bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of coronary artery disease on the prognosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a multi-center cohort study
Authors: Liao Qian , Deng Xiaodan , Ma Huihui , Shu Yan , Zeng Shengzhi , zhou Yongmei , Luo Liangjun , Zhao Gang , He Tao , Liu Mingjiang , Tao Jianhong , Hua Wei , Li Xiaoping
Published: April 2023

Background: There is a paucity of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) developed coronary artery disease (CAD), and the impact of CAD on the prognosis of HCM patients is unknown. Therefore, our real-world cohort study aimed to investigate prognosis of CAD in patients with HCM.
Methods: A cohort study was undertaken in HCM patients from May 2003 to September 2021. A total of 2268 patients were enrolled, with a mean follow-up of 5.6 years (interquartile range 2.4-8.4 years). Outcome assessment was based on the all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality/cardiac transplantation and SCD.
Results: Among the 2268 patients studied, 353(15.6%) died during a mean follow-up of 5.6 years. The patients were divided into CAD (n=504) and non-CAD (n=1764) groups. No difference in the all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality/cardiac transplantation or SCD between patients with CAD and no CAD (log-rank c2=0.201, P=0.654; log-rank c2=0.233, P=0.629; log-rank c2=1.523, P=0.217). In the Cox analysis, CAD was not a significant independent predictor of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality/cardiac transplantation or SCD in patients with HCM.
Conclusion: In conclusion, there was no significant differences in mortality between the HCM patients with and without CAD, indicating no effect of CAD on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality/cardiac transplantation, and SCD in the present large-scale study.
Spatial and seasonal variability of autotrophic and heterotrophic picoplankton abundance and growth rates in the southern Bay of Biscay
Authors: Iglesia-Vélez Braulio de la , Díaz-Pérez Laura , Acuña José Luis , Morán Xosé Anxelu G.
Published: April 2023

Autotrophic and heterotrophic picoplankton play fundamental roles in marine food webs and biogeochemical cycles, but their growth responses have seldom been jointly assessed for many marine regions. We describe here the spatio-temporal variability of the abundances and specific growth rates of the picoplanktonic groups routinely distinguished by flow cytometry (Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus cyanobacteria, two groups of differently sized picoeukaryotes and two groups of heterotrophic bacteria distinguished by their relative nucleic acid content) in the central Cantabrian Sea (southern Bay of Biscay). To that end, from February to December 2021 we collected surface water on 5 occasions from 6 stations distributed along the northern Iberian coast (6 − 3°W) and incubated it after removing protistan grazers in order to determine their dynamics along the seasonal cycle as well as the inshore-offshore and the west-east gradients. Seasonal variations in initial and maximum abundances generally matched previous knowledge of the region but specific growth rates were more variable, with Prochlorococcus and high nucleic acid (HNA) bacteria showing the maximum values (up to 2 d− 1) while negative growth was observed in one third of Synechococcus incubations. Temporal differences generally overrode differences along the inshore-offshore gradient while in situ and maximum abundances of most of the groups generally decreased towards the east following the increase in stratification and lower nutrient availability. Responses to stratification suggest Prochlorococcus and low nucleic acid (LNA) cells may prevail among autotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria, respectively, in a warmer ocean.
Transformer Tracker based on Multi-level Residual Perception Structure
Authors: Chen Hui , Wang Zhenhai , Yuan Lutao , Ren Ying , Tian Hongyu
Published: April 2023

Recently, Transformer networks have been used for feature extraction and calculation of similarity in object tracking, replacing the previous use of CNN for feature extraction and cross-attention for feature fusion in Transformer based object tracking algorithms. This new structure is called one stream structure, and has achieved good results. However, the one stream structure of the Transformer tracker has too many network parameters, which limits the tracking speed of the network. For this reason, we have designed a pure one stream Transformer structure that uses soft segmentation operations to significantly reduce model parameters and computational complexity. In order to further improve the accuracy of tracking, we propose a multi-level residual perception structure to enhance the feature information of the target and reduce the background feature information, thereby enhancing the foreground and background discrimination ability of the model. In order to prove the speed and accuracy of our method, we not only compared it with algorithms using deep neural network models, but also compared it with UAV tracking algorithms using shallow networks. Compared with these algorithms, it can be proved that our algorithm not only has fast reasoning speed, but also has very high reasoning accuracy. Experimentally, the UAV123 dataset reached the level of SOTA; the inference speed can reach 130 FPS.
Oncological outcomes of surgical management for T2N0M0 glottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhou Jian , Zhu Xiaoke , Yang Yue , Zhou Liang , Gong Hongli , Xu Chengzhi , Tao Lei
Published: April 2023

Background: This research aimed to evaluate the clinical treatment outcomes of T2N0M0 glottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients who underwent laryngectomy.
Methods: Retrospectively review of 541 T2N0M0 glottic LSCC patients.
Results: 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) rate was 89.6%, and the overall survival (OS) rate was 88.5%. No statistically difference was found between the patients who have undergone total laryngectomy (5-year DFS = 80.7%, and the CSS = 86.7%) and those who have had partial laryngectomy (the 5-year DFS = 84.6%, and CSS = 90.5%). There was no difference in the CSS and DFS rates between patients with negative margins and those with positive margins following postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) ± chemotherapy (the CSS: 90.5% vs.79.9%, P = 0.335 and 5-year DFS: 84.2% vs. 77.8%, P = 0.289). Patients who underwent vertical partial laryngectomy (VPL) had better survival (5-year OS was 91.9%, and the CSS was 92.8%) than those who underwent cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP) or cricohyoidopexy (CHP) (the 5-year OS = 83.8%, P = 0.022 and CSS = 84.9%, P = 0.038).
Conclusion: Surgery remains the gold standard for treating T2N0M0 glottic LSCC patients because it can achieve satisfactory oncological outcomes. Regarding the systemic conditions, the effect of partial laryngectomy is similar to that of total laryngectomy. Moreover, partial laryngectomy preserves the function of the larynx. VPL may be superior to CHP/CHEP, depending upon the invasiveness of the tumor.
The Influence of Microcrystalline and Nanofibrillated Cellulose in XSBR Polymers on the Mechanical Properties of Jute Textile-Reinforced Cementitious Composites
Authors: Guimarães Túlio Caetano , Dias Matheus Cordazzo , de Araújo Olga Maria Oliveira , Lopes Ricardo Tadeu , Koenders Eddie , Filho Romildo Dias Toledo , Tonoli Gustavo Henrique Denzin , de Andrade Rodolfo Giacomim Mendes , Ferreira Saulo Rocha
Published: April 2023

This research aimed to improve the impregnation of XSBR (Carboxylate Styrene Butadiene Rubber) polymer on jute yarns, and hence the mechanical properties of a TRCC (Textile-Reinforced Cementitious Composite). Thus, an experimental investigation on the use of microcrystalline and nanofibrillated cellulose as additives to XSBR admixture was carried out. Four different solutions containing XSBR are presented, and each solution-fiber interaction and each treated fiber-matrix interaction were analysed. For those interaction analyses, the influence of XSBR impregnation was evaluated via SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis), while the mechanical properties of the non-treated and treated jute fibers were evaluated via direct tensile test, and the bond between the treated and non-treated jute yarn and the cementitious matrix was evaluated via pull-out tests. Results showed a prominent enhancement not only to the mechanical behavior of the treated fibers, but to the TRCC's as well.
Mathematics Subject Classification (2020) MSC code1 · MSC code2 · more
Study lime-based mortars with added silica fume and bioproducts for restoration and preservation of heritage buildings
Authors: BARBOSA Maria Teresa , INNOCENCIO Camila Rezende , SALZANI Lucca Oliveira , PEREIRA Thales Silva , SOUZA Nelson Gonçalves Dias , OLIVEIRA Luiz Fernando Cappa
Published: April 2023

Restoration of heritage buildings requires an appropriate choice of materials, as inappropriate materials can lead to degradation rather than preservation. Hydrated lime and sand mortars are the most suitable for masonry cladding. However, they have low durability regarding current requirements. This work investigates the use of silica fume and/or biopolymers (egg albumen and additive derived from the reuse of milk unfit for human consumption (k-casein)) in the production of these mortars. Many mortars were characterized in terms of mechanical properties (compressive and diametric strength, absorption rate) and chemical properties (SEM, Infrared spectrum). The research revealed that the addition of silica fume allows an increase of more than 50% in the mechanical strength of the mortars and, when associated with animal protein, this value may be higher than 60%, especially for biopolymer (k-casein). Finally, the proteins in the preparation of mortars, which provides intense air entry, resulting in the formation of more pores. This increase in voids allows more CO2 to enter, which directly contributes to a faster carbonation process and performance mortar.
CircRNA_15430 reduced by Helicobacter pylori infection and suppressed gastric cancer progression via miR-382-5p/ZCCHC14 axis
Authors: Liu Yun , Cao Jia , Yang Qi , Zhu Linqi , Zhao Wenjun , Wang Xiuping , Yao Jun , Zhou Yong , Shao Shihe
Published: April 2023

Background Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori, HP) is one of the main causes of gastric cancer (GC). CircRNAs have been reported to play a crucial role in developing many types of cancer. However, the role of circRNAs in the development and progression of HP infected-GC has not been studied.Methods Nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA fractionation and RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis (FISH) assays detected the location of circRNA_15430 in GC cells, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyzed circRNA_15430, miR-382-5p and ZCCHC14 expression in GC cell lines and tissues. Colony formation, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays, flow cytometry and laser scanning confocal microscopy examined the function of circRNA_15430 in GC cells. Western blotting detected the protein levels. A dual-luciferase reporter assay monitored whether circRNA_15430 sponges miR-382-5p. Furthermore, circRNA_15430 was analyzed in vivo in tumor growth with nude mice.Results CircRNA_15430 is primarily localized in the cytoplasm of GC cells, and downregulated in the GC cell lines and tissues, and is negatively correlated with the tumor size. Downregulation of circRNA_15430 promotes proliferation, migration and suppresses cell apoptosis and autophagy in GC cells. Mechanically, circRNA_15430 acts as a miR-382-5p sponge, alleviating the inhibitory effect of miR-382-5p on its target ZCCHC14. Knockdown circRNA_15430 enhances tumor growth in vivo. In addition, circRNA_15430 was reduced in HP + gastritis tissues and HP-infected MGC-803 cells, reversing the pro-HP effect on autophagy. Additionally, miR-382-5p was increased in HP + gastritis tissue and HP-infected MGC-803 cells while ZCCHC14 decreased in HP-infected MGC-803 cells. MiR-382-5p reverses the effect of si-ZCCHC14 on autophagosome numbers in MGC-803 cells.Conclusions Therefore, circRNA_15430 plays an inhibitory role in GC and regulates the progression of HP infection-related GC, providing a novel molecular marker for GC therapy.
Bibliometric and knowledge map analysis of one lung ventilation
Authors: Zhong Zhipeng , Wan Yantong , Lin Zishi , Chen Junyong , Ye Jing
Published: April 2023

Background
One lung ventilation (OLV) is an essential method of lung isolation to protect the ventilated lung from soiling by the contralateral lung and obtain optimal surgical exposure in thoracic surgery. This study aims at using bibliometrics to analyze the research status of OLV, to summarize the academic frontier and hotspots, and provide directions for future research comprehensively and objectively.
Methods
The papers and reviews related to OLV were retrieved by the topic search from Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). The bibliometric analysis was performed on Excel 365, CiteSpace, VOSviewer and reference meters (tool R of R-Studio).
Results
A total of 1,552 articles and reviews on OLV research were identified, which showed an overall growing trend from 1982 to 2022. The United States was the leader in this field, accounting for the largest number of publications (299), followed by China (261) and Japan (158). Among all institutions, Yonsei University had the largest number of publications (23), but National Taiwan University Hospital had the highest number of cited publications (876). The papers related to OLV were mainly published in Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia (147) and Anesthesiology(4,380) was the most frequently cited journal. The most productive author was Cheng YJ (15), but Benumof JL had the highest number of co-citations (468). After keywords analysis, the most common keywords are “one-lung ventilation” (575), “thoracic surgery” (154), and “double-lumen tube” (96). “Infants”, “dexmedetomidine”, “inflammation”, and “airway management” are newly emergent research hotspots.
Conclusion
Through bibliometric and visualization methods, we undertook a comprehensive analysis in the field of OLV. The United States maintained a top position in this field, the emerging hotspots of OLV has changed from basic research to clinical research and the further innovation of OLV management. This study will provide new ideas for scholars in their future works.
Prognosis of repeat hepatectomy for liver transplantable hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after hepatectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study with the Hiroshima Surgical Study Group of Clinical Oncology (HiSCO)
Authors: Ohira Masahiro , Kobayashi Tsuyoshi , Hamaoka Michinori , Abe Tomoyuki , Onoe Takashi , Inoue Masashi , Honmyo Naruhiko , Oishi Koichi , Ohdan Hideki
Published: April 2023

Background Factors affecting the prognosis of repeat hepatectomy for transplantable hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after hepatectomy remains unclear. We aimed to clarify the prognostic factors for transplantable and non-transplantable hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after hepatectomy.Methods We included 486 repeat hepatectomies out of 2,244 for hepatocellular carcinoma performed between 2006 and 2017 using the Hiroshima Study Group for Clinical Oncology and Surgery database. Prognostic factors were analyzed in patients who underwent a repeat hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after hepatectomy, dividing them into transplantable (defined as age < 70 years at the time of recurrence and recurrent tumor morphology that meets Japanese criteria) and non-transplantable group were analyzed.Results The 5-year overall survival rate after repeat hepatectomy was 63.2%, while the 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 23.7%. In the transplantable recurrence group, mALBI grade 2b, AFP > 100ng/ml, DCP > 100mAU/ml, max tumor size > 20mm, and multiple tumors were independent prognostic risk factors for overall survival. Patients with two or more risk factors had a significantly lower survival rate, only 40.4% at five years compared to those with one or fewer risk factors (86.3% at five years). In the non-transplantable recurrence group, early recurrence (< 365 days), mALBI grade 2b, and DCP > 100mAU/ml were independent prognostic factors of overall survival.Conclusions We identified the risk factors involved in post-hepatectomy survival for patients with transplantable recurrence after hepatectomy. The results are a potential indicator of whether salvage liver transplantation should be considered during repeat hepatectomy.
Crashes Involving Electric Personal Mobility Devices (ePMD) Reported by the French Police: Types of Crashes, Users Involved, Injuries and Explanatory Factors
Authors: Laverdet Clément , Pala Prashant , Meyer Thierry , Delhomme Patricia
Published: April 2023

The growth of mobility via Electric Personal Mobility Devices (ePMD) has been associated with an increased number of crashes. The French police were asked to report crashes resulting in injury or death in a post-crash survey. We have retrieved the databases of crashes reported by the French police in 2019, 2020 and 2021. This article reports on the contribution of the various categories of vehicles to the crashes recorded in France, and the parameters of ePMD crashes in France: types of crashes, periods, contexts and departments involved; age, gender, protective equipment, injuries of the users concerned by these ePMD crashes, etc. Compared to 2019, ePMD was the main category of users with an increasing number of crashes in 2020 and in 2021. Nearly three quarters of all ePMD crashes were a collision with a car, ePMD users crashed alone in 14% of cases, or hit a pedestrian (9.2%). ePMD users involved in crashes without helmets were younger on average than those wearing helmets. Males and females wore helmets with a similar frequency. When they collided with another user, ePMDs usually injured vulnerable road users such as pedestrians. When they collided with a vehicle not driven by a vulnerable user (protected by their vehicle body), ePMD users were more likely to be injured than the non-vulnerable user. The contexts of ePMD crashes, differences between crash types and user categories are discussed. Finally, results provide guidance for public policy and prevention campaigns (e.g., geographical areas that should be targeted).
Belowground carbon storage in coffee agroforestry systems: A strategy to mitigate climate change
Authors: Cossa Maria T. , Massad Tara J. , Fangueiro David , Ribeiro Natasha S. , Coutinho João , Fraga Irene , Ribeiro-Barros Ana I.
Published: April 2023

Agroforestry systems can contribute to forest restoration as well as above- and belowground carbon (C) storage. The present study documents C dynamics in soils of a coffee agroforestry system (CAFS) to understand its potential for climate change mitigation. The CAFS was implemented as a restoration effort in an area experiencing rapid forest loss due to itinerant agriculture in central Mozambique. Soil samples were collected at 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm in fallow agricultural areas, two- and seven-year-old CAFS, and regenerating and natural forest fragments to compare C dynamics between land uses. C storage was similar between the CAFS and the forest fragment. Microbial biomass C and soil respiration were lowest in the seven-year-old CAFS, while microbial biomass nitrogen was highest in recently disturbed and naturally regenerating sites. Labile C was lowest in the two-year-old CAFS, where organic inputs are presumably lowest. Our results showed that soils from CAFS could play an important role to reduce negative effects of land use change, to promote C sequestration, and to engage initiatives based on the payment of ecosystem services.
Description and analytical modeling for a solid block cross-flow high temperature heat exchanger
Authors: Barlow Douglas A. , Bayat Jahan B. , Hancock Stephen S.
Published: April 2023

In this report, we present the design specifics, and performance modeling results, for a simple, solid metal block, liquid-liquid cross-flow heat exhanger intended for high temperature applications. The design consists of a solid block of metal, with cylindrical channels providing the cross‐flow passageways for two non-mixing liquids. In this design, all flow channels are separated by a certain minimum thickness of the host solid block material. This particular design is limited by the length of pores that can be machined from a solid block. In this study we present and apply a simple heat transfer model for such an exchanger and use it to estimate what values of effectiveness might be obtainable while keeping the size of the exchanger as compact as possible. The effects of pore radius, liquid specific heat and viscosity and block material conductivity on exchanger effectiveness are considered and results reported. The model predicts that for a cubic exchanger of side length 8.25 cm with 50 channels per side at a diameter of 3.0 mm each, for a particular high temperature situation using molten salts, with an inlet and outlet temperature difference of around 170 K, an effectiveness of 0.4 can be achieved with a total mass flow rate of 0.5 kg/s along with a Reynolds number of less than 2000.
Correlation Between Vitamin D Levels on Pregnant Women With Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Vitamin D Levels, Cathelicidin, Interferon γ, and Tlr2 Expression on Neonates in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia
Authors: Meirina Fathia , Sari Dina Keumala , Lubis Inke Nadia , Daulay Rini Savitri , Yani Finny Fitry , Lubis Bugis Mardina , Sembiring Rosita Juwita , Pandia Pandiaman , Rusda Muhammad , Amin Mustafa Mahmud
Published: April 2023

Background: Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) on pregnant women are highly prone to progress into an active TB infection that could infect her newborn. The aforementioned progressivity is dependent on the mother’s immunity system, and said immune system’s mechanism is influenced by the levels of vitamin D. The immune response on pregnant mother during the infection process is thought to affect the child’s immune system since the pregnancy term. The purpose of this research is to find the role of vitamin D levels on LTBI pregnant women on the vitamin D level and immune response of the neonates so that we are able to pinpoint and create an adequate immune system for both the children and mothers with LTBI since fetal period as a TB prevention effort on neonates
Patients and Methods: This study utilized the case control design that included 84 pregnant women on their third trimester of pregnancy, as well as their children from three hospitals in Medan, North Sumatera. The subject of this study is 42 LTBI pregnant women (IGRA-positive) and 42 non-LTBI pregnant women (IGRA-negative) and their neonates. This study was conducted from December 2021 until July 2022. The measured parameters were vitamin D levels, cathelicidin, and IFNg on the pregnant women that would be correlated with the newborn’s vitamin D levels, cathelicidin, IFNg, and TLR2. Further analysis for this study utilized the Chi-squared test and the Fisher test, and for Spearman’s correlation was used for correlation testing.
Results: The study’s result reported that LTBI pregnant women are at risk for vitamin D insufficiency (OR = 3.667, p = 0.006) and plays a role on their newborn’s vitamin D levels (p = 0.038). The vitamin D levels on LTBI pregnant women and the vitamin D levels on healthy newborns from LTBI pregnant women is significantly correlated with the newborns’ TLR2 levels (p = 0.048; p = 0.005). The higher levels of vitamin D on newborns with non-LTBI pregnant women plays a role on their newborn’s cathelicidin (p = 0.043). The cathelicidin and IFNg levels on pregnant woman with LTBI plays a role on their newborn’s cathelicidin and IFNg levels (p = 0.03; p = 0.001).
The vitamin D levels on LTBI pregnant women plays a role on their newborn’s vitamin D levels. Cathelicidin, IFNg, and TLR2 level on newborns are influenced by the mother’s immune response and the newborn’s vitamin D levels itself.
Occupational safety issues and factors influencing Safety Regulations Compliance in the Artisanal and small-scale gold Mining in Adadiem, Ghana
Authors: Siabi Ebenezer Kwadwo , Donkor Peter , Sieh Michael Kwasi , Frimpong Kwasi , Mensah Samuel Kofi , Siabi Elikplim , Vuu Christopher
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to examine Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Compliance in the Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector in Ghana with a focus on Adadiem and identify the challenges associated with it. A quantitative research method was employed and all 248 survey respondents were sampled. The study revealed a lack of compliance with OSH practices, and “hit by working tools” and slipping/falling were identified as the most common types of safety hazards leading to minor injuries in the ASGM industry. It was also observed that working tools and machinery are the main sources of injuries and mostly affect the legs, knees, and feet. The findings of the study indicate the presence of OSH breaches in the ASGM industry in the study area. It is therefore proposed that the government of Ghana create and enforce legislation that places stringent requirements on ASGM operators to ensure that they are meeting OSH standards and protecting the health and safety of their workers, and that policy tools such as fines, taxes, restrictions, and subsidies may be employed to promote compliance with safety requirements.
Cone Beam Breast CT in Differentiating Benign Breast Diseases with Different Breast Cancer Risks
Authors: Yan Yan
Published: April 2023

Aim To differentiate benign breast diseases with various levels of breast cancer risk using cone-beam breast computed tomography (CBBCT) imaging characteristics.Methods One hundred and seven (107) cases of confirmed benign breast diseases were divided into High-Risk (HR), Elevated-Risk (ER), and Low-Risk (LR) groups based on their histopathologic types and previously reported breast cancer risk levels of these types. The general clinicopathological features, CBBCT imaging characteristics, and quantitative measurements of the three groups were statistically analyzed.Results Although the majority of the lesions in all the risk groups showed benign morphological and descriptive enhancement characteristics based on BI-RADS® lexicon, the three risk groups could not be discriminated by both non-contrast CBBCT and Contrast-Enhanced CBBCT (CE-CBBCT) morphological characteristics and descriptive enhancement characteristics. However, CE-CBBCT quantitative enhancement measurements including Enhancement Degree (DE) and Wash-in Rate (RW) were able to differentiate the lesions in the three risk groups with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The DE at phase 1 post-contrast scan is the highest in ER group (0.346), followed by HR group (0.329) and lowest in LR group (0.106). The RW at phase 1 post-contrast scan is the highest in ER group (1.171), followed by HR group (1.018) and LR group (0.267). The RW at phase 1 post-contrast scan is the highest in HR group (0.604), followed by LR group (0.260) and ER group (0.074).Conclusions The quantitative enhancement measurements in CE-CBBCT images can be used to differentiate LR, ER and HR groups among benign breast diseases. The outcome of the study could be useful to reduce the overtreatment of benign lesions and customize treatment plans based on breast cancer risk levels.
In-situ polymerization of meta nitro benzoic acid on graphite electrode as a mediator for the electrochemical oxidation of resorcinol
Authors: R Rejithamol , C Devu , J Kaveri S , P Dhiya , S Aiswarya M , C Seethalekshmi K
Published: April 2023

We have fabricated a novel disposable and cost-effective pencil graphite electrode for the voltammetric analysis of the organic water pollutant resorcinol. This method of quantification of resorcinol can be recommended as an effortless and precise way for the voltammetric determination of resorcinol in water samples. The sensor was found to be selective yet easily accessible with the less expensive method. Here, we developed a pencil graphite electrode modified with 3-nitro benzoic acid as the sensor material for the determination of resorcinol. The fabricated sensor is used for the elevated level quantification of resorcinol in well and tap water samples. The easiness of the analytical method, the high sensitivity, 3.75 μA/μM/cm2, and the linear concentration range (1-300 μM) of resorcinol on the proposed sensor are discerned to be higher than previously published electrochemical sensors. The selectivity of resorcinol from various interfering molecules is known to be excellent, especially the isomers catechol and hydroquinone with a low detection limit of 0.16 μM.
HLA-B27 positivity in a large miscegenated population of 5,389,143 healthy blood marrow donors in Brazil
Authors: Resende Gustavo Gomes , Saad Carla Gonçalves Schahin , de Oliveira Danielli Cristina Muniz , Filho Julio Silvio de Sousa Bueno , Barros Percival Degrava Sampaio , Pinheiro Marcelo de Medeiros
Published: April 2023

BackgroundThe prevalence of HLA-B27 gene positivity in healthy Caucasian communities varies between 8–14%. However, there is a lack of information in countries with a high rate of miscegenation, such as Brazil.AimTo estimate the frequency of HLA-B27 in the Brazilian general population using a large national registry database.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional ecological study using the Brazilian Registry of Volunteer Bone Marrow Donors (REDOME) database on HLA-B27 allelic frequency and proportion of positives of healthy donors (18–60 years old). Data were analyzed according to sex, age, race(by self-reported skin color recommended by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics-IBGE), and geographic region of residence.ResultsFrom 1994 to 2022, a total of 5,389,143 healthy bone marrow donors were included. The overall positivity for HLA-B27 was 4.35% (CI 95% 4.32–4.37%), regardless of sex and age (57.2% were women, mean age was 41.7yo). However, there was a difference between races: 4.85% in Whites; 2.92% in Blacks; 3.76% inPardos(Browns i.e. mixed races); 3.95% inAmarelos(Yellows i.e. Asian Brazilians); and 3.18% in Indigenous. There was also a difference regarding geographic region of residence (North: 3.62%; Northeast: 3.63%; Southeast: 4.29%; Midwest: 4.5% and 5.25% in South). The homozygosity rate for the HLA-B27 was 1.32% of all the positives and only 0.06% in the general population.ConclusionsOur findings provide the first Brazilian national prevalence for HLA-B27 in 4.35%. There is a gradient gene positivity from North to South, suggesting that the genetic background related to the miscegenation due to colonization, slavery, and some later waves of immigration together with internal migratory flows, could explain our findings.
The Role of Clonazepam on the Control and Management of Tinnitus: A Cross-over randomized study.
Authors: Roumieh Mirar W. , Tarrab Fatema , Dandashli Mohammad Nabil , Ataya Sham
Published: April 2023

Background and objectives:
Tinnitus is considered one of the most prevalent complaints among patients viewed at the E.N.T and neurological clinics. It’s defined as the perception of phantom sound, originated in the head. It’s estimated that 20% of population suffer tinnitus, 1% of which have severe symptoms affecting their quality of life, and may lead to suicide. In spite of that there is no “golden stander” test for tinnitus nor an agreed upon treatment or cure. Leaving practitioner trying with different protocols and medications for each patient.
The paper search in the use of clonazepam as an effective treatment for tinnitus or at least as a tamer for the affects it has on patient’s quality of life.
Methods:
This is a cross-over study, conducted on 80 patients who completed the inclusion criterion and signed the informed consent paper. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. The 1st group had clonazepam for 1 month as the 1st stage then they were followed using the attached survey for 3 months, for the 2nd stage they had gingko biloba “herbal medication usually used on tinnitus cases” for 1 month then were followed for 2 weeks with the same survey. The 2nd group were reversed for the medications “ginkgo biloba for the 1st stage- clonazepam for the 2nd”. This study was designed for each patient to serve as their own case-control.
Results:
A significant improvement was found during the use of clonazepam “p value < 0.05” compared to their basic status on both scales THI+VAS.
No improvement was seen during the use of gingko biloba. “p value >0.05”
Conclusion:
Clonazepam can be considered one of the effective medication for the treatment of subjective tinnitus, no matter how severe or chronic was it. It’s also advised to start to rely less on gingko biloba for the treatment of tinnitus.
Selection of Shrubs for Urban Environments—An Evaluation of Drought Tolerance of 120 Species and Cultivars
Authors: Sjöman Henrik , Ignell Sanna , Hirons Andrew
Published: April 2023

Shrubs comprise a very large proportion of the plant material used in public as well as private green spaces. Yet, there is currently a lack of quantitative assessments of stress tolerance in a large proportion of available species and cultivars of shrubs, thus complicating any design process involving shrubs. The aim of this study was to evaluate drought tolerance of many common and less traditional shrubs intended for public planting. Through this compilation, a first contribution (dataset) to species selection to obtain expected ecosystem services of shrubs is offered. As water stress is a major constraint for landscape plants in urban environments and is likely to increase in many regions under future climate scenarios, the quantitative drought tolerance of a species or genotype must be a fundamental consideration for plant selection for urban environments. In this study, we used water potential at the turgor loss point (ΨP0) as a key trait for evaluating drought tolerance of different species of shrubs. ΨP0 is a highly instructive trait because it represents a quantifiable measure of physiological drought tolerance. More negative ΨP0 values represent greater drought tolerance by allowing the leaf to maintain physiological function over a greater range of leaf water potentials. ΨP0 was estimated for a wide range of shrubs, representing a total of 44 genera and 120 species and cultivars. The mean ΨP0 value for all 120 shrub species and cultivars was −2.76 MPa, with the overall species ΨP0 value ranging from −1.48 MPa to −4.23 MPa. Intraspecific variation (variation between cultivars) was evaluated using five cultivars of Spiraea japonica and one wild collected genotype. Within this species, there was a range of ΨP0 values of 1.66 MPa, with S. japonica ‘Little Princess’ having the highest estimated drought tolerance (ΨP0 = −2.78) and the wild-type S. japonica having the lowest (ΨP0 = −4.44 MPa).
Mutation Breeding of Salvia coccinea with Ethyl Methanesulfonate
Authors: Maynard Rebekah C.I. , Ruter John M.
Published: April 2023

Salvia coccinea is a valuable flowering annual that attracts hummingbirds and bees to the garden, but few cultivars are commercially available. There is a limited range of petal colors and no leaf variegation. This research aimed to improve the ornamental value of S. coccinea by inducing mutations with ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). The standard, red-flowered species was selected for treatment by exposing seeds to 0%, 0.4%, 0.8%, or 1.2% EMS for 8, 12, or 24 hours. The optimal treatment rate was determined to be 1.2% EMS for 8 hours, which generated desirable mutations near the median lethal dose (LD50). The M1 population had a 53% germination rate and was completely morphologically uniform. By the M2, mutations included differences in leaf shape and flower size in addition to albina, chlorina, virescens, and chimeral chlorophyll changes. A 1% mutation rate was achieved in this breeding program with seven unstable mutations and six stable mutations. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values were measured to determine differences in chlorophyll content between lethal albina mutations, chartreuse chlorina and virescens mutations, and typical leaf color. Future work will investigate the stability and heritability of chlorophyll variegation by hybridizing these selections with coral-flowered accessions of S. coccinea.
Technical solutions for selecting an option for replacing overaged boiler steam drums
Authors: Okhlopkov A. V. , Popov N. V. , Moiseev D. O. , Bitney V. D.
Published: April 2023

This work investigates possible options for replacing the main separator of steam power boilers to ensure their maximal service life. Separators of drum-type boilers are reviewed in terms of their advantages and disadvantages. An analysis of two steels – WB36 and 16GNMA – is carried out by comparing their performance characteristics, chemical composition, and welding procedures. Possible technical solutions for replacing overaged drum boilers are analyzed from the technical and economic perspectives. Three options were selected for replacing the separator: a similar drum made of imported grade WB36 steel; an alternative option with a small drum and a bank of off-mounted cyclones; a drumless option based on a multi-stage evaporation cycle and a bank of cyclones. The materials currently used in separators, i.e., 16GNM and 16GNMA, are compared with imported WB36 steel. It was found that each option had its own advantages and disadvantages, which should be analyzed according to the following parameters: weight and dimensions; assumed need in lifting equipment; hydraulic losses; assumed changes in automatic boiler equipment; relative costs associated with designing, analysis, and risk management. Therefore, the presented recommendations for selecting a drum replacement option are essential for extending the service life and ensuring the reliable and safe operation of boiler equipment.
Laboratory installation for simulating and investigating the performance of built-in thermal protection at the first stage of manufacturing energy-efficient shells for high-pressure reservoirs
Authors: Elovenko D. A. , Pimshtein P. G. , Kuznetsov K. A.
Published: April 2023

In this work, we aim to validate the efficiency of the previously created and patented laboratory test installation for simulating the high-pressure operation of a thermal barrier of high-pressure reservoirs and for determining the thermal conductivity of thermal barrier materials. Simulation of thermal barrier operation in the test installation was carried out under elevated pressures (up to 50–70 MPa). The pressure on the thermal barrier layer was created and regulated by an Instron 5989 test machine as part of the installation. Control of temperature changes and evaluation of the thermal insulation performance were performed by a calculation method based on temperature readings in the control points of the upper and lower rods of the installation. These values were obtained by contact (using thermocouples of surface temperature control) or non-contact (using thermal imaging equipment) methods. A pilot study into the performance of a thermal barrier material “tennesite” was carried out at different pressures. At pressures of 30, 40 and 50 MPa, the thickness of the tested samples comprised 4.64 mm, 4.35 mm and 4.00 mm, respectively. Variations in pressure were established to have a negligible effect on the thermal conductivity of the studied material. Thus, at pressures of 30, 40 and 50 MPa, the temperature drop in the samples comprised 198°С, 188°С and 190°С, respectively. The installation showed high efficiency in simulating the thermal protection of the studied material. Thus, at a layer thickness of 4 mm under the internal pressure of 50 MPa and the working temperature inside the equipment housing up to 300°С, the material is capable of reducing the thermal impact on the protected part of the structure by about three times (from 298.6°С to 108.4°С). The presented design can be used when investigating the behavior of various thermal barrier materials operated under elevated pressures. The results obtained confirm the efficiency of the proposed laboratory installation.
Structural phenomenological concept of monitoring the load-bearing capacity of structural elements of composite materials
Authors: Matvienko Yu. G. , Vasiliev I. E. , Chernov D. V.
Published: April 2023

The authors demonstrate the potential of a methodological approach for monitoring the damage kinetics and evaluating the load-bearing capacity of composite structural elements based on the method of acoustic emission. This methodology was developed by specialists of the Blagonravov Mechanical Engineering Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The methodology was implemented for a fatigue test of an aircraft panel represented by a complex hybrid structure with a lining made of layered composite and a cellular internal structure of aluminum foil with polymeric filler that has a continuous layered structure in the gripping area. Fatigue tests were carried out at 4 Hz from the zero-loading cycle with an amplitude of 145 kN. To record the accumulation of damages, R15–AST transducers by Mistral (USA) and an A-line 32D 8-channel acoustic emission system by Interunis-IT LLC were used. Comparing the weight content of location impulses with their threshold values in energy clusters characterizing the kinetics of micro-, meso-, and macro-damages of the composite material structure made it possible to determine the bearing capacity of the aircraft panel at respective stages of damage kinetics. The results of the acoustic emission diagnostics are given for the examined aircraft panel during cyclic loading, including the coordinate location of acoustic emission sources, accumulation of acoustic emission events by channels, the dynamics of partial activity changes, and weight content of location impulses at damage evolution stages of a composite material. Therefore, the acoustic emission diagnostics of the aircraft panel made it possible to identify the areas of intensive damage accumulation in the hybrid structure of the panel and control the actual bearing capacity by defining the extent of its damages at various scale and structural levels during cyclic loading. The described methodology of using acoustic emission diagnostics for monitoring the damage kinetics and actual bearing capacity of highly loaded composite elements extends the research potential of the acoustic emission method.
Modern biodegradable materials with accelerated degradation for dairy and food products (subject review)
Authors: Myalenko D. M.
Published: April 2023

Products of the polymer industry, the lion's share of which is food packaging, create a significant threat to the en­vironment, which requires a search for the most effective and functional solutions to this problem. Every year, the production of polymer packaging is growing by an average of 10-12%, and last year, due to the worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and its strains, the increase was more than 20%. A solution to the environmental problem is possible using the main basic approaches: disposal and recycling of waste, which will give the pos­sibility of the “second life” to already used polymers; development and creation of new biodegradable materials capable of degrading completely under the influence of external factors into relatively safer substances. However, it should be noted that the first method has a number of significant drawbacks associated with the difficulty in controlling the amount of recycling processes carried out, which can potentially lead to an increase in migration processes from polymeric materials. The second way to solve the environmental problem of packaging disposal and recycling is the direction associated with the creation of polymeric materials with the replacement of part of the traditional commercial synthetic bases with organic and inorganic fillers in various concentrations. However, the most promising way to handle packaging waste, in our opinion, is the development of technologies aimed at creating fully biodegradable materials with a regulated service life, which, after their life cycle, are disposed of in a short time without harming the environment. This review is devoted to the analysis of the market of modern biodegradable materials and methods for obtaining degradable compositions that can become a significant alternative to traditional plastics.
Bran from composite grain mixture as an object of deep processing. Part 2. Carbohydrate-amylase and lipid complexes
Authors: Vitol I. S. , Meleshkina E. P. , Pankratov G. N.
Published: April 2023

Polycomponent bran obtained by joint grinding of a grain mixture from cereals (wheat), legumes (lentils) and oilseeds (flax) should be considered as a valuable secondary raw material, the use of which for deep processing will make it possible to obtain various food and feed ingredients. An assessment of the carbohydrate-amylase and lipid complexes of the three variants of multicomponent bran showed that the ratio of amylose and amylopectin in the starch of three-component bran is almost the same, however, in lentil-flax bran, the proportion of amylose is 1.6 times higher than in the first two variants. The specific activity of amylases in three-component bran is about 2 times higher than in lentil-flax bran. In addition, the latter are characterized by a higher content of reducing sugars and fiber. The molecular weight of amylases isolated from three-component bran, according to gel chromatography, was: α-amylase — 40,000 Da; β-amylase — 60,000 Da. It has been established that the addition of flax seeds to the grinding mixture significantly increases the fat content in bran 6.4; 6.0 and 12.9%. The fatty acid composition of the studied bristles is characterized by the predominance of unsaturated fatty acids. At the same time, the ratio of essential acids — linoleic acid (ɷ‑6) to α-linolenic acid (ɷ‑3) in favor of the most deficient α-linolenic acid — was typical for lentil-flax bran and amounted to 1:4.2. The activity of alkaline lipases, which exhibit their effect at pH 8.0 (mainly cereal lipases), and acid lipases (mainly oilseed lipases) with an optimum of action at pH 4.7 in three-component bran samples are approximately the same, and lentil-flax bran is characterized by a high specific acid lipase activity, which is approximately 4.2 times higher than the activity of acid lipases of three-component bran. The data obtained, along with data on the characteristics of the protein-proteinase complex of the studied types of bran, will be used in the development of methods for enzymatic modification (deep processing) and in the preparation of components for the creation of new food products with increased nutritional and biological value.