bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The PINK1 Activator Niclosamide Mitigates Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Thermal Hypersensitivity in a Paclitaxel-Induced Drosophila Model of Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Jang Hye-Ji , Kim Young-Yeon , Lee Kang-Min , Shin Jung-Eun , Yun Jeanho
Published: April 2022

Paclitaxel is a widely used anticancer drug that induces dose-limiting peripheral neuropathy. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in paclitaxel-induced neuronal damage and in the onset of peripheral neuropathy. We have previously shown that the expression of PINK1, a key mediator of mitochondrial quality control, ameliorated the paclitaxel-induced thermal hyperalgesia phenotype and restored mitochondrial homeostasis in Drosophila larvae. In this study, we show that the small-molecule PINK1 activator niclosamide exhibits therapeutic potential for paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy. Specifically, niclosamide cotreatment significantly ameliorated the paclitaxel-induced thermal hyperalgesia phenotype in Drosophila larvae in a PINK1-dependent manner. Paclitaxel-induced alteration of the dendrite structure of class IV dendritic arborization (C4da) neurons was not reduced upon niclosamide treatment. In contrast, paclitaxel treatment-induced increases in both mitochondrial ROS and aberrant mitophagy levels in C4da neurons were significantly suppressed by niclosamide. In addition, niclosamide suppressed paclitaxel-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in human SH-SY5Y cells in a PINK1-dependent manner. These results suggest that niclosamide alleviates thermal hyperalgesia by attenuating paclitaxel-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Taken together, our results suggest that niclosamide is a potential candidate for the treatment of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy with low toxicity in neurons and that targeting mitochondrial dysfunction is a promising strategy for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Group I mGluRs in Therapy and Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease: Focus on mGluR5 Subtype
Authors: Azam Shofiul , Jakaria Md. , Kim JoonSoo , Ahn Jaeyong , Kim In-Su , Choi Dong-Kug
Published: April 2022

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs; members of class C G-protein-coupled receptors) have been shown to modulate excitatory neurotransmission, regulate presynaptic extracellular glutamate levels, and modulate postsynaptic ion channels on dendritic spines. mGluRs were found to activate myriad signalling pathways to regulate synapse formation, long-term potentiation, autophagy, apoptosis, necroptosis, and pro-inflammatory cytokines release. A notorious expression pattern of mGluRs has been evident in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and schizophrenia. Among the several mGluRs, mGluR5 is one of the most investigated types of considered prospective therapeutic targets and potential diagnostic tools in neurodegenerative diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders. Recent research showed mGluR5 radioligands could be a potential tool to assess neurodegenerative disease progression and trace respective drugs’ kinetic properties. This article provides insight into the group I mGluRs, specifically mGluR5, in the progression and possible therapy for PD.
Characteristics of Extracellular Vesicles and Preclinical Testing Considerations Prior to Clinical Applications
Authors: Yoo Min Heui , Lee A-Ram , Moon Kyoung-Sik
Published: April 2022

Cell therapy products have significant limitations, such as storage instability, difficulties with transportation, and toxicity issues such as tumorigenicity and immunogenicity. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted from cells show potential for therapeutic agent development. EVs have not been widely examined as investigational drugs, and non-clinical studies for the clinical approval of EV therapeutic agents are challenging. EVs contain various materials, such as DNA, cellular RNA, cytokines, chemokines, and microRNAs, but do not proliferate or divide like cells, thus avoiding safety concerns related to tumorigenicity. However, the constituents of EVs may induce the proliferation of normal cells; therefore, the suitability of vesicles should be verified through non-clinical safety evaluations. In this review, the findings of non-clinical studies on EVs are summarized. We describe non-clinical toxicity studies of EVs, which should be useful for researchers who aim to develop these vesicles into therapeutic agents. A new method for evaluating the immunotoxicity and tumorigenicity of EVs should also be developed.
Quantitative Biosensing Based on a Liquid Crystal Marginally Aligned by the PVA/DMOAP Composite for Optical Signal Amplification
Authors: Chang Tsung-Keng , Lee Mon-Juan , Lee Wei
Published: April 2022

The working principle for a liquid crystal (LC)-based biosensor relies on the disturbance in the orderly aligned LC molecules induced by analytes at the LC-aqueous or LC-solid interface to produce optical signals that can be typically observed under a polarizing optical microscope (POM). Our previous studies demonstrate that such optical response can be enhanced by imposing a weak electric field on LCs so that they are readily tilted from the homeotropic alignment in response to lower concentrations of analytes at the LC-glass interface. In this study, an alternative approach toward signal amplification is proposed by taking advantage of the marginally tilted alignment configuration without applying an electric field. The surface of glass substrates was modified with a binary aligning agent of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and dimethyloctadecyl[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl] ammonium chloride (DMOAP), in which the amount of PVA was fine-tuned so that the interfacing LC molecules were slightly tilted but remained virtually homeotropically aligned to yield no light leakage under the POM in the absence of an analyte. Two nematic LCs, E7 and 5CB, were each sandwiched between two parallel glass substrates coated with the PVA/DMOAP composite for the detection of bovine serum albumin (BSA), a model protein, and cortisol, a small-molecule steroid hormone. Through image analysis of the optical appearance of E7 observed under the POM, a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.5 × 10−8 μg/mL for BSA and that of 3 × 10−6 μg/mL for cortisol were deduced. Both values are significantly lower than that obtained with only DMOAP as the alignment layers, which correspond to signal amplification of more than six orders of magnitude. The new approach for signal amplification reported in this work enables analytes of a wide range of molecular weights to be detected with high sensitivity.
3D Printing Devices and Reinforcing Techniques for Extruded Cement-Based Materials: A Review
Authors: Cao Xiangpeng , Yu Shiheng , Cui Hongzhi , Li Zongjin
Published: April 2022

The three-dimensional (3D) printing technique for cement-based materials has been actively investigated and utilized in civil engineering. However, there is no systematic review of the fabricating devices. This paper reviews the software and hardware for extrusion-based 3D concrete printing. Firstly, a dedicated tool path generating software is urgently needed to meet the cementitious printing applications and to improve printing quality with toolpath optimizations. Secondly, the existing printing equipment was summarized and discussed, concluding the pros and cons of various 3D motion systems, material systems, and nozzle units. Suitable choices for scientific research and engineering applications were recommended. The reinforcing techniques were categorized and concluded with the existing drawbacks and the research trend. A hybrid manufacturing system of 3D printing and the reinforcing technique was then proposed with a system diagram and flowchart.
Efficient Reliability Analysis of Structures Using Symbiotic Organisms Search-Based Active Learning Support Vector Machine
Authors: Yang I-Tung , Prayogo Handy
Published: April 2022

Reliability-based design optimization considers the uncertainties that lie in the designing process of resilient buildings and structures. To model uncertainty, the major challenge is to lower the high computational expense incurred by the double-loop approach, where the design optimization (outer loop) repeatedly calls the reliability analysis of each structural design (inner loop). An alternative is to convert the reliability constraints to deterministic constraints by using optimality conditions. Yet, the approximated results are often inaccurate when constraint functions are highly non-linear, non-continuous, or non-differentiable. To achieve better accuracy while attaining sufficient flexibility, the present study proposes a new framework to classify the structural designs into feasible/infeasible designs. The proposed framework is called SOS-ASVM by integrating the symbiotic organism search (SOS) and the active-learning support vector machine (ASVM). ASVM is adopted as the surrogate model, while SOS is used to seek more representative samples to improve the classification accuracy of ASVM. The SOS-ASVM was validated by comparisons with popular classification tools: conventional support vector machine, artificial neural network, and Kriging model. Three practical engineering cases are used to demonstrate the performance of the SOS-ASVM: a cantilever beam, a bracket structure, and a 25-bar space truss. The comparison results confirm the superiority of the proposed framework to other tools.
Time-Varying Analysis of Retaining Structures Enhanced with Soil Nails and Prestressed Anchors
Authors: Cheng Jianhua , Guo Lili , Wang Hui , Dun Zhilin
Published: April 2022

At present, the research results for the stress response and deformation characteristics of composite support structures are mostly based on ideal or standard working conditions. External disturbances often exist in practical engineering, which makes the monitoring data deviate from the calculation results. In order to analyze the causes of deviation and correct them in practice, it is necessary to consider the time-varying effect and study the construction mechanics behaviors of composite support structures. Based on in situ test data, the effects of soil predisturbance, excessive excavation, unloading on the surface of edges, the tensioning and lagging of the anchor, and continuous rainfall on the stress-time curves of soil nails were analyzed. On the basis of verifying the effectiveness of the model, ABAQUS finite element software (v.6.10) was used to simulate practical engineering based on ideal working conditions. Comparing the in situ test data and numerical simulation results, the development of mechanical response and deformation characteristics in the process of support structure installation and soil digging and filling were analyzed. Research shows that the time-varying effect has a significant impact on construction mechanics behaviors, especially on soil nailing combined with the use of prestressed anchors, due to layered excavation and support.
Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Mitochondrial Reprogramming in Cancer
Authors: Carles-Fontana Roger , Heaton Nigel , Palma Elena , Khorsandi Shirin
Published: April 2022

Altered metabolism is a defining hallmark of cancer. Metabolic adaptations are often linked to a reprogramming of the mitochondria due to the importance of these organelles in energy production and biosynthesis. Cancer cells present heterogeneous metabolic phenotypes that can be modulated by signals originating from the tumor microenvironment. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are recognized as key players in intercellular communications and mediate many of the hallmarks of cancer via the delivery of their diverse biological cargo molecules. Firstly, this review introduces the most characteristic changes that the EV-biogenesis machinery and mitochondria undergo in the context of cancer. Then, it focuses on the EV-driven processes which alter mitochondrial structure, composition, and function to provide a survival advantage to cancer cells in the context of the hallmarks of cancers, such as altered metabolic strategies, migration and invasiveness, immune surveillance escape, and evasion of apoptosis. Finally, it explores the as yet untapped potential of targeting mitochondria using EVs as delivery vectors as a promising cancer therapeutic strategy.
Molecular Mechanisms of Kaposi Sarcoma Development
Authors: Karabajakian Andy , Ray-Coquard Isabelle , Blay Jean-Yves
Published: April 2022

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a heterogeneous angioproliferative tumor that generally arises in the skin. At least four forms of this disease have been described, with the ‘HIV’-related form being the most aggressive and can involve mucosae or visceral organs. Three quarters of KS cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) as geographic variation is explained by the disparate prevalence of KS-associated herpes virus (KSHV), which is the underlying cause of this disease. It can infect endothelial and/or mesenchymal cells that consequently transdifferentiate to an intermediate state. KSHV establishes a latent phase in host cells in which latency proteins and various non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a complex role in proliferation and angiogenesis. It also undergoes periods of sporadic lytic reactivation triggered by various biological signals in which lytic stage proteins modulate host cell signaling pathways and are key in KS progression. Complex interactions with the microenvironment with production of inflammatory cytokines with paracrine signaling is a standout feature of KS development and maintenance. KSHV impairs the immune response by various mechanisms such as the degradation of a variety of proteins involved in immune response or binding to cellular chemokines. Treatment options include classical chemotherapy, but other novel therapies are being investigated.
Comprehensive Analysis Identifies Ameloblastin-Related Competitive Endogenous RNA as a Prognostic Biomarker for Testicular Germ Cell Tumour
Authors: Geng Tianxiang , Heyward Catherine Anne , Chen Xi , Zheng Mengxue , Yang Yang , Reseland Janne Elin
Published: April 2022

Testicular Germ Cell Tumour (TGCT) is one of the most common tumours in young men. Increasing evidence shows that the extracellular matrix has a key role in the prognosis and metastasis of various human cancers. This study analysed the relationship between the matrix protein ameloblastin (AMBN) and potential biological markers associated with TGCT diagnosis and prognosis. The relationship between AMBN and TGCT prognosis was determined by bioinformatic analysis using the expression profiles of three RNAs (long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and available clinical information of the corresponding patients. Prediction and validation of competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks related to AMBN was performed. AMBN and its associated ceRNA regulatory network were found to be related to the recurrence of TGCT, and LINC02701 may be used as a diagnostic factor in TGCT. Furthermore, we identified PELATON (Plaque Enriched LncRNA In Atherosclerotic And Inflammatory Bowel Macrophage Regulation) as an independent prognostic factor for TGCT progression-free interval.
Platinum-Containing Nanoparticles on N-Doped Carbon Supports as an Advanced Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Alekseenko Anastasia , Pavlets Angelina , Moguchikh Elizaveta , Tolstunov Mikhail , Gribov Evgeny , Belenov Sergey , Guterman Vladimir
Published: April 2022

New highly active electrocatalysts were obtained by depositing bimetallic Pt-Cu nanoparticles on the surface of an N-doped carbon support. The structural–morphological characteristics and electrochemical behavior of the catalysts were studied. Using current stress testing protocols, their resistance to degradation was assessed in comparison with that of a commercial Pt/C material. A combined approach to catalyst synthesis that consists in alloying platinum with copper and doping the support makes it possible to obtain catalysts with a uniform distribution of bimetallic nanoparticles on the carbon surface. The obtained catalysts exhibit high activity and durability.
Endo- and Exometabolome Crosstalk in Mesenchymal Stem Cells Undergoing Osteogenic Differentiation
Authors: Bispo Daniela S. C. , Michálková Lenka , Correia Marlene , Jesus Catarina S. H. , Duarte Iola F. , Goodfellow Brian J. , Oliveira Mariana B. , Mano João F. , Gil Ana M.
Published: April 2022

This paper describes, for the first time to our knowledge, a lipidome and exometabolome characterization of osteogenic differentiation for human adipose tissue stem cells (hAMSCs) using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The holistic nature of NMR enabled the time-course evolution of cholesterol, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (including ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids), several phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingomyelins, and plasmalogens), and mono- and triglycerides to be followed. Lipid changes occurred almost exclusively between days 1 and 7, followed by a tendency for lipidome stabilization after day 7. On average, phospholipids and longer and more unsaturated fatty acids increased up to day 7, probably related to plasma membrane fluidity. Articulation of lipidome changes with previously reported polar endometabolome profiling and with exometabolome changes reported here in the same cells, enabled important correlations to be established during hAMSC osteogenic differentiation. Our results supported hypotheses related to the dynamics of membrane remodelling, anti-oxidative mechanisms, protein synthesis, and energy metabolism. Importantly, the observation of specific up-taken or excreted metabolites paves the way for the identification of potential osteoinductive metabolites useful for optimized osteogenic protocols.
Decellularized Organ-Derived Scaffold Is a Promising Carrier for Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Hepatocytes
Authors: Kojima Hideaki , Yagi Hiroshi , Kushige Hiroko , Toda Yukiko , Takayama Kazuo , Masuda Shinako , Morisaku Toshinori , Tsuchida Tomonori , Kuroda Kohei , Hirukawa Kazuya , Inui Jumpei , Nishi Kotaro , Nakano Yutaka , Tanaka Masayuki , Hori Shutaro , Hasegawa Yasushi , Abe Yuta , Kitago Minoru , Adachi Shungo , Tomi Masatoshi , Matsuura Katsuhisa , Mizuguchi Hiroyuki , Kitagawa Yuko
Published: April 2022

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are a promising cell source for elucidating disease pathology and therapy. The mass supply of hiPSC-derived cells is technically feasible. Carriers that can contain a large number of hiPSC-derived cells and evaluate their functions in vivo-like environments will become increasingly important for understanding disease pathogenesis or treating end-stage organ failure. hiPSC-derived hepatocyte-like cells (hiPSC-HLCs; 5 × 108) were seeded into decellularized organ-derived scaffolds under circumfusion culture. The scaffolds were implanted into immunodeficient microminiature pigs to examine their applicability in vivo. The seeded hiPSC-HLCs demonstrated increased albumin secretion and up-regulated cytochrome P450 activities compared with those in standard two-dimensional culture conditions. Moreover, they showed long-term survival accompanied by neovascularization in vivo. The decellularized organ-derived scaffold is a promising carrier for hiPSC-derived cells for ex vivo and in vivo use and is an essential platform for regenerative medicine and research.
The Impact of Pediatric Opioid-Related Visits on U.S. Emergency Departments
Authors: Champagne-Langabeer Tiffany , Cardenas-Turanzas Marylou , Ugalde Irma T. , Bakos-Block Christine , Stotts Angela L. , Cleveland Lisa , Shoptaw Steven , Langabeer James R.
Published: April 2022

Background: While there is significant research exploring adults’ use of opioids, there has been minimal focus on the opioid impact within emergency departments for the pediatric population. Methods: We examined data from the Agency for Healthcare Research, the National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), and death data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sociodemographic and financial variables were analyzed for encounters during 2014–2017 for patients under age 18, matching diagnoses codes for opioid-related overdose or opioid use disorder. Results: During this period, 59,658 children presented to an ED for any diagnoses involving opioids. The majority (68.5%) of visits were related to overdoses (poisoning), with a mean age of 11.3 years and a majority female (53%). There was a curvilinear relationship between age and encounters, with teens representing the majority of visits, followed by infants. The highest volume was seen in the Southern U.S., with over 58% more opioid visits than the next highest region (Midwest). Charges exceeded USD 157 million, representing 2% of total ED costs, with Medicaid responsible for 54% of the total. Conclusions: With increases in substance use among children, there is a growing need for pediatric emergency physicians to recognize, refer, and initiate treatments.
Is Early Surgical Intervention Necessary for Acute Neonatal Humeral Epiphyseal Osteomyelitis: A Retrospective Study of 31 Patients
Authors: Gao Yun , Liu Ruikang , Rai Saroj , Liang Qingtuan , Liu Yuan , Xiao Xiaoliang , Hong Pan
Published: April 2022

Objective: To review the treatment experience of neonatal humeral epiphyseal osteomyelitis retrospectively. Study design: Retrospective cohort study of infants with neonatal humeral epiphyseal osteomyelitis. Patients were divided into conservative group and surgical group, and the surgical group was subdivided into early and delayed surgical group. Results: In total, there were 7 patients in the conservative group and 24 in the surgical group. The length of hospital stay and intravenous course of antibiotic therapy were both significantly shorter in the surgical group (p < 0.001). The full recovery rate was also higher in the surgical group (83.3%) than the conservative group (14.3%) (p < 0.001). Early surgery group (n = 14) had an insignificantly higher positive rate of pus/aspirate culture and full recovery rate than delayed surgery group (n = 10). Conclusion: Surgical treatment for neonatal humeral epiphyseal osteomyelitis demonstrated significantly higher rates of positive culture for the pathogen, a shorter course of intravenous oral antibiotics, and lower incidence of growth abnormality than conservative treatment. In our institution, most of culture outcome Gram-positive bacteria, and early surgical treatment was recommended with better outcome than delayed surgical group. Empirical antibiotics should be tailored to the epidemiological characteristics of local virulent bacteria.
Application of Chitosan-Lignosulfonate Composite Coating Film in Grape Preservation and Study on the Difference in Metabolites in Fruit Wine
Authors: Hu Boran , Lin Lan , Fang Yujie , Zhou Min , Zhou Xiaoyan
Published: April 2022

In order to solve the global problem of fruit rotting due to microbial infection and water loss after harvest, which leads to a large amount of food waste, this experiment uses degradable biological composite coating to prolong the preservation period of grapes. Chitosan (CH) and Lignosulfonate (LS) were used as Bio-based film materials, CH films, 1% CH/LS films and 2% CH/LS biomass composite films were synthesized by the classical casting method and applied to grape preservation packaging. Its preservation effect was tested by grape spoilage rate, water loss rate, hardness, soluble solids, titratable acid, and compared with plastic packaging material PE film. At the same time, 1H NMR technology combined with pattern recognition analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used to determine the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Italian Riesling wines from the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain to explore the differences in metabolites of wine. The results of preservation showed that the grapes quality of CH films and 2% CH/LS coating package is better than the control group, the decay rates decreased from 37.71% to 21.63% and 18.36%, respectively, the hardness increased from 6.83 to 10.4 and 12.78 and the soluble solids increased from 2.1 in the control group to 3.0 and 3.2. In terms of wine metabolites, there are similar types of metabolites between cabernet Sauvignon dry red wine and Chardonnay and Italian Riesling dry white wine, but there are significant differences in content. The study found that 2% CH/LS coating package could not only reduce the spoilage rate of grapes, inhibit the consumption of soluble solids and titratable acids, but also effectively extend the shelf life of grapes by 6 days.
Breaking Seed Dormancy of Jaltomata procumbens (Cav.) J. L. Gentry Seeds with the Use of KNO3
Authors: Flores-Sánchez Ignacio Darío , Sandoval-Villa Manuel , Uscanga-Mortera Ebandro
Published: April 2022

Jaltomata procumbens (Cav.) J. L. Gentry presents seed dormancy mechanisms in its two populations, erect and decumbent, that make its germination and obtaining of plants difficult. Potassium nitrate (KNO3) is used as a seed germination promoter by soaking in an osmotic solution. The objective was to break the dormancy of Jaltomata seeds by evaluating KNO3. Treatments included: 2 populations (erect and decumbent), 2 soaking times (4 and 6 days) in 2 concentrations of KNO3 solution (0.1% and 0.2%) and in distilled water used as a control. Days of germination including starting (DGS) and ending (DGE), energy period (EP), germination energy (GE), germination percentage (GP) and rate (GR) were measured. The erect population presented a more uniform germination and a lower number of DGS and DGE as well as 100% germination with the highest GR (2.56 seeds day−1). No statistical differences were observed between KNO3 and control; however, the positive effect of the KNO3 and 4 days of soaking on the germinated seed was observed. The decumbent population exhibited a more variable germination; however, the same trend of the solution type and soaking days was observed, reaching 93.1 GP. Considering the economic and accessibility aspects of substances that promote germination on J. procumbens, distilled water imbibition and KNO3 are recommended to accelerate the germination process.
Privacy Issues in Stylometric Methods
Authors: Patergianakis Antonios , Limniotis Konstantinos
Published: April 2022

Stylometry is a well-known field, aiming to identify the author of a text, based only on the way she/he writes. Despite its obvious advantages in several areas, such as in historical research or for copyright purposes, it may also yield privacy and personal data protection issues if it is used in specific contexts, without the users being aware of it. It is, therefore, of importance to assess the potential use of stylometry methods, as well as the implications of their use for online privacy protection. This paper aims to present, through relevant experiments, the possibility of the automated identification of a person using stylometry. The ultimate goal is to analyse the risks regarding privacy and personal data protection stemming from the use of stylometric techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of a specific stylometric identification system, as well as to examine whether proper anonymisation techniques can be applied so as to ensure that the identity of an author of a text (e.g., a user in an anonymous social network) remains hidden, even if stylometric methods are to be applied for possible re-identification.
Synthesis, Structure and Catechol Oxidase Activity of Mono Nuclear Cu(II) Complex with Phenol-Based Chelating Agent with N, N, O Donor Sites
Authors: Rakshit Trilochan , Mandal Bikramaditya , Haldar Anwesha , Mondal Dhrubajyoti , Mandal Debdas , Ganguly Rakesh
Published: April 2022

A square-planar Cu(II) complex [Cu(L)Cl], 1, with sterically constrained tridentate phenol-based ligand (HL= N,N,N′-trimethyl-N′-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)-ethylenediamine) with N, N, O donor sites has been synthesized. The complex is characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction study as well as other spectroscopic techniques. The reported complex crystallizes in monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 30.248(6), b = 13.750(3) and c = 11.410(2) Å with β = 110.232(2)°. The Cu(II) ion adopts a square planar environment in this complex. Electrochemical study of the complex 1 gives quasi-reversible reductive response at E1/2 ≈ −0.5 V due to the reduction of the Cu(II) center along with a reversible oxidation peak at E1/2 ≈ 0.75 V. The oxidation peak arises due to the ligand-based oxidation of phenolate group to phenoxyl radical in the complex. The Cu(II) complex exhibits catechol oxidase activity in methanol as observed by the UV–vis spectroscopy of the aerial oxidation of 3,5-DTBC to 3,5-DTBQ and the reaction proceeds via the formation of ligand phenoxyl radical. The turnover number for complex 1 is 2560 h−1.
Enhanced Microwave Dielectric Properties and Sintering Behaviors of Mg2SiO4-Li2TiO3-LiF Ceramics by Adding CaTiO3 for LTCC and GPS Antenna Applications
Authors: Wang Zhijian , Pan Feng , Liu Lanlan , Du Qifeng , Tang Ruitao , Ai Jun , Zhang Hong , Chen Ying
Published: April 2022

Mg2SiO4 holds promise for its application in the microwave communication field due to its low dielectric constant and high Q×f value. However, its high negative τf and high sintering temperature limit its application in low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) devices. In this work, Li2TiO3 and CaTiO3 were introduced to improve the τf, and LiF was chosen to decrease the sintering temperature. According to XRD patterns and SEM micrographs, the ceramic systems displayed a complex-phase structure, and the microstructure was densified when CaTiO3 was added. All of the relative densities, dielectric constants, and Q×f values first increased and then decreased as the sintering temperature increased. The MLLC11.5 ceramics sintered at 800 °C could be obtained with the highest Q×f value of 54,581 GHz (at 8.06 GHz), εr of 14.13, and τf of + 5.81 ppm/°C. Furthermore, it was proven that the MLLC11.5 powders could be co-fired without any reaction with Ag powders at 800 °C, indicating its potential for LTCC application. The MLLC11.5 composition was used to prepare a GPS antenna and showed good prospects for its application in electronic communications.
Seeding-Layer-Free Deposition of High-k Dielectric on CVD Graphene for Enhanced Gate Control Ability
Authors: Yan Yunpeng , Peng Songang , Jin Zhi , Zhang Dayong , Shi Jingyuan
Published: April 2022

The gate insulator is one of the most crucial factors determining the performance of a graphene field effect transistor (GFET). Good electrostatic control of the conduction channel by gate voltage requires thin gate oxides. Due to the lack of the dangling bond, a seed layer is usually needed for the gate dielectric film grown by the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The seed layer leads to the high-quality deposition of dielectric films, but it may lead to a great increase in the thickness of the final dielectric film. To address this problem, this paper proposes an improved process, where the self-oxidized Al2O3 seed layer was removed by etching solutions before atomic layer deposition, and the Al2O3 residue would provide nucleation sites on the graphene surface. Benefiting from the decreased thickness of the dielectric film, the transconductance of the GFET using this method as a top-gate dielectric film deposition process shows an average 44.7% increase compared with the GFETs using the standard Al evaporation seed layer methods.
Role of AS-OCT in Managing Corneal Disorders
Authors: Gupta Nidhi , Varshney Akhil , Ramappa Muralidhar , Basu Sayan , Romano Vito , Acharya Manisha , Gaur Abha , Kapur Neha , Singh Aastha , Shah Gaurav , Chaudhary Isha , Patel Nikunj , Tiwari Anil , Kate Anahita , Sangwan Virender , Mathur Umang
Published: April 2022

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is analogous to ultrasound biometry in the cross sectional imaging of ocular tissues. Development of current devices with deeper penetration and higher resolution has made it popular tool in clinics for visualization of anterior segment structures. In this review, the authors discussed the application of AS-OCT for diagnosis and management of various corneal and ocular surface disorders. Further, recent developments in the application of the device for pediatric corneal disorders and extending the application of OCT angiography for anterior segment are introduced.
Spectrum of Hemorrhagic Encephalitis in COVID-19 Patients: A Case Series and Review
Authors: Sharma Rohan , Nalleballe Krishna , Shah Vishank , Haldal Shilpa , Spradley Thomas , Hasan Lana , Mylavarapu Krishna , Vyas Keyur , Kumar Manoj , Onteddu Sanjeeva , Gokden Murat , Kapoor Nidhi
Published: April 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an ongoing pandemic that has affected over 400 million people worldwide and caused nearly 6 million deaths. Hemorrhagic encephalitis is an uncommon but serious complication of COVID-19. The etiology of this disease is multifactorial, including secondary to severe hypoxemia, systemic inflammation, direct viral invasion, hypercoagulability, etc. The clinical spectrum of COVID-19-related hemorrhagic encephalitis is also varied, ranging from leukoencephalopathy with microhemorrhage, acute necrotizing hemorrhagic encephalitis (ANHE) involving the cortex, basal ganglia, rarely brain stem and cervical spine, hemorrhagic posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) to superimposed co-infection with other organisms. We report a case series of three young patients with different presentations of hemorrhagic encephalitis after COVID-19 infection and a review of the literature. One patient had self-limiting ANHE in the setting of mild COVID-19 systemic illness. The second patient had self-limiting leukoencephalopathy with microhemorrhages in the setting of severe systemic diseases and ARDS, and clinically improved with the resolution of systemic illness. Both patients were healthy and did not have any premorbid conditions. The third patient with poorly controlled diabetes and hypertension had severe systemic illness with neurological involvement including multiple ischemic strokes, basal meningitis, hemorrhagic encephalitis with pathological evidence of cerebral mucormycosis, and Epstein–Barr virus coinfection, and improved after antifungal therapy.
Trusting the Dentist—Expecting a Leap of Faith vs. a Well-Defined Strategy for Anxious Patients
Authors: Moore Rod
Published: April 2022

This article aimed to set into perspective the unique aspects of trust within the dentist–patient relationship by exploring the literature as well as historical aspects of dentistry in the association between trust/distrust and patient anxiety. In order to characterise this uniqueness, the assumptions for trusting in dentistry are compared and contrasted with other professions using a conceptual analysis. The professions of medicine, sociology, psychology, nursing and dentistry were check listed according to the tenets of a concept analytical approach reported by Hupcey et al., in 2001. Recommendations for patient/person-centred care, as opposed to dentist-centred care, that would improve trust are specified according to the literature. These include empowering patients, practicing active listening, empathy and relationship building that might benefit dental patients in relation to the perceived risks of anxiety or induced pain. It was concluded that global distrust of dominating dentists must give way to person-centred professional strategies so that dentists and patients can tackle their dental anxiety-trust challenges, both in the public’s image of the dental profession and in clinical relationships. Future directions would be to explore incentives for dentists to change to patient/person-centred care.
The Relationship between Subjective Risk Intelligence and Courage with Working Performance: The Potential Mediating Effect of Workplace Social Courage
Authors: Magnano Paola , Santisi Giuseppe , Zammitti Andrea , Zarbo Rita , Scuderi Vittorio Edoardo , Valenti Giusy Danila , Faraci Palmira
Published: April 2022

Background: There is a growing attention toward the construct of courage from a psychological point of view; recently, courage has been related with numerous positive individual behaviors and outcomes, such as coping strategies and subjective wellbeing, and an increasing number of studies explore the role of courage in the working and organizational environments. The present study is aimed to analyze the effect that individual courage—together with risk intelligence—and workplace social courage have on working performance; Methods: The participants are 961 Italian workers, balanced by gender; the measures used are: Courage, Subjective Risk Intelligence Scale, Workplace Social Courage Scale, and Performance Scale. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Models; Results: The results show the effect of subjective risk intelligence and courage on working performance, both directly and through the mediation of workplace social courage; Conclusions: Suggestions for further research and practical implications are discussed.
Towards Development of a High Abstract Model for Drone Forensic Domain
Authors: Alhussan Amel Ali , Al-Dhaqm Arafat , Yafooz Wael M. S. , Razak Shukor Bin Abd , Emara Abdel-Hamid M. , Khafaga Doaa Sami
Published: April 2022

Drone Forensics (DRF) is one of the subdomains of digital forensics, which aims to capture and analyse the drone’s incidents. It is a diverse, unclear, and complex domain due to various drone field standards, operating systems, and infrastructure-based networks. Several DRF models and frameworks have been designed based on different investigation processes and activities and for the specific drones’ scenarios. These models make the domain more complex and unorganized among domain forensic practitioners. Therefore, there is a lack of a generic model for managing, sharing, and reusing the processes and activities of the DRF domain. This paper aims to develop A Drone Forensic Metamodel (DRFM) for the DRF domain using the metamodeling development process. The metamodeling development process is used for constructing and validating a metamodel and ensuring that the metamodel is complete and consistent. The developed DRFM consists of three main stages: (1) identification stage, (2) acquisition and preservation stage, and (3) examination and data analysis stage. It is used to structure and organize DRF domain knowledge, which facilitates managing, organizing, sharing, and reusing DRF domain knowledge among domain forensic practitioners. That aims to identify, recognize, extract and match different DRF processes, concepts, activities, and tasks from other DRF models in a developed DRFM. Thus, allowing domain practitioners to derive/instantiate solution models easily. The consistency and applicability of the developed DRFM were validated using metamodel transformation (vertical transformation). The results indicated that the developed DRFM is consistent and coherent and enables domain forensic practitioners to instantiate new solution models easily by selecting and combining concept elements (attribute and operations) based on their model requirement.
Effect of Non-Uniformity of Rotor Stagger Angle on the Stability of a Low-Speed Axial Compressor
Authors: Ma Shuai , Hu Jun , Wang Xuegao , Ji Jiajia
Published: April 2022

It is well known that variations in stagger angle between rotor blades affect compressor performance. In this paper, the stagger angle of blade No. 8 is increased or decreased by six degrees for non-uniformity, and the influence of rotor non-uniformity caused by the change in only one blade stagger angle on the performance and stability of the compressor is investigated. The experimental results show that whether the local rotor stagger angle increases or decreases, the compressor stability will deteriorate. If the stagger angle of blade No. 8 is reduced by six degrees, the flow coefficient at the stall point increases by 8.5%. If the stagger angle of blade No. 8 is increased by six degrees, the flow coefficient at the stall point increases by 1.5%. The reason for the deterioration of compressor stability caused by the local non-uniform rotor stagger angle is explored. When the stagger angle of rotor blade No. 8 deviates from the designed state, the load of blade No. 8 and the surrounding blades will change. The load on rotor blade No. 8 increases when the stagger angle decreases. In the near-stall condition, blade No. 8 becomes the “dangerous blade” that triggers the stall. As the stagger angle of rotor blade No. 8 increases, the load on blade No. 8 decreases. However, the load on blade No. 9 increases due to flow redistribution and blade No. 9 becomes a “dangerous blade” that triggers stall. The “dangerous blade” caused by the non-uniformity of stagger angle is the direct reason for the advance of the compressor rotating stall.
Analytical Modeling and Control of Dual Active Bridge Converter Considering All Phase-Shifts
Authors: Fiaz Muhammad Faisal , Calligaro Sandro , Iurich Mattia , Petrella Roberto
Published: April 2022

In the field of power electronics-based electrical power conversion, the Dual Active Bridge (DAB) topology has become very popular in recent years due to its characteristics (e.g., bidirectional operation and galvanic isolation), which are particularly suitable to applications such as interface to renewable energy sources, battery storage systems and in smart grids. Although this converter type has been extensively investigated, its analysis and control still pose many challenges, due to the multiple control variables that affect the complex behavior of the converter. This paper presents a theoretical model of the single-phase DAB converter. The proposed model is very general, i.e., it can consider any modulation technique and operating condition. In particular, the converter is seen as composed by four legs, each capable of generating voltage on the inductor, and by the two output legs, which can steer the resulting inductor current to the load. Three variables are considered as the control inputs, i.e., the phase-shifts with respect to one leg. This approach results in a very simple yet accurate closed-form algorithm for obtaining the inductor current waveform. Moreover, a novel analytical model is proposed for calculating the average output current, based on the phase-shift values, independently of the output voltage. It is also shown that average output current can be varied cycle-by-cycle, with no further dynamics. In fact, average output current is not affected by the initial value of inductor current or by DC offset (which may arise during transients). The proposed models can be exploited at several stages of development of a DAB: during the design stage, for fast iteration, when selecting its operating points and when designing the control. In fact, based on the analytical results, a novel control loop is proposed, which adopts a “fictitious” (i.e., open-loop) inner current regulation loop, which can be applied to any modulation scheme (e.g., Single Phase-Shift, Triple Phase-Shift, etc.). The main advantage of this control scheme is that the simple dynamics of the output voltage versus the average output current can be decoupled from the complicated relationship between the phase-shifts and the output current. Moreover, a Finite Control Set (FCS) method is proposed, which selects the optimal operating points for each operating condition and control request, ensuring full Zero-Voltage Switching (ZVS) in all cases. The analytical results obtained and control methods proposed are verified through simulations and extensive experimental tests.
Rare European Beetle Treptoplatypus oxyurus (Coleoptera: Platypodidae) in Managed Uneven-Aged Forests of Croatia
Authors: Žarković Ivan , Đuka Andreja , Franjević Milivoj , Tomljanović Kristijan , Papa Ivica , Krcivoj Tomislav , Hrašovec Boris
Published: April 2022

Bark beetle outbreak sites were analysed before sanitary logging in Gorski Kotar County during spring, summer and autumn 2021. Downed European silver fir trees were inspected for red-listed saproxylic entomofauna. Among other species, the fir pinhole borer (Treptoplatypus oxyurus, Dufour, 1843) (Coleoptera: Platypodidae) was observed and studied on-site and in the laboratory. Symptoms of T. oxyurus presence were recognised as white filamentous bites of sawdust on the bark of the fir trees and the surrounding soil. Every tree infested infested with T. oxyurus was measured (diameter at breast height, height/length), and its position was recorded. Segments were collected for laboratory analysis to evaluate the layout and position of T. oxyurus gallery system. The results showed that individual corridors of T. oxyurus, as a rule, never intersect, cross or connect. Each family of beetles (male, female and their offspring) lives separately in its corridor system. There were examples of corridors that were very close to each other but did not touch. T. oxyurus is still completely unknown to forest operatives in Croatia, who do not recognise symptoms of its occurrence.
Annual Carbon Sequestration Patterns in Trees: A Case Study from Scots Pine Monospecific Stands and Mixed Stands with Sessile Oak in Central Poland
Authors: Giberti Giulia , Wellstein Camilla , Giovannelli Alessio , Bielak Kamil , Uhl Enno , Aguirre-Ráquira William , Giammarchi Francesco , Tonon Giustino
Published: April 2022

The need to understand the carbon sequestration ability of trees under current and future climatic scenarios is fundamental to predict the role of forest in counterbalancing the global warming. In this study, we investigated the carbon sequestration ability of Pinus sylvestris L. in a setting of pure and mixed forests with Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. in Central Poland. Beside the traditional growth measures, i.e., Ring Width, Basal Area Increment, and wood density, we utilized also a new Index called BAIden, which combines Basal Area Increment and mean ring wood density to depict the carbon sequestration ability of trees. Pinus sylvestris showed different sensitivity to climatic variability depending on tree admixture, while the Basal Area Increment and wood density presented few differences between pure and mixed forests. According to the BAIden index, carbon accumulation in P. sylvestris showed similar sensitivity to climatic variability in pure and mixed forests. The new index was also informative on the main climatic drivers of carbon sequestration. Considering future climatic scenarios, the carbon sequestration ability of P. sylvestris will be facilitated by rising temperatures in late winter-early spring and reduced by decreasing precipitation and rising temperatures during summer. Finally, we discussed the perspective and applicability of BAIden for further studies on carbon sequestration ability under climate change.