bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
N-Acetylcysteine Regenerates In Vivo Mercaptoalbumin
Authors: Altomare Alessandra Anna , Brioschi Maura , Eligini Sonia , Bonomi Alice , Zoanni Beatrice , Iezzi Ada , Jemos Costantino , Porro Benedetta , D’Alessandra Yuri , Guarino Anna , Omodeo Salè Emanuela , Aldini Giancarlo , Agostoni Piergiuseppe , Banfi Cristina
Published: September 2022

Human serum albumin (HSA) represents the most abundant plasma protein, with relevant antioxidant activity due to the presence of the sulfhydryl group on cysteine at position 34 (Cys34), the latter being one of the major target sites for redox-dependent modifications leading to the formation of mixed disulfide linkages with low molecular weight thiols. Thiolated forms of HSA (Thio-HSA) may be useful as markers of an unbalanced redox state and as a potential therapeutic target. Indeed, we have previously reported that albumin Cys34 can be regenerated in vitro by N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) through a thiol-disulfide breaking mechanism, with a full recovery of the HSA antioxidant and antiplatelet activities. With this case study, we aimed to assess the ability of NAC to regenerate native mercaptoalbumin (HSA-SH) and the plasma antioxidant capacity in subjects with redox unbalance, after oral and intravenous administration. A placebo-controlled crossover study, single-blinded, was performed on six hypertensive subjects, randomized into two groups, on a one-to-one basis with NAC (600 mg/die) or a placebo, orally and intravenously administered. Albumin isoforms, HSA-SH, Thio-HSA, and glutathione levels were evaluated by means of mass spectrometry. The plasma antioxidant activity was assessed by a fluorimetric assay. NAC, orally administered, significantly decreased the Thio-HSA levels in comparison with the pre-treatment conditions (T0), reaching the maximal effect after 60 min (−24.7 ± 8%). The Thio-HSA reduction was accompanied by a concomitant increase in the native HSA-SH levels (+6.4 ± 2%). After intravenous administration of NAC, a significant decrease of the Thio-HSA with respect to the pre-treatment conditions (T0) was observed, with a maximal effect after 30 min (−68.9 ± 10.6%) and remaining significant even after 6 h. Conversely, no effect on the albumin isoforms was detected with either the orally or the intravenously administered placebo treatments. Furthermore, the total antioxidant activity of the plasma significantly increased after NAC infusion with respect to the placebo (p = 0.0089). Interestingly, we did not observe any difference in terms of total glutathione corrected for hemoglobin, ruling out any effect of NAC on the intracellular glutathione and supporting its role as a disulfide-breaking agent. This case study confirms the in vitro experiments and demonstrates for the first time that NAC is able to regenerate mercaptoalbumin in vivo, allowing us to hypothesize that the recovery of Cys34 content can modulate in vivo oxidative stress and, hopefully, have an effect in oxidative-based diseases.
Kanamycin and Cisplatin Ototoxicity: Differences in Patterns of Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Enzyme Expression and Hair Cell Loss in the Cochlea
Authors: Gibaja Alejandro , Alvarado Juan C. , Scheper Verena , Carles Liliana , Juiz José M.
Published: September 2022

Kanamycin and cisplatin are ototoxic drugs. The mechanisms are incompletely known. With subcutaneous kanamycin (400 mg/kg, 15 days), auditory threshold shifts were detected at days 12–13 at 16 and 32 kHz, extending to 8 and 4 kHz at days 14–15. The outer hair cell (OHC) loss was concentrated past day 12. The maximum cochlear length showing apoptotic cells, tested with TUNEL, was at day 13. At day 15, 1/5 of the apical cochlea contained preserved OHCs. 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) immunolabeling, showing oxidative stress, was found in surviving OHCs and in basal and middle portions of the stria vascularis (SV). The antioxidant Gpx1 gene expression was decreased. The immunocytochemistry showed diminished Gpx1 in OHCs. With intraperitoneal cisplatin (16 mg/kg, single injection), no evoked auditory activity was recorded at the end of treatment, at 72 h. The basal third of the cochlea lacked OHCs. Apoptosis occupied the adjacent 1/3, and the apical third contained preserved OHCs. 3-NT immunolabeling was extensive in OHCs and the SV. Gpx1 and Sod1 gene expression was downregulated. Gpx1 immunostaining diminished in middle and basal SV. More OHCs survived cisplatin than kanamycin towards the apex, despite undetectable evoked activity. Differential regulation of antioxidant enzyme levels suggests differences in the antioxidant response for both drugs.
Dewatering-Induced Stratified Settlement around Deep Excavation: Physical Model Study
Authors: Liu Xiaotian , Wang Jianxiu , Yang Tianliang , Wang Lujun , Xu Na , Long Yanxia , Huang Xinlei
Published: September 2022

The multi-aquifer and multi-aquitard system (MAMA) is a typical geological structure in deltas. Thus, the risks and challenges to settlement control and environmental protection are increased when demand for underground space extends to deeper strata. In this study, dewatering-induced stratified settlement in MAMA is divided into three stages according to whether the overlying aquitard is coupled with groundwater seepage. Subsequently, large physical model tests were carried out. Seepage and compression in the overlying strata come after the compression in the confined aquifer and the coordinated deformation in the overlying strata. The soil is compressed under the seepage drive within the hydraulic gradient range, while the soil above it is still affected by coordinated deformation and shows expansion. Dewatering-induced uneven settlement will cause damage to existing foundations and underground structures. Large-scale and uninterrupted excavation and dewatering are the main reasons for the continuous development of land subsidence. Although artificial groundwater recharging can reduce the settlement of the existing building, underground structure, and surrounding strata, a reasonable space arrangement is needed.
Geometric Characterization of Local Changes in Tungsten Microneedle Tips after In-Vivo Insertion into Peripheral Nerves
Authors: Sergi Pier Nicola , Jensen Winnie , Yoshida Ken
Published: September 2022

Peripheral neural interfaces are used to connect the peripheral nervous system to high-tech robotic devices and computer interfaces. Soft materials are nowadays used to build the main structural part of these interfaces because they are able to mimic the mechanical properties of peripheral nerves. However, if on the one hand soft materials provide effective connections, reducing mechanical mismatch with nervous tissues and creating a close contact between active sites and neural fibers, on the other hand, most of them are not mechanically stable during implantation. As a consequence, tungsten (W) microneedles are used to insert soft neural interfaces, because they are able to pierce the peripheral nervous tissue because of their high stiffness. Nevertheless, this stiffness cannot prevent microneedles from local microscopic structural damage, even after successful insertions. In addition, the nature of this damage is not totally clear. Therefore, this work aimed at quantitatively investigating the phenomenological changes of the microneedles’ tip shape after insertion into the in vivo peripheral nerves. In particular, a quantification of the interactions between peripheral nerves and W microneedles was proposed through the Oliver-Pharr formula, and the interaction force was found to be directly proportional to the power < m > = 2.124 of the normalized indentation depth. Moreover, an experimental correlation between insertion force and the opening tip angle was described together with an assessment of the minimum diameter to effectively puncture the peripheral nervous tissue. Finally, a computational framework was presented to describe the local changes affecting the microneedles’ tip shape. This approach was able to detect a bulging phenomenon along with the microneedle tips with a characteristic amplitude of approximately 100 μm, and a folding phenomenon, with a characteristic mean amplitude of less than 20 μm, affecting the extreme ending sections of the microneedle tips. These geometrical changes were related to the synergistic action of interaction forces likely resulting in compression and elastic instability of the tip.
Towards Machine Learning Algorithms in Predicting the Clinical Evolution of Patients Diagnosed with COVID-19
Authors: Andrade Evandro Carvalho de , Pinheiro Plácido Rogerio , Barros Ana Luiza Bessa de Paula , Nunes Luciano Comin , Pinheiro Luana Ibiapina C. C. , Pinheiro Pedro Gabriel Calíope Dantas , Holanda Filho Raimir
Published: September 2022

Predictive modelling strategies can optimise the clinical diagnostic process by identifying patterns among various symptoms and risk factors, such as those presented in cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), also known as coronavirus (COVID-19). In this context, the present research proposes a comparative analysis using benchmarking techniques to evaluate and validate the performance of some classification algorithms applied to the same dataset, which contains information collected from patients diagnosed with COVID-19, registered in the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance System (SIVEP). With this approach, 30,000 cases were analysed during the training and testing phase of the prediction models. This work proposes a comparative approach of machine learning algorithms (ML), working on the knowledge discovery task to predict clinical evolution in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Our experiments show, through appropriate metrics, that the clinical evolution classification process of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 using the Multilayer Perceptron algorithm performs well against other ML algorithms. Its use has significant consequences for vital prognosis and agility in measures used in the first consultations in hospitals.
Recommendation Algorithm for Multi-Task Learning with Directed Graph Convolutional Networks
Authors: Yin Lifeng , Lu Jianzheng , Zheng Guanghai , Chen Huayue , Deng Wu
Published: September 2022

As an important branch of machine learning, recommendation algorithms have attracted the attention of many experts and scholars. The current recommendation algorithms all more or less have problems such as cold start and single recommended items. In order to overcome these problems and improve the accuracy of personalized recommendation algorithms, this paper proposes a recommendation for multi-task learning based on directed graph convolutional network (referred to as MTL-DGCNR) and applies it to recommended areas for e-commerce. First, the user’s micro-behavior is constructed and converted into directed graph structure data for model embedding. It can fully consider the embedding of first-order proximity nodes and second-order proximity nodes, which can effectively enhance the transformation ability of features. Secondly, this model adopts the multi-task learning method, and uses knowledge graph embedding to effectively deal with the one-to-many or many-to-many relationship between users and commodities. Finally, it is verified by experiments that MTL-DGCNR has a higher interpretability and accuracy in the field of e-commerce recommendation than other recommendation models. The ranking evaluation experiments, various training methods comparison experiments, and controlling parameter experiments are designed from multiple perspectives to verify the rationality of MTL-DGCNR.
Exploring the Genetic Basis of Dens Evaginatus Using Whole-Exome Sequencing
Authors: Park Heetae , Hosomichi Kazuyoshi , Kim Yong-Il , Tajima Atsushi , Yamaguchi Tetsutaro
Published: September 2022

Dens evaginatus (DE) is a dental abnormality characterized by tubercles on the occlusal surfaces of teeth and is associated with the risk of pulpal inflammation due to fractures. The cause of DE remains unclear, as limited data are available to determine its etiology. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic background of DE using whole-exome sequencing (WES). Saliva samples were collected from two patients of Family A and three patients of Family B, including an incident case of DE, and analyzed using WES. Rare variants were extracted from the WES data and filtered by family to extract candidate variants. Gene variants of TLR3 and MDC1 were identified as etiologic factors for DE. The variant MDC1 (c.3908C>T) was identified to be damaging, according to the scores from Polymorphism Phenotyping v2. Our findings contribute towards an understanding of the etiology of DE, which would facilitate improved treatment to prevent the risk of DE fractures and pulpal inflammation. Understanding the mechanism of DE development may also be helpful for developing regenerative medicine and gene therapy strategies.
A Detection Method of Atmospheric Neutron Profile for Single Event Effects Analysis of Civil Aircraft Design
Authors: Song Yang , Tu Xiangzheng , Li Zhengqiang
Published: September 2022

High-energy particles such as neutron act as serious threats to electronic equipment on board aircraft via Single Event Effects (SEE), but atmospheric neutron flux profile which could cover civil aviation altitude is rarely observed. To address the representative of atmospheric radiation data in SEE analysis, we propose a new method of detecting atmospheric neutron profile for civil aviation altitude. Using the sounding balloon carrying one nuclear radiometer, the radiation dose could be observed with high accuracy. Subsequently, the profile of atmospheric neutron flux can be derived on the basis of the conversion equation between radiation dose and the neutron flux. We implement two experiments, and the results show that this low-cost method could reliably obtain the vertical distribution of atmospheric neutron and might be integrated into SEE analysis of civil aircraft design.
A Schelling Extended Model in Networks—Characterization of Ghettos in Washington D.C.
Authors: Ortega Diego , Korutcheva Elka
Published: September 2022

Segregation affects millions of urban dwellers. The main expression of this reality is the creation of ghettos which are city parts characterized by a combination of features: low income, poor cultural level… Segregation models have been usually defined over regular lattices. However, in recent years, the focus has shifted from these unrealistic frameworks to other environments defined via geographic information systems (GIS) or networks. Nevertheless, each one of them has its drawbacks: GIS demands high-resolution data, that are not always available, and networks tend to have limited real-world applications. Our work tries to fill the gap between them. First, we use some basic GIS information to define the network, and then, run an extended Schelling model on it. As a result, we obtain the location of ghettos. After that, we analyze which parts of the city are segregated, via spatial analysis and machine learning and compare our results. For the case study of Washington D.C., we obtain an 80% accuracy.
Cuffless Blood Pressure Estimation Using Calibrated Cardiovascular Dynamics in the Photoplethysmogram
Authors: Samimi Hamed , Dajani Hilmi R.
Published: September 2022

An important means for preventing and managing cardiovascular disease is the non-invasive estimation of blood pressure. There is particular interest in developing approaches that provide accurate cuffless and continuous estimation of this important vital sign. This paper proposes a method that uses dynamic changes of the pulse waveform over short time intervals and calibrates the system based on a mathematical model that relates reflective PTT (R-PTT) to blood pressure. An advantage of the method is that it only requires collecting the photoplethysmogram (PPG) using one optical sensor, in addition to initial non-invasive measurements of blood pressure that are used for calibration. This method was applied to data from 30 patients, resulting in a mean error (ME) of 0.59 mmHg, a standard deviation of error (SDE) of 7.07 mmHg, and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 4.92 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and an ME of 2.52 mmHg, an SDE of 12.15 mmHg, and an MAE of 8.89 mmHg for systolic blood pressure (SBP). These results demonstrate the possibility of using the PPG signal for the cuffless continuous estimation of blood pressure based on the analysis of calibrated changes in cardiovascular dynamics, possibly in conjunction with other methods that are currently being researched.
Interactions between the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae ICIPE 20 and the Endoparasitoid Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris, and Implications for Combined Biocontrol of Tuta absoluta
Authors: Mama Sambo Sahadatou , Akutse Komivi Senyo , du Plessis Hannalene , Aigbedion-Atalor Pascal Osa , Mohamed Samira Abuelgasim , Ndlela Shepard
Published: September 2022

The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach have been widely promoted and used for the management of native and invasive pests, while the use of various components of the IPM can have a synergetic, additive, or antagonistic effect on each other; this study evaluated the susceptibility of Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris (Marsh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), to the Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) ICIPE 20 through direct and indirect infection approaches. The effect of fungus on parasitoid longevity, survival of parasitized-larvae, preference of the parasitoid to fungal treated and untreated larvae, and percent parasitism of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) under different infection scenarios were assessed. The direct application of dry conidia to the parasitoid prior to exposure to the host, reduced D. gelechiidivoris longevity, though the infected female wasps still yielded high parasitism (over 70%). Infecting the parasitized larvae at different ages led to a respective reduction of parasitoid emergence by 35% and 23% for infection at 1 and 5 days post-parasitisation. Exposure of healthy-D. gelechiidivoris adults to a plant-sprayed with fungus did not affect their longevity, and no discriminatory host selection was observed. The highest mortality (~80%) of T. absoluta was achieved when D. gelechiidivoris and M. anisopliae ICIPE 20 were used in combination, indicating an additive impact on the target pest; however, field validation can shed more light on this outcome.
p53: From Fundamental Biology to Clinical Applications in Cancer
Authors: Capuozzo Maurizio , Santorsola Mariachiara , Bocchetti Marco , Perri Francesco , Cascella Marco , Granata Vincenza , Celotto Venere , Gualillo Oreste , Cossu Alessia Maria , Nasti Guglielmo , Caraglia Michele , Ottaiano Alessandro
Published: September 2022

p53 tumour suppressor gene is our major barrier against neoplastic transformation. It is involved in many cellular functions, including cell cycle arrest, senescence, DNA repair, apoptosis, autophagy, cell metabolism, ferroptosis, immune system regulation, generation of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial function, global regulation of gene expression, miRNAs, etc. Its crucial importance is denounced by the high percentage of amino acid sequence identity between very different species (Homo sapiens, Drosophila melanogaster, Rattus norvegicus, Danio rerio, Canis lupus familiaris, Gekko japonicus). Many of its activities allowed life on Earth (e.g., repair from radiation-induced DNA damage) and directly contribute to its tumour suppressor function. In this review, we provide paramount information on p53, from its discovery, which is an interesting paradigm of science evolution, to potential clinical applications in anti-cancer treatment. The description of the fundamental biology of p53 is enriched by specific information on the structure and function of the protein as well by tumour/host evolutionistic perspectives of its role.
Protein Function Analysis through Machine Learning
Authors: Avery Chris , Patterson John , Grear Tyler , Frater Theodore , Jacobs Donald J.
Published: September 2022

Machine learning (ML) has been an important arsenal in computational biology used to elucidate protein function for decades. With the recent burgeoning of novel ML methods and applications, new ML approaches have been incorporated into many areas of computational biology dealing with protein function. We examine how ML has been integrated into a wide range of computational models to improve prediction accuracy and gain a better understanding of protein function. The applications discussed are protein structure prediction, protein engineering using sequence modifications to achieve stability and druggability characteristics, molecular docking in terms of protein–ligand binding, including allosteric effects, protein–protein interactions and protein-centric drug discovery. To quantify the mechanisms underlying protein function, a holistic approach that takes structure, flexibility, stability, and dynamics into account is required, as these aspects become inseparable through their interdependence. Another key component of protein function is conformational dynamics, which often manifest as protein kinetics. Computational methods that use ML to generate representative conformational ensembles and quantify differences in conformational ensembles important for function are included in this review. Future opportunities are highlighted for each of these topics.
Methyltransferases of Riboviria
Authors: Mushegian Arcady
Published: September 2022

Many viruses from the realm Riboviria infecting eukaryotic hosts encode protein domains with sequence similarity to S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferases. These protein domains are thought to be involved in methylation of the 5′-terminal cap structures in virus mRNAs. Some methyltransferase-like domains of Riboviria are homologous to the widespread cellular FtsJ/RrmJ-like methyltransferases involved in modification of cellular RNAs; other methyltransferases, found in a subset of positive-strand RNA viruses, have been assigned to a separate “Sindbis-like” family; and coronavirus-specific Nsp13/14-like methyltransferases appeared to be different from both those classes. The representative structures of proteins from all three groups belong to a specific variety of the Rossmann fold with a seven-stranded β-sheet, but it was unclear whether this structural similarity extends to the level of conserved sequence signatures. Here I survey methyltransferases in Riboviria and derive a joint sequence alignment model that covers all groups of virus methyltransferases and subsumes the previously defined conserved sequence motifs. Analysis of the spatial structures indicates that two highly conserved residues, a lysine and an aspartate, frequently contact a water molecule, which is located in the enzyme active center next to the methyl group of S-adenosylmethionine cofactor and could play a key role in the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme. Phylogenetic evidence indicates a likely origin of all methyltransferases of Riboviria from cellular RrmJ-like enzymes and their rapid divergence with infrequent horizontal transfer between distantly related viruses.
Natural and Modified Oligonucleotide Sequences Show Distinct Strand Displacement Kinetics and These Are Affected Further by Molecular Crowders
Authors: Domljanovic Ivana , Ianiro Alessandro , Rüegg Curzio , Mayer Michael , Taskova Maria
Published: September 2022

DNA and RNA strand exchange is a process of fundamental importance in biology. Herein, we used a FRET-based assay to investigate, for the first time, the stand exchange kinetics of natural DNA, natural RNA, and locked nucleic acid (LNA)-modified DNA sequences in vitro in PBS in the absence or presence of molecular additives and macromolecular crowders such as diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (deg), polyethylene glycol (peg), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (pvp). The results show that the kinetics of strand exchange mediated by DNA, RNA, and LNA-DNA oligonucleotide sequences are different. Different molecular crowders further affect the strand displacement kinetics, highlighting the complexity of the process of nucleic acid strand exchange as it occurs in vivo. In a peg-containing buffer, the rate constant of displacement was slightly increased for the DNA displacement strand, while it was slightly decreased for the RNA and the LNA-DNA strands compared with displacement in pure PBS. When we used a deg-containing buffer, the rate constants of displacement for all three sequences were drastically increased compared with displacement in PBS. Overall, we show that interactions of the additives with the duplex strands have a significant effect on the strand displacement kinetics and this effect can exceed the one exerted by the chemical nature of the displacement strand itself.
Interpretable Machine Learning with Brain Image and Survival Data
Authors: Eder Matthias , Moser Emanuel , Holzinger Andreas , Jean-Quartier Claire , Jeanquartier Fleur
Published: September 2022

Recent developments in research on artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine deal with the analysis of image data such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans to support the of decision-making of medical personnel. For this purpose, machine learning (ML) algorithms are often used, which do not explain the internal decision-making process at all. Thus, it is often difficult to validate or interpret the results of the applied AI methods. This manuscript aims to overcome this problem by using methods of explainable AI (XAI) to interpret the decision-making of an ML algorithm in the use case of predicting the survival rate of patients with brain tumors based on MRI scans. Therefore, we explore the analysis of brain images together with survival data to predict survival in gliomas with a focus on improving the interpretability of the results. Using the Brain Tumor Segmentation dataset BraTS 2020, we used a well-validated dataset for evaluation and relied on a convolutional neural network structure to improve the explainability of important features by adding Shapley overlays. The trained network models were used to evaluate SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) directly and were not optimized for accuracy. The resulting overfitting of some network structures is therefore seen as a use case of the presented interpretation method. It is shown that the network structure can be validated by experts using visualizations, thus making the decision-making of the method interpretable. Our study highlights the feasibility of combining explainers with 3D voxels and also the fact that the interpretation of prediction results significantly supports the evaluation of results. The implementation in python is available on gitlab as “XAIforBrainImgSurv”.
Transit-Oriented Development in New Towns: Identifying Its Association with Urban Function in Shanghai, China
Authors: Zhang Lingzhu , Hou Peng , Qiang Dan
Published: September 2022

Transit-oriented development (TOD) construction is considered critical for economic growth and the population’s daily well-being in suburban development. However, there are few empirical evaluations of TOD performance and typology in suburban areas of high-density cities. In this study, we selected 23 metro stations in the five new towns in Shanghai as research objects to understand their TOD characteristics. By proposing a data-driven framework built on points of interest (PoIs) to characterize urban functions of metro stations in new towns, four thematic topic functions were extracted by implementing Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling. Five types of stations were revealed through a hierarchical cluster analysis based on their main functions. Then, an extended “Node-Place” model with a third “design” dimension was applied to classify TOD typologies. After establishing an evaluation framework by calculating the results of 15 indicators, five TOD topologies were identified through hierarchical cluster analysis. In addition, results from the ANOVA analysis showed that the classification according to thematic topics changes according to the “place” dimension indicators. Ultimately, the identified urban thematic function types and TOD types provide a useful tool for planners and governors to diagnose common problems and design targeted strategies in new towns.
Achievements and Perspectives in Metal–Organic Framework-Based Materials for Photocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction
Authors: Fan Linkun , Yu Qin , Chen Jiazhen , Khan Usman , Wang Xusheng , Gao Junkuo
Published: September 2022

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are coordination polymers with high porosity that are constructed from molecular engineering. Constructing MOFs as photocatalysts for the reduction of nitrogen to ammonia is a newly emerging but fast-growing field, owing to MOFs’ large pore volumes, adjustable pore sizes, controllable structures, wide light harvesting ranges, and high densities of exposed catalytic sites. They are also growing in popularity because of the pristine MOFs that can easily be transformed into advanced composites and derivatives, with enhanced catalytic performance. In this review, we firstly summarized and compared the ammonia detection methods and the synthetic methods of MOF-based materials. Then we highlighted the recent achievements in state-of-the-art MOF-based materials for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation. Finally, the summary and perspectives of MOF-based materials for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation were presented. This review aims to provide up-to-date developments in MOF-based materials for nitrogen fixation that are beneficial to researchers who are interested or involved in this field.
Human Mastadenovirus Infections in Children: A Review of the Current Status in the Arab World in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Qashqari Fadi S. I.
Published: September 2022

Human mastadenovirus (HAdV) is a non-enveloped icosahedral virus with double-stranded DNA genomes. The mortality rate of HAdV infections can reach 35.5%, while gastroenteritis HAdV infections, HAdV pneumonia, and disseminated disease tend to show a worse outcome, with rates ranging from 44.2% to 50%. In addition, HAdV can cause infections at any age but most commonly in the pediatric population, especially in young children and infants. Therefore, this review aims to assess the current status of HAdV infections among children in the Arab World, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases for publications in English were searched up to July 2022 for relevant articles. The literature search yielded a total of 21 studies, which were included in this review. Studies reporting HAdV infections in children were conducted in 17 out of the 22 countries. The average prevalence rate of HAdV infections in children was 12.7%, with average prevalence rates of 12.82% and 12.58% in the Middle East and North African countries, respectively. The highest prevalence rate (28.3%) was reported in Egypt, whereas the lowest prevalence (1.5%) was reported in Sudan. The included studies presented children with signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis, acute respiratory infection, acute diarrhea, and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. In conclusion, the average prevalence rate of HAdV infections in children was 12.7%, with average prevalence rates of 12.82% and 12.58% in the Middle East and North African countries, respectively. Finding the precise prevalence rate of this virus is crucial because it will guide future planning for effective disease control and the selection of particular treatment options during epidemics and special seasons.
Worldwide Prevalence and Risk Factors of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children
Authors: Borka Balas Reka , Meliț Lorena Elena , Mărginean Cristina Oana
Published: September 2022

Helicobacter pylori is usually acquired during childhood. The reports from the last two decades pointed out a decrease in H. pylori prevalence across geographical areas worldwide compared to previously reported data. Most of the studies performed in America found an overall H. pylori infection prevalence of approximately 50%. The most important risk factors in America include being male, poor adherence or difficult access to treatment, and the lack of in-home water service. Despite the descending trend in prevalence worldwide, the overall prevalence in Africa remains very high (70%). Nevertheless, the prevalence of H. pylori in children without gastrointestinal who underwent screening was reported to be only 14.2%. The main risk factors in Africa are having a traditional pit or no toilet, poverty, birth order, source of drinking water, or being a farmer. Asia seems to have the widest variations in terms of H. pylori prevalence. Several risk factors were reported in Asia to be associated with this infection, such as lower income and educational level, house crowding, rural residence, ethnicity, the use of tanks as water supplies, alcohol drinking, active smoking, eating spicy food or raw uncooked vegetables, poor living conditions and sanitation. The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection in European children is almost 25%. Portugal has the highest prevalence of all European countries at 66.2% in children 13 years of age. The risk factors in European individuals consist of living in rural areas, eating unwashed fruits and vegetables, not washing hands after school, low parental education and unemployment, and short education duration. Further studies are required to identify the precise mechanisms involved in the discrepancies of H. pylori prevalence worldwide.
Compatibility of Personalized Formulations in Cleoderm™, A Skin Rebalancing Cream Base for Oily and Sensitive Skin
Authors: Polonini Hudson , Marianni Bruna , Taylor Sarah , Zander Clark
Published: September 2022

Inflammatory skin conditions are prevalent in the general population and are a source of much concern for those who suffer from them. Acne is an extremely common condition and can significantly impact the quality of life of affected patients. Rosacea is another common dermatological disorder that often affects the face and can present with flushing, irritated skin, and pimples. In addition to being key for acne and rosacea, inflammation can also play a role in prematurely aging skin and contributes to the formation of wrinkles. Given the prevalence and patient impact of dermatological conditions on the face, such as those previously described, there is a demand for personalized medicines to manage these conditions when commercially available options are unsuitable, unavailable, or insufficient to fully resolve the condition. When designing an appropriate personalized therapy for a patient, both the vehicle and the active pharmaceutical ingredient choices are key to the success of the treatment. Cleoderm™ is a topical cream designed for use as a vehicle for the preparation of dermatological treatments by compounding pharmacies. Its ingredient profile was specifically curated to be gentle on the skin, allowing its use as a vehicle for compounded preparations that may be applied to sensitive and affected skin. In this bracketed study, benzoyl peroxide, cyproterone acetate, estriol, metronidazole, niacinamide, progesterone, retinoic acid, spironolactone, and tranexamic acid were selected, due to their known applications for dermatological skin conditions. To evaluate the compatibility and stability of Cleoderm™ in these formulations, high-performance liquid chromatography, followed by antimicrobial effectiveness testing, were performed for 180 days. For most formulations, a beyond-use date of 180 days was observed when stored at room temperature, except for retinoic acid, which had a beyond-use date of 30 days. Through the outcomes of this study, we concluded that Cleoderm™ presents increased convenience for both the compounding pharmacist and the patient, suggesting that it is an adequate candidate vehicle for compounding different dermatological formulations with adequate stability, presenting itself as a good alternative to commercially available treatments that cannot be personalized.
Bent Crystal Design and Characterization for High-Energy Physics Experiments
Authors: Romagnoni Marco , Guidi Vincenzo , Bandiera Laura , De Salvador Davide , Mazzolari Andrea , Sgarbossa Francesco , Soldani Mattia , Sytov Alexei , Tamisari Melissa
Published: September 2022

Bent crystal are widely used as optics for X-rays, but via the phenomenon of planar channeling they may act as waveguide for relativistic charged particles beam as well, outperforming some of the traditional technologies currently employed. A physical description of the phenomenon and the resulting potential for applications in a particle accelerator is reported. The elastic properties of the anisotropic crystal lattice medium are discussed, introducing different types of curvature which can enable a wide array of bending schemes optimized for each different case features. The technological development of machining strategy and bending solutions useful for the fabrication of crystals suitable in high energy particle manipulations are described. As well as the high precision characterization processes developed in order to satisfy the strict requirements for installation in an accelerator. Finally, the characterization of channeling phenomenon in bent crystal is described, pointing out several experimental setups suitable to comply each specific case constrains.
Understanding COVID Vaccination and Its Implication in Cancer Patients’ Imaging of Lymph Nodes by PET-CT
Authors: Gales Laurentia Nicoleta , Brotea-Mosoiu Silvia , Trifanescu Oana Gabriela , Lazar Alexandra Maria , Gherghe Mirela
Published: September 2022

(1) Background: The appearance of enlarged lymph nodes on imaging adds another layer of complexity to the differential diagnosis of disease progression versus immune response to COVID-19 vaccines. Our aim was to find an optimal timing between the vaccination and the PET-CT scan. (2) Methods: 25 cancer patients with 18F-FDG PET-CT evaluations and a history of COVID-19 vaccination between September 2021 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed to characterize the lymph nodes related to the time interval from COVID vaccination. (3) Results: All patients presented one or more adenopathies localized in the ipsilateral axilla (96%), ipsilateral cervical area (20%), ipsilateral retropectoral (20%) and pulmonary hilum (8%). The median value of SUVmax was 3.5 ± 0.5. There was a significant indirect correlation between SUVmax and the time passed between the vaccination and the PET CT (Pearson Correlation r = −0.54, p = 0.005). There was no significant difference (p = 0.19) in the SUVmax value in patients receiving Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine vs. BNT162b2 mRNA Pfizer vaccine. (4) Conclusions: Lymph node enlargement is commonly seen in patients post-vaccination for COVID-19 and must be differentiated from disease progression. The data from our study strongly suggests that the minimum interval of time between an mRNA vaccine and a PET-CT should be more than six weeks.
Endorectal Ultrasound Shear-Wave Elastography of Complex Rectal Adenoma and Early Rectal Cancer
Authors: Loft Martina Kastrup , Pedersen Malene Roland Vils , Lindebjerg Jan , Rahr Hans Bjarke , Rafaelsen Søren Rafael
Published: September 2022

Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic performance of endorectal ultrasound (ERUS), shear-wave elastography (SWE), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with a complex rectal adenoma or an early rectal cancer, i.e., T1 or T2 adenocarcinoma in a clinical setting, and to evaluate the association between SWE and stromal fraction (SF) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and SF. Method: This prospective study included patients undergoing ERUS and SWE for a rectal tumor subsequently confirmed by histopathology to be an adenoma or a T1 or T2 adenocarcinoma. The accuracy of the imaging methods was assessed by comparing the T category as determined by ERUS and MRI with histopathology, which served as the gold standard. SF was assessed on surgical specimens. Results: A total of 86 patients were included. Of these, 62 patients had adenomas and 24 patients had carcinomas, of which 11 were T1 tumors and 13 were T2 tumors. ERUS and MRI yielded sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 0.79 and 0.73, 0.95 and 0.90, and 0.86 and 0.78, respectively, for discrimination between benign and malignant lesions. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve for SWE was 0.88, and with a cut-off value of 40 kPa the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 0.79, 0.89, and 0.86, respectively. There was a positive correlation between SF and SWE with a p-value of <0.001 and a negative correlation between SF and ADC with a p-value of 0.011. Conclusion: Both ERUS and MRI classified T categories with a high accuracy; however, ERUS classified more adenomas correctly than MRI. In this small population, SWE could differentiate an adenoma from early carcinoma. SF was correlated with both SWE and ADC, as increasing SF tended to yield higher SWE and lower ADC values.
Emerging Trends in Immunotherapy for Cancer
Authors: Mishra Alok K. , Ali Amjad , Dutta Shubham , Banday Shahid , Malonia Sunil K.
Published: September 2022

Recent advances in cancer immunology have enabled the discovery of promising immunotherapies for various malignancies that have shifted the cancer treatment paradigm. The innovative research and clinical advancements of immunotherapy approaches have prolonged the survival of patients with relapsed or refractory metastatic cancers. Since the U.S. FDA approved the first immune checkpoint inhibitor in 2011, the field of cancer immunotherapy has grown exponentially. Multiple therapeutic approaches or agents to manipulate different aspects of the immune system are currently in development. These include cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapies (such as CAR-T or NK cell therapy), monoclonal antibodies, cytokine therapies, oncolytic viruses, and inhibitors targeting immune checkpoints that have demonstrated promising clinical efficacy. Multiple immunotherapeutic approaches have been approved for specific cancer treatments, while others are currently in preclinical and clinical trial stages. Given the success of immunotherapy, there has been a tremendous thrust to improve the clinical efficacy of various agents and strategies implemented so far. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of the development and clinical implementation of various immunotherapy approaches currently being used to treat cancer. We also highlight the latest developments, emerging trends, limitations, and future promises of cancer immunotherapy.
Effect of a Novel Betel Leaf Dentifrice on Commonly Seen Oral Hygiene Parameters—A Randomized Clinical Crossover Study
Authors: Ali Maha Ziad , Elbaz Wafaa Fathy Ahmed , Adouri Saja , Desai Vijay , Fanas Salem Abu , Thomas Biju , Varma Sudhir Rama
Published: September 2022

The use of herbal medicine in dentistry has grown exponentially over time. Currently, herbal medicine is considered an effective oral hygiene aid. The objective of the current study is to assess the anti-plaque efficiency and reduction of gingival bleeding of betel leaf and miswak (Salvadora persica) toothpaste. This randomized clinical cross-over pilot study enrolled 60 individuals with mild gingivitis. They were segregated into two groups by drawing lots. The study lasted 20 days and included a two-week washout period between miswak and betel leaf toothpaste. The gingival and plaque index were measured at specific time intervals during the research period. The results revealed that betel leaf and miswak herbal toothpaste significantly decreased plaque index. Nevertheless, betel leaf toothpaste caused a more significant reduction in gingival bleeding scores (p < 0.001) when compared to miswak (p = 0.007). No significant decrease in gingival and plaque index was seen when subjects were asked to return to their conventional chemical toothpaste. The current study concluded that betel leaf toothpaste displayed a more substantial decrease in gingival bleeding when compared to miswak toothpaste. Additionally, more studies should be done on the therapeutic benefits of betel leaf toothpaste.
Entropy and Enthalpy Effects on Metal Complex Formation in Non-Aqueous Solvents: The Case of Silver(I) and Monoamines
Authors: Melchior Andrea , Sanadar Martina , Cappai Rosita , Tolazzi Marilena
Published: September 2022

Access to the enthalpy and entropy of the formation of metal complexes in solution is essential for understanding the factors determining their thermodynamic stability and speciation. As a case study, in this report we systematically examine the complexation of silver(I) in acetonitrile (AN) with the following monoamines: n-propylamine (n-pr), n-butylamine (n-but), hexylamine (hexyl), diethylamine (di-et), dipropylamine (di-pr), dibutylamine (di-but), triethylamine (tri-et) and tripropylamine (tri-pr). The study shows that the complex stabilities are quite independent of the length of the substitution chain on the N atom and demonstrates that, in general, the overall enthalpy terms associated with the complex formation are strongly exothermic, whereas the entropy values oppose the complex formations. In addition, we examined the similarity of the formation constants of AgL complexes of the primary monoamines in AN, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and water, which were unexpected on the basis of the difference between the donor properties of solvents.
Implementing Dirac Approach to Quantum Mechanics in a Hungarian Secondary School
Authors: Michelini Marisa , Stefanel Alberto , Tóth Kristóf
Published: September 2022

Quantum mechanics is included in many curricula across countries because of its cultural value and technological application. In the last decades, two-state approaches to quantum mechanics became popular because of the age of quantum computers. This article presents an experiment with 24 Hungarian high school students on teaching/learning quantum mechanics according to Dirac’s approach to concepts and basic formalism developed in the context of light polarization. Tutorials, pre/post-tests, and oral interviews are the main monitoring tools used to collect data on the students’ learning path. From the qualitative and quantitative data analysis, learning progressions emerged in the phenomenology exploration and on the probabilistic nature of single quantum measurement. The students’ conceptions of quantum state are enriched, confirming the importance to focus educational approaches on fundamental topics. For one section of students, the complex relationship between quantum state and property remained problematic, but the students’ interpretations of a quantum state can be categorized. Two lines of reasoning emerged regarding the impossibility to attribute a trajectory to a quantum system, one more orthodox and one that seeks to avoid the probabilistic nature of the quantum world.
Bitwise Logical Operations in VCMA-MRAM
Authors: Gulafshan Gulafshan , Amara Selma , Kumar Rajat , Khan Danial , Fariborzi Hossein , Massoud Yehia
Published: September 2022

Today’s technology demands compact, portable, fast, and energy-efficient devices. One approach to making energy-efficient devices is an in-memory computation that addresses the memory bottleneck issues of the present computing system by utilizing a spintronic device viz. magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). Further, area and energy can be reduced through approximate computation. We present a circuit design based on the logic-in-memory computing paradigm on voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy magnetoresistive random access memory (VCMA-MRAM). During the computation, multiple bit cells within the memory array are selected that are in parallel by activating multiple word lines. The designed circuit performs all logic operations-Read/NOT, AND/NAND, OR/NOR, and arithmetic SUM operation (1-bit approximate adder with 75% accuracy for SUM and accurate carry out) by slight modification using control signals. All the simulations have been performed at a 45 nm CMOS technology node with VCMA-MTJ compact model by using the HSPICE simulator. Simulation results show that the proposed circuit’s approximate adder consumes about 300% less energy and 2.3 times faster than its counterpart exact adder.