bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heart Failure and Cardiorenal Syndrome: A Narrative Review on Pathophysiology, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Regimens—From a Cardiologist’s View
Authors: Mitsas Angelos C. , Elzawawi Mohamed , Mavrogeni Sophie , Boekels Michael , Khan Asim , Eldawy Mahmoud , Stamatakis Ioannis , Kouris Dimitrios , Daboul Baraa , Gunkel Oliver , Bigalke Boris , van Gisteren Ludger , Almaghrabi Saif , Noutsias Michel
Published: November 2022

In cardiorenal syndrome (CRS), heart failure and renal failure are pathophysiologically closely intertwined by the reciprocal relationship between cardiac and renal injury. Type 1 CRS is most common and associated with acute heart failure. A preexistent chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common and contributes to acute kidney injury (AKI) in CRS type 1 patients (acute cardiorenal syndrome). The remaining CRS types are found in patients with chronic heart failure (type 2), acute and chronic kidney diseases (types 3 and 4), and systemic diseases that affect both the heart and the kidney (type 5). Establishing the diagnosis of CRS requires various tools based on the type of CRS, including non-invasive imaging modalities such as TTE, CT, and MRI, adjuvant volume measurement techniques, invasive hemodynamic monitoring, and biomarkers. Albuminuria and Cystatin C (CysC) are biomarkers of glomerular filtration and integrity in CRS and have a prognostic impact. Comprehensive “all-in-one” magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approaches, including cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) combined with functional MRI of the kidneys and with brain MRI are proposed for CRS. Hospitalizations due to CRS and mortality are high. Timely diagnosis and initiation of effective adequate therapy, as well as multidisciplinary care, are pertinent for the improvement of quality of life and survival. In addition to the standard pharmacological heart failure medication, including SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), renal aspects must be strongly considered in the context of CRS, including control of the volume overload (diuretics) with special caution on diuretic resistance. Devices involved in the improvement of myocardial function (e.g., cardiac resynchronization treatment in left bundle branch block, mechanical circulatory support in advanced heart failure) have also shown beneficial effects on renal function.
Robot-Assisted Electrode Insertion in Cochlear Implantation Controlled by Intraoperative Electrocochleography—A Pilot Study
Authors: Gawęcki Wojciech , Balcerowiak Andrzej , Podlawska Paulina , Borowska Patrycja , Gibasiewicz Renata , Szyfter Witold , Wierzbicka Małgorzata
Published: November 2022

Robotics in otology has been developing in many directions for more than two decades. Current clinical trials focus on more accurate stapes surgery, minimally invasive access to the cochlea and less traumatic insertion of cochlear implant (CI) electrode arrays. In this study we evaluated the use of the RobOtol® (Collin, Bagneux, France) otologic robot to insert CI electrodes into the inner ear with intraoperative ECochG analysis. This prospective, pilot study included two adult patients implanted with Advanced Bionics (Westinghouse PI, CA, USA) cochlear implant, with HiFocus™ Mid-Scala electrode array. The standard surgical approach was used. For both subjects, who had residual hearing in the implanted ear, intraoperative and postoperative ECochG was performed with the AIMTM system. The surgeries were uneventful. A credible ECochG response was obtained after complete electrode insertion in both cases. Preoperative BC thresholds compared to intraoperative estimated ECochG thresholds and 2-day postoperative BC thresholds had similar values at frequencies where all thresholds were measurable. The results of the ECochG performed one month after the surgery showed that in both patients the hearing residues were preserved for the selected frequencies. The RobOtol® surgical robot allows for the correct, safe and gentle insertion of the cochlear implant electrode inside the cochlea. The use of electrocochleography measurements during robotic cochlear implantation offers an additional opportunity to evaluate and modify the electrode array insertion on an ongoing basis, which may contribute to the preservation of residual hearing.
An Approach to Identify HLA Class II Immunogenic Epitopes in the Greek Population through Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Fylaktou Asimina , Lioulios Georgios , Tarassi Katerina , Siorenta Alexandra , Petasis George Ch , Gerogiannis Demetris , Theodorou Ioannis , Iniotaki Aliki G. , Vittoraki Angeliki G.
Published: November 2022

Current pre-transplantation routine matching involves serum anti-HLA antibodies quantification but cannot always preclude unfavorable graft outcomes. Epitope-based matching is proposed as a more precise approach, but to date no epitope-matching algorithm provides a satisfactory predictive tool for transplantation outcomes. In this study, anti-HLA-II loci responses from 1748 patients were analyzed with unsupervised machine learning algorithms, namely principal component analysis (PCA) and antigenic distances, projected as dendrograms. PCA for anti-HLA-DR anti-bodies revealed three main clusters of responses: anti-HLA-DR51 combined with anti-HLA-DRB1*01, anti-HLA-DR52 combined with anti-HLA-DRB1*08 and anti-HLA-DR53 combined with anti-HLA-DRB1*10. The dendrogram for anti-HLA-DR confirmed the pattern and showed further bisection of each cluster. Common epitopes present exclusively in all HLA molecules of each cluster were determined following the HLA epitope registry. Thus, we propose that 19 out of 123 HLA-DR epitopes are those that mainly lead anti-HLA-DR responses in the studied population. Likewise, we identified 22 out of 83 epitopes responsible for anti-HLA-DQ and 13 out of 62 responsible for anti-HLA-DP responses. Interpretation of these results may elucidate mechanisms of interlocus cross-reactivity, providing an alternative way of estimating the significance of each epitope in a population and thus suggesting a novel strategy towards optimal donor selection.
COVID-19 and Pulmonary Thrombosis—An Unresolved Clinical Puzzle: A Single-Center Cohort Study
Authors: Močibob Loris , Šušak Frano , Šitum Maja , Višković Klaudija , Papić Neven , Vince Adriana
Published: November 2022

Pulmonary thrombosis (PT) is a frequent complication of COVID-19. However, the risk factors, predictive scores, and precise diagnostic guidelines on indications for CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) are still lacking. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and laboratory characteristics associated with PT in patients with COVID-19. We conducted a cohort study of consecutively hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 who underwent CTPA at the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb, Croatia between 1 April and 31 December 2021. Of 2078 hospitalized patients, 575 (27.6%) underwent CTPA. PT was diagnosed in 178 (30.9%) patients (69.6% males, median age of 61, IQR 50–69 years). The PT group had a higher CRP, LDH, D-dimer, platelets, and CHOD score. PT was more frequent in patients requiring ≥15 L O2/min (25.0% vs. 39.7%). In multivariable analysis, only D-dimer ≥ 1.0 mg/L (OR 1.78, 95%CI 1.12–2.75) and O2 ≥ 15 L (OR 1.89, 95%CI 1.26–2.84) were associated with PT. PT was not associated with in-hospital mortality. In conclusion, our data confirmed a high incidence of PT in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, however, no correlation with traditional risk factors and mortality was found. CTPA should be performed in patients requiring high-flow supplemental oxygen or those with increased D-dimer levels.
Analysis of Circulating C19MC MicroRNA as an Early Marker of Hypertension and Preeclampsia in Pregnant Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kondracka Adrianna , Jaszczuk Ilona , Koczkodaj Dorota , Kondracki Bartosz , Frąszczak Karolina , Oniszczuk Anna , Rybak-Krzyszkowska Magda , Staniczek Jakub , Filip Agata , Kwaśniewska Anna
Published: November 2022

Preeclampsia and hypertension complicate several pregnancies. Identifying women at risk of developing these conditions is essential to establish potential treatment modalities. Biomarkers such as C19MC microRNA in pregnant patients wopuld assist in defining pregnancy surveillance and implementing interventions. This study sought to analyze circulating C19MC microRNA as an early marker of hypertension and preeclampsia in pregnant patients. A systematic review was undertaken using the following registers: disease registries, pregnancy registries, and pregnancy exposure registries, and the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane technique. From the 45 publications retrieved from the registers and databases, only 21 were included in the review after the removal of duplicates, screening, and eligibility evaluation. All 210 publications had a low risk of bias and illuminated the potential use of circulating C19MC microRNA as an early marker of hypertension and preeclampsia in pregnant patients. Therefore, it was concluded that C19MC microRNA can be used as an early marker of gestational preeclampsia and hypertension.
COVID-19 Prevention Guidance and the Incidence of Febrile Neutropenia in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving TAC Chemotherapy with Prophylactic Pegfilgrastim
Authors: Gwak Hongki , Lim Seung-Taek , Jeon Ye-Won , Park Hyung Soon , Kim Seong Hwan , Suh Young-Jin
Published: November 2022

Chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (FN) is a medical emergency that causes severe adverse effects and death. Respiratory infections are one of the main causes of fever in patients with FN. We studied whether infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance for coronavirus 2019 disease reduced the incidence of FN. We reviewed female patients with breast cancer treated with adjuvant docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide with prophylactic pegfilgrastim between 2019 and 2021. IPC guidance was implemented in April 2020. There was no difference in the incidence of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia between patients with and without IPC. In patients with IPC, the incidence of FN (9.5%) was lower than that of patients without IPC (27.9%). The hospitalization duration (0.7 ± 1.5 days) and total hospital cost (279.6 ± 42.6 USD) of the IPC group were significantly lower than that of the non-IPC group (2.0 ± 3.8 days and 364.7 ± 271.6 USD, respectively). IPC guidance should be implemented to prevent FN in high-risk patients with breast cancer.
Bibliometric Analysis of Green Finance and Climate Change in Post-Paris Agreement Era
Authors: Muchiri Martin Kamau , Erdei-Gally Szilvia , Fekete-Farkas Mária , Lakner Zoltán
Published: November 2022

Climate change is undeniably one of the long-term challenges confronting humanity across the globe. Various nations have taken initiatives that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the environment as well as accelerate financial flows to clean and sustainable projects. The paper provides an overview of green finance after the Paris Agreement by adopting a bibliometric analysis of the selected literature. The study reviewed the literature from the Web of Science database between 2015 and 2022. Data cleaning, formatting, and analysis was performed using VOSviewer and R-studio. Our study indicates increased scholarly interest on the issue of green financing. Most scientific research has been published in climate policy and sustainability journals but lacks mainstream interest in economic and finance journals. Based on our results, it is recommended that further studies on green financing be carried out from the economic and financial perspective using quantitative approaches to supplement the existing literature and provide a wider view to policy makers and regulators.
Predictive Mapping of Electrical Conductivity and Assessment of Soil Salinity in a Western Türkiye Alluvial Plain
Authors: Kaya Fuat , Schillaci Calogero , Keshavarzi Ali , Başayiğit Levent
Published: November 2022

The increase in soil salinity due to human-induced processes poses a severe threat to agriculture on a regional and global scale. Soil salinization caused by natural and anthropogenic factors is a vital environmental hazard, specifically in semi-arid and arid regions of the world. The detection and monitoring of salinity are critical to the sustainability of soil management. The current study compared the performance of machine learning models to produce spatial maps of electrical conductivity (EC) (as a proxy for salinity) in an alluvial irrigation plain. The current study area is located in the Isparta province (100 km2), land cover is mainly irrigated, and the dominant soils are Inceptisols, Mollisols, and Vertisols. Digital soil mapping (DSM) methodology was used, referring to the increase in the digital representation of soil formation factors with today’s technological advances. Plant and soil-based indices produced from the Sentinel 2A satellite image, topographic indices derived from the digital elevation model (DEM), and CORINE land cover classes were used as predictors. The support vector regression (SVR) algorithm revealed the best relationships in the study area. Considering the estimates of different algorithms, according to the FAO salinity classification, a minimum of 12.36% and a maximum of 20.19% of the study area can be classified as slightly saline. The low spatial dependence between model residuals limited the success of hybrid methods. The land irrigated cover played a significant role in predicting the current level of EC.
Real-Time NMPC for Speed Planning of Connected Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Authors: Ju Fei , Zong Yuhua , Zhuang Weichao , Wang Qun , Wang Liangmo
Published: November 2022

Eco-cruising is considered an effective approach for reducing energy consumption of connected vehicles. Most eco-cruising controllers (ECs) do not comply with real-time implementation requirements when a short sampling interval is required. This paper presents a solution to this problem. Model predictive control (MPC) framework was applied to the speed-planning problem for a power-split hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). To overcome the limitations of time-domain MPC (TMPC), a nonlinear space-domain MPC (SMPC) was proposed in the space domain. A real-time iteration (RTI) algorithm was developed to accelerate nonlinear SMPC computations via generating warm initializations and subsequently forming the SMPC-RTI. Proposed speed controllers were evaluated in a hierarchical EC, where a heuristic energy management strategy was selected for powertrain control. Simulation results indicated that the proposed SMPC yields comparable fuel savings to the TMPC and the globally optimal solution. Meanwhile, SMPC reduced MPC computation time by 41% compared to TMPC, and SMPC-RTI further reduced MPC computation time without compromising optimization. During the hardware-in-loop (HIL) test, the mean computation time was 9.86 ms, demonstrating potential for real-time applications.
A Hybrid Prediction Model Based on KNN-LSTM for Vessel Trajectory
Authors: Zhang Lixiang , Zhu Yian , Su Jiang , Lu Wei , Li Jiayu , Yao Ye
Published: November 2022

Trajectory prediction technology uses the trajectory data of historical ships to predict future ship trajectory, which has significant application value in the field of ship driving and ship management. With the popularization of Automatic Identification System (AIS) equipment in-stalled on ships, many ship trajectory data are collected and stored, providing a data basis for ship trajectory prediction. Currently, most of the ship trajectory prediction methods do not fully consider the influence of ship density in different sea areas, leading to a large difference in the prediction effect in different sea areas. This paper proposes a hybrid trajectory prediction model based on K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) methods. In this model, different methods are used to predict trajectory based on trajectory density. For offshore waters with a high density of trajectory, an optimized K-Nearest Neighbor algorithm is used for prediction. For open sea waters with low density of trajectory, the Long Short-Term Memory model is used for prediction. To further improve the prediction effect, the spatio-temporal characteristics of the trajectory are fully considered in the prediction process of the model. The experimental results for the dataset of historical data show that the mean square error of the proposed method is less than 2.92 × 10−9. Compared to the prediction methods based on the Kalman filter, the mean square error decreases by two orders of magnitude. Compared to the prediction methods based on recurrent neural network, the mean square error decreases by 82%. The advantage of the proposed model is that it can always obtain a better prediction result under different conditions of trajectory density available for different sea areas.
A Single-Event-Hardened Scheme of Phase-Locked Loop Microsystems for Aerospace Applications
Authors: Xiang Qi , Liu Hongxia , Zhou Yulun
Published: November 2022

In order to improve the ability of the phase-locked loop (PLL) microsystem applied in the aerospace environment to suppress the irradiation effect, this study presents an efficient charge pump hardened scheme by using the radiation-hardened-by-design (RHBD) technology. In this study, the sensitivity analysis of the single-event transient (SET) at different nodes of charge pump and different bombardment energies is carried out. Without changing the original structure and loop parameters, a hardened scheme of phase-locked loop to suppress the single-event effect is proposed. A digital control circuit is added between the charge pump and low-pass filter, which greatly reduces the sensitivity of the charge pump to the SET. The classical double-exponential current pulse model is used to simulate the SET effect on the unreinforced and reinforced phase-locked loops, and the reliability of the proposed reinforcement scheme is verified. The simulation results based on the SMIC 130 nm standard complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) process show that the peak value of the transient response fluctuation of the phase-locked loop using the proposed single-event-hardened scheme decreased by 94.2%, the lock recovery time increased by 75.3%, and the maximum phase shift decreased by 90.8%. This shows that the hardened scheme can effectively reduce the sensitivity of the PLL microsystems to the SET effects.
The Limit Tuning Effects Exerted by the Mechanically Induced Artificial Potential Barriers on the I–V Characteristics of Piezoelectric PN Junctions
Authors: Yang Yizhan , Chen Jiankang , Wang Yunbo
Published: November 2022

A mechanically induced artificial potential barrier (MIAPB) in piezoelectric semiconductor devices is set up under the action of a pair of tensile/compressive mechanical loadings. Three factors, namely, the barrier height, width and position, affect the nature and extent of interaction between the MIAPB and the contact barrier, and the tuning characteristics (generated under conditions of the artificial barrier) of the piezoelectric PN junctions were studied. The influence of these factors resulted in variations in the interaction intensities, superposition effects, carrier inversion degrees and carrier redistribution ranges. Subsequently, the limit tuning effects exerted by the tensile/compressive-mode MIAPB on the PN junctions were studied. The inconsistency between the left and right end of the tensile-mode MIAPB under conditions of the offset loading state proves that the maximum tuning effect is generated when both sides of the interface are symmetrically loaded. The range of carrier redistribution and the over-inversion of local carriers, affected by the width and height of MIAPB, result in a second competitive mechanism. The carrier redistribution range and the carrier inversion degree require that the compressive-mode MIAPB be sufficiently wide. The interaction intensities and the superposition effects, affected by the position and height of the MIAPB, contribute to the second competing mechanism. We logically clarify the relationship between multiple competition and find that the emergence of multiple competitive mechanisms proves the existence of the limit tuning effect of MIAPB on the I–V properties of PN junctions. The results reported herein provide a platform for understanding the mechanical tuning laws governing the functions of piezoelectric PN junctions and piezoelectric devices.
New Miniaturized Disposable Screen-Printed Microchip Integrated with Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for Metronidazole Benzoate Drug Detection
Authors: El-Beshlawy Menna , Arida Hassan
Published: November 2022

A novel potentiometric microelectrode incorporating a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was fabricated, characterized, and successfully applied to the recognition and quantification of the drug, metronidazole benzoate. The elaborated MIP-based sensor was realized by thermal polarization, using metronidazole benzoate as the template material, 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidine (VP) as a functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linking agent in the presence of benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The MIP-based sensor exhibited a super-Nernstian response (61.5 ± 0.5, mV/decade) covering the linear concentration range of 1 × 10−8–1 × 10−3 mole L−1 of metronidazole benzoate with a fast response time (≤10, s.) and detection limit of 7 × 10−9 mole L−1. The microchip showed high selectivity toward the template drug molecule in the presence of many investigated interfering species. The chip electrode was successfully used in the quantification of metronidazole benzoate in some real biological samples with high accuracy (recovery, 95.4%) and precision (RSD, 1.5). Moreover, the merits offered by the elaborated MIP-based MB microchip assembly include small size, miniaturization, integration, and consequently, automation feasibility.
Detection of Venturia inaequalis Isolates with Multiple Resistance in Greece
Authors: Chatzidimopoulos Michael , Zambounis Antonios , Lioliopoulou Fenia , Vellios Evangelos
Published: November 2022

The excessive use of fungicides against Venturia inaequalis, the causal agent of apple scab, has led to the emergence of resistant populations to multiple fungicides over the years. In Greece, there is no available information on fungicide resistance, despite the fact that control failures have been reported on certain areas. An amount of 418 single-spore isolates were collected from three major apple production areas and tested for their sensitivity to eight commonly used fungicides from unrelated chemical groups. The isolates were tested on malt extract agar media enriched with the discriminatory dose of each fungicide using the point inoculation method. To define the discriminatory dose for assessing the levels of resistance, EC50 values on both spore germination and mycelial growth assays were previously determined. Isolates exhibiting high resistance to trifloxystrobin (92% in total) and difenoconazole (3%); and moderate resistance to cyprodinil (75%), dodine (28%), difenoconazole (36%), boscalid (5%), and fludioxonil (7%) were found for the first time in Greece. A small percentage of the isolates were also found less sensitive to captan (8%) and dithianon (6%). Two isolates showed various levels of resistance to all eight fungicides. Despite the occurrence of strains with multiple resistances to many fungicides, we concluded that this practical resistance in the field arose mainly due to the poor control of apple scab with trifloxystrobin and difenoconazole.
Bacillales: From Taxonomy to Biotechnological and Industrial Perspectives
Authors: Harirchi Sharareh , Sar Taner , Ramezani Mohaddaseh , Aliyu Habibu , Etemadifar Zahra , Nojoumi Seyed Ali , Yazdian Fatemeh , Awasthi Mukesh Kumar , Taherzadeh Mohammad J.
Published: November 2022

For a long time, the genus Bacillus has been known and considered among the most applicable genera in several fields. Recent taxonomical developments resulted in the identification of more species in Bacillus-related genera, particularly in the order Bacillales (earlier heterotypic synonym: Caryophanales), with potential application for biotechnological and industrial purposes such as biofuels, bioactive agents, biopolymers, and enzymes. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the taxonomy, growth requirements and physiology, genomics, and metabolic pathways in the highly diverse bacterial order, Bacillales, will facilitate a more robust designing and sustainable production of strain lines relevant to a circular economy. This paper is focused principally on less-known genera and their potential in the order Bacillales for promising applications in the industry and addresses the taxonomical complexities of this order. Moreover, it emphasizes the biotechnological usage of some engineered strains of the order Bacillales. The elucidation of novel taxa, their metabolic pathways, and growth conditions would make it possible to drive industrial processes toward an upgraded functionality based on the microbial nature.
Yersinia enterocolitica-Derived Outer Membrane Vesicles Inhibit Initial Stage of Biofilm Formation
Authors: Ma Guoxiang , Ding Yu , Wu Qingping , Zhang Jumei , Liu Ming , Wang Zhi , Wang Zimeng , Wu Shi , Yang Xiaojuan , Li Ying , Wei Xianhu , Wang Juan
Published: November 2022

Yersinia enterocolitica (Y. enterocolitica) is an important food-borne and zoonotic pathogen. It can form biofilm on the surface of food, increasing the risk to food safety. Generally, outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are spherical nanostructures secreted by Gram-negative bacteria during growth. They play a role in biological processes because they contain biologically active molecules. Several studies have reported that OMVs secreted by various bacteria are associated with the formation of biofilms. However, the interactions between Y. enterocolitica OMVs and biofilm are unknown. This study aims to investigate the effect of Y. enterocolitica OMVs on biofilm formation. Firstly, OMVs were extracted from Y. enterocolitica Y1083, which has a strong biofilm-forming ability, at 15 °C, 28 °C and 37 °C and then characterized. The characterization results showed differences in the yield and protein content of three types of OMVs. Next, by co-culturing the OMVs with Y. enterocolitica, it was observed that the OMVs inhibited the initial stage of Y. enterocolitica biofilm formation but did not affect the growth of Y. enterocolitica. Furthermore, biofilm formation by Salmonella enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus were also inhibited by OMVs. Subsequently, it was proved that lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in OMVs inhibited biofilm formation., The proteins, DNA or RNA in OMVs could not inhibit biofilm formation. Bacterial motility and the expression of the biofilm-related genes pgaABC, motB and flhBD were inhibited by LPS. LPS demonstrated good anti-biofilm activity against various bacteria. This study provides a new approach to the prevention and control of pathogenic bacterial biofilm.
High Power Factor of Ag2Se/Ag/Nylon Composite Films for Wearable Thermoelectric Devices
Authors: Wu Wenhang , Liang Zheng , Jia Meng , Li Yuwei , Guan Xiongcong , Zhan Yunfeng , Wen Jinxiu , Luo Jianyi
Published: November 2022

A flexible thermoelectric device has been considered as a competitive candidate for powering wearable electronics. Here, we fabricated an n-type Ag2Se/Ag composite film on a flexible nylon substrate using vacuum-assisted filtration and a combination of cold and hot pressing. By optimising the Ag/Se ratio and the sequential addition and reaction time of AA, an excellent power factor of 2277.3 μW∙m−1 K−2 (corresponding to a ZT of ~0.71) at room temperature was achieved. In addition, the Ag2Se/Ag composite film exhibits remarkable flexibility, with only 4% loss and 10% loss in electrical conductivity after being bent around a rod of 4 mm radius for 1000 cycles and 2000 cycles, respectively. A seven-leg flexible thermoelectric device assembled with the optimised film demonstrates a voltage of 19 mV and a maximum power output of 3.48 μW (corresponding power density of 35.5 W m−2) at a temperature difference of 30 K. This study provides a potential path to design improved flexible TE devices.
Atom-to-Device Simulation of MoO3/Si Heterojunction Solar Cell
Authors: Gulomov Jasurbek , Accouche Oussama , Al Barakeh Zaher , Aliev Rayimjon , Gulomova Irodakhon , Neji Bilel
Published: November 2022

Metal oxides are commonly used in optoelectronic devices due to their transparency and excellent electrical conductivity. Based on its physical properties, each metal oxide serves as the foundation for a unique device. In this study, we opt to determine and assess the physical properties of MoO3 metal oxide. Accordingly, the optical and electronic parameters of MoO3 are evaluated using DFT (Density Functional Theory), and PBE and HSE06 functionals were mainly used in the calculation. It was found that the band structure of MoO3 calculated using PBE and HSE06 exhibited indirect semiconductor properties with the same line quality. Its band gap was 3.027 eV in HSE06 and 2.12 eV in PBE. Electrons and holes had effective masses and mobilities of 0.06673, −0.10084, 3811.11 cm2V−1s−1 and 1630.39 cm2V−1s−1, respectively. In addition, the simulation determined the dependence of the real and imaginary components of the complex refractive index and permittivity of MoO3 on the wavelength of light, and a value of 58 corresponds to the relative permittivity. MoO3 has a refractive index of between 1.5 and 3 in the visible spectrum, which can therefore be used as an anti-reflection layer for solar cells made from silicon. In addition, based on the semiconducting properties of MoO3, it was estimated that it could serve as an emitter layer for a solar cell containing silicon. In this work, we calculated the photoelectric parameters of the MoO3/Si heterojunction solar cell using Sentaurus TCAD (Technology Computing Aided Design). According to the obtained results, the efficiency of the MoO3/Si solar cell with a MoO3 layer thickness of 100 nm and a Si layer thickness of 9 nm is 8.8%, which is 1.24% greater than the efficiency of a homojunction silicon-based solar cell of the same size. The greatest short-circuit current for a MoO3/Si heterojunction solar cell was observed at a MoO3 layer thickness of 60 nm, which was determined by studying the dependency of the heterojunction short-circuit current on the thickness of the MoO3 layer.
Field-Driven Magnetic Phase Diagram and Vortex Stability in Fe Nanometric Square Prisms
Authors: Galvis Mauricio , Mesa Fredy , Restrepo Johans
Published: November 2022

In this work, we deal with the zero temperature hysteretic properties of iron (Fe) quadrangular nanoprisms and the size conditions underlying magnetic vortex states formation. Different aspect ratios of a square base prism of thickness t with free boundary conditions were considered in order to summarize our results in a proposal of a field-driven magnetic phase diagram where such vortex states are stable along the hysteresis loops. To do that, a Hamiltonian consisting of exchange, magnetostatic, Zeeman and cubic anisotropy energies was considered. The time dynamics at each magnetic field step was performed by solving the time-dependent Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert differential equation. The micromagnetic simulations were performed using the Ubermag package based on the Object Oriented Micromagnetic Framework (OOMMF). Circular magnetic textures were also characterized by means of topological charge calculations. The aspect ratio dependencies of the coercive force, nucleation and annihilation fields are also analyzed. Computations agree with related experimental observations and other micromagnetic calculations.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Thermal Behavior of Hydroxyapatite
Authors: Likhachev Ilya , Balabaev Nikolay , Bystrov Vladimir , Paramonova Ekaterina , Avakyan Leon , Bulina Natalia
Published: November 2022

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is the main mineral component of bones and teeth. Due to its biocompatibility, HAP is widely used in medicine as a filler that replaces parts of lost bone and as an implant coating that promotes new bone growth. The modeling and calculations of the structure and properties of HAP showed that various structural defects have a significant effect on the properties of the material. By varying these structural heterogeneities, it is possible to increase the biocompatibility of HAP. An important role here is played by OH group vacancies, which are easily formed when these hydroxyl groups leave OH channels of HAP. In this case, the temperature dependence of the concentration of OH ions, which also determines the thermal behavior of HAP, is important. To study the evaporation of OH ions from HAP structures with increasing temperatures, molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) methods were used in this work. As a program for MDS modeling, we used the PUMA-CUDA software package. The initial structure of HAP, consisting of 4 × 4 × 2 = 32 unit cells of the hexagonal HAP phase, surrounded by a 15-Å layer of water was used in the modelling. Multiple and statistically processed MDS, running calculations in the range of 700–1400 K, showed that active evaporation of OH ions begins at the temperature of 1150 K. The analysis of the obtained results in comparison with those available in the literature data shows that these values are very close to the experiments. Thus, this MDS approach demonstrates its effective applicability and shows good results in the study of the thermal behavior of HAP.
Casein Lactose-Glycation of the Maillard-Type Attenuates the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Casein Hydrolysate to IEC-6 Cells with Lipopolysaccharide Stimulation
Authors: Chen Na , Fu Yu , Wang Zhen-Xing , Zhao Xin-Huai
Published: November 2022

During the thermal processing of dairy products, the Maillard reaction occurs between milk proteins and lactose, resulting in the formation of various products including glycated proteins. In this study, lactose-glycated casein was generated through the Maillard reaction between casein and lactose and then hydrolyzed by a trypsin preparation. The anti-inflammatory effect of the resultant glycated casein hydrolysate (GCH) was investigated using the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-sitmulated rat intestinal epithelial (IEC-6) cells as a cell model and corresponding casein hydrolysate (CH) as a control. The results indicated that the preformed glycation enabled lactose conjugation to casein, which endowed GCH with a lactose content of 12.61 g/kg protein together with a lower activity than CH to enhance the viability value of the IEC-6 cells. The cells with LPS stimulation showed significant inflammatory responses, while a pre-treatment of the cells with GCH before LPS stimulation consistently led to a decreased secretion of three pro-inflammatory mediators, namely, IL-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) but an increased secretion of two anti-inflammatory mediators, including IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), demonstrating the anti-inflammatory potential of GCH in LPS-stimulated cells. In addition, GCH up-regulated the expression of TLR4, p-p38, and p-p65 proteins in the stimulated cells, resulting in the suppression of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Collectively, GCH was mostly less efficient than CH to exert these assessed anti-inflammatory activities in the cells and more importantly, GCH also showed an ability to cause cell inflammation by promoting IL-6 secretion and up-regulating the expression of TLR4 and p-p65. The casein lactose-glycation of the Maillard-type was thereby concluded to attenuate the anti-inflammatory potential of the resultant casein hydrolysate. It is highlighted that the casein lactose-glycation of the Maillard-type might cause a negative impact on the bioactivity of casein in the intestine, because the glycated casein after digestion could release GCH with reduced anti-inflammatory activity.
Vitamin K1 and K2 in the Diet of Patients in the Long Term after Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Kluch Małgorzata , Bednarkiewicz Patrycja , Orzechowska Magdalena , Grzelak Piotr , Kurnatowska Ilona
Published: November 2022

Vitamin K, especially its K2 form, is considered to be a protective factor against developing vascular changes and bone lesions that are common complications in kidney transplant (KTx) recipients. There is a growing number of studies showing that KTx patients are at risk of vitamin K deficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intake of vitamin K1 and K2 in the diet of patients in the late period after KTx. During a routine visit at one outpatient transplantation clinic in Central Europe, a diet survey questionnaire was filled in by 151 clinically stable KTx recipients and compared with medical history, anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests. Mean vitamin K1 intake was 120.9 ± 49 μg/day and vitamin K2 (MK, menaquinone) intake 28.69 ± 11.36 μg/day, including: MK-4: 25.9 ± 9.9 μg/day; MK-5: 0.1 ± 0.2 μg/day; MK-6: 0.2 ± 0.4 μg/day; MK-7: 0.2 ± 0.23 μg/day; MK-8: 1 ± 1.9 μg/day; MK-9: 0.9 ± 2.3 μg/day; and MK-10: 0.2 ± 0.5 μg/day. Our study showed that KTx recipients’ diets contained adequate amounts of vitamin K1, whereas the intake of vitamin K2 seemed insufficient.
Quality Specific Associations of Carbohydrate Consumption and Frailty Index
Authors: Tanaka Toshiko , Kafyra Maria , Jin Yichen , Chia Chee W. , Dedoussis George V. , Talegawkar Sameera A. , Ferrucci Luigi
Published: November 2022

Background: The quality of carbohydrate consumed may influence the risk of frailty. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that indices of carbohydrate intake are associated with trajectories of frailty in participants of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). Methods: Cross sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted in 1024 BLSA participants to examine the association between usual intake of carbohydrate and frailty index. Seven measures of carbohydrate consumption were estimated using data derived from Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQs) and examined in association with a 43-item Frailty Index (FI). Results: In cross-sectional analyses, there was a significant, positive association between higher tertiles of total carbohydrate, glycemic load, and non-whole grains and FI. Conversely, higher tertiles of fiber-to-carbohydrate ratio was associated with lower FI. These differences persisted over the follow-up period of up to 13.8 years. Women in the highest tertile of the fiber-to-carbohydrate ratio showed a less steep increase in FI over time. Conclusions: Carbohydrate intake was positively associated with increased frailty risk in the BLSA participants, whereas a higher fiber-to-carbohydrate ratio was related to reduced risk for frailty.
Treatment of Central Nervous System Infection Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae with Colistin Sulfate Intravenously and Intrathecally: A Case Report
Authors: Lu Xin , Zhong Cejun , Chen Haifeng , Xie Xiaoqi , Lv Xiaoju
Published: November 2022

Background: Due to the blood–brain barrier and limited antibiotic choices, polymyxin is currently the first-line agent for the treatment of central nervous system infections (CNSIs) caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB). Colistin sulfate, as a polymyxin E different from CMS, is used in Chinese clinics, and there are limited reports on its use in the treatment of CNSIs. Case Presentation: This case describes a 76-year-old man who underwent complex neurosurgery for cervical spinal stenosis. Postoperatively, the patient developed a fever and a poorly healed surgical wound. Numerous blood routine tests, inflammatory markers, pathogenic tests of cervical secretions, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and sputum were sent for diagnosis. After empirical antimicrobial treatments failed, the CSF and wound pus cultured carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. The regimen was adjusted to colistin sulfate intravenously and intrathecal injection combined with tigecycline. In addition, the management of infection foci, including continuous lumbar pool drain, cervical 3–5 internal fixation removal with cervical 1–6 spine dilation, CSF leak repair, and right thigh broad fasciotomy, were performed. After treatment, the patient was discharged with multiple sets of negative CSF cultures and the infection under control. Conclusions: For CNSIs caused by MDR-GNB, the selection of colistin sulfate for intravenous and topical combination treatment is a viable choice.
Pharmacokinetic Study and Metabolite Identification of 1-(3′-bromophenyl)-heliamine in Rats
Authors: Xi Ruqi , Abdulla Rahima , Zhang Miaomiao , Sherzod Zhurakulov , Ivanovna Vinogradova Valentina , Habasi Maidina , Liu Yongqiang
Published: November 2022

Tetrahydroisoquinolines have been widely investigated for the treatment of arrhythmias. 1−(3′−bromophenyl)−heliamine (BH), an anti−arrhythmias agent, is a synthetic tetrahydroisoquinoline. This study focuses on the pharmacokinetic characterization of BH, as well as the identification of its metabolites, both in vitro and in vivo. A UHPLC−MS/MS method was developed and validated to quantify BH in rat plasma with a linear range of 1–1000 ng/mL. The validated method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats. The maximum concentration Cmax (568.65 ± 122.14 ng/mL) reached 1.00 ± 0.45 h after oral administration. The main metabolic pathways appeared to be phase-I of demethylation, dehydrogenation, and epoxidation, and phase II of glucuronide and sulfate metabolites. Finally, a total of 18 metabolites were characterized, including 10 phase I metabolites and 8 phase II metabolites. Through the above studies, we have gained a better understanding of the absorption and metabolism of BH in vitro and in vivo, which will provide us with guidance for future in-depth studies on this compound.
Achievements in Mesoporous Bioactive Glasses for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Vallet-Regí María , Colilla Montserrat , Izquierdo-Barba Isabel , Vitale-Brovarone Chiara , Fiorilli Sonia
Published: November 2022

Nowadays, mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) are envisaged as promising candidates in the field of bioceramics for bone tissue regeneration. This is ascribed to their singular chemical composition, structural and textural properties and easy-to-functionalize surface, giving rise to accelerated bioactive responses and capacity for local drug delivery. Since their discovery at the beginning of the 21st century, pioneering research efforts focused on the design and fabrication of MBGs with optimal compositional, textural and structural properties to elicit superior bioactive behavior. The current trends conceive MBGs as multitherapy systems for the treatment of bone-related pathologies, emphasizing the need of fine-tuning surface functionalization. Herein, we focus on the recent developments in MBGs for biomedical applications. First, the role of MBGs in the design and fabrication of three-dimensional scaffolds that fulfil the highly demanding requirements for bone tissue engineering is outlined. The different approaches for developing multifunctional MBGs are overviewed, including the incorporation of therapeutic ions in the glass composition and the surface functionalization with zwitterionic moieties to prevent bacterial adhesion. The bourgeoning scientific literature on MBGs as local delivery systems of diverse therapeutic cargoes (osteogenic/antiosteoporotic, angiogenic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antitumor agents) is addressed. Finally, the current challenges and future directions for the clinical translation of MBGs are discussed.
Carvacrol and HP-β-Cyclodextrin Complexes: Extensive Characterization and Potential Cytotoxic Effect in Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Rodríguez-López María Isabel , Mercader-Ros María Teresa , Pérez-Garrido Alfonso , Pérez-Sánchez Horacio , Pellicer José Antonio , Lucas-Abellán Carmen , Montoro-García Silvia , Yáñez-Gascón María Josefa , Gil-Izquierdo Ángel , Núñez-Delicado Estrella , Gabaldón José Antonio
Published: November 2022

The aim of this study was to obtain solid carvacrol-cyclodextrin (CD) complexes for use in the pharmaceutical industry. To this end, the complexation of carvacrol at different pH values was studied in detail, to determine the type of CD and the reaction environment that supported the highest amount of encapsulated carvacrol. Evidence of the capability of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrins (HP-β-CD) to form inclusion complexes with carvacrol (KC = 5042 ± 176 L mol−1) and more high complexation efficiency (2.824) was demonstrated for HP-β-CDs using two different energy sources, ultrasound (US) (KC = 8129 ± 194 L mol−1 24 h) and microwave irradiation (MWI) (KC = 6909 ± 161 L mol−1), followed by spraying the resulting solution in a spray dryer. To confirm complex formation, the complexes were characterized using various instrumental methods to corroborate the carvacrol incorporation into the hydrophobic cavity of HP-β-CD. The obtained carvacrol solid complexes were analyzed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (ROSEY), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) characterization. The structures of the resulting complexes were also characterized by molecular modeling. Furthermore, 1 mM HP-β-CD-carvacrol complex has been shown to reduce cell proliferation in HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells by 43%, much more than in a healthy lung fibroblast MRC-5 cell line (11%).
Impact of Clinical Pharmacy Expansion within a Rural Federally Qualified Health Center through Implementation of Pharmacist-Led Medicare Annual Wellness Visits
Authors: Royals Carrington , Barfield Reagan K. , Newman Mary Francis , Mor Lori , Cummings Tammy H. , Bookstaver P. Brandon
Published: November 2022

Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) are annual appointments with the primary care team to prepare personalized prevention plans and focus on gaps in care. Although beneficial, AWVs are often difficult for providers to schedule and complete due to the increased time commitments compared to other visits. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical, economic and patient-level value of newly implemented pharmacist-led AWVs within a rural Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). This retrospective, cohort study included patients who completed an AWV between 1 October 2021, and 14 February 2022. The primary objective was to compare the per clinician rate of completed AWVs between pharmacists and providers. The secondary objectives were to compare revenue generated, interventions made, and patient satisfaction between pharmacist- and provider-led AWVs. During the study period, nine providers completed 139 AWVs (15.4/provider) and two pharmacists completed 116 AWVs (58/pharmacist). Proportions of interventions ordered among those due in eligible patients were similar between pharmacists and providers (47.6% vs. 44.5%; p = 0.356). Patient satisfaction was overall positive with no difference between groups. Pharmacist-led AWVs increased completion of AWVs by 83% over a 20-week period, including significantly more initial, compared to subsequent, AWVs than providers. Sustainability of pharmacist-led AWVs at this FQHC is supported by study outcomes.