bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aligning Cross-Species Interactomes for Studying Complex and Chronic Diseases
Authors: Milano Marianna , Cinaglia Pietro , Guzzi Pietro Hiram , Cannataro Mario
Published: July 2023

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a group of complex disorders characterized by the progressive degeneration and dysfunction of neurons in the central nervous system. NDs encompass many conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex disease affecting almost forty million people worldwide. AD is characterized by a progressive decline of cognitive functions related to the loss of connections between nerve cells caused by the prevalence of extracellular Aβ plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles plaques. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects the movement of an individual. The exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some cases of PD are linked to mutations in the LRRK2, PARKIN and other genes, which are associated with familial forms of the disease. Different research studies have applied the Protein Protein Interaction (PPI) networks to understand different aspects of disease progression. For instance, Caenorhabditis elegans is widely used as a model organism for the study of AD due to roughly 38% of its genes having a human ortholog. This study’s goal consists of comparing PPI network of C. elegans and human by applying computational techniques, widely used for the analysis of PPI networks between species, such as Local Network Alignment (LNA). For this aim, we used L-HetNetAligner algorithm to build a local alignment among two PPI networks, i.e., C. elegans and human PPI networks associated with AD and PD built-in silicon. The results show that L-HetNetAligner can find local alignments representing functionally related subregions. In conclusion, since local alignment enables the extraction of functionally related modules, the method can be used to study complex disease progression.
Effectiveness of Strengthening RC Beams Using Composite Materials—An Accelerated Strengthening Method
Authors: Michałowska-Maziejuk Dorota , Goszczyńska Barbara
Published: July 2023

The article analyses the results obtained from tests of preloaded reinforced concrete beams strengthened with carbon fibre strips bonded into the concrete reinforcement cover (NSMR method). Adhesive (thixotropic epoxy resin) bonding takes 7 days at 23 °C. The strengthening process was accelerated by heating the strip using a prototype heating device. Tests on the reinforced concrete members confirmed that accelerating the strengthening process is feasible and allowed the selection of the optimal heating temperature to provide the greatest strengthening level. The study primarily aimed to analyse the effectiveness of strengthening applied to the bottom of reinforced concrete beams under sustained loading throughout the adhesive curing process, simulating real conditions on site. Significantly higher strengthening efficiency was achieved with the use of strip heating, which accelerated adhesive cure time and reduced the strengthening execution time from 7 days to 1.5 h. The analysis included the evaluation of the effect of the steel and composite reinforcement ratios on strengthening effectiveness.
Effect of Antirotational Two-Piece Titanium Base on the Vertical Misfit, Fatigue Behavior, Stress Concentration, and Fracture Load of Implant-Supported Zirconia Crowns
Authors: Adolfi Dario , Grangeiro Manassés Tercio Vieira , Ausiello Pietro , Bottino Marco Antonio , Tribst João Paulo Mendes
Published: July 2023

This study investigated the effects of antirotational titanium bases on the mechanical behavior of CAD/CAM titanium bases used for implant-supported prostheses. The aim was to assess the impact on the marginal fit, fatigue behavior, stress concentration, and fracture load of implant-supported CAD/CAM zirconia crowns. Forty titanium implants were divided into two groups: those with antirotational titanium bases (ARs) and those with rotational titanium bases (RTs). Torque loosening and vertical misfit were evaluated before and after cyclic fatigue testing (200 N, 2 Hz, 2 × 106 cycles). Fracture resistance was assessed using a universal testing machine (1 mm/min, 1000 kgf), and failed specimens were examined with microscopy. Three-dimensional models were created, and FEA was used to calculate stress. Statistical analysis was performed on the in vitro test data using two-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s test (α = 0.5). Results show that the presence of an antirotational feature between the implant and titanium base reduced preload loss and stress concentration compared to rotational titanium bases. However, there were no differences in vertical misfit and resistance to compressive load.
Evidence of Individual Superspin Relaxation in Diluted Fe3O4/Hexane Ferrofluids
Authors: Botez Cristian E. , Mussslewhite Zachary
Published: July 2023

We used dc magnetization and ac susceptibility to investigate the magnetic relaxation of ferrofluids made of 8 nm average-diameter Fe3O4 nanoparticles dispersed in hexane. Samples of different concentrations (δ) spanning two orders of magnitude ranging from 0.66 to 0.005 mg (Fe3O4)/mL (hexane) were used to vary the interparticle interaction strength. Our data reveal a critical concentration, δc = 0.02 mg/mL, below which the ferrofluid behaves like an ideal nanoparticle ensemble where the superspins relax individually according to a Néel–Brown activation law τ(T) =τ0expEBkBT with a characteristic time τo ~10−9 s. That is further confirmed by the observed invariance of the relative peak temperature variation per frequency decade ∆=∆TT·∆log(f), which stays constant at ~0.185 when δ < δc. At higher concentrations, between 0.02 and 0.66 mg/mL, we found that Δ exhibits a monotonic increase with the inverse concentration, 1δ, and the collective superspin dynamics is described by a Vogel–Fulcher law, τ(T) =τ0expEBkBT−T0. Within this regime, the dipolar interaction strength parameter T0 increases from T0 = 0 K at δc = 0.02 mg/mL to T0 = 14.7 K at δ = 0.66 mg/mL.
Comparative Filtration Performance of Composite Air Filter Materials Synthesized Using Different Impregnated Porous Media
Authors: Zeng Yuxia , Liu Qing , Zhang Xin , Wang Zhao , Yu Tao , Ren Fei , He Puchun
Published: July 2023

Indoor environment quality is currently a hot research topic. In this study, composite air filter materials were synthesized using different impregnated porous medium materials, and their filtration performance and structural parameters were analyzed. The results showed that composite filter materials’ structures changed at the fibers’ surfaces when synthesized using different porous medium material layers. The filtration efficiency of composite filter materials synthesized using different porous media reached a maximum 0.8 m/s filtration velocity, and PM10, PM2.5, and PM1.0 increased by 1.67~26.07, 1.19~26.96, and 1.10~21.98%, respectively. The filtration efficiencies of reduced graphene oxide composite for PM10, PM2.5, and PM1.0 were 21.26, 20.22, and 18.50% higher, respectively, than those of carbon black composite. In addition, the filtration efficiency of the composite material synthesized by reducing graphene oxide improved for 0 to 1.0 μm particulates and was more effective by comparison. Filtration efficiency and resistance were comprehensively considered during air filter use to provide useful values for the selection and preparation of composite filter materials in the future.
Adsorption and Photodegradation of Lanasol Yellow 4G in Aqueous Solution by Natural Zeolite Treated by CO2-Laser Radiation
Authors: Correa-Coyac David , Michtchenko Alexandre , Zacahua-Tlacuatl Gregorio , Cruz-Narváez Yair , Castro-Arellano José J. , Sanpedro-Díaz Monserrat , Rivera-Talamantes Carlos F. de J. , Shulga Yury M.
Published: July 2023

Natural zeolite is a widely used material with excellent environmental cleaning performance, especially in water and wastewater treatment. Natural zeolite (Zini) calcined by CO2-laser radiation (ZL) was tested as a catalyst for the photodegradation and the adsorption of industrial azo dye Lanasol Yellow 4G (LY4G) in water. Morphology, chemical structure, and surface composition of Zini and ZL were analyzed by XRD, SEM, EDS, and XPS. UV/Visible spectrophotometry was used to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of Zini and ZL. The photocatalytic activity of the studied zeolites was associated with the presence of Fe oxides in their composition. Laser-treated natural zeolite showed higher efficiency as a photocatalyst compared to untreated natural zeolite.
Crack Size and Undermatching Effects on Fracture Behavior of a Welded Joint
Authors: Sedmak Aleksandar , Doncheva Elisaveta , Medjo Bojan , Rakin Marko , Milosevic Nenad , Radu Dorin
Published: July 2023

Crack size and undermatching effects on fracture behavior of undermatched welded joints are presented and analyzed. Experimental and numerical analysis of the fracture behavior of high-strength low-alloyed (HSLA) steel welded joints with so-called small and large crack in undermatched weld metal and the base metal was performed, as a part of more extensive research previously conducted. J integral was determined by direct measurement using special instrumentation including strain gauges and a CMOD measuring device. Numerical analysis was performed by 3D finite element method (FEM) with different tensile properties in BM and WM. Results of J-CMOD curves evaluation for SUMITEN SM 80P HSLA steel and its weld metal (WM) are presented and analyzed for small and large cracks in tensile panels. This paper is focused on some new numerical results and observations on crack tip fields and constraint effects of undermatching and crack size keeping in mind previously performed experiments on the full-scale prototype. In this way, a unique combined approach of experimental investigation on the full-scale proto-type and tensile panels, as well as numerical investigation on mismatching and crack size effects, is achieved.
An Experimental Study on Defect Detection of Anchor Bolts Using Non-Destructive Testing Techniques
Authors: Seo Dongwoo , Kim Jaehwan , Park Sangki
Published: July 2023

Anchor bolts are often used for fixing information boards, supports, and soundproof walls in various facilities. Corrosion of anchor bolts and fatigue cracks occur frequently due to the various external environments, and visual inspection and hammering inspection are mainly used. In visual inspection, it is difficult to confirm corrosion or fatigue cracks of anchor bolts in the area where foundations, nuts, and base plates are installed. Additionally, the hammering inspection is easily affected by the surrounding environment and the subjective reaction of the tester. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a method that can easily and accurately detect defects such as cracks and corrosion occurring in anchor bolts installed in road facilities using non-destructive testing techniques. In this paper, the possibility and reliability of anchor bolt defects such as corrosion and cracks were experimentally verified by applying ultrasonic inspection among non-destructive inspection techniques for anchor bolt maintenance.
Selection of Parameters for Optimized WAAM Structures for Civil Engineering Applications
Authors: Sharifi Saham Sadat , Fritsche Sebastian , Holzinger Christoph , Enzinger Norbert
Published: July 2023

Using the CMT (Cold Metal Transfer, F. Fronius, Upper Austria) welding process, wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) enables companies to fabricate steel components in a resource-saving manner (additive vs. subtractive) by properly reinforcing existing steel components. Two fundamental questions are discussed in the current work. The first focus is on the general geometric possibilities offered by this process. The influence of various parameters, such as wire feed speed, travel speed, and torch inclination on the seam shape and build-up rate are presented. The microstructure of the manufactured components is evaluated through metallography and hardness testing. Based on the first results, print strategies are developed for different requirements. Moreover, suitable process parameter sets are recommended in terms of energy input per unit length, weld integrity and hardness distribution. The second focus is on testing and determining joint properties by analyzing the microhardness of the welded structures. The chosen parameter sets will be investigated, and steel quality equivalents according to ÖNORM EN ISO 18265 will be defined.
Effect of Physical Properties on Mechanical Behaviors of Sandstone under Uniaxial and Triaxial Compressions
Authors: Alomari Esraa M. , Ng Kam W. , Khatri Lokendra , Wulff Shaun S.
Published: July 2023

Mechanical properties of sandstone, such as compressive strength and young’s modulus, are commonly used in the design of geotechnical structures and numerical simulation of underground reservoirs using models such as the digital groundwater, equivalent porous medium, and Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) models. A better understanding of the mechanical behaviors of sandstone under different loading conditions is imperative when assessing the stability of geotechnical structures. This paper highlights the effect of the physical properties (i.e., porosity, mean grain size) and environmental conditions (i.e., water content and confining stress) on uniaxial compressive strength, triaxial compressive strength, and young’s modulus of sandstone. A series of uniaxial and triaxial compression experiments are conducted on sandstone formations from Wyoming. In addition, experimental data on sandstones from the literature are compiled and integrated into this study. Prediction equations for the compressive strengths and young’s modulus of sandstone are established based on commonly available physical properties and known environmental conditions. The results show that the mean Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS) decreases as the porosity, water content, and mean grain size increase. Furthermore, a predictive empirical relationship for the triaxial compressive strength is established under different confinements and porosity. The relationship suggests that the mean peak compressive strength increases at a higher confinement and decreases at a higher porosity. The results and recommendations provide a useful framework for evaluating the strength and deformation of most sandstone.
The Recent Progress of Pitch Nanoengineering to Obtain the Carbon Anode for High-Performance Sodium Ion Batteries
Authors: Du Wen-Sheng , Sun Chen , Sun Qiang
Published: July 2023

As an anode material for sodium ion batteries (SIBs), carbon materials have attracted people’s interest because of their abundant resources, good structural stability and low cost. Among most carbon precursors, pitch is viewed as a promising one because of a higher carbon content, good oxidation reversibility and low cost. However, the pitch-based carbon obtained with direct pyrolysis of pitch displays a high degree of graphitization and small layer spacing, which is unfavorable for the storage of sodium ions. In recent years, with the aid of the development of the nanoengineering process, the storage of sodium ions with pitch-based carbon has been drastically improved. This review article summarizes the recent progress of pitch nanoengineering to obtain the carbon anode for high-performance SIBs, including porous structure adjustment, heteroatom doping, co-carbonization and pre-oxidation. In addition, the merits and demerits of a variety of nanoengineering processes are discussed, and future research directions of pitch-based carbon are prospected.
Special Issue on Optimization and Flow Characteristics in Advanced Fluid Machinery
Authors: Wang Chuan
Published: July 2023

This editorial discusses the importance of Advanced Fluid Machinery in the sustainable development of energy. Fluid machinery is crucial in many engineering applications, including aerospace, civil, mechanical, and chemical engineering. This Special Issue, entitled “Optimization and Flow Characteristics in Advanced Fluid Machinery”, features several research articles exploring flow characteristics and optimization in fluid mechanics. The authors present innovative ideas, methodologies, and techniques to advance the field of fluid mechanics. The papers cover a wide range of topics, including computational fluid dynamics (CFD), turbulence modeling, heat transfer, multiphase flow, and fluid–structure interactions. The articles featured in this Special Issue also investigate the relevant hydrodynamic attributes of turbomachinery, high-pressure jets, marine propulsion systems, and internal combustion engines to a considerable extent, significantly expanding the scope of research within the Special Issue.
Analysis of Surface and Interior Permanent Magnet Motor Topologies for Active Electromagnetic Damping Applications
Authors: Aguilar-Zamorate Irving S. , Galluzzi Renato , Ibarra Luis , Amati Nicola , Soriano Luis Arturo
Published: July 2023

Many modern high-end vehicles exploit controllable damping solutions to enhance their adaptability to different road conditions and driving styles. Among these technologies, active dampers offer improved performance due to their four-quadrant operation in the torque–speed plane. In active electromagnetic dampers, brushless permanent magnet machines are used because of their high torque density. However, to the best of our knowledge, a process to set the previously reported; likewise, which rotor topology exhibits the best performance in such cases has not been validated. Consequently, the resulting actuator could exhibit suboptimal dynamical performance and power conversion efficiency. Although some design processes have been formulated in the past for semiactive controllers (the damping is modified using a variable resistive load), they are not suitable for active suspension control. Similarly, there are existing solutions to increase conversion efficiency using mechanical motion rectifiers; however, active forces cannot be exerted, limiting their applicability to semiactive actuators. Therefore, this paper presents a design methodology, using finite element method together with MATLAB/Simulink™, to set and test the parameters of AC brushless PM machines, intended for actively controlled suspensions. A novel approach to set the base speed, which takes advantage of field-weakening capability, is also presented. To test the proposed method, three machines with well-known rotor topologies were designed and evaluated as case studies, and the surface-mounted topology was found to be the most suitable for the analyzed task.
Dirac Cone Formation in Single-Component Molecular Conductors Based on Metal Dithiolene Complexes
Authors: Kato Reizo , Tsumuraya Takao
Published: July 2023

Single-component molecular conductors exhibit a strong connection to the Dirac electron system. The formation of Dirac cones in single-component molecular conductors relies on (1) the crossing of HOMO and LUMO bands and (2) the presence of nodes in the HOMO–LUMO couplings. In this study, we investigated the possibility of Dirac cone formation in two single-component molecular conductors derived from nickel complexes with extended tetrathiafulvalenedithiolate ligands, [Ni(tmdt)2] and [Ni(btdt)2], using tight-biding models and first-principles density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. The tight-binding model predicts the emergence of Dirac cones in both systems, which is associated with the stretcher bond type molecular arrangement. The DFT calculations also indicate the formation of Dirac cones in both systems. In the case of [Ni(btdt)2], the DFT calculations, employing a vdW-DF2 functional, reveal the formation of Dirac cones near the Fermi level in the nonmagnetic state after structural optimization. Furthermore, the DFT calculations, by utilizing the range-separated hybrid functional, confirm the antiferromagnetic stability in [Ni(btdt)2], as observed experimentally.
Efficiency Evaluation of China’s Provincial Digital Economy Based on a DEA Cross-Efficiency Model
Authors: Xu Yaqiao , Hu Jiayi , Wu Liusan
Published: July 2023

The Chinese government clearly put forward a strategy to speed up the development of the digital economy in “the 14th Five-Year” Plan, which will become the booster of China’s development. China has a vast territory and the state of development of the digital economy varies greatly across different regions. It is crucial to clarify the reasons for these differences and take measures to narrow them. Therefore, the evaluation and analysis of the current situation are conducive to the further development of the digital economy. Taking 30 provinces (excluding Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) of China as the research objects, this paper constructs an index system taking digital infrastructure, digital technology and digital talent as input variables and taking digital industrialization and industrial digitization as output variables. The data envelopment analysis (DEA) cross-efficiency model is constructed to calculate and compare the cross-efficiency of the digital economies in each province. The results show the following: (1) The development efficiency of China’s digital economy has generally been low, and there is a large “digital divide” between provinces. (2) The input of digital talents is crucial for the digital economy in order to achieve high output and high efficiency, and high output is often accompanied by high efficiency. Based on the above conclusions, this paper puts forward some suggestions to promote the development of China’s digital economy.
Assessing Multinomial Distributions with a Bayesian Approach
Authors: Al-Labadi Luai , Ciur Petru , Dimovic Milutin , Lim Kyuson
Published: July 2023

This paper introduces a unified Bayesian approach for testing various hypotheses related to multinomial distributions. The method calculates the Kullback–Leibler divergence between two specified multinomial distributions, followed by comparing the change in distance from the prior to the posterior through the relative belief ratio. A prior elicitation algorithm is used to specify the prior distributions. To demonstrate the effectiveness and practical application of this approach, it has been applied to several examples.
Prognostics and Health Management of Rotating Machinery of Industrial Robot with Deep Learning Applications—A Review
Authors: Kumar Prashant , Khalid Salman , Kim Heung
Published: July 2023

The availability of computational power in the domain of Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) with deep learning (DL) applications has attracted researchers worldwide. Industrial robots are the prime mover of modern industry. Industrial robots comprise multiple forms of rotating machinery, like servo motors and numerous gears. Thus, the PHM of the rotating components of industrial robots is crucial to minimize the downtime in the industries. In recent times, deep learning has proved its mettle in different areas, like bio-medical, image recognition, speech recognition, and many more. PHM with DL applications is a rapidly growing field. It has helped achieve a better understanding of the different condition monitoring signals, like vibration, current, temperature, acoustic emission, partial discharge, and pressure. Most current review articles are component- (or system-)specific and have not been updated to reflect the new deep learning approaches. Also, a unified review paper for PHM strategies for industrial robots and their rotating machinery with DL applications has not previously been presented. This paper presents a review of the PHM strategies with various DL algorithms for industrial robots and rotating machinery, along with brief theoretical aspects of the algorithms. This paper presents a trend of the up-to-date advancements in PHM approaches using DL algorithms. Also, the restrictions and challenges associated with the available PHM approaches are discussed, paving the way for future studies.
A New Family of Modified Slash Distributions with Applications
Authors: Reyes Jimmy , Iriarte Yuri A.
Published: July 2023

This article presents a new family of symmetric heavy-tailed distributions. This model is based on the ratio of two independent random variables; one with a normal distribution in the numerator and another with a Birnbaum–Saunders distribution in the denominator. The result is a new slash-like distribution capable of modeling high levels of kurtosis, so it can be considered as a viable alternative to other heavy-tailed distributions in the literature. Fundamental properties such as density and raw moments are derived. Parameter estimation is performed using the moment and maximum likelihood methods. A simulation study to evaluate the behavior of the estimators is carried out. Finally, the utility of the new distribution is illustrated by fitting two real datasets.
Assessing the Risk of APOE-ϵ4 on Alzheimer’s Disease Using Bayesian Additive Regression Trees
Authors: Xia Yifan , Liang Baosheng
Published: July 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects about a tenth of the population aged over 65 and nearly half of those over 85, and the number of AD patients continues to grow. Several studies have shown that the ϵ4 variant of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is potentially associated with an increased risk of AD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the causal effect of APOE-ϵ4 on Alzheimer’s disease under the potential outcome framework and evaluate the individualized risk of disease onset for APOE-ϵ4 carriers. A total of 1705 Hispanic individuals from the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP) were included in this study, comprising 453 APOE-ϵ4 carriers and 1252 non-carriers. Among them, 265 subjects had developed AD (23.2%). The non-parametric Bayesian additive regression trees (BART) approach was applied to model the individualized causal effects of APOE-ϵ4 on disease onset in the presence of right-censored outcomes. The heterogeneous risk of APOE-ϵ4 on AD was examined through the individualized posterior survival probability and posterior causal effects. The results showed that, on average, patients carrying APOE-ϵ4 were 0.968 years younger at onset than those with non-carrying status, and the disease risk associated with APOE-ϵ4 carrying status was 3.9% higher than that for non-carrying status; however, it should be noted that neither result was statistically significant. The posterior causal effects of APOE-ϵ4 for individualized subjects indicate that 14.41% of carriers presented strong evidence of AD risk and approximately 38.65% presented mild evidence, while around 13.71% of non-carriers presented strong evidence of AD risk and 40.89% presented mild evidence. Furthermore, 79.26% of carriers exhibited a posterior probability of disease risk greater than 0.5. In conclusion, no significant causal effect of the APOE-ϵ4 gene on AD was observed at the population level, but strong evidence of AD risk was identified in a sub-group of APOE-ϵ4 carriers.
Epidemiology and Trends in Cartilage Surgery of the Foot and Ankle in Germany: An Analysis of National Healthcare Billing and Reporting Data from 2006 to 2020
Authors: Eidmann Annette , Heinz Tizian , Oberfeld Jan , Weißenberger Manuel , Rudert Maximilian , Stratos Ioannis
Published: July 2023

Background and objectives: Cartilage surgery constitutes a standard intervention in foot and ankle procedures. Currently, there is a lack of epidemiological data on its frequency, age distribution, and surgical options for cartilage surgery. This study aimed to investigate the current landscape of cartilage surgery in Germany and identify the most common procedures from an epidemiological standpoint. Materials and methods: Medical billing and reporting data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, encompassing the period 2006–2020, was examined, including all foot and ankle cartilage surgical procedures (summarized under OPS codes 5-812 and 5-801). The dataset incorporated information on the affected joint, patient age and sex, and surgery type. Each surgical procedure was categorized as “debridement”, “regeneration” or “refixation”. Linear and nonlinear regression analyses were employed, with a statistical significance threshold of 0.05. Results: From the total of 136,501 procedures conducted during the study period, the most frequently performed interventions were microfracture (58,252) and chondroplasty (56,135), and thus, debridement procedures were in the leading position. The use of acellular membranes was the most used regenerative technique (n = 11,414). At the ankle joint, interventions were mostly arthroscopic and in men, while foot cartilage surgeries were preferably performed via open surgery and mostly in women. Age distribution analysis revealed two primary peaks: the first in the 20–25-year-old group (ankle and foot) and the second in the 45–50-year-old group (ankle) and 55–60-year-old group (foot). Refixation and regenerative procedures were more frequent among younger individuals, while debriding procedures were more frequent among older individuals. Regenerative procedures, particularly in the ankle, significantly increased over time. Conclusions: Cartilage surgery of the foot and ankle was common, with two primary age groups predominantly affected. Notably, recent years have witnessed a considerable rise in cartilage regenerative procedures.
Pregnancy-Associated Spontaneous Coronary Acute Dissection as a Cause of Sudden Cardiac Death—Autopsy Findings and Literature Review: Is COVID-19 Related?
Authors: Hogea Timur , Suciu Bogdan Andrei , Chinezu Laura , Brinzaniuc Klara , Arbănași Emil Marian , Ungureanu Ancuța , Kaller Réka , Carașca Cosmin , Arbănași Eliza Mihaela , Vunvulea Vlad , Hălmaciu Ioana , Mureșan Adrian Vasile , Russu Eliza , Ciucanu Claudiu Constantin , Radu Casandra Maria , Radu Carmen Corina
Published: July 2023

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of mortality globally (violent or non-violent), with few to no feasible remedies. The etiopathogenesis of SCD involves a complex and multilayered substrate in which dynamic factors interact with a preexistent cardiovascular pathology, which is often undiagnosed and untreated, leading to the rapid development of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiac arrest. Cardiovascular disease is a rare but emerging factor in maternal mortality that can be justified by an upward trend in the mean age of pregnant individuals. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is defined as a non-traumatic and non-iatrogenic separation of the coronary arterial wall by intramural hemorrhage with or without an intimal tear. The resulting intramural hematoma compresses the coronary arteries, reducing blood flow and causing myocardial ischemia. SCAD continues to be misdiagnosed, underdiagnosed, and managed as an atherosclerotic acute coronary syndrome, which may harm patients with SCAD. The latest research shows that individuals who have or have had coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may also present coagulation abnormalities, so infection with COVID-19 during pregnancy can increase this hypercoagulable condition, thus increasing the risk of SCAD and SCD. This present study reports two cases over 35 years, one being infected with SARS-COV2 one month before the event and the other being tested positive during admission, both asymptomatic, who were declared healthy on periodic clinical evaluations, with pregnancies over 35 weeks, with normal fetal development, which suddenly caused chest pain, dyspnea, and loss of consciousness, required emergency c-sections, and died suddenly after they were performed. In both cases, the cause of death was SCAD on the anterior-descending artery. In both cases, emergency percutaneous coronary intervention was performed. The second part of the study represents a literature overview of SCAD during COVID-19. In addition to pregnancy hormonal changes, other potential hormone-mediated SCAD triggers are still under discussion.
Significance of Tumor–Stroma Ratio (TSR) in Predicting Outcomes of Malignant Tumors
Authors: Pyo Jung-Soo , Kim Nae Yu , Min Kyueng-Whan , Kang Dong-Wook
Published: July 2023

Background and Objectives: The present study aimed to elucidate the distribution and the prognostic implications of tumor–stroma ratio (TSR) in various malignant tumors through a meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: This meta-analysis included 51 eligible studies with information for overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS), according to TSR. In addition, subgroup analysis was performed based on criteria for high TSR. Results: The estimated rate of high TSR was 0.605 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.565–0.644) in overall malignant tumors. The rates of high TSR ranged from 0.276 to 0.865. The highest rate of high TSR was found in endometrial cancer (0.865, 95% CI 0.827–0.895). The estimated high TSR rates of colorectal, esophageal, and stomach cancers were 0.622, 0.529, and 0.448, respectively. In overall cases, patients with high TSR had better OS and DFS than those with low TSR (hazard ratio (HR) 0.631, 95% CI 0.542–0.734, and HR 0.564, 95% CI 0.0.476–0.669, respectively). Significant correlations with OS were found in the breast, cervical, colorectal, esophagus, head and neck, ovary, stomach, and urinary tract cancers. In addition, there were significant correlations of DFS in breast, cervical, colorectal, esophageal, larynx, lung, and stomach cancers. In endometrial cancers, high TSR was significantly correlated with worse OS and DFS. Conclusions: The rate of high TSR was different in various malignant tumors. TSR can be useful for predicting prognosis through a routine microscopic examination of malignant tumors.
Venous Minus Arterial Carbon Dioxide Gradients in the Monitoring of Tissue Perfusion and Oxygenation: A Narrative Review
Authors: Dubin Arnaldo , Pozo Mario O.
Published: July 2023

According to Fick’s principle, the total uptake of (or release of) a substance by tissues is the product of blood flow and the difference between the arterial and the venous concentration of the substance. Therefore, the mixed or central venous minus arterial CO2 content difference depends on cardiac output (CO). Assuming a linear relationship between CO2 content and partial pressure, central or mixed venous minus arterial PCO2 differences (Pcv-aCO2 and Pmv-aCO2) are directly related to CO. Nevertheless, this relationship is affected by alterations in the CO2Hb dissociation curve induced by metabolic acidosis, hemodilution, the Haldane effect, and changes in CO2 production (VCO2). In addition, Pcv-aCO2 and Pmv-aCO2 are not interchangeable. Despite these confounders, CO is a main determinant of Pcv-aCO2. Since in a study performed in septic shock patients, Pmv-aCO2 was correlated with changes in sublingual microcirculation but not with those in CO, it has been proposed as a monitor for microcirculation. The respiratory quotient (RQ)—RQ = VCO2/O2 consumption—sharply increases in anaerobic situations induced by exercise or critical reductions in O2 transport. This results from anaerobic VCO2 secondary to bicarbonate buffering of anaerobically generated protons. The measurement of RQ requires expired gas analysis by a metabolic cart, which is not usually available. Thus, some studies have suggested that the ratio of Pcv-aCO2 to arterial minus central venous O2 content (Pcv-aCO2/Ca-cvO2) might be a surrogate for RQ and tissue oxygenation. In this review, we analyze the physiologic determinants of Pcv-aCO2 and Pcv-aCO2/Ca-cvO2 and their potential usefulness and limitations for the monitoring of critically ill patients. We discuss compelling evidence showing that they are misleading surrogates for tissue perfusion and oxygenation, mainly because they are systemic variables that fail to track regional changes. In addition, they are strongly dependent on changes in the CO2Hb dissociation curve, regardless of changes in systemic and microvascular perfusion and oxygenation.
Association between a Marine Healing Program and Metabolic Syndrome Components and Mental Health Indicators
Authors: Byeon Woo-Jin , Lee Sung-Jae , Khil Tae-Gyu , Jeong Ah-Young , Han Byoung-Duck , Sohn Min-Sung , Choi Jae-Wook , Kim Yang-Hyun
Published: July 2023

Background and Objectives: Metabolic syndrome is a growing health concern globally, and its prevalence continues to increase. This study investigated whether a marine healing program could improve metabolic syndrome indicators and mental health in adults with a metabolic syndrome and those at risk of developing it. Materials and Methods: This study enrolled 30 participants who were assigned to either the experimental or control groups. The duration of the study was set at 4 weeks. Both groups received metabolic syndrome management education, and the experimental group additionally participated in two marine healing programs. Anthropometric indicators, biochemical indicators, and mental health indicators were collected before and after the intervention. Results: The findings indicate that the experimental group had significantly lower systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and body weight, as well as higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and uric acid. Mental health indicators (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and quality of life measures) additionally showed improvement. Pre–post comparisons between the experimental group and the control group showed that the experimental group had significantly decreased by 1.05 kg in body weight, whereas the control group increased by 0.29 kg in body weight. In addition, HDL-C decreased by 0.91 mg/dL in the control group and increased by 3.7 mg/dL in the experimental group. Conclusions: Overall, these results suggest that marine healing programs could improve metabolic syndrome indicators such as body weight and HDL-C better than the control treatment.
Process Parameter Optimization for Selective Laser-Melted High-Nitrogen Steel and the Effects on Microstructure and Properties
Authors: Sun Xin , Ren Jianbiao , Wang Shuhuan , Zhao Dingguo , Xiong Xiaojing , Rao Jeremy Heng
Published: July 2023

Chromium nitride powder is blended with pre-alloyed powder to make an overmatched powder with a high nitrogen concentration in order to manufacture high-nitrogen steel by selective laser melting. By employing a wider range of process parameters, the impact of process parameters on the relative density, nitrogen concentration, microstructure, and mechanical properties of high-nitrogen steel is investigated. In simulated human body fluid conditions, the corrosion resistance of high-nitrogen steel, pure titanium, and 316L was compared and evaluated. The findings demonstrate that the relative density of high-nitrogen steel initially rises and then falls with the increase in energy density, reaching a high value of 98.8% at 148.8 J/mm3. With rising energy density, the nitrogen concentration falls. The microstructure of high-nitrogen steel is mainly composed of columnar and cellular grains. Both grain sizes steadily grow, but their mechanical characteristics initially rise and then fall as the energy density rises from 83.3 to 187.3 J/mm3. With yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation reaching 921.9 MPa, 1205.1 MPa, and 27%, respectively, the alloy exhibits outstanding mechanical characteristics when the laser power is 250 W, the scanning speed is 700 mm/s, and the associated energy density is 148.8 J/cm3. The high-nitrogen steel at an energy density of 148.8 J/mm3 has the lowest corrosion rate when compared to pure titanium and 316L steel, which suggests that the HNS alloy will have good corrosion resistance in human body fluid conditions.
Simulation and Synthesis of Cobalt (Co) Nanoparticles by Gamma Radiation Technique
Authors: Gharibshahi Elham , Radiman Shahidan , Ashraf Ahmadreza , Saion Elias , Gharibshahi Leila , Ashraf Sina
Published: July 2023

Cobalt nanoparticles were synthesized using the gamma radiolytic technique, and the particle size was found to be reduced from 12±1 to 7±1 nm by increasing the dose from 10 to 60 kGy. The UV-visible absorption spectra were measured and exhibited a steady absorption maxima at 517 nm in the UV region, which blue-shifted toward a lower wavelength with a decrease in particle size. By taking the conduction electrons of an isolated particle that are not entirely free but are instead bound to their respective quantum levels, the optical absorption of the cobalt nanoparticles can be calculated and simulated via intra-band quantum excitation for particle sizes comparable to the measured ones. We found that the simulated absorption maxima of electronic excitations corresponded to the measured absorption maxima. Moreover, the structural characterizations were performed utilizing dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD).
3L, Three-Lactobacilli on Recovering of Microbiome and Immune-Damage by Cyclophosphamide Chemotherapy—A Pilot Experiment in Rats
Authors: Yue Shousong , Zhang Zhenzhong , Bian Fei , Zhang Yan , Chen Gao , Zhu Youfeng , Li Jun , Picimbon Jean-François
Published: July 2023

We deal with various strains of Lactobacillus that can maintain the intestinal microbiome of rats treated with cyclophosphamide, an anticancer agent (chemotherapy). We use MiSeq and various types of statistical tests to prove that cyclophosphamide in rats alters the intestinal microbiome, favoring the growth of various fungi that are extremely harmful to intestinal metabolism. On the contrary, when Lactobacillus 3L is administered together with cyclophosphamide, we prove that the microbiome is preserved by having a much better intestinal metabolism.
Large-Scale Integration of Amplicon Data Reveals Massive Diversity within Saprospirales, Mostly Originating from Saline Environments
Authors: Mourgela Rafaila Nikola , Kioukis Antonios , Pourjam Mohsen , Lagkouvardos Ilias
Published: July 2023

The order Saprospirales, a group of bacteria involved in complex degradation pathways, comprises three officially described families: Saprospiraceae, Lewinellaceae, and Haliscomenobacteraceae. These collectively contain 17 genera and 31 species. The current knowledge on Saprospirales diversity is the product of traditional isolation methods, with the inherited limitations of culture-based approaches. This study utilized the extensive information available in public sequence repositories combined with recent analytical tools to evaluate the global evidence-based diversity of the Saprospirales order. Our analysis resulted in 1183 novel molecular families, 15,033 novel molecular genera, and 188 K novel molecular species. Of those, 7 novel families, 464 novel genera, and 1565 species appeared in abundances at ≥0.1%. Saprospirales were detected in various environments, such as saline water, freshwater, soil, various hosts, wastewater treatment plants, and other bioreactors. Overall, saline water was the environment showing the highest prevalence of Saprospirales, with bioreactors and wastewater treatment plants being the environments where they occurred with the highest abundance. Lewinellaceae was the family containing the majority of the most prevalent species detected, while Saprospiraceae was the family with the majority of the most abundant species found. This analysis should prime researchers to further explore, in a more targeted way, the Saprospirales proportion of microbial dark matter.
Genetic Basis and Expression Pattern Indicate the Biocontrol Potential and Soil Adaption of Lysobacter capsici CK09
Authors: Yang Pu , Qu Chaofan , Yuan Miaomiao , Xi Bo , Jia Xiu , Zhang Ben , Zhang Lizhen
Published: July 2023

Lysobacter species have attracted increasing attention in recent years due to their capacities to produce diverse secondary metabolites against phytopathogens. In this research, we analyzed the genomic and transcriptomic patterns of Lysobacter capsici CK09. Our data showed that L. capsici CK09 harbored various contact-independent biocontrol traits, such as fungal cell wall lytic enzymes and HSAF/WAP-8294A2 biosynthesis, as well as several contact-dependent machineries, including type 2/4/6 secretion systems. Additionally, a variety of hydrolytic enzymes, particularly extracellular enzymes, were found in the L. capsici CK09 genome and predicted to improve its adaption in soil. Furthermore, several systems, including type 4 pili, type 3 secretion system and polysaccharide biosynthesis, can provide a selective advantage to L. capsici CK09, enabling the species to live on the surface in soil. The expression of these genes was then confirmed via transcriptomic analysis, indicating the activities of these genes. Collectively, our research provides a comprehensive understanding of the biocontrol potential and soil adaption of L. capsici CK09 and implies the potential of this strain for application in the future.
Coupling Mechanism of the Concealed Rock Body and Metallogenic Structure of the Sarakan Gold Deposit in Laos Investigated Using Magnetic and Electrical Methods
Authors: Li Hui , Gan Jie , Gan Yu , Wang Bin , Li Yong , Jiang Wei
Published: July 2023

The Sarakan Gold Deposit is located in the vicinity of the Songsanu and Napafa villages, north of Sarakan County, Vientiane Province, Laos. It forms part of the Luang Prabang–Loei polymetallic metallogenic belt, and its metallogenic geological conditions are good and mineral resources are abundant. At present, most orebodies (mineralization) are deeply buried and greatly vary in terms of their characteristics; furthermore, the distribution and output of orebodies (mineralization) are not clear, which makes it difficult to find minerals in the area. Based on the comprehensive geological characteristics, geophysical anomalies, and interpretation results in the study area, it is believed that the Sarakan Gold Deposit is closely related to Indosinian felsic substance magmatic intrusions and is controlled by their structure. The type of deposits in the belt are brittle–ductile, shear structured, Quartz-pyrite, vein-type gold deposits. In this study, we carried out comprehensive geophysical methods, including the high-precision magnetic survey, induced polarization survey, and the transient electromagnetic measurement. Based on the characteristics of geophysical anomalies, geological inference, and interpretation, the integrated geophysical and geochemical prospecting criteria of the ore area have been determined: high magnetism, high polarization, and medium–high resistance are the signs pointing to concealed mineralization bodies in the study area, and this provided the best framework for us to discuss the deep geological bodies in the study area. The drilling verification results are consistent with the abnormalities delineated by the magnetic and electrical measurements. Our geophysical exploration results revealed the coupling relationship between the concealed intrusive body of the Sarakan Gold Deposit and the metallogenic structure, which provided a great opportunity for finding potentially similar deposits in the Luang Prabang–Loei polymetallic metallogenic belt.
Chemical Differentiation and Quantitative Analysis of Black Ginseng Based on an LC-MS Combined with Multivariate Statistical Analysis Approach
Authors: Li Lele , Chang Zhixia , Wei Keyu , Tang Yi , Chen Zhao , Zhang Hongli , Wang Yang , Zhu Heyun , Feng Bo
Published: July 2023

Black ginseng is a new type of processed ginseng that is traditionally used in herbal medicine in East Asian countries. It is prepared from fresh, white, or red ginseng by undergoing a process of steaming and drying several times. However, the chemical differentiation of black ginseng with different processing levels is not well understood. The aim of this study was to propose a new method for discriminating and quantifying black ginseng. Six ginsenosides from black ginseng were accurately quantified, and based on this, the black ginseng samples were divided into incomplete and complete black ginseng. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole-time of flight/mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) combined with a multivariate statistical analysis strategy was then employed to differentiate the two groups. A total of 141 ions were selected as analytical markers of black ginseng, with 45 of these markers being annotated by matching precise m/z and MS/MS data from prior studies.