bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Fractional-Order Complex Cosine Map: Fractal Analysis, Julia Set Control and Synchronization
Authors: Elsadany A. A. , Aldurayhim A. , Agiza H. N. , Elsonbaty Amr
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we introduce a generalized complex discrete fractional-order cosine map. Dynamical analysis of the proposed complex fractional order map is examined. The existence and stability characteristics of the map’s fixed points are explored. The existence of fractal Mandelbrot sets and Julia sets, as well as their fractal properties, are examined in detail. Several detailed simulations illustrate the effects of the fractional-order parameter, as well as the values of the map constant and exponent. In addition, complex domain controllers are constructed to control Julia sets produced by the proposed map or to achieve synchronization of two Julia sets in master/slave configurations. We identify the more realistic synchronization scenario in which the master map’s parameter values are unknown. Finally, numerical simulations are employed to confirm theoretical results obtained throughout the work.
Prediction of Tumor Lymph Node Metastasis Using Wasserstein Distance-Based Generative Adversarial Networks Combing with Neural Architecture Search for Predicting
Authors: Wang Yawen , Zhang Shihua
Published: February 2023

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in development and gene expression and can be used as genetic indicators for cancer prediction. Generally, lncRNA expression profiles tend to have small sample sizes with large feature sizes; therefore, insufficient data, especially the imbalance of positive and negative samples, often lead to inaccurate prediction results. In this study, we developed a predictor WGAN-psoNN, constructed with the Wasserstein distance-based generative adversarial network (WGAN) and particle swarm optimization neural network (psoNN) algorithms to predict lymph node metastasis events in tumors by using lncRNA expression profiles. To overcome the complicated manual parameter adjustment process, this is the first time the neural network architecture search (NAS) method has been used to automatically set network parameters and predict lymph node metastasis events via deep learning. In addition, the algorithm makes full use of the advantages of WGAN to generate samples to solve the problem of imbalance between positive and negative samples in the data set. On the other hand, by constructing multiple GAN networks, Wasserstein distance was used to select the optimal sample generation. Comparative experiments were conducted on eight representative cancer-related lncRNA expression profile datasets; the prediction results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the newly proposed method. Thus, the model dramatically reduces the requirement for deep learning for data quantity and the difficulty of architecture selection and has the potential to be applied to other classification problems.
Biomedical Interaction Prediction with Adaptive Line Graph Contrastive Learning
Authors: Sun Shilin , Tian Hua , Wang Runze , Zhang Zehua
Published: February 2023

Biomedical interaction prediction is essential for the exploration of relationships between biomedical entities. Predicted biomedical interactions can help researchers with drug discovery, disease treatment, and more. In recent years, graph neural networks have taken advantage of their natural structure to achieve great progress in biomedical interaction prediction. However, most of them use node embedding instead of directly using edge embedding, resulting in information loss. Moreover, they predict links based on node similarity correlation assumptions, which have poor generalization. In addition, they do not consider the difference in topological information between negative and positive sample links, which limits their performance. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an adaptive line graph contrastive (ALGC) method to convert negative and positive sample links into two kinds of line graph nodes. By adjusting the number of intra-class line graph edges and inter-class line graph edges, an augmented line graph is generated and, finally, the information of the two views is balanced by contrastive learning. Through experiments on four public datasets, it is proved that the ALGC model outperforms the state-of-the-art methods.
Optimal Model Averaging for Semiparametric Partially Linear Models with Censored Data
Authors: Hu Guozhi , Cheng Weihu , Zeng Jie
Published: February 2023

In the past few decades, model averaging has received extensive attention, and has been regarded as a feasible alternative to model selection. However, this work is mainly based on parametric model framework and complete dataset. This paper develops a frequentist model-averaging estimation for semiparametric partially linear models with censored responses. The nonparametric function is approximated by B-spline, and the weights in model-averaging estimator are picked up via minimizing a leave-one-out cross-validation criterion. The resulting model-averaging estimator is proved to be asymptotically optimal in the sense of achieving the lowest possible squared error. A simulation study demonstrates that the method in this paper is superior to traditional model-selection and model-averaging methods. Finally, as an illustration, the proposed procedure is further applied to analyze two real datasets.
Extended Seventh Order Derivative Free Family of Methods for Solving Nonlinear Equations
Authors: Behl Ramandeep , Argyros Ioannis K. , Mallawi Fouad Othman , Alharbi Sattam
Published: February 2023

A plethora of applications from Computational Sciences can be identified for a system of nonlinear equations in an abstract space. These equations are mostly solved with an iterative method because an analytical method does not exist for such problems. The convergence of the method is established by sufficient conditions. Recently, there has been a surge in the development of high convergence order methods. Local convergence results reveal the degree of difficulty when choosing the initial points. However, these methods may converge even in cases not guaranteed by the conditions. Moreover, it is not known in advance how many iterations should be carried out to reach a certain error tolerance. Furthermore, no computable information is provided about the isolation of the solution in a certain region containing it. The aforementioned concerns constitute the motivation for writing this article. The novelty of the works is the expansion of the applicability of the method under ω−continuity conditions considered for the involved operator. The technique is demonstrated using a derivative-free seventh convergence three-step method. However, it was found that it can be used with the same effectiveness as other methods containing inverses of linear operators. The technique also uses information about the operators appearing in this method. This is in contrast to earlier works utilizing derivatives or divided differences not on the method which may not even exist for the problem at hand. The numerical experiments complement the theory.
Bioactive Peptides from Skipjack Tuna Cardiac Arterial Bulbs (II): Protective Function on UVB-Irradiated HaCaT Cells through Antioxidant and Anti-Apoptotic Mechanisms
Authors: Kong Jing , Hu Xiao-Meng , Cai Wei-Wei , Wang Yu-Mei , Chi Chang-Feng , Wang Bin
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective function and mechanism of TCP3 (PKK), TCP6 (YEGGD) and TCP9 (GPGLM) from skipjack tuna cardiac arterial bulbs on skin photoaging using UVB-irradiated HaCaT cell model. The present results indicated that TCP3 (PKK), TCP6 (YEGGD) and TCP9 (GPGLM) had significant cytoprotective effect on UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells (p < 0.001). Hoechst 33342 staining showed that apoptosis of UV-irradiated HaCaT cells could be significantly reduced by the treatment of TCP3 (PKK), TCP6 (YEGGD) and TCP9 (GPGLM); JC-1 staining showed that TCP3 (PKK), TCP6 (YEGGD) and TCP9 (GPGLM) could protect HaCaT cells from apoptosis by restoring mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP); Furthermore, TCP3 (PKK), TCP6 (YEGGD) and TCP9 (GPGLM) could significantly down-regulate the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and reduce the expression level of the apoptosis-executing protein Caspase-3 by decreasing the expression of protein Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 (p < 0.05). The action mechanism indicated that TCP3 (PKK), TCP6 (YEGGD) and TCP9 (GPGLM) could up-regulate the expression levels of Nrf2, NQO1 and HO-1 (p < 0.05), which further increased the activity of downstream proteases (SOD, CAT and GSH-Px), and scavenged reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased the intracellular levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, molecular docking indicated that TCP3 (PKK) and TCP6 (YEGGD) could competitively inhibit the Nrf2 binding site because they can occupy the connection site of Nrf2 by binding to the Kelch domain of Keap1 protein. TCP9 (GPGLM) was inferred to be non-competitive inhibition because it could not bind to the active site of the Kelch domain of Keap1 protein. In summary, the antioxidant peptides TCP3 (PKK), TCP6 (YEGGD) and TCP9 (GPGLM) from cardiac arterial bulbs of skipjack tuna can effectively protect HaCaT cells from UVB-irradiated damage and can be used in the development of healthy and cosmetic products to treat diseases caused by UV radiation.
Comparing the Influence of Surgical and Conservative Therapy on Quality of Life in Patients with Early-Stage Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw—A Prospective Longitudinal Study
Authors: Rückschloß Thomas , Smielowski Maximilian , Moratin Julius , Schnug Gregor , Appel Maximilian , Muench Philipp , Bleymehl Moritz , Zittel Sven , Engel Michael , Hoffmann Jürgen , Ristow Oliver
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of surgical and conservative, non-surgical treatment on general health-related (QoL) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients suffering from AAOMS stage I MRONJ. Materials and Methods: In the course of this prospective clinical study, QoL and OHRQoL using QLQ-C30 and QHIP G14 questionnaire were longitudinally assessed in N = 174 prospectively enrolled patients with indication of treatment of MRONJ stage I over a period of 12 months. Patients received conservative or surgical treatment. The measurement time points were preoperatively (T0), 12 weeks (T1), 6 months (T2) and 1 year after operation (T3). Results: For OHRQoL, no significant (p > 0.05) differences were found between both treatment groups for all timepoints (T0–T3). In the surgical treatment group, OHIP scores of T1, T2 and T3 were significantly lower than baseline measures (T0) (T0–T1 (2.99, p = 0.024), T0–T2 (5.20, p < 0.001), T0–T3 (7.44, p < 0.001)). For conservative treatment group OHIP, scores of T2 and T3 were significantly lower than baseline measures (T0) (T0–T2 (9.09, p = 0.013), T0–T3 (12.79, p < 0.001)). There was no statistically significant effect of time on QLQ-C30 scores in both groups (surgical treatment: F(3, 174) = 1.542, p < 0.205, partial η2 = 0.026; conservative treatment: F(3, 30) = 0.528, p = 0.667, partial η2 = 0.050). QLQ-C30 scores turned out to be significantly lower in the non-surgical group at T1 (p = 0.036) and T3 (p = 0.047) compared to the surgical treatment group. Conclusions: Surgical and conservative treatment of MRONJ stage I significantly improves patients’ OHRQoL. Surgical treatment is superior to conservative treatment of MRONJ stage I regarding general QoL. Therefore, surgical treatment of MRONJ stage I should not be omitted for QoL reasons.
The Influence of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Dentine Pre-Treatment on Adhesive Interface and Marginal Sealing
Authors: Boaru Mihai-Octavian , Tărăboanță Ionuț , Stoleriu Simona , Andrian Sorin , Pancu Galina , Nica Irina , Sufaru Irina-Georgeta , Iovan Gianina
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the combined effect of a 2% chlorhexidine aqueous solution and a universal adhesive system applied in self-etch and etch-and-rinse strategies on the composite resin–dentin interface. Materials and Methods: Class V cavities were prepared on the facial and lingual surfaces of forty caries-free molars extracted for orthodontic reasons. The samples were randomly divided into two groups corresponding to the used etching protocol: I—etch-and-rinse; II—self-etch. In each tooth, one cavity was assigned for the control subgroups -IA (n = 20) and IIA (n = 20)—adhesive only, and the opposite cavity was pretreated with a 2% chlorhexidine solution—Gluco CHeX Cerkamed—subgroups IB (n = 20) and IIB (n = 20). Both sets of groups were restored using a universal adhesive system (Single Bond Universal Adhesive, 3M-ESPE) and a bulk-fill composite resin (Filtek One Bulk Fill Restorative, 3M-ESPE). The roots and the pulp tissue were then removed, and a needle connected to a perfusor with 100 mL saline solution was used for pulp pressure simulation with a hydrostatic pressure of 20 cm H2O. Cariogenic attack was simulated using a demineralizing solution for 3 days at a constant temperature of 25 °C. The teeth were then sectioned in a facial-lingual direction and the microleakages at the occlusal and cervical margins were registered and scored using an optical Carl-Zeiss AXIO Imager A1m microscope (Carl-Zeiss). The composite resin–dentin interface was analyzed using a SEM Vega Tescan LMH II. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Microleakage evaluation showed no significant differences among the study groups (p > 0.05). In subgroup IA, significant differences were recorded between occlusal and cervical margins (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Application of chlorhexidine on tooth substrate before using a universal bonding system in total etch or self-etch mode has no influence on the adhesive interface in the condition of cariogenic attack. The thickness of the adhesive resin layer seems to be less uniform when using chlorhexidine, but the morphological differences at the adhesive interface have no influence on the sealing capacity of the universal bonding system, regardless of the etching strategy.
The Significance of Low Magnesium Levels in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Coman Adorata Elena , Ceasovschih Alexandr , Petroaie Antoneta Dacia , Popa Elena , Lionte Cătălina , Bologa Cristina , Haliga Raluca Ecaterina , Cosmescu Adriana , Slănină Ana Maria , Bacușcă Agnes Iacinta , Șorodoc Victorița , Șorodoc Laurențiu
Published: February 2023

Magnesium is the fourth most common mineral in the human body and the second richest intracellular cation. This element is necessary for many physiological reactions, especially in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. The majority of people who become ill as a result of COVID-19 have mild-to-moderate symptoms and recover without specific treatment. Moreover, there are people who develop severe forms of COVID-19, which require highly specialized medical assistance. Magnesium deficiency may play a role in the pathophysiology of infection with SARS-CoV-2. The primary manifestation of COVID-19 remains respiratory, but the virus can spread to other organs and tissues, complicating the clinical picture and culminating in multiorgan failure. The key mechanisms involved in the disease include direct viral cytotoxicity, endothelial dysfunction, and exaggerated release of inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this review was to summarize the available data regarding the role of magnesium in COVID-19 patients and its particularities in different clinical settings.
RETRACTED: Efficacy of Intermittent and Continuous Subglottic Secretion Drainage in Preventing the Risk of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials
Authors: Dewi Yulis , Arifin Hidayat , Pradipta Rifky , Qona’ah Arina , Rosita Rosita , Giatin Cindy , Dawod Kamel Gauda Amel
Published: February 2023

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is hospital-acquired pneumonia that develops 48 h or longer following mechanical ventilation. However, cuff pressure fluctuates significantly due to patient or tube movement, which might result in microaspiration. Subglottic secretion drainage (SSD) has been suggested as a method for VAP prevention bundles. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of subglottic SSD in preventing VAP. The secondary outcomes of this study are to investigate the intensive care unit (ICU) stay length and mortality rate regarding VAP. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. A thorough search of PubMed, Embase, and the Web of Science was conducted between June and August 2022. The study analysis used the Mantel–Haenszel method, and the quality of the included study was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2. Eighteen randomized controlled trials with a total of 2537 intubated patients were included. It was found that SSD was associated with a lower risk of VAP (RR 1.44; 95% CI; 1.20–1.73; p < 0.0001). The subgroup analysis (utilizing intermittent and continuous methods) found no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.28). The secondary endpoints showed that there was no significant difference in mortality (RR 1.02; 95% CI; 0.87–1.20; p = 0.83), but there were substantial differences in ICU stays (mean difference, 3.42 days; 95% CI; 2.07–4.76; p < 0.00001) in favor of the SSD group. This was based on a very low certainty of evidence due to concerns linked to the risk of bias and inconsistency. The use of SSD was associated with a reduction in VAP incidence and ICU stay length, but there was no significant difference in the mortality rate.
Design and Optimization of Tool-Embedded Thin-Film Strain Sensor Substrate Structure
Authors: He Zhenyu , Wu Wenge , Cheng Yunping , Liu Lijuan
Published: February 2023

With the intelligent tool cutting force measurement model as the engineering background, the selection, design, and optimization of the substrate structure of the tool-embedded thin-film strain sensor are studied. The structure of the thin-film strain sensor is studied, and the substrate structure design is divided into function area structure design and connection area structure design. Establishing the substrate structure library of the sensor, we subdivide the library into six layouts of function area infrastructure and five layouts of connection area infrastructure. Taking the sensitivity, fatigue life, and comprehensive mechanical properties of the substrate structure as the design indexes, based on the statics theory, the functional relationship between the structural parameters and the deflection of the six layouts of the substrate function area is established; based on the dynamics theory, the functional relationship between the parameters and the natural frequency of six layouts of the function area is established; based on the coupling of structural statics design theory and dynamics design theory, the evaluation method for the comprehensive performance of the parameters of six layouts of the function area is established. Based on the function area structure, five connection area structures are designed for comprehensive performance analysis. The structural sensitivity of the substrate function area design and optimization is expanded 1.75 times, and the comprehensive performance is expanded 1.53 times. The sensitivity of the connection area design and optimization is expanded 2.3 times, and the comprehensive performance is expanded 1.72 times. The structure is optimized according to the structural stress characteristics, the design, selection, and optimization process of the substrate structure summarized herein, and five design criteria of the substrate structure are proposed.
Linearity Enhancement Techniques for PGA Design
Authors: Wang Yujun , Wang Yi , Wan Lixi , Jin Zhi
Published: February 2023

This paper presents some techniques to improve the linearity of traditional resistive feedback PGAs. By utilizing the switched op-amp in the PGA, the MOS switches in the feedback resistor array can be eliminated and thus the PGA’s linearity can be improved. The PGA’s linearity is further improved with an additional capacitor, which is used for pre-charging the sampling capacitor to strengthen its capability to drive the sampling capacitor without any extra power consumption. The pre-charge technique is especially suitable for the case where the PGA drives a large sampling capacitance. Implemented in SMIC 0.18 um CMOS technology, the proposed PGA can achieve a gain of 0.5 or 1 and consumes 4.68 mW at a single 5 V supply with the switched output stage enabled. When driving a 20 pF sampling capacitor at a sampling frequency of 200 kHz, the simulation results show that the proposed PGA can give a 9 dBc improvement in SFDR of the sampled signal compared to the traditional PGA design and the SFDR can reach up to 114 dBc.
Design and Fabrication of Compact, Multiband, High Gain, High Isolation, Metamaterial-Based MIMO Antennas for Wireless Communication Systems
Authors: Armghan Ammar , Patel Shobhit K. , Lavadiya Sunil , Qamar Salman , Alsharari Meshari , Daher Malek G. , Althuwayb Ayman A. , Alenezi Fayadh , Aliqab Khaled
Published: February 2023

We proposed a novel approach based on a complementary split-ring resonator metamaterial in a two-port MIMO antenna, giving high gain, multiband results with miniature size. We have also analyzed a circular disk metasurface design. The designs are also defected using ground structure by reducing the width of the ground plane to 8 mm and etching all other parts of the ground plane. The electric length of the proposed design is 0.5λ × 0.35λ × 0.02λ. The design results are also investigated for a different variation of complementary split-ring resonator ring sizes. The inner and outer ring diameters are varied to find the optimized solution for enhanced output performance parameters. Good isolation is also achieved for both bands. The gain and directivity results are also presented. The results are compared for isolation, gain, structure size, and the number of ports. The compact, multiband, high gain and high isolation design can apply to WiMAX, WLAN, and satellite communication applications.
Numerical Modeling Using Immersed Boundary-Lattice Boltzmann Method and Experiments for Particle Manipulation under Standing Surface Acoustic Waves
Authors: Alshehhi Fatima , Waheed Waqas , Al-Ali Abdulla , Abu-Nada Eiyad , Alazzam Anas
Published: February 2023

In this work, we employed the Immersed Boundary-Lattice Boltzmann Method (IB-LBM) to simulate the motion of a microparticle in a microchannel under the influence of a standing surface acoustic wave (SSAW). To capture the response of the target microparticle in a straight channel under the effect of the SSAW, in-house code was built in C language. The SSAW creates pressure nodes and anti-nodes inside the microchannel. Here, the target particle was forced to traverse toward the pressure node. A mapping mechanism was developed to accurately apply the physical acoustic force field in the numerical simulation. First, benchmarking studies were conducted to compare the numerical results in the IB-LBM with the available analytical, numerical, and experimental results. Next, several parametric studies were carried out in which the particle types, sizes, compressibility coefficients, and densities were varied. When the SSAW is applied, the microparticles (with a positive acoustic contrast factor) move toward the pressure node locations during their motion in the microchannel. Hence, their steady-state locations are controlled by adjusting the pressure nodes to the desired locations, such as the centerline or near the microchannel sidewalls. Moreover, the geometric parameters, such as radius, density, and compressibility of the particles affect their transient response, and the particles ultimately settle at the pressure nodes. To validate the numerical work, a microfluidic device was fabricated in-house in the cleanroom using lithographic techniques. Experiments were performed, and the target particle was moved either to the centerline or sidewalls of the channel, depending on the location of the pressure node. The steady-state placements obtained in the computational model and experiments exhibit excellent agreement and are reported.
Chitosan/Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds with P28 as a Promising Osteoinductive Scaffold for Bone Healing Applications
Authors: Azaman Farah Alwani , Daubiné Florence , Lebatard Amélie , Brennan Fournet Margaret E. , Devine Declan M.
Published: February 2023

Despite bone’s inherent ability to heal, large bone defects remain a major clinical concern. This study proposes an off-the-shelf treatment combining chitosan/hydroxyapatite (CS/HAp) scaffolds, covalently linked with either bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) or its related peptide P28 via a UV crosslinking process. Although covalently binding the growth factors was reported as a great alternative to the conventionally physical adsorption and encapsulation methods, this method presents the risk of altering the molecular activity and interaction of the growth factors. Therefore, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and alizarin red staining (ARS) with a quantitative cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) assay were conducted to validate that our photo-crosslinking fabrication method did not interfere with the functionality of the growth factors. The ALP activity of C2C12 with 100 µg/mL P28 was found to be comparable to 0.5 µg/mL BMP-2 after two weeks, where 0.001 U/mL was recorded for both treatments. The C2C12 cultured with CS/HAp/BMP-2 and CS/HAp/P28 scaffolds also showed an increased ALP activity compared to the negative control. ARS-CPC assay presented the highest optical density in 0.3 µg/mL BMP-2 and 50 µg/mL P28, while the highest intensity of ARS was observed in C2C12 cultured with CS/HAp/BMP-2 and CS/HAp/P28 scaffolds compared to the negative controls. The osteoconductive capability of this delivery system was then investigated through a rat femoral condyle defect model, where the new bone mineral density and the bone volume increased for all CS/HAp scaffolds compared to the collagen sponge control treatment. The histological assessment showed a favourable bone regeneration efficacy of the CS/HAp/P28 compared to the CS/HAp/BMP-2 treatment, thus showing the use of CS/HAp scaffolds with P28 as a promising osteoinductive scaffold for bone healing applications.
Rumen and Fecal Microbiota Characteristics of Qinchuan Cattle with Divergent Residual Feed Intake
Authors: Zhou Xiaonan , Ma Ying , Yang Chaoyun , Zhao Zhiyan , Ding Yanling , Zhang Yanfeng , Wang Pengfei , Zhao Lei , Li Chenglong , Su Zonghua , Wang Xiaowei , Ming Wenxun , Zeng Ling , Kang Xiaolong
Published: February 2023

Residual feed intake (RFI) is one of the indicators of feed efficiency. To investigate the microbial characteristics and differences in the gastrointestinal tract of beef cattle with different RFI, a metagenome methodology was used to explore the characteristics of the rumen and fecal microbiota in 10 Qinchuan cattle (five in each of the extremely high and extremely low RFI groups). The results of taxonomic annotation revealed that Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the most dominant phyla in rumen and feces. Prevotella was identified as a potential biomarker in the rumen of the LRFI group by the LEfSe method, while Turicibacter and Prevotella might be potential biomarkers of the HRFI and LRFI group in feces, respectively. Functional annotation revealed that the microbiota in the rumen of the HRFI group had a greater ability to utilize dietary polysaccharides and dietary protein. Association analysis of rumen microbes (genus level) with host genes revealed that microbiota including Prevotella, Paraprevotella, Treponema, Oscillibacter, and Muribaculum, were significantly associated with differentially expressed genes regulating RFI. This study discovered variances in the microbial composition of rumen and feces of beef cattle with different RFIs, demonstrating that differences in microbes may play a critical role in regulating the bovine divergent RFI phenotype variations.
Molecular and Clinical Data of Antimicrobial Resistance in Microorganisms Producing Bacteremia in a Multicentric Cohort of Patients with Cancer in a Latin American Country
Authors: Cruz-Vargas Sergio Andrés , García-Muñoz Laura , Cuervo-Maldonado Sonia Isabel , Álvarez-Moreno Carlos Arturo , Saavedra-Trujillo Carlos Humberto , Álvarez-Rodríguez José Camilo , Arango-Gutiérrez Angélica , Gómez-Rincón Julio César , García-Guzman Katherine , Leal Aura Lucía , Garzón-Herazo Javier , Martínez-Vernaza Samuel , Guevara Fredy Orlando , Jiménez-Cetina Leydy Paola , Mora Liliana Marcela , Saavedra Sandra Yamile , Cortés Jorge Alberto
Published: February 2023

Patients with cancer have a higher risk of severe bacterial infections. This study aims to determine the frequency, susceptibility profiles, and resistance genes of bacterial species involved in bacteremia, as well as risk factors associated with mortality in cancer patients in Colombia. In this prospective multicenter cohort study of adult patients with cancer and bacteremia, susceptibility testing was performed and selected resistance genes were identified. A multivariate regression analysis was carried out for the identification of risk factors for mortality. In 195 patients, 206 microorganisms were isolated. Gram-negative bacteria were more frequently found, in 142 cases (68.9%): 67 Escherichia coli (32.5%), 36 Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.4%), and 21 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.1%), and 18 other Gram-negative isolates (8.7%). Staphylococcus aureus represented 12.4% (n = 25). Among the isolates, resistance to at least one antibiotic was identified in 63% of them. Genes coding for extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases, blaCTX-M and blaKPC, respectively, were commonly found. Mortality rate was 25.6% and it was lower in those with adequate empirical antibiotic treatment (22.0% vs. 45.2%, OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.1–0.63, in the multivariate model). In Colombia, in patients with cancer and bacteremia, bacteria have a high resistance profile to beta-lactams, with a high incidence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases. Adequate empirical treatment diminishes mortality, and empirical selection of treatment in this environment of high resistance is of key importance.
Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes Growth, Adherence and Invasion in Caco-2 Cells by Potential Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Fecal Samples of Healthy Neonates
Authors: Poimenidou Sofia V. , Skarveli Athina , Saxami Georgia , Mitsou Evdokia K. , Kotsou Maria , Kyriacou Adamantini
Published: February 2023

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from healthy humans may prove an effective tool against pathogen growth, adherence and invasion in intestinal epithelial cells. This study aimed to evaluate the antilisterial properties of LAB isolated from fecal samples of healthy neonates. Forty-five LAB strains were tested for their antimicrobial activity against ten Listeria monocytogenes strains with spot-on-lawn and agar-well diffusion assays, and ten lactobacilli strains were further assessed for their inhibitory effect against adherence and invasion of Caco-2 cells by L. monocytogenes EGDe. Inhibition was estimated in competition, exclusion or displacement assays, where lactobacilli and L. monocytogenes were added to Caco-2 monolayers simultaneously or 1 h apart from each other. Inhibition of L. monocytogenes growth was only displayed with the spot-on-lawn assay; cell-free supernatants of lactobacilli were not effective against the pathogen. Lactobacillus (L.) paragasseri LDD-C1 and L. crispatus LCR-A21 were able to adhere to Caco-2 cells at significantly higher levels than the reference strain L. rhamnosus GG. The adherence of L. monocytogenes to Caco-2 cells was reduced by 20.8% to 62.1% and invasion by 33.5% to 63.1% during competition, which was more effective compared to the exclusion and displacement assays. These findings demonstrate that lactobacilli isolated from neonatal feces could be considered a good candidate against L. monocytogenes.
Towards Sustainable Green Adjuvants for Microbial Pesticides: Recent Progress, Upcoming Challenges, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Lin Fuyong , Mao Yufei , Zhao Fan , Idris Aisha Lawan , Liu Qingqing , Zou Shuangli , Guan Xiong , Huang Tianpei
Published: February 2023

Microbial pesticides can be significantly improved by adjuvants. At present, microbial pesticide formulations are mainly wettable powders and suspension concentrations, which are usually produced with adjuvants such as surfactants, carriers, protective agents, and nutritional adjuvants. Surfactants can improve the tension between liquid pesticides and crop surfaces, resulting in stronger permeability and wettability of the formulations. Carriers are inert components of loaded or diluted pesticides, which can control the release of active components at appropriate times. Protective agents are able to help microorganisms to resist in adverse environments. Nutritional adjuvants are used to provide nutrients for microorganisms in microbial pesticides. Most of the adjuvants used in microbial pesticides still refer to those of chemical pesticides. However, some adjuvants may have harmful effects on non-target organisms and ecological environments. Herein, in order to promote research and improvement of microbial pesticides, the types of microbial pesticide formulations were briefly reviewed, and research progress of adjuvants and their applications in microbial pesticides were highlighted, the challenges and the future perspectives towards sustainable green adjuvants of microbial pesticides were also discussed in this review.
Molecular Toxicity Virtual Screening Applying a Quantized Computational SNN-Based Framework
Authors: Nascimben Mauro , Rimondini Lia
Published: February 2023

Spiking neural networks are biologically inspired machine learning algorithms attracting researchers’ attention for their applicability to alternative energy-efficient hardware other than traditional computers. In the current work, spiking neural networks have been tested in a quantitative structure–activity analysis targeting the toxicity of molecules. Multiple public-domain databases of compounds have been evaluated with spiking neural networks, achieving accuracies compatible with high-quality frameworks presented in the previous literature. The numerical experiments also included an analysis of hyperparameters and tested the spiking neural networks on molecular fingerprints of different lengths. Proposing alternatives to traditional software and hardware for time- and resource-consuming tasks, such as those found in chemoinformatics, may open the door to new research and improvements in the field.
Guidelines for the Simulations of Nitroxide X-Band cw EPR Spectra from Site-Directed Spin Labeling Experiments Using SimLabel
Authors: Etienne Emilien , Pierro Annalisa , Tamburrini Ketty C. , Bonucci Alessio , Mileo Elisabetta , Martinho Marlène , Belle Valérie
Published: February 2023

Site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) combined with continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (cw EPR) spectroscopy is a powerful technique to reveal, at the local level, the dynamics of structural transitions in proteins. Here, we consider SDSL-EPR based on the selective grafting of a nitroxide on the protein under study, followed by X-band cw EPR analysis. To extract valuable quantitative information from SDSL-EPR spectra and thus give a reliable interpretation on biological system dynamics, a numerical simulation of the spectra is required. However, regardless of the numerical tool chosen to perform such simulations, the number of parameters is often too high to provide unambiguous results. In this study, we have chosen SimLabel to perform such simulations. SimLabel is a graphical user interface (GUI) of Matlab, using some functions of Easyspin. An exhaustive review of the parameters used in this GUI has enabled to define the adjustable parameters during the simulation fitting and to fix the others prior to the simulation fitting. Among them, some are set once and for all (gy, gz) and others are determined (Az, gx) thanks to a supplementary X-band spectrum recorded on a frozen solution. Finally, we propose guidelines to perform the simulation of X-band cw-EPR spectra of nitroxide labeled proteins at room temperature, with no need of uncommon higher frequency spectrometry and with the minimal number of variable parameters.
Brain Targeting by Intranasal Drug Delivery: Effect of Different Formulations of the Biflavone “Cupressuflavone” from Juniperus sabina L. on the Motor Activity of Rats
Authors: Khafagy El-Sayed , Soliman Gamal A. , Shahba Ahmad Abdul-Wahhab , Aldawsari Mohammed F. , Alharthy Khalid M. , Abdel-Kader Maged S. , Zaatout Hala H.
Published: February 2023

The polar fractions of the Juniperus species are rich in bioflavonoid contents. Phytochemical study of the polar fraction of Juniperus sabina aerial parts resulted in the isolation of cupressuflavone (CPF) as the major component in addition to another two bioflavonoids, amentoflavone and robustaflavone. Biflavonoids have various biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, hypoglycemic, neuroprotective, and antipsychotic effects. Previous studies have shown that the metabolism and elimination of biflavonoids in rats are fast, and their oral bioavailability is very low. One of the methods to improve the bioavailability of drugs is to alter the route of administration. Recently, nose-to-brain drug delivery has emerged as a reliable method to bypass the blood–brain barrier and treat neurological disorders. To find the most effective CPF formulation for reaching the brain, three different CPF formulations (A, B and C) were prepared as self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS). The formulations were administered via the intranasal (IN) route and their effect on the spontaneous motor activity in addition to motor coordination and balance of rats was observed using the activity cage and rotarod, respectively. Moreover, pharmacokinetic investigation was used to determine the blood concentrations of the best formulation after 12 h. of the IN dose. The results showed that formulations B and C, but not A, decreased the locomotor activity and balance of rats. Formula C at IN dose of 5 mg/kg expressed the strongest effect on the tested animals.
Zinc Vanadate (Zn3V2O8) Immobilized Multiwall Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) Heterojunction as an Efficient Photocatalyst for Visible Light Driven Hydrogen Production
Authors: Alharthi Fahad A. , Ababtain Alanood Sulaiman , Alanazi Hamdah S. , Alshayiqi Alanoud Abdullah , Hasan Imran
Published: February 2023

Z-scheme photocatalytic reaction is considered an effective strategy to promote the photogenerated electron-hole separation for significantly improving the efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen precipitation from splitting water. In this study, a heterojunction nanocomposite material based on Zn3V2O8 (ZV) with MWCNT was prepared by a hydrothermal process. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to understand crystal structure, morphology, and optical properties. The efficiency of the samples was evaluated for the photocatalytic H2 production under visible solar radiation using water glycerol as a sacrificial reagent. The obtained results suggest that, between ZV and ZV@MWCNT, the latter shows higher efficiency for H2 production. The maximum H2 production efficiency was found to be 26.87 μmol g−1 h−1 for ZV and 99.55 μmol g−1 h−1 for ZV@MWCNT. The synergistic effect of MWCNT to ZV resulted in improving the efficiency of charges and light-absorbing capacity, resulting in enhanced H2 production in the heterojunction nanocomposite material. The nanocomposite was stable and highly efficient for H2 production of six or more cycles. Based on the outcomes of this study, it can be observed that forming the heterojunction of individual nano systems could result in more efficient material for H2 production under visible solar energy.
Recent Developments in the Biological Activities, Bioproduction, and Applications of Pseudomonas spp. Phenazines
Authors: Serafim Bruno , Bernardino Ana R. , Freitas Filomena , Torres Cristiana A. V.
Published: February 2023

Phenazines are a large group of heterocyclic nitrogen-containing compounds with demonstrated insecticidal, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and anticancer activities. These natural compounds are synthesized by several microorganisms originating from diverse habitats, including marine and terrestrial sources. The most well-studied producers belong to the Pseudomonas genus, which has been extensively investigated over the years for its ability to synthesize phenazines. This review is focused on the research performed on pseudomonads’ phenazines in recent years. Their biosynthetic pathways, mechanism of regulation, production processes, bioactivities, and applications are revised in this manuscript.
Wastewater-Irrigated Vegetables Are a Significant Source of Heavy Metal Contaminants: Toxicity and Health Risks
Authors: Aftab Kiran , Iqbal Sarosh , Khan Mohammad Rizwan , Busquets Rosa , Noreen Razia , Ahmad Naushad , Kazimi Syed Gohar Taqi , Karami Abdulnasser Mahmoud , Al Suliman Nouf Mohammad Saad , Ouladsmane Mohamed
Published: February 2023

Water contaminated with heavy metals constitutes an important threat. This threat is a real problem with a negative impact in some developing countries where untreated industrial effluents are used for irrigation. The present study examines heavy metals in wastewater-irrigated vegetables (apple gourd, spinach, cauliflower, sponge gourd, and coriander) water, and soil from Chenab Nagar, Chiniot, Pakistan. In particular, the metals quantified were cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and manganese (Mn). Among them, Cr and Co in crops irrigated -wastewater exceeded the levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). In contrast, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Mn concentrations were in line with WHO standards. Compared with the limits established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), all the study vegetables presented higher (thus unsafe) concentrations of Cd (0.38 to 1.205 mg/Kg). There were also unsafe concentrations of Cr in coriander, sponge gourd, and cauliflower. Pb was found at an unsafe concentration (0.59 mg/Kg) in cauliflower. Conversely, Ni and Mn concentrations were below the maximum permissible limits by WHO, and FAO in all of the analyzed samples. The contamination load index (CLI) in soil, bioconcentration factor (BCF) in plants, daily intake of metals (DIM), and health risk index (HRI) have also been evaluated to estimate the potential risk to human health in that area. We have found an important risk of transitions of Pb, Cd, Cr, and Co from water/soil to the edible part of the plant. The highest HRI value associated with Cd (6.10–13.85) followed by Cr (1.25–7.67) for all vegetable samples presented them as high health risk metal contaminants. If the issue is not addressed, consumption of wastewater-irrigated vegetables will continue posing a health risk.
Study on Synergistic Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Typical Functional Components of Extracts of Ginkgo Biloba Leaves
Authors: Zhang Lihu , Fang Xianying , Sun Jihu , Su Erzheng , Cao Fuliang , Zhao Linguo
Published: February 2023

There are some differences in the anti-inflammatory activities of four typical components in EGB (extracts of ginkgo biloba leaves), and there is also a synergistic relationship. The order of inhibiting the NO-release ability of single functional components is OA > GF > OPC > G. Ginkgolide (G), proanthocyanidins (OPC), and organic acids (OA) all have synergistic effects on ginkgo flavonoids (GF). GF:OA (1:9) is the lowest interaction index among all complexes, showing the strongest synergy. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of the compound affects the expression of p-JNK, p-P38, and p-ERK1/2 proteins by inhibiting the expression of iNOS and COX2 genes on NFKB and MAPK pathways. This also provides a research basis for the development of anti-inflammatory deep-processing products of EGB.
Multi-Analytical Approach to Characterize the Degradation of Different Types of Microplastics: Identification and Quantification of Released Organic Compounds
Authors: Giaganini Giulia , Cifelli Mario , Biagini Denise , Ghimenti Silvia , Corti Andrea , Castelvetro Valter , Domenici Valentina , Lomonaco Tommaso
Published: February 2023

Microplastics and nanoplastics represent one of the major environmental issues nowadays due to their ubiquitous presence on Earth, and their high potential danger for living systems, ecosystems, and human life. The formation of both microplastics and nanoplastics strongly depends on both the type of pristine materials and the degradation processes related to biological and/or abiotic conditions. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of two of the most relevant abiotic parameters, namely temperature and light, taken under direct control by using a Solar box, on five types of reference polymers: high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A multi-analytical approach was adopted to investigate in detail the first steps of plastics degradation. Samples of plastic materials at different degradation times were analyzed by means of 1H NMR spectroscopy and thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) technique. Several minor molecular species released during degradation were consistently identified by both techniques thus providing a comprehensive view of the various degradation products of these five types of microplastics.
Functional Relevance of the Long Intergenic Non-Coding RNA Regulator of Reprogramming (Linc-ROR) in Cancer Proliferation, Metastasis, and Drug Resistance
Authors: Peña-Flores José A. , Enríquez-Espinoza Diego , Muela-Campos Daniela , Álvarez-Ramírez Alexis , Sáenz Angel , Barraza-Gómez Andrés A. , Bravo Kenia , Estrada-Macías Marvin E. , González-Alvarado Karla
Published: February 2023

Cancer is responsible for more than 10 million deaths every year. Metastasis and drug resistance lead to a poor survival rate and are a major therapeutic challenge. Substantial evidence demonstrates that an increasing number of long non-coding RNAs are dysregulated in cancer, including the long intergenic non-coding RNA, regulator of reprogramming (linc-ROR), which mostly exerts its role as an onco-lncRNA acting as a competing endogenous RNA that sequesters micro RNAs. Although the properties of linc-ROR in relation to some cancers have been reviewed in the past, active research appends evidence constantly to a better comprehension of the role of linc-ROR in different stages of cancer. Moreover, the molecular details and some recent papers have been omitted or partially reported, thus the importance of this review aimed to contribute to the up-to-date understanding of linc-ROR and its implication in cancer tumorigenesis, progression, metastasis, and chemoresistance. As the involvement of linc-ROR in cancer is elucidated, an improvement in diagnostic and prognostic tools could promote and advance in targeted and specific therapies in precision oncology.