bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perturbations of gut microbiome and metabolome of pigs infected with Mycoplasma hyorhinis
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Gan Yuan , Bao Hongduo , Wang Ran
Published: May 2023

Background

Mycoplasma hyorhinis is a prevalent respiratory pathogen in swine, causing significant economic loss to pig producers. There is growing evidence that respiratory pathogen infections have a large impact on intestinal microecology. To study the effect of M. hyorhinis infection on gut microbial composition and metabolome profile, pigs were infected with M. hyorhinis. Metagenomic sequencing analysis was performed of fecal samples and a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis of gut digesta was made.

Results

Pigs infected with M. hyorhinis had enriched Sutterella and Mailhella, and depleted Dechloromonas, Succinatimonas, Campylobacter, Blastocystis, Treponema, and Megasphaera. The pigs infected with M. hyorhinis also had greater abundances of bacterium_0_1xD8_71, Ruminococcus_sp__CAG_353, Firmicutes_bacterium_CAG_194, Firmicutes_bacterium_CAG_534, bacterium_1xD42_87, and lower abundances of Chlamydia_suis, Megasphaera_elsdenii, Treponema_porcinum, Bacteroides_sp__CAG_1060, Faecalibacterium_prausnitzii. Metabolomic analysis revealed that some lipids and lipid‐like molecules increased in the small intestine, whereas most lipids and lipid‐like molecule metabolites decreased in the large intestine. These altered metabolites induce changes in intestinal sphingolipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and thiamine metabolism.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate that infection with M. hyorhinis can alter the gut microbial composition and metabolite structure in pigs, which may further affect amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism in the intestine. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Evaluation of Early Diabetic Kidney Disease Using Ultrasound Localization Microscopy: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Zhang Hong , Huang Lijie , Yang Yi , Qiu Lanyan , He Qiong , Liu Jinping , Qian Linxue , Luo Jianwen
Published: May 2023

Objective

The purpose of this study is to detect the hemodynamic changes of microvessels in the early stage of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and to test the feasibility of ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) in early diagnosis of DKD.

Methods

In this study, streptozotocin (STZ) induced DKD rat model was used. Normal rats served as the control group. Conventional ultrasound, contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and ULM data were collected and analyzed. The kidney cortex was divided into four segments, which are 0.25–0.5 mm (Segment 1), 0.5–0.75 mm (Segment 2), 0.75–1 mm (Segment 3), and 1–1.25 mm (Segment 4) away from the renal capsule, respectively. The mean blood flow velocities of arteries and veins in each segment were separately calculated, and also the velocity gradients and overall mean velocities of arteries and veins. Mann–Whitney U test was used for comparison of the data.

Results

Quantitative results of microvessel velocity obtained by ULM show that the arterial velocity of Segments 2, 3, and 4, and the overall mean arterial velocity of the four segments in the DKD group are significantly lower than those in the normal group. The venous velocity of Segment 3 and the overall mean venous velocity of the four segments in the DKD group are higher than those in the normal group. The arterial velocity gradient in the DKD group is lower than that in the normal group.

Conclusion

ULM can visualize and quantify the blood flow and may be used for early diagnosis of DKD.
Opening the black box of winter: Full‐year dynamics of crustacean zooplankton along a nearshore depth gradient in a large lake
Authors: Shchapov Kirill , Ozersky Ted
Published: May 2023

Past studies of zooplankton seasonality in large temperate lakes have often neglected the winter period. Winter conditions are rapidly changing (e.g., reduced ice cover extent and duration, altered thermal and mixing regimes) in northern lakes, making it important to fill the existing winter knowledge gap. In this study, we sampled five stations in Lake Superior across a nearshore depth gradient through the full year to assess the phenology of crustacean zooplankton communities and the effect of environmental drivers on them. Across stations, zooplankton densities were the lowest in winter (0.9 ± 0.6 Ind. L−1) and highest in summer (14.2 ± 15.1 Ind. L−1). Zooplankton abundances and community composition were less seasonally variable at deeper stations compared to shallower and more terrestrially affected regions. Cladocerans were the dominant taxonomic group during the summer across all stations, while cyclopoid and calanoid copepods were more important during the fall, winter, and spring. Among feeding groups, herbivores were most abundant in summer while omnivores and carnivores dominated in winter. We found that water temperature and food availability were the main drivers of total zooplankton densities through the year and during the cold seasons, but the effect of these factors varied among the main taxonomic groups. Our study demonstrates seasonal and spatial variation in crustacean zooplankton and environmental parameters, with the highest fluctuation at shallower stations. This study offers new information on seasonal crustacean zooplankton dynamics and contributes to understanding the effects of climate change on large lake ecosystems.
Non‐Reciprocal Cavity Polariton with Atoms Strongly Coupled to Optical Cavity
Authors: Yang Pengfei , Li Ming , Han Xing , He Hai , Li Gang , Zou Chang‐Ling , Zhang Pengfei , Qian Yuhua , Zhang Tiancai
Published: May 2023

Breaking the time‐reversal symmetry of light is of great importance for fundamental physics and has attracted increasing interest in the study of non‐reciprocal photonic devices. Here, a chiral cavity quantum electrodynamics system with multiple atoms strongly coupled to a Fabry–Pérot cavity is experimentally demonstrated. By polarizing the internal quantum state of the atoms, the time‐reversal symmetry of the atom‐cavity interaction is broken. The strongly coupled atom‐cavity system can be described by non‐reciprocal quasiparticles, that is, the cavity polariton. When it works in the linear regime, the inherent nonreciprocity makes the system work as a single‐photon‐level optical isolator. Benefiting from the collective enhancement of multiple atoms, an isolation ratio exceeding 30 dB on the single‐quanta level (≈ 0.1 photon on average) is achieved. The validity of the non‐reciprocal device under zero magnetic field and the reconfigurability of the isolation direction are also experimentally demonstrated. Moreover, when the cavity polariton works in the nonlinear regime, the quantum interference between polaritons with weak anharmonicity induces non‐reciprocal nonclassical statistics of cavity transmission from coherent probe light.
Novel spectral schemes to fractional problems with nonsmooth solutions
Authors: Atta Ahmed G. , Abd‐Elhameed Waleed M. , Moatimid Galal M. , Youssri Youssri H.
Published: May 2023

In this article, we present two numerical methods for treating the fractional initial‐value problem (FIVP) and time‐fractional partial differential problem (FPDP) that caused the error to decay exponentially rapidly. The derivations of the proposed schemes rely on the use of a spectral Galerkin method that reduces each of the FIVP and FPDP into an algebraic system of equations in the unknown expansion coefficients. The class of orthogonal polynomials, namely, Chebyshev polynomials of the fifth kind is utilized. In terms of new basis functions called regular shifted Chebyshev poly‐fractionomials of fifth kind, approximate solutions to the FIVP and FPDP are obtained. Moreover, convergence and error analysis of the two problems are investigated in depth. Some numerical examples are presented with some comparisons. In conclusion, our spectral methods are effective and convenient.
Challenges of midwifery staff at Tehran hospitals: A qualitative study from the midwifery managers perspective
Authors: Mahsa Khoshnam rad , Shahla Khosravi , Mosadeghrad Ali Mohamad , Elham Ehsani‐Chimeh , Mirmolaei Seyed Tahereh
Published: May 2023

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the challenges faced by midwifery staff working in hospitals from midwifery manager's perspectives and provide suggestions to solve them.

Design

Descriptive qualitative study.

Methods

The study was conducted in Tehran in 2021. Data were collected using fifteen semi‐structured interviews conducted with hospitals' clinical midwifery managers over 7 months. The interview data were grouped into three themes: recruitment, development, and maintenance.

Results

The midwifery workforce would face significant challenges in training hospitals. Lack of suitable patterns of midwifery workforce management, the non‐optimal midwives' utilization and deployment, unclear job boundaries, weak training programs for the midwives' professional development, and unpleasant working atmosphere were the main challenges. A well‐defined task description for midwives to determine their position in all spheres of reproductive health service provision, create training courses based on skill gaps, and focus on improving labour relations and organizational culture are suggested.

Patient or Public Contribution

Midwifery managers were interviewed. They talked about their experience with midwifery workforce challenges.
Validation studies of Japanese administrative health care data: A scoping review
Authors: Yamana Hayato , Konishi Takaaki , Yasunaga Hideo
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Large‐scale administrative health care databases are increasingly being utilized for research. However, there has not been much literature that validated administrative data in Japan; a previous review identified six validation studies published between 2011 and 2017. We conducted a literature review of studies that assessed the validity of Japanese administrative health care data.

Methods

We searched for studies published by March 2022 that compared individual‐level administrative data with a reference standard from another data source, as well as studies that validated administrative data using other data within the same database. The eligible studies were also summarized based on characteristics which included data types, settings, reference standard used, numbers of patients, and conditions validated.

Results

There were 36 eligible studies, including 29 that used external reference standard and seven that validated administrative data using other data within the same database. Chart review was the reference standard in 21 studies (range of the numbers of patients, 72–1674; 11 studies conducted in single institutions and nine studies in 2–5 institutions). Five studies used a disease registry as the reference standard. Diagnoses of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes were frequently evaluated.

Conclusions

Validation studies are being conducted at an increasing rate in Japan, although most of them are small scale. Further large‐scale comprehensive validation studies are necessary to effectively utilize the databases for research.
Integration of data‐independent acquisition (DIA) with co‐fractionation mass spectrometry (CF‐MS) to enhance interactome mapping capabilities
Authors: Hay Brenna N. , Akinlaja Mopelola O. , Baker Teesha C. , Houfani Aicha Asma , Stacey R. Greg , Foster Leonard J.
Published: May 2023

Proteomics technologies are continually advancing, providing opportunities to develop stronger and more robust protein interaction networks (PINs). In part, this is due to the ever‐growing number of high‐throughput proteomics methods that are available. This review discusses how data‐independent acquisition (DIA) and co‐fractionation mass spectrometry (CF‐MS) can be integrated to enhance interactome mapping abilities. Furthermore, integrating these two techniques can improve data quality and network generation through extended protein coverage, less missing data, and reduced noise. CF‐DIA‐MS shows promise in expanding our knowledge of interactomes, notably for non‐model organisms (NMOs). CF‐MS is a valuable technique on its own, but upon the integration of DIA, the potential to develop robust PINs increases, offering a unique approach for researchers to gain an in‐depth understanding into the dynamics of numerous biological processes.
Pyrifluquinazon baseline susceptibility and inhibition of Tomato chlorosis virus transmission by Bemisia tabaci
Authors: Wen Zanrong , Feng Jinzheng , Zhu Bolin , Xu Wei , Xu Fa , Tan Huiwen , Chu Dong , Guo Lei
Published: May 2023

Background

Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) is associated with tomato yellow leaf disorder diseases in more than 20 countries. ToCV can be transmitted in a semipersistent manner by whitefly vectors such as Bemisia tabaci. Controlling the vector pests by using chemical insecticides is an efficient and effective approach to reduce and interrupt the virus transmission. Pyrifluquinazon is a new pyridine azomethine derivative, showing insecticidal toxicity to sucking pests by disturbing their feeding behavior. However, limited attention has been paid to the performance of pyrifluquinazon against B. tabaci and ToCV transmission.

Result

This study showed the lethal concentration of 50% (LC50) values of pyrifluquinazon to 22 B. tabaci field populations ranged from 0.54 to 2.44 mg L−1, and the baseline susceptibility of B. tabaci to pyrifluquinazon was 1.24 mg L−1 with a 95% confidence limit of 0.35–1.85 mg L−1. Pyrifluquinazon and afidopyropen did not show cross‐resistance to dinotefuran and pymetrozine in B. tabaci, which both inhibited the feeding activities of B. tabaci. The antifeedant concentration of 50% (AFC50) values at 48 h were 0.70 mg L−1 for pyrifluquinazon and 2.13 mg L−1 for afidopyropen. Foliar application of pyrifluquinazon and afidopyropen reduced the ToCV transmission by 40.91% and 33.33%, respectively and significantly decreased the ToCV loads in tomato plants under laboratory conditions.

Conclusion

These results provided new information about the effects of modulators of the vanilloid‐type transient receptor potential channel on the toxicity to B. tabaci and inhibition of ToCV transmission. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Study on the Point‐Contact Gate AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistor with 0.1 μm Gate Length
Authors: Luo Shengting , Liu Xianyun , Jiang Xingfang
Published: May 2023

The current collapse has been one of the most challenging problems in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). In recent years, the virtual gate effect has been the most widely accepted cause of the current collapse effect. To effectively improve the current collapse effect and reduce the influence of the virtual gate effect on the device, a point‐contact gate AlGaN/GaN HEMT structure is proposed in this article. Tests show that the device has high transconductance, high cut‐off frequency, and good transfer, output, and breakdown characteristics. The maximum saturation drain current is 18 mA mm−1, the maximum transconductance is 200 mS mm−1, the breakdown voltage is 994 V, the maximum current gain is about 190 dB, and the cut‐off frequency is up to 206 GHz when the gate length and width are 0.1 μm × 0.001 μm. The experimental analysis shows that the point‐contact gate AlGaN/GaN HEMT structure shortens the gate length, thereby improving the virtual gate effect and effectively suppressing the current collapse effect, increasing the breakdown voltage of the device, and further improving the device performance, which lays the foundation for the future research of AlGaN/GaN HEMT.
Sampled‐data‐based event‐triggered adaptive prescribed performance control of uncertain strict‐feedback nonlinear systems
Authors: Xu Xindi , Hou Mingzhe
Published: May 2023

This article studies the problem of global adaptive prescribed performance control (PPC) for a class of uncertain strict‐feedback nonlinear systems based on the sampled‐data‐based event‐triggering mechanism. A novel time‐varying scaling function, whose reciprocal plays the role of a prescribed performance function, is constructed and utilized to remove the range restriction on the initial tracking error and achieve the global PPC. Meanwhile, to reduce the communication frequency and avoid the Zeno behavior in mechanism, a sampled‐data‐based event‐triggering mechanism is introduced, and an event‐triggered global adaptive prescribed performance controller is designed by employing the error transformation technique and the adaptive backstepping method. It is proved that all signals of the closed‐loop system are bounded and the tracking error is confined within the prescribed performance boundary for arbitrary initial values. Since there is no need to continuously monitor whether the triggering condition is satisfied, the obtained result is conducive to physical implementation. Finally, a network‐based robotic manipulator system is employed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Some Aspects of the Melting and Dephosphorization Mechanism of Hydrogen‐DRI
Authors: Huss Joar , Vickerfält Amanda , Kojola Niklas
Published: May 2023

To meet the future environmental challenges, hydrogen direct reduced iron (H‐DRI) is expected to constitute the principal material for virgin steel production. For an efficient value chain, knowledge of the melting mechanism and dephosphorization mechanism of H‐DRI is needed. The in situ melting behavior, the melting mechanism, and the dephosphorization mechanism during heating of H‐DRI are investigated experimentally at 1773 and 1873 K. It is found that the melting rate of H‐DRI varies with the reduction degree (91–99.5%), increasing with decreasing reduction degree. An autogenous slag forms during heating and flows through the pores of the H‐DRI, thus increasing its effective thermal conductivity. The fraction of filled pores varies with reduction degree explaining the difference in melting rate. At this stage, the dissolution of apatite is initiated and completed upon melting of the metal phase. A gradual reversion of phosphorus from the autogenous slag to the liquid metal is observed after complete melting. The rate of reversion is discussed based on the properties of the H‐DRI, for example, reduction degree and carbon addition.
Effect of Gas Forming Compounds on the Vibration of a Submerged Lance in Hot Metal Desulfurization
Authors: Pylvänäinen Mika , Nissilä Juhani , Visuri Ville-Valtteri , Laurila Jouni , Niemi Antti H. , Tuomikoski Sakari , Paananen Timo , Liedes Toni
Published: May 2023

Hot metal desulfurization is the main process step for removing sulfur in blast furnace‐based steelmaking. A desulfurization reagent is pneumatically injected into the hot metal through a submerged lance causing it to vibrate. The aim of this study is to develop a mechanical vibration measurement‐based method that can detect changes in the gas‐forming properties of the reagent. The detection is performed using Elastic Net regression and eXtreme Gradient Boosting‐based classification models the classification performance of which is compared. The lance aging causes changes in its dynamic characteristics, and the disturbing effect of this is removed from the measured data of the lance vibration prior to classification by means of a developed cleaning algorithm. The best classification performance in detecting changes in the gas‐forming properties, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.916 and Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.699, is achieved using an Elastic Net regression‐based classification model. The results of this work serve as a basis for developing industrial applications in which the effective utilization of the excitation, such as vibrations generated by the gas formation can be utilized for process monitoring and as a soft sensor for predicting the reagent‐induced process variance.
Microstructure‐Based Modeling and Estimation of Mechanical Properties of High‐Carbon Steel
Authors: Dey Indrajit , Das Kaushik , Saha Rajib , Ghosh Swarup Kumar
Published: May 2023

Herein, attempts are made to estimate the mechanical properties using microstructure‐based finite element (FE) modeling and validate these results with the experimental results. The two high‐carbon steel specimens are hot‐rolled and air‐cooled to develop ferrite–pearlite microstructures. Different characterizations are utilized to observe microstructures as well as Vickers hardness and tensile tests are carried out to determine the mechanical properties. Two high‐resolution scanning electron micrographs are chosen for representative volume element‐based FE analyses for modeling the mechanical behavior of ferrite–cementite microstructure. Object‐oriented finite elements (OOF2) and Abaqus FEA 6.14 software are used to estimate the elastic and elastoplastic behavior assuming plane stress conditions. The correlation between cementite lamellae orientation and the predicted elastoplastic properties is investigated and compared with the experimental results. The influence of image size and mesh size on the predicted true stress–true strain behavior is discussed. The hard and brittle cementite lamellae face maximum stress while the softer ferrite matrix experiences maximum strain. It is found that strain accumulation is maximum at the interfaces of ferrite and cementite. These findings are further validated by the microvoid and crack initiation spots in the fracture surface and subsurface micrographs of broken tensile specimens.
Influence of Nonuniform Microstructure on High‐Cycle Fatigue Properties of the Electron‐Beam‐Welded Joint of High‐Strength Steel
Authors: Wan Hongyuan , Li Lihang , Zhang Zexin , Dai Hao , Jiang Xunyan , Fu Pengfei
Published: May 2023

The relatively weak fatigue property of electron beam (EB)‐welded joints is one of the key issues restricting their wide application. Herein, the impact of accelerating voltage, specifically the process‐induced nonuniform microstructure, is investigated on the high‐cycle fatigue properties of 15CrMnMoVA steel EB‐welded joints. It is indicated in the results that increasing the accelerating voltage from 120 to 150 kV (150‐specimen) results in a longer fatigue life and an 11.8% improvement in fatigue limit for the welded joint with the locking bottom structure. However, even after removing the locking bottom structure, the fatigue life of the 150‐specimen is still inferior to that of the base metal. The shorter fatigue life is primarily due to stress concentration and premature fatigue failure caused by the nonuniform distribution of grain size and crystallographic orientation across the EB‐welded joint. Thus, further optimization of the welding process is necessary to improve the fatigue reliability of EB‐welded joints by obtaining a more uniform microstructure.
Dissolution Behavior of Chromite Ore in CaO‐SiO2 System
Authors: Xiao Yiyu , Wei Kangji , Wang Lijun , Liu Shiyuan , He Xiaobo , Chou Kuochih
Published: May 2023

Numerous investigations proposed that the dissolution of chromite ore is the rate‐controlling step for the smelting reduction of chromite ore. The mechanism of chromite ore dissolution in the binary CaO‐SiO2 system is presented. The effect of basicity, temperature, and reducing conditions on chromite ore dissolution is elaborated. The solubility of chromite ore increases considerably when the basicity increases from 0.56 to 0.65. However, the solubility of chromite ore decreases when the basicity further increases from 0.65 to 0.74. The positive effect of reducing conditions on the solubility of chromite ore is evident. The maximum dissolved Cr2O3 in slag under reducing conditions by using a graphite crucible reaches 2.6 wt% after 15 min of dissolution. The element diffusion behavior at the chromite/slag interface is elaborated through SEM‐EDS technology. The analysis suggests that the rate‐controlling step in the early stage is the interface dissolution reaction. After a certain time, the rate‐controlling step becomes the mass transfer of Cr2O3 from the chromite ore to the chromite/slag interface. The activation energy of the dissolution reaction is  = 285.29 kJ mol−1.
Precipitation Characteristic of Sulfide in Medium‐Carbon Sulfur‐Containing Steel
Authors: He Hang , Wang Fengkang , Wang Wanlin , Zeng Jie
Published: May 2023

Herein, the precipitation characteristic of sulfide is investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy for a typical medium‐carbon sulfur‐containing 42CrMo steel under different cooling rates (100, 200, 600 °C min−1) and sulfur contents (0.0018 and 0.0249 wt%). Thermodynamic calculations show that increasing sulfur content can enlarge the liquid–solid‐phase zone and enhance the initial precipitation temperature of MnS in 42CrMo steel. Phase diagram of Mn–Mo–S demonstrates that the sulfides contain Mn, Mo, and S elements can be formed. The experimental results indicate that with an increase of the sulfur content from 0.0018 to 0.0249 wt%, more (Mn, Mo)S sulfides are formed in the steel due to the significant enhancement of supersaturation. Moreover, it is revealed that the average size of (Mn, Mo)S inclusions decreases from 16.11 to 3.55 μm when the cooling rate increases from 100 to 600 °C min−1. The typical of large‐size rodlike (Mn, Mo)S inclusions is observed in a low cooling rates of 100–200 °C min−1. As the cooling rate increases to 600 °C min−1, smaller globular (Mn, Mo)S inclusions with an average size of 3.55 μm are appeared which can act as a core to promote the ferrite formation.
Use of direct fluorescein sodium lymphography for thoracic duct identification in a dog with idiopathic chylothorax
Authors: Gemignani Francesco , Livet Véronique
Published: May 2023

A 2‐year‐6‐month‐old, female, neutered Greyhound was diagnosed with idiopathic chylothorax. Surgery was performed, which included thoracic duct ligation, subtotal pericardectomy, total right caudal lung lobectomy, chyli cisterna ablation and pleural port device placement. Fluorescein sodium was injected into a mesenteric lymph node through a right paracostal laparotomy for colourisation of the different branches of the thoracic duct to assist in identification. A sterile ultraviolet torch (LED 395 nm) was used to activate the fluorescent yellow‐green signal, enabling visual assessment of the thoracic duct and its branches. Finally, the different branches were ligated using haemovascular clips. Success of the thoracic duct ligation was assessed by contrast fluoroscopy. The dog recovered well from the surgery, but was euthanased without investigation 4 weeks after the procedure due to anorexia, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. This is the first report of thoracic duct ligation for idiopathic chylothorax in a dog using fluorescein sodium as a fluorophore to help with the identification of all the thoracic duct branches.
The Importance of EU Issues in German Elections
Authors: Navarrete Rosa M. , Debus Marc
Published: May 2023

The decision-making processes employed by German politicians and voters in elections to the German Bundestag matter decisively for policy-making at the European level. When casting their vote, German voters choose their representatives and are in a position to use federal elections to keep European Union (EU) policy accountable and better defend their national interests. Nevertheless, the German press and political parties—with the exception of those on the radical right, like the Alternative for Germany (AfD—Alternative für Deutschland)—tend not to use EU issues to mobilize voters and do not politicize EU integration policy. This pro-European vocation would suggest there is no place for EU issue voting in Germany; however, this is not the case. This contribution disentangles the apparent consensus about the EU and assesses the nuances that indicate the Europeanization of German elections. First, we find that parties behave strategically in respect of the prominence they give to European integration issues and in the way they talk about them. Second, we provide evidence supporting the influence of EU issue voting in the last federal elections. Finally, we show how the opinions of individuals on immigration policy moderate the effect of support for the EU on the vote.
Existence of weak solutions to a diffuse interface model involving magnetic fluids with unmatched densities
Authors: Kalousek Martin , Mitra Sourav , Schlömerkemper Anja
Published: May 2023

In this article we prove the global existence of weak solutions for a diffuse interface model in a bounded domain (both in 2D and 3D) involving incompressible magnetic fluids with unmatched densities. The model couples the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations, gradient flow of the magnetization vector and the Cahn–Hilliard dynamics describing the partial mixing of two fluids. The density of the mixture depends on an order parameter and the modelling (specifically the density dependence) is inspired from Abels et al. (Models Methods Appl Sci 22(3):1150013, 2011).
Diarylheptanoids/sorafenib as a potential anticancer combination against hepatocellular carcinoma: the p53/MMP9 axis of action
Authors: Elmetwalli Alaa , Diab Thoria , Albalawi Aisha Nawaf , El-Naggar Sabry Ali , El‑Far Ali H. , Ghedan Amira Radwan , Alamri Eman Saad , Salama Afrah Fatthi
Published: May 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious and potentially fatal form of cancer associated with liver damage. New anticancer drugs are increasingly needed due to the increasing number of cancer cases every year. In this study, diarylheptanoids (DAH) from Alpinia officinarum were examined for their antitumor activity against DAB-induced HCC in mice, as well as their ability to reduce liver damage. Assays for cytotoxicity were conducted using MTT. The DAB-induced HCC Swiss albino male mice were given DAH and sorafenib (SOR) either as single treatments or in combination, and the effects on tumour development and progression were monitored. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) were evaluated along with biomarkers of liver enzymes (AST, ALT, and GGT). The apoptosis-related gene (CASP8), the apoptosis-related gene (p53), the anti-inflammatory genes (IL-6), the migration-related gene matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP9), and the angiogenesis-related gene vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were assessed using qRT-PCR in the hepatic tissue. As a final step, DAH and SOR were docked with CASP8 and MMP9 via molecular docking to propose potential mechanisms of action. Our results revealed that the combination of DAH and SOR has a potent inhibitory effect on the growth and viability of the HepG2 cell line. The outcomes demonstrated that DAH and SOR-treated HCC-bearing mice displayed a reduction in the tumour burden and liver damage as demonstrated by (1) parameters of repaired liver function; (2) low levels of hepatic MDA; (3) elevated levels of hepatic T-SOD; (4) p53, IL-6, CASP8, MMP9, and VEGF downregulation; and (5) enhanced hepatic structure. The best results were revealed in mice that were co-treated with DAH (given orally) and SOR (given intraperitoneally). The docking study also proposed that both DAH and SOR could inhibit CASP8 and MMP9’s oncogenic activities and had a high affinity for these enzymes. In conclusion, according to study findings, DAH enhances SOR antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects and identifies their molecular targets. Furthermore, the results revealed that DAH was able to boost the anticancer effects of the drug SOR and reduce liver damage caused by HCC in mice. This suggests that DAH could be a potential therapeutic agent against liver cancer.
Optikuskompression bei endokriner Orbitopathie
Authors: Garip Kuebler Aylin , Halfter Kathrin , Klingenstein Annemarie , Neuhann Lukas , Enders Christian , Priglinger Siegfried , Hintschich Christoph
Published: May 2023

Hintergrund

Im klinischen Alltag sind die Diagnose und die Behandlung der Optikuskompression bei endokriner Orbitopathie (EO) immer noch eine große Herausforderung. In dieser Studie untersuchen wir die funktionellen Ergebnisse in Bezug auf den bestkorrigierten Visus (BCVA) und Gesichtsfeld(GF)-Defekte bei N.-opticus-Kompression (OK) bei den Patienten mit EO.

Patienten und Methoden

In diese retrospektive Studie wurden 51 Patienten (96 Augen) mit der Diagnose einer gesicherten OK zwischen 2010 und 2020 eingeschlossen.

Ergebnisse

Nach der Diagnose wurden 16 Patienten (27 Augen) ausschließlich konservativ nur mit einer Steroidstoßtherapie behandelt, 67 Augen erhielten zusätzlich eine chirurgische orbitale Dekompression, während 1 Patient (2 Augen) beide Behandlungsmethoden ablehnte. Bei 74 Augen (77,1 %) wurde eine Verbesserung des Visus ≥ 2 Linien nach der Behandlung über einen mittleren Zeitraum von 31,7 Wochen dokumentiert. Es zeigte sich nur bei 22 (27,2 %) der 81 Augen ein kompletter Rückgang der GF-Defekte (mittlerer Zeitraum: 9,9 Wochen). Als wir die Analyse auf Patienten beschränkten, bei denen die letzte Untersuchung mindestens 6 Monate zurücklag, stellten wir fest, dass 33 Augen (61,1 %) von 54 Augen immer noch einen GF-Defekt aufwiesen.

Schlussfolgerung

Anhand unserer Daten zeigten mehr als die Hälfte der Patienten mit Optikuskompression (61,5 %) eine sehr gute Prognose mit einem endgültigen BCVA ≥ 0,8 bei der letzten Untersuchung. Allerdings zeigten nur 22 Augen (27,2 %) eine unauffällige Gesichtsfelduntersuchung, während 33 Augen (61,1 %) nach einer Nachbeobachtungszeit von mindestens 6 Monaten Restdefekte hatten. Diese Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass sich der Visus zwar sehr gut rehabilitiert, die Optikuskompression bei EO jedoch bei den meisten Patienten unabhängig von der Behandlungsmethode Spuren im Gesichtsfeld hinterlässt.
Patient-reported outcome measures in drugs for neurological conditions approved by European Medicines Agency 2017–2022
Authors: Ciani Oriana , Meregaglia Michela , Battaglia Mario Alberto , Brichetto Gianpaolo , Conte Antonella , Gasperini Claudio , Sansone Valeria
Published: May 2023

Background

Regulatory agencies have been responsive to public demand for inclusion of the patient experience in evaluating and approving therapies. Over the years, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have become increasingly prevalent in clinical trial protocols; however, their influence on regulators, payers, clinicians, and patients’ decision-making is not always clear. We recently conducted a cross-sectional study aimed at investigating the use of PROMs in new regulatory approvals of drugs for neurological conditions between 2017 and 2022 in Europe.

Methods

We reviewed European Public Assessment Reports (EPARs) and recorded on a predefined data extraction form whether they considered PROMs, their characteristics (e.g., primary/secondary endpoint, generic/specific instrument) and other relevant information (e.g., therapeutic area, generic/biosimilar, orphan status). Results were tabulated and summarized by means of descriptive statistics.

Results

Of the 500 EPARs related to authorized medicines between January 2017 and December 2022, 42 (8%) concerned neurological indications. Among the EPARs of these products, 24 (57%) reported any use of PROMs, typically considered as secondary (38%) endpoints. In total, 100 PROMs were identified, of which the most common were the EQ-5D (9%), the SF-36 (6%), or its shorter adaptation SF-12, the PedsQL (4%).

Conclusions

Compared to other disease areas, neurology is one where the use of patient-reported outcomes evidence is inherently part of the clinical evaluation and for which core outcome sets exist. Better harmonization of the instruments recommended for use would facilitate the consideration of PROMs at all stages in the drug development process.
Natural Course of Compulsive Sexual Behavior (CSB): a 1-Year Follow-up Study
Authors: Castro-Calvo Jesús , Ballester-Arnal Rafael , Giménez-García Cristina , García-Barba Marta , Gil-Llario María Dolores
Published: May 2023

Despite the recognition of compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) as a diagnostic entity in the ICD-11, few works have reported on its natural course. The aim of this study was to explore the natural course of CSB over a 1-year period, as well as to analyze the predictive power of different risk factors. A convenience sample of 154 young adults were assessed at baseline and after 1 year. Dimensionally, we found that scores on most CSB symptoms significantly decreased at 1 year (d between .20 and .35). On the contrary, severity of problematic use of online sexual activities increased (d = 0.22). Regression analyses revealed that sexual orientation (being bisexual) and religious beliefs (atheist) were significant predictors of the trajectory of CSB. However, after controlling for baseline levels of CSB, only openness to experience (β between − .167 and − .199), sexual sensation seeking (β between .169 and .252), anxiety (β = .363), and depression (β between .163 and .297) predicted an increased risk of CSB over time. Categorically, diagnostic consistency of CSB at 1 year was modest. These findings suggest that the natural course of CSB tends to be highly transient and inconsistent, and that classic risk factors for its occurrence have a limited predictive power over its natural course.
Heightened sensitivity to high-calorie foods in children at risk for obesity: insights from behavior, neuroimaging, and genetics
Authors: Rapuano Kristina M. , Tejavibulya Link , Dinc Eda Naz , Li Anfei , Davis Haley , Korn Rachel , Leibel Rudolph L. , Walsh B. Timothy , Ranzenhofer Lisa , Rosenbaum Michael , Casey B. J. , Mayer Laurel
Published: May 2023

Pediatric obesity is a major public health concern. Genetic susceptibility and increased availability of energy-dense food are known risk factors for obesity. However, the extent to which these factors jointly bias behavior and neural circuitry towards increased adiposity in children remains unclear. While undergoing fMRI, 108 children (ages 5-11y) performed a food-specific go/no-go task. Participants were instructed to either respond (“go”) or inhibit responding (“no-go”) to images of food or toys. Half of the runs depicted high-calorie foods (e.g., pizza) whereas the other half depicted low-calorie foods (e.g., salad). Children were also genotyped for a DNA polymorphism associated with energy intake and obesity (FTO rs9939609) to examine the influence of obesity risk on behavioral and brain responses to food. Participants demonstrated differences in behavioral sensitivity to high- and low-calorie food images depending on task demands. Participants were slower but more accurate at detecting high- (relative to low-) calorie foods when responding to a neutral stimulus (i.e., toys) and worse at detecting toys when responding to high-calorie foods. Inhibition failures were accompanied by salience network activity (anterior insula, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex), which was driven by false alarms to food images. Children at a greater genetic risk for obesity (dose-dependent model of the FTO genotype) demonstrated pronounced brain and behavioral relationships such that genetic risk was associated with heightened sensitivity to high-calorie food images and increased anterior insula activity. These findings suggest that high-calorie foods may be particularly salient to children at risk for developing eating habits that promote obesity.
Influence of Environmental Conditions on Mytilus trossulus Size Frequency Distributions in Two Glacially Influenced Estuaries
Authors: LaBarre Amy , Konar Brenda , Iken Katrin
Published: May 2023

The Pacific blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus) is a foundation species in high-latitude intertidal and estuarine systems that creates complex habitats, provides sediment stability, is food for top predators, and links the water column and the benthos.M. trossulusalso makes an ideal model species to assess biological responses to environmental variability; specifically, its size frequency distributions can be influenced by the environment in which it lives. Mussels that inhabit estuaries in high latitudes receive freshwater runoff from snow and glacial-fed rivers or can be under oceanic influence. These hydrographic conditions work together with local static environmental characteristics, such as substrate type, fetch, beach slope, distance to freshwater, and glacial discharge to influence mussel demographics. In 2019 and 2020, mussels were collected from two Gulf of Alaska ecoregions to determine whether mussel size frequencies change over spatial (local and ecoregional) and hydrographic scales and whether any static environmental characteristics correlate with this variability. This study demonstrated that mussel size frequencies were most comparable at sites with similar hydrographic conditions, according to the ecoregion and year they were collected. Hydrographic conditions explained approximately 43% of the variation in mussel size frequencies for both years, for the combined ecoregions. Mussel recruits (0–2 mm) were more abundant at sites with higher fetch, while large mussels (> 20 mm) were more abundant at more protected sites. Fetch and freshwater influence explained most of the variation in mussel size frequencies for both years and across both ecoregions, while substrate and slope were also important in 2019 and glacial influence in 2020. This study suggests that hydrographic and static environmental conditions may play an important role in structuring mussel sizes. Although differences in mussel size frequencies were found depending on environmental conditions, mussel sizes showed little difference across differing types of freshwater influence, and so they may be resilient to changes associated with melting glaciers.
Metformin as a Fetal Hemoglobin Inducer in Non-transfusion Dependent Thalassemia Patients
Authors: ElTagui Mona , El-Ghamrawy Mona , AlDeeb Shareef Karam , Nassim Mariam Saad
Published: May 2023

Non-transfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT) refers to a group of thalassemic disorders who do not need regular transfusions for survival, however it may be needed in certain conditions. Metformin was reported as a potential fetal hemoglobin (HbF) inducing agent in vitro but its efficacy and safety in vivo was not fully studied. This is a prospective interventional study aimed at studying the effect of metformin on HbF change in NTDT. Methods: Patients with established diagnosis of NTDT were enrolled. They were receiving a stable fixed dose of Hydroxyurea over the last 3 months. Patients were divided into two groups: a group that received Metformin for 6 months (Metformin group) and a control group. Complete blood picture, reticulocytic count, hemoglobin electrophoresis, liver enzymes, bilirubin, kidney functions, LDH and random blood sugar were performed at onset, 3 and 6 months of the study. All adverse events were recorded. Results: Forty two patients aged 12–23 years were enrolled. Metformin intake over 6 months did not show any statistically significant difference in clinical or the laboratory variables of efficacy when compared to the control group apart from reticulocytic count which was higher in Metformin group throughout the study. Conclusion: Metformin intake, in addition to hydroxyurea, did not yield any extra benefit among patients with NTDT.
Robot’s Inner Speech Effects on Human Trust and Anthropomorphism
Authors: Pipitone Arianna , Geraci Alessandro , D’Amico Antonella , Seidita Valeria , Chella Antonio
Published: May 2023

Inner Speech is an essential but also elusive human psychological process that refers to an everyday covert internal conversation with oneself. We argued that programming a robot with an overt self-talk system that simulates human inner speech could enhance both human trust and users’ perception of robot’s anthropomorphism, animacy, likeability, intelligence and safety. For this reason, we planned a pre-test/post-test control group design. Participants were divided in two different groups, one experimental group and one control group. Participants in the experimental group interacted with the robot Pepper equipped with an over inner speech system whereas participants in the control group interacted with the robot that produces only outer speech. Before and after the interaction, both groups of participants were requested to complete some questionnaires about inner speech and trust. Results showed differences between participants’ pretest and post-test assessment responses, suggesting that the robot’s inner speech influences in participants of experimental group the perceptions of animacy and intelligence in robot. Implications for these results are discussed.
Geotechnical properties of hazardous landfill leachate-contaminated sand
Authors: Khodary Safia M. , Chihiro Yoshimura , Tawfik Ahmed
Published: May 2023

Many industrial activities dispose of their waste in the sand soil of the El-Khatatba region of Egypt. There is a need to reuse the site in building markets and shopping stores. Because it is difficult to obtain leachate from an open dumping site, we use hazardous landfill leachate (HLL) from an industrial waste landfill to identify changes in the geotechnical properties of soil. The HLL was obtained from Al-Nasreya Center, Alexandria, Egypt. This study, therefore, was directed to assess the effects of HLL on the geotechnical properties of the poor-graded sand (SP) soil. The natural sand was artificially mixed with HLL at different concentrations of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. The results revealed that the permeability coefficient (k) of the natural sand decreased significantly from 1.28 × 10−2 to 0.8 × 10−2 cm/s when HLL concentration increased to 100%. Similarly, HLL contamination obviously reduced the angle of internal friction (φ) of sand. The optimum moisture content (OMC) of the natural sand decreased from 12 to 10%. In contrast, the maximum dry unit weight (MDD) of the natural sand increased slightly from 18.33 to 18.9 kN/m3 due to the increase of HLL concentrations from 0 to 100%. The change in the sand structure was interpreted by detailed analyses using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Based on these findings, HLL was found to modify the geotechnical properties of the studied sand.
Disentangling the Effects of Knowledge Spillovers and Family Firm Nature on Innovative Performance: a Multilevel Approach
Authors: Rodríguez-Gulías María Jesús , Fernández-López Sara , Rodeiro-Pazos David
Published: May 2023

The idiosyncrasies of family firms (FFs) may enable or hamper their ability to exploit the region’s knowledge spillovers. To the date, this issue has not been addressed by the literature. The purpose of this paper is twofold: firstly, to explore whether FF nature influences on firm innovative performance by acknowledging the fact that firm innovation happens in a certain location where firms are exposed to knowledge spillovers; and secondly, to analyse whether FF management plays a moderating role in the effects of regional knowledge spillovers on innovative outcomes. We used multilevel modelling and panel data methodology in a sample of 1191 Spanish manufacturing firms over the period 2009–2016. By applying multilevel analysis and panel data methods, the results indicate that being part of a family group increases innovative performance, and this effect seems to be even more important in regions with low technological or human capital resources.