaoqing , Liu Hua , Lu Zifeng , Li Jinhuan , Liang Zhongzhu
Published: January 2022

Not satisfied with the current stage of the extensive research on 3D printing technology for polymers and metals, researchers are searching for more innovative 3D printing technologies for glass fabrication in what has become the latest trend of interest. The traditional glass manufacturing process requires complex high-temperature melting and casting processes, which presents a great challenge to the fabrication of arbitrarily complex glass devices. The emergence of 3D printing technology provides a good solution. This paper reviews the recent advances in glass 3D printing, describes the history and development of related technologies, and lists popular applications of 3D printing for glass preparation. This review compares the advantages and disadvantages of various processing methods, summarizes the problems encountered in the process of technology application, and proposes the corresponding solutions to select the most appropriate preparation method in practical applications. The application of additive manufacturing in glass fabrication is in its infancy but has great potential. Based on this view, the methods for glass preparation with 3D printing technology are expected to achieve both high-speed and high-precision fabrication.
Comprehensive Schottky Barrier Height Behavior and Reliability Instability with Ni/Au and Pt/Ti/Pt/Au on AlGaN/GaN High-Electron-Mobility Transistors
Authors: Chakraborty Surajit , Kim Tae-Woo
Published: January 2022

The reliability instability of inhomogeneous Schottky contact behaviors of Ni/Au and Pt/Ti/Pt/Au gate contacts on AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) was investigated via off-state stress and temperature. Under the off-state stress condition, Pt/Ti/Pt/Au HEMT showed abruptly reduced reverse leakage current, which improved the Schottky barrier height (SBH) from 0.46 to 0.69 eV by suppression of the interfacial donor state. As the temperature increased, the reverse leakage current of the Pt/Ti/Pt/Au AlGaN/GaN HEMT at 308 K showed more reduction under the same off-state stress condition while that of the Ni/Au AlGaN/GaN HEMT increased. However, with temperatures exceeding 308 K under the same off-state stress conditions, the reverse leakage current of the Pt/Ti/Pt/Au AlGaN/GaN HEMT increases, which can be intensified using the inverse piezoelectric effect. Based on this phenomenon, the present work reveals the necessity for analyzing the concurrent SBH and reliability instability due to the interfacial trap states of the MS contacts.
Design and Optimization of the Dual-Mode Lamb Wave Resonator and Dual-Passband Filter
Authors: Luo Tiancheng , Liu Yan , Zou Yang , Zhou Jie , Liu Wenjuan , Wu Guoqiang , Cai Yao , Sun Chengliang
Published: January 2022

Radio frequency (RF) filters with multiple passbands can meet the needs of miniaturization and integration for 5G communications. This paper reports a dual-mode Lamb wave resonator (DLWR) and a dual-passband filter based on DLWRs. The DLWR consists of a piezoelectric film and two interdigital electrode (IDT) arrays with different thicknesses, which leads to the coexistence of two main modes in the resonator. The resonance frequencies of the two modes can be adjusted separately by changing the thicknesses of the IDTs, which greatly satisfies the requirements of the dual-passband filter. Four DLWRs with different electrode configurations are designed, and the influences of the periodic length and thicknesses of the IDTs on the performance of the DLWR are studied. When the thickness of the piezoelectric layer is 0.75 μm and the two thicknesses of the IDTs are 0.1 μm and 0.3 μm, the resonance frequency of the second main mode is 1.27 GHz higher than the resonance frequency of the first main mode in the DLWR. Furthermore, a dual-passband filter based on the proposed DLWRs is demonstrated with an insertion loss less than 1 dB and a band rejection of about 15 dB. Moreover, two passbands at 2.45 GHz and 3.88 GHz with bandwidths of 66 MHz and 112 MHz, respectively, are achieved. The presented DLWR shows a potential application that can be used to obtain RF filters with adjustable dual passbands.
Legumes and Legume-Based Beverages Fermented with Lactic Acid Bacteria as a Potential Carrier of Probiotics and Prebiotics
Authors: Cichońska Patrycja , Ziarno Małgorzata
Published: January 2022

Fermentation is widely used in the processing of dairy, meat, and plant products. Due to the growing popularity of plant diets and the health benefits of consuming fermented products, there has been growing interest in the fermentation of plant products and the selection of microorganisms suitable for this process. The review provides a brief overview of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their use in fermentation of legumes and legume-based beverages. Its scope also extends to prebiotic ingredients present in legumes and legume-based beverages that can support the growth of LAB. Legumes are a suitable matrix for the production of plant-based beverages, which are the most popular products among dairy alternatives. Legumes and legume-based beverages have been successfully fermented with LAB. Legumes are a natural source of ingredients with prebiotic properties, including oligosaccharides, resistant starch, polyphenols, and isoflavones. These compounds provide a broad range of important physiological benefits, including anti-inflammatory and immune regulation, as well as anti-cancer properties and metabolic regulation. The properties of legumes make it possible to use them to create synbiotic food, which is a source of probiotics and prebiotics.
Ecological and Molecular Interactions between Insects and Fungi
Authors: Nicoletti Rosario , Becchimanzi Andrea
Published: January 2022

Insects and fungi represent two of the most widespread groupings of organisms in nature, occurring in every kind of ecological context and impacting agriculture and other human activities in various ways. Moreover, they can be observed to reciprocally interact, establishing a wide range of symbiotic relationships, from mutualism to antagonism. The outcome of these relationships can in turn affect the extent at which species of both organisms can exert their noxious effects, as well as the management practices which are to be adopted to counter them. In conjunction with the launch of a Special Issue of Microorganisms with the same title, this article offers a general overview of the manifold aspects related to such interactions from the perspective of implementing our capacity to regulate them in a direction more favorable for the environment, crop production and human health.
Coupled Adsorption and Biodegradation of Trichloroethylene on Biochar from Pine Wood Wastes: A Combined Approach for a Sustainable Bioremediation Strategy
Authors: Rossi Marta M. , Matturro Bruna , Amanat Neda , Rossetti Simona , Petrangeli Papini Marco
Published: January 2022

Towards chlorinated solvents, the effectiveness of the remediation strategy can be improved by combining a biological approach (e.g., anaerobic reductive dechlorination) with chemical/physical treatments (e.g., adsorption). A coupled adsorption and biodegradation (CAB) process for trichloroethylene (TCE) removal is proposed in a biofilm–biochar reactor (BBR) to assess whether biochar from pine wood (PWB) can support a dechlorinating biofilm by combining the TCE (100 µM) adsorption. The BBR operated for eight months in parallel with a biofilm reactor (BR)—no PWB (biological process alone), and with an abiotic biochar reactor (ABR)—no dechlorinating biofilm (only an adsorption mechanism). Two flow rates were investigated. Compared to the BR, which resulted in a TCE removal of 86.9 ± 11.9% and 78.73 ± 19.79%, the BBR demonstrated that PWB effectively adsorbs TCE and slows down the release of its intermediates. The elimination of TCE was quantitative, with 99.61 ± 0.79% and 99.87 ± 0.51% TCE removal. Interestingly, the biomarker of the reductive dechlorination process, Dehalococcoides mccartyi, was found in the BRR (9.2 × 105 16S rRNA gene copies/g), together with the specific genes tceA, bvcA, and vcrA (8.16 × 106, 1.28 × 105, and 8.01 × 103 gene copies/g, respectively). This study suggests the feasibility of biochar to support the reductive dechlorination of D. mccartyi, opening new frontiers for field-scale applications.
APTC-EC-2A: A Lytic Phage Targeting Multidrug Resistant E. coli Planktonic Cells and Biofilms
Authors: Hon Karen , Liu Sha , Camens Sophie , Bouras George Spyro , Psaltis Alkis James , Wormald Peter-John , Vreugde Sarah
Published: January 2022

Escherichia coli (E. coli) are common bacteria that colonize the human and animal gastrointestinal tract, where they help maintain a balanced microbiome. However, some E. coli strains are pathogenic and can cause serious infectious diseases and life-threatening complications. Due to the overuse of antibiotics and limited development of novel antibiotics, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains has threatened modern medicine, whereby common infections can become lethal. Phage therapy has once again attracted interest in recent years as an alternative treatment option to antibiotics for severe infections with antibiotic-resistant strains. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize phage against multi-drug resistant E. coli isolated from clinical samples and hospital wastewater. For phage isolation, wastewater samples were collected from The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Adelaide, SA, Australia) followed by phage enrichment as required. Microbiological assays, electron microscopy and genomic sequencing were carried out to characterize the phage. From the 10 isolated E. coli phages, E. coli phage APTC-EC-2A was the most promising and could lyse 6/7 E. coli clinical isolates. APTC-EC-2A was stable at a broad pH range (3–11) and could lyse the host E. coli at temperatures ranging between 30–50 °C. Furthermore, APTC-EC-2A could kill E. coli in planktonic and biofilm form. Electron microscopy and genomic sequencing indicated the phage to be from the Myoviridae family and of lytic nature. In conclusion, the newly isolated phage APTC-EC-2A has the desired properties that support its potential for development as a therapeutic agent against therapy refractory E. coli infections.
Impact of TR34/L98H, TR46/Y121F/T289A and TR53 Alterations in Azole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus on Sterol Composition and Modifications after In Vitro Exposure to Itraconazole and Voriconazole
Authors: Lavergne Rose-Anne , Albassier Marjorie , Hardouin Jean-Benoît , Alvarez-Moreno Carlos , Pagniez Fabrice , Morio Florent , Le Pape Patrice , Ourliac-Garnier Isabelle
Published: January 2022

Background: Sterols are the main components of fungal membranes. Inhibiting their biosynthesis is the mode of action of azole antifungal drugs that are widely used to treat fungal disease including aspergillosis. Azole resistance has emerged as a matter of concern but little is known about sterols biosynthesis in azole resistant Aspergillus fumigatus. Methods: We explored the sterol composition of 12 A. fumigatus isolates, including nine azole resistant isolates with TR34/L98H, TR46/Y121F/T289A or TR53 alterations in the cyp51A gene and its promoter conferring azole resistance. Modifications in sterol composition were also investigated after exposure to two azole drugs, itraconazole and voriconazole. Results: Overall, under basal conditions, sterol compositions were qualitatively equivalent, whatever the alterations in the target of azole drugs with ergosterol as the main sterol detected. Azole exposure reduced ergosterol composition and the qualitative composition of sterols was similar in both susceptible and resistant isolates. Interestingly TR53 strains behaved differently than other strains. Conclusions: Elucidating sterol composition in azole-susceptible and resistant isolates is of interest for a better understanding of the mechanism of action of these drugs and the mechanism of resistance of fungi.
Gut Dysbiosis and Immune System in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ACVD)
Authors: Yoo Ji Youn , Sniffen Sarah , McGill Percy Kyle Craig , Pallaval Veera Bramhachari , Chidipi Bojjibabu
Published: January 2022

Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and mortality worldwide. Alterations in the gut microbiota composition, known as gut dysbiosis, have been shown to contribute to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD) development through several pathways. Disruptions in gut homeostasis are associated with activation of immune processes and systemic inflammation. The gut microbiota produces several metabolic products, such as trimethylamine (TMA), which is used to produce the proatherogenic metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetate, butyrate, and propionate, and certain bile acids (BAs) produced by the gut microbiota lead to inflammation resolution and decrease atherogenesis. Chronic low-grade inflammation is associated with common risk factors for atherosclerosis, including metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and obesity. Novel strategies for reducing ACVD include the use of nutraceuticals such as resveratrol, modification of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) levels, supplementation with probiotics, and administration of prebiotic SCFAs and BAs. Investigation into the relationship between the gut microbiota, and its metabolites, and the host immune system could reveal promising insights into ACVD development, prognostic factors, and treatments.
Essential Oils from Indigenous Iranian Plants: A Natural Weapon vs. Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli
Authors: Pajohi Alamoti Mohammadreza , Bazargani-Gilani Behnaz , Mahmoudi Razzagh , Reale Anna , Pakbin Babak , Di Renzo Tiziana , Kaboudari Ata
Published: January 2022

Aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial properties of herbal plant essential oils (EOs) from selected Iranian plant species such as Ferulago angulata, Zataria multiflora, Cuminum cyminum, and Mentha longifolia against antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains. For this purpose, the Escherichia coli strains, isolated from raw cow’s milk and local dairy products (yogurt, cream, whey, cheese, and confectionery products) collected from different areas of Hamedan province, Iran, were investigated for their resistance to antibiotics (i.e., streptomycin, tetracycline, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and cefixime). Thus, the E. coli strains were tested for their susceptibility to the above-mentioned essential oils. Regarding antibiotics, the E. coli strains were highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin. In relation to essential oils, the most effective antibacterial activity was observed with Zataria multiflora; also, the bacteria were semi-sensitive to Cuminum cyminum and Mentha longifolia essential oils. All strains were resistant to Ferulago angulata essential oil. According to the results, the essential oil of Zataria multiflora can be considered as a practical and alternative antibacterial strategy to inhibit the growth of multidrug-resistant E. coli of dairy origin.
Cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis Associated with Coxsackievirus A2: Findings of a 20-Year Surveillance in the Russian Federation
Authors: Ivanova Olga E. , Shakaryan Armen K. , Morozova Nadezhda S. , Vakulenko Yulia A. , Eremeeva Tatyana P. , Kozlovskaya Liubov I. , Baykova Olga Y. , Shustova Elena Y. , Mikhailova Yulia M. , Romanenkova Natalia I. , Rozaeva Nadezhda R. , Dzhaparidze Natela I. , Novikova Nadezhda A. , Zverev Vladimir V. , Golitsyna Lyudmila N. , Lukashev Alexander N.
Published: January 2022

Surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis syndrome (AFP) in children under 15 is the backbone of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Laboratory examination of stool samples from AFP cases allows the detection of, along with polioviruses, a variety of non-polio enteroviruses (NPEV). The etiological significance of these viruses in the occurrence of AFP cases has been definitively established only for enteroviruses A71 and D68. Enterovirus Coxsackie A2 (CVA2) is most often associated with vesicular pharyngitis and hand, foot and mouth disease. Among 7280 AFP cases registered in Russia over 20 years (2001–2020), CVA2 was isolated only from five cases. However, these included three children aged 3 to 4 years, without overt immune deficiency, immunized with 4–5 doses of poliovirus vaccine in accordance with the National Vaccination Schedule. The disease resulted in persistent residual paralysis. Clinical and laboratory data corresponded to poliomyelitis developing during poliovirus infection. These findings are compatible with CVA2 being the cause of AFP. Molecular analysis of CVA2 from these patients and a number of AFP cases in other countries did not reveal association with a specific phylogenetic group, suggesting that virus genetics is unlikely to explain the pathogenic profile. The overall results highlight the value of AFP surveillance not just for polio control but for studies of uncommon AFP agents.
Maintenance of Intraspecific Diversity in Response to Species Competition and Nutrient Fluctuations
Authors: Hamer Jorin , Matthiessen Birte , Pulina Silvia , Hattich Giannina S. I.
Published: January 2022

Intraspecific diversity is a substantial part of biodiversity, yet little is known about its maintenance. Understanding mechanisms of intraspecific diversity shifts provides realistic detail about how phytoplankton communities evolve to new environmental conditions, a process especially important in times of climate change. Here, we aimed to identify factors that maintain genotype diversity and link the observed diversity change to measured phytoplankton morpho-functional traits Vmax and cell size of the species and genotypes. In an experimental setup, the two phytoplankton species Emiliania huxleyi and Chaetoceros affinis, each consisting of nine genotypes, were cultivated separately and together under different fluctuation and nutrient regimes. Their genotype composition was assessed after 49 and 91 days, and Shannon’s diversity index was calculated on the genotype level. We found that a higher intraspecific diversity can be maintained in the presence of a competitor, provided it has a substantial proportion to total biovolume. Both fluctuation and nutrient regime showed species-specific effects and especially structured genotype sorting of C. affinis. While we could relate species sorting with the measured traits, genotype diversity shifts could only be partly explained. The observed context dependency of genotype maintenance suggests that the evolutionary potential could be better understood, if studied in more natural settings including fluctuations and competition.
Brucella abortus Encodes an Active Rhomboid Protease: Proteome Response after Rhomboid Gene Deletion
Authors: Marchesini María Inés , Poetsch Ansgar , Guidolín Leticia Soledad , Comerci Diego J.
Published: January 2022

Rhomboids are intramembrane serine proteases highly conserved in the three domains of life. Their key roles in eukaryotes are well understood but their contribution to bacterial physiology is still poorly characterized. Here we demonstrate that Brucella abortus, the etiological agent of the zoonosis called brucellosis, encodes an active rhomboid protease capable of cleaving model heterologous substrates like Drosophila melanogaster Gurken and Providencia stuartii TatA. To address the impact of rhomboid deletion on B. abortus physiology, the proteomes of mutant and parental strains were compared by shotgun proteomics. About 50% of the B. abortus predicted proteome was identified by quantitative proteomics under two experimental conditions and 108 differentially represented proteins were detected. Membrane associated proteins that showed variations in concentration in the mutant were considered as potential rhomboid targets. This class included nitric oxide reductase subunit C NorC (Q2YJT6) and periplasmic protein LptC involved in LPS transport to the outer membrane (Q2YP16). Differences in secretory proteins were also addressed. Differentially represented proteins included a putative lytic murein transglycosylase (Q2YIT4), nitrous-oxide reductase NosZ (Q2YJW2) and high oxygen affinity Cbb3-type cytochrome c oxidase subunit (Q2YM85). Deletion of rhomboid had no obvious effect in B. abortus virulence. However, rhomboid overexpression had a negative impact on growth under static conditions, suggesting an effect on denitrification enzymes and/or high oxygen affinity cytochrome c oxidase required for growth in low oxygen tension conditions.
The Clash of Microbiomes: From the Food Matrix to the Host Gut
Authors: Kiousi Despoina Eugenia , Chorianopoulos Nikos , Tassou Chrysoula C. , Galanis Alex
Published: January 2022

Food fermentation has led to the improvement of the safety characteristics of raw materials and the production of new foodstuffs with elevated organoleptic characteristics. The empirical observation that these products could have a potential health benefit has garnered the attention of the scientific community. Therefore, several studies have been conducted in animal and human hosts to decipher which of these products may have a beneficial outcome against specific ailments. However, despite the accumulating literature, a relatively small number of products have been authorized as ‘functional foods’ by regulatory bodies. Data inconsistency and lack of in-depth preclinical characterization of functional products could heavily contribute to this issue. Today, the increased availability of omics platforms and bioinformatic algorithms for comprehensive data analysis can aid in the systematic characterization of microbe–microbe, microbe–matrix, and microbe–host interactions, providing useful insights about the maximization of their beneficial effects. The incorporation of these platforms in food science remains a challenge; however, coordinated efforts and interdisciplinary collaboration could push the field toward the dawn of a new era.