bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Accuracy of Patient-Specific Spinal Drill Guides Is Non-Inferior to Computer-Assisted Surgery: The Results of a Split-Spine Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Pijpker Peter A. J. , Kuijlen Jos M. A. , Tamási Katalin , Oterdoom D. L. Marinus , Vergeer Rob A. , Rijtema Gijs , Coppes Maarten H. , Kraeima Joep , Groen Rob J. M.
Published: July 2022

In recent years, patient-specific spinal drill guides (3DPGs) have gained widespread popularity. Several studies have shown that the accuracy of screw insertion with these guides is superior to that obtained using the freehand insertion technique, but there are no studies that make a comparison with computer-assisted surgery (CAS). The aim of this study was to determine whether the accuracy of insertion of spinal screws using 3DPGs is non-inferior to insertion via CAS. A randomized controlled split-spine study was performed in which 3DPG and CAS were randomly assigned to the left or right sides of the spines of patients undergoing fixation surgery. The 3D measured accuracy of screw insertion was the primary study outcome parameter. Sixty screws inserted in 10 patients who completed the study protocol were used for the non-inferiority analysis. The non-inferiority of 3DPG was demonstrated for entry-point accuracy, as the upper margin of the 95% CI (−1.01 mm–0.49 mm) for the difference between the means did not cross the predetermined non-inferiority margin of 1 mm (p < 0.05). We also demonstrated non-inferiority of 3D angular accuracy (p < 0.05), with a 95% CI for the true difference of −2.30°–1.35°, not crossing the predetermined non-inferiority margin of 3° (p < 0.05). The results of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed that 3DPGs provide a non-inferior alternative to CAS in terms of screw insertion accuracy and have considerable potential as a navigational technique in spinal fixation.
Translational Value of Tumor-Associated Lymphangiogenesis in Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Cadamuro Massimiliano , Romanzi Adriana , Guido Maria , Sarcognato Samantha , Cillo Umberto , Gringeri Enrico , Zanus Giacomo , Strazzabosco Mario , Simioni Paolo , Villa Erica , Fabris Luca
Published: July 2022

The prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma remains poor in spite of the advances in immunotherapy and molecular profiling, which has led to the identification of several targetable genetic alterations. Surgical procedures, including both liver resection and liver transplantation, still represent the treatment with the best curative potential, though the outcomes are significantly compromised by the early development of lymph node metastases. Progression of lymphatic metastasis from the primary tumor to tumor-draining lymph nodes is mediated by tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis, a topic largely overlooked until recently. Recent findings highlight tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis as paradigmatic of the role played by the tumor microenvironment in sustaining cholangiocarcinoma invasiveness and progression. This study reviews the current knowledge about the intercellular signaling and molecular mechanism of tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis in cholangiocarcinoma in the hope of identifying novel therapeutic targets to halt a process that often limits the success of the few available treatments.
Prediction of Incomplete Response of Primary Tumour Based on Clinical and Radiomics Features in Inoperable Head and Neck Cancers after Definitive Treatment
Authors: Kaźmierska Joanna , Kaźmierski Michał R. , Bajon Tomasz , Winiecki Tomasz , Bandurska-Luque Anna , Ryczkowski Adam , Piotrowski Tomasz , Bąk Bartosz , Żmijewska-Tomczak Małgorzata
Published: July 2022

Radical treatment of patients diagnosed with inoperable and locally advanced head and neck cancers (LAHNC) is still a challenge for clinicians. Prediction of incomplete response (IR) of primary tumour would be of value to the treatment optimization for patients with LAHNC. Aim of this study was to develop and evaluate models based on clinical and radiomics features for prediction of IR in patients diagnosed with LAHNC and treated with definitive chemoradiation or radiotherapy. Clinical and imaging data of 290 patients were included into this retrospective study. Clinical model was built based on tumour and patient related features. Radiomics features were extracted based on imaging data, consisting of contrast- and non-contrast-enhanced pre-treatment CT images, obtained in process of diagnosis and radiotherapy planning. Performance of clinical and combined models were evaluated with area under the ROC curve (AUROC). Classification performance was evaluated using 5-fold cross validation. Model based on selected clinical features including ECOG performance, tumour stage T3/4, primary site: oral cavity and tumour volume were significantly predictive for IR, with AUROC of 0.78. Combining clinical and radiomics features did not improve model’s performance, achieving AUROC 0.77 and 0.68 for non-contrast enhanced and contrast-enhanced images respectively. The model based on clinical features showed good performance in IR prediction. Combined model performance suggests that real-world imaging data might not yet be ready for use in predictive models.
Variation of Net Carbon Emissions from Land Use Change in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region during 1990–2020
Authors: Yan Haiming , Guo Xin , Zhao Shuqin , Yang Huicai
Published: July 2022

Global increasing carbon emissions have triggered a series of environmental problems and greatly affected the production and living of human beings. This study estimated carbon emissions from land use change in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region during 1990–2020 with the carbon emission model and explored major influencing factors of carbon emissions with the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) model. The results suggested that the cropland decreased most significantly, while the built-up area increased significantly due to accelerated urbanization. The total carbon emissions in the study area increased remarkably from 112.86 million tons in 1990 to 525.30 million tons in 2020, and the built-up area was the main carbon source, of which the carbon emissions increased by 370.37%. Forest land accounted for 83.58–89.56% of the total carbon absorption but still failed to offset the carbon emission of the built-up area. Carbon emissions were influenced by various factors, and the results of this study suggested that the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita contributed most to the increase of carbon emissions in the study area, resulting in a cumulative increase of carbon emissions by 9.48 million tons, followed by the land use structure, carbon emission intensity per unit of land, and population size. By contrast, the land use intensity per unit of GDP had a restraining effect on carbon emissions, making the cumulative carbon emissions decrease by 103.26 million tons. This study accurately revealed the variation of net carbon emissions from land use change and the effects of influencing factors of carbon emissions from land use change in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, which can provide a firm scientific basis for improving the regional land use planning and for promoting the low-carbon economic development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
Establishment of Biomimetic Soft Tissue Integration with the Surface of Zirconia Fused with Platelet-Activating Peptide
Authors: Chen Chia-Yu , Jang Wonwoo , Kim David M. , Nagai Masazumi , Nagai Shigemi
Published: July 2022

Soft tissue sealing around zirconia (ZrO2) abutment is critical for the long-term stability of dental implants. The goal of the study is to develop a strong basal lamina (BL)-mediated epithelial attachment to ZrO2 via a novel physicochemical immobilization method. An electrophoretic fusion (EPF) method was applied to fuse a phosphonic acid (PA) linker to ZrO2 discs. Bindings of the PA linker and the following protease activated receptor 4 (PAR4) were verified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FITR). Then, ZrO2 discs were doped in platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was measured to assess platelet activation. PRP-doped discs were subsequently co-cultured with human gingival epithelial cells (OBA9) to evaluate establishment of basal lamina-mediated epithelial attachment. The EPF method achieved robust immobilization of the PA linker and PAR4 onto the ZrO2 surface. The resultant PAR4-coupled ZrO2 successfully induced platelet aggregation and activation. Furthermore, a BL-mediated epithelial attachment was established. The results are significant for clinical application to minimize the risk of developing peri-implant diseases.
Analytical Model of Piezoresistivity for an Inner-Adhesive-Type Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic Tunnel Reinforcement
Authors: Nie Hongbin , Gu Shuancheng , Mao Hongmei
Published: July 2022

Cracks in a tunnel lining often emerge under the coupling action of earth and water pressures in a complex stratum environment, and accidents often occur in the process of repairing cracks. In this study, we used the force-sensitive properties of embedded carbon fibre to conduct early-warning research on lining reinforcement to prevent secondary damage during tunnel lining reinforcement. According to the earth load characteristics, a bond stress–slip model of the embedded carbon fibre under bidirectional earth pressure was established on the basis of the thick-walled cylinder theory and the semi-inverse method in elastic theory. The length change of a single fibre was obtained on the basis of the principle that the volume of a single carbon fibre is constant during the deformation process. The resistance and strain model of the single carbon fibre under the action of an external force was then established following the relationship between the resistance, the length change and the volume change of the single carbon fibre. The resistance of carbon fibre composite materials, according to their production technology and unidirectional force properties, was assumed to be a mixture of the series and parallel resistances of the single carbon fibre, and a piezoresistive model of carbon fibre composite materials was formed by using the multidimensional Taylor series expansion and the idea of the average equivalent. The comparison between the theoretical and monitoring values of the piezoresistive model in a tunnel project in Tibet, China revealed that the resistance of various types of carbon fibres increases with the radius of the lining reinforcement and earth pressure and decreases with an increase in the lining reinforcement thickness. Meanwhile, the angles at different positions of the lining reinforcement also have certain effects on the resistance value of the carbon fibre. The variation curve of the piezoresistive model was exponential in both deeply and shallowly buried tunnels, which verifies the rationality of the model.
Research of High-Purity Lanthanum Prepared by Zone Refining
Authors: Yu Chuang , Pan Bo , Wang Zhiqiang , Chen Dehong , Zhang Xiaowei , Yang Wensheng , Zhang Dongwei , Lu Wenli
Published: July 2022

In this paper, the purification of lanthanum was studied by using zone-refining technology. The equilibrium distribution coefficient of impurities was calculated using a liquidus slope method to reveal impurities’ distribution properties. Meanwhile, the analysis of impurities’ concentration distribution for Fe and Si has been investigated based on the SPIM model. The calculated findings based on SPIM were found to be in good agreement with the experimental results. In addition, the influence of the zone-refining rate and the number of passes on the purification of lanthanum were studied. It was found that after ten times of zone refining with a zone-refining rate of 5 mm/min, the contents of Fe and Si impurities in metal decreased to 4 and 2 ppm, respectively.
Analysing the Porosity Distribution in Stone Surfaces by Means of Unilateral NMR after Long-Term Outdoor Weathering
Authors: Groh Melanie , Orlowsky Jeanette , Schulte Holthausen Robert
Published: July 2022

Porosity changes in the near-surface area of sandstones due to long-term weathering can produce deterioration. Therefore, porosity analyses on weathered sandstones are significant for detecting possible influences on the pore structure. Classical methods for determining the porosity and pore size distribution in sandstones can only investigate the entire sample volume. In contrast, in this publication, the porosity was analysed in 0.2 mm steps over a depth of 5 mm by means of single-sided NMR measurements on water-saturated sandstones under vacuum. Evaluations of Obernkirchener and Schleeriether Sandstones that were weathered outdoors in Germany for over 30 years are presented. The results showed that the water content in Vol.-% strongly correlated with the normalised NMR signal. The unweathered sandstones showed a uniform distribution of micro and capillary pores throughout the stone depth. As a result of 30 years of outdoor weathering, changes in the pore structure occurred at the sandstone surface due to weathering down to depths of about 0.6 mm. The porosity of the Schleeriether Sandstone samples, mainly the microporosity, clearly increased in this region. Due to the dominance of capillary pores in the Obernkirchener Sandstone, the changes were not as pronounced, but a shift towards smaller pores in the surface area was observable.
A Multi-Objectives Genetic Algorithm Based Predictive Model and Strategy Optimization during SLM Process
Authors: Xia Qingfeng , Han Jitai
Published: July 2022

Selective laser melting (SLM) process was optimized in this work using multi-objectives genetic algorithm. Process parameters involved in the printing process have an obvious impact on the quality of the printed parts. As the relationship between process parameters and the quality of different parts are complex, it is quite essential to study the effect of process parameter combination. In this work, the impact of four main process parameters, including defocusing amount, laser power, scan speed and layer thickness, were studied on overhanging surface quality of the parts with different inner structures. A multiple-factor and multiple-level experiment was conducted to establish a prediction model using regression analysis while multi-objective genetic algorithm was also employed here to improve the overhanging surface quality of parts with different inner shapes accordingly. The optimized process parameter combination was also used to print inner structure parts and compared with the prediction results to verify the model we have obtained before. The prediction results revealed that sinking distance and roughness value of the overhanging surface on a square-shape inner structure can reduce to 0.017 mm and 9.0 μm under the optimal process parameters combination, while the sinking distance and roughness value of the overhanging surface on a circle-shape inner structure can decrease to 0.014 mm and 10.7 μm under the optimal process parameters combination respectively. The testing results showed that the error rates of the prediction results were all within 10% in spite of random powder bonding in the printing process, which further proved the reliability of the previous results.
Characterization of Co-Cr-W Dental Alloys with Veneering Materials Manufactured via Subtractive Milling and Additive Manufacturing LDED Methods
Authors: Barro Óscar , Arias-González Felipe , Lusquiños Fernando , Comesaña Rafael , del Val Jesús , Riveiro Antonio , Badaoui Aida , Gómez-Baño Félix , Pou Juan
Published: July 2022

Laser-directed energy deposition (LDED) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology which can be an alternative to the traditional subtractive milling process for the obtention of porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) prosthesis. Still, the adhesion performance of the veneering ceramics for this material has been not studied yet. The main objective of this study is to perform a systematic comparison of the adhesion performance of Co-Cr-W metal frameworks obtained through LDED and conventional milling techniques. Comparison includes microstructural, superficial, and adhesion analysis. Co-Cr manufactured via LDED technique presents similar behavior (p < 0.05) in comparison to the material obtained via milling techniques, and its performance was validated with the veneering ceramics and veneering composites currently employed in the dental industry.
Synthesis of 6-Halo-Substituted Pericosine A and an Evaluation of Their Antitumor and Antiglycosidase Activities
Authors: Usami Yoshihide , Mizobuchi Yoshino , Ijuin Mai , Yamada Takeshi , Morita Mizuki , Mizuki Koji , Yoneyama Hiroki , Harusawa Shinya
Published: July 2022

The enantiomers of 6-fluoro-, 6-bromo-, and 6-iodopericosine A were synthesized. An efficient synthesis of both enantiomers of pericoxide via 6-bromopericosine A was also developed. These 6-halo-substituted pericosine A derivatives were evaluated in terms of their antitumor activity against three types of tumor cells (p388, L1210, and HL-60) and glycosidase inhibitory activity. The bromo- and iodo-congeners exhibited moderate antitumor activity similar to pericosine A against the three types of tumor cell lines studied. The fluorinated compound was less active than the others, including pericosine A. In the antitumor assay, no significant difference in potency between the enantiomers was observed for any of the halogenated compounds. Meanwhile, the (−)-6-fluoro- and (−)-6-bromo-congeners inhibited α-glucosidase to a greater extent than those of their corresponding (+)-enantiomers, whereas (+)-iodopericosine A showed increased activity when compared to its (−)-enantiomer.
Anti-Adherence and Antimicrobial Activities of Silver Nanoparticles against Serotypes C and K of Streptococcus mutans on Orthodontic Appliances
Authors: Nafarrate-Valdez Rosa , Martínez-Martínez Rita , Zaragoza-Contreras Erasto , Áyala-Herrera José , Domínguez-Pérez Rubén , Reyes-López Simón , Donohue-Cornejo Alejandro , Cuevas-González Juan , Loyola-Rodríguez Juan , Espinosa-Cristóbal León
Published: July 2022

Background and Objectives: Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the main microorganism associated with the presence of dental caries and specific serotypes of this bacteria have been related to several systemic diseases limiting general health. In orthodontics, white spot lesions (WSL), represent a great challenge for clinicians due to the great fluctuation of their prevalence and incidence during conventional orthodontic treatments. Although silver nanoparticles (AgNP) have been demonstrated to have great antimicrobial properties in several microorganisms, including S. mutans bacteria, there is no available information about anti adherence and antimicrobial properties of AgNP exposed to two of the most relevant serotypes of S. mutans adhered on orthodontic materials used for conventional therapeutics. The objective of this study was to determine anti-adherence and antimicrobial levels of AgNP against serotypes c and k of S. mutans on conventional orthodontic appliances. Materials and Methods: An AgNP solution was prepared and characterized using dispersion light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antimicrobial and anti-adherence activities of AgNP were determined using minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and bacterial adherence testing against serotypes c and k of S. mutans clinically isolated and confirmed by PCR assay. Results: The prepared AgNP had spherical shapes with a good size distribution (29.3 ± 0.7 nm) with negative and well-defined electrical charges (−36.5 ± 5.7 mV). AgNP had good bacterial growth (55.7 ± 19.3 µg/mL for serotype c, and 111.4 ± 38.6 µg/mL for serotype k) and adherence inhibitions for all bacterial strains and orthodontic wires (p < 0.05). The serotype k showed statistically the highest microbial adherence (p < 0.05). The SS wires promoted more bacterial adhesion (149.0 ± 253.6 UFC/mL × 104) than CuNiTi (3.3 ± 6.0 UFC/mL × 104) and NiTi (101.1 ± 108.5 UFC/mL × 104) arches. SEM analysis suggests CuNiTi wires demonstrated better topographical conditions for bacterial adherence while AFM evaluation determined cell wall irregularities in bacterial cells exposed to AgNP. Conclusions: This study suggests the widespread use of AgNP as a potential anti-adherent and antimicrobial agent for the prevention of WSL during conventional orthodontic therapies and, collaterally, other systemic diseases.
DNA Methylation by Bisulfite Next-Generation Sequencing for MLH1 and MGMT in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Potentially Malignant Disorders: An Integrative Analysis towards Field Cancerization
Authors: Padin-Iruegas Elena , Chamorro-Petronacci Cintia M. , Sines-Cajade Iria , Lorenzo-Pouso Alejandro I. , Blanco-Carrión Andrés , Pérez-Jardón Alba , Gándara-Vila Pilar , Pérez-Sayans Mario
Published: July 2022

Background and Objectives: MGMT methylation is a well-described biomarker in several solid tumors and MLH1 seems to occur in the initial stages of oral carcinogenesis. The aims of this study were to evaluate MHL1 and MGMT methylation levels in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), and to integrate this information with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Materials and Methods: To determine the percentage of gene methylation in MLH1 and MGMT, pyrosequencing analysis was conducted. Samples were divided as follows: (1) patients diagnosed with OSCC (N = 16); (2) patients with OPDM who developed OSCC in the same location (N = 47); and (3) patients with OPDM who developed OSCC in a different location (N = 22). As a validation cohort in this study, data from The Cancer Genomic Atlas (TCGA) database, particularly regarding Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, was used. Results: Overall MLH1 methylation levels of 8.6 ± 11.5% and 8.1 ± 9.2% for MGMT were obtained. With regard to MHL1, the OSCC presented the highest degree of methylation with 9.3 ± 7.3% (95%CI 5.1–13.6), and with regards to MGMT, the simultaneous malignancy group presented the highest degree of methylation with 10 ± 13.5% (95%CI 6–10), although no significant differences were found between the groups (p = 0.934 and p = 0.515, respectively). The estimated survival was higher for MGMT methylated cases (19.1 months, 95%CI 19.1–19.1) than for unmethylated cases (9.4 months, 95%CI 6–12.8), but not statistically significant. Conclusions: Our results did not show a correlation between MGMT and MLH1 methylation and any clinicopathological feature or survival in our institutional cohort. MLH1 methylation was present mainly in OSCC, whilst MGMT in OPMD represented a modest contribution to field cancerization, with an overall consistency with the TCGA database.
Production and Optimization of Biodiesel in a Membrane Reactor, Using a Solid Base Catalyst
Authors: Olagunju Olusegun Ayodeji , Musonge Paul , Kiambi Sammy Lewis
Published: July 2022

The commercial Calcium oxide was successfully embedded on activated carbon surfaces to increase the reactive surface area of a composite catalyst material CaO/AC. The composite catalyst material was also successfully packed in the tubular titanium dioxide/Aluminum dioxide ceramic membrane reactor used to separate the biodiesel produced. Virgin soybean oil was used as precursor feedstock for the reaction. Using a central composite approach, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to obtain the optimum conditions for producing biodiesel from soybean oil. A total of four process factors were examined (24 experimental designs). 30 experiments were derived and run to investigate the effects of temperature, reaction time, methanol to oil molar ratio, and catalyst concentration (calcium oxide attached on activated carbon). 96.9 percent of soybean oil methyl ester (SOME/biodiesel) was produced at 65 °C temperature, 90 min of reaction time, 4.2:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil, and 3.0 wt.% catalyst concentration. The measured yield and expected biodiesel production values were correlated in a linear sequence. The fuel qualities of SOME/biodiesel were tested, including kinematic viscosity, density, flash point, copper corrosion, calorific value, cloud point, pour point, ash content, and carbon residue.
Design of a Sensitive Extracellular Vesicle Detection Method Utilizing a Surface-Functionalized Power-Free Microchip
Authors: Ishihara Ryo , Katagiri Asuka , Nakajima Tadaaki , Matsui Ryo , Hosokawa Kazuo , Maeda Mizuo , Tomooka Yasuhiro , Kikuchi Akihiko
Published: July 2022

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are small membrane vesicles secreted from cells into bodily fluids, are promising candidates as biomarkers for various diseases. We propose a simple, highly sensitive method for detecting EVs using a microchip. The limit of detection (LOD) for EVs was improved 29-fold by changing the microchannel structure of the microchip and by optimizing the EV detection protocols. The height of the microchannel was changed from 25 to 8 µm only at the detection region, and the time for EV capture was extended from 5 to 10 min. The LOD was 6.3 × 1010 particles/mL, which is lower than the concentration of EVs in the blood. The detection time was 19 min, and the volume of EV solution used was 2.0 µL. These results indicate that an efficient supply of EVs to the detection region is effective in improving the sensitivity of EV detection. The proposed EV detection method is expected to contribute to the establishment of EV-based cancer point-of-care testing.
Round-Robin Measurement of Surface Tension for Liquid Titanium by Electromagnetic Levitation (EML) and Electrostatic Levitation (ESL)
Authors: Seimiya Yusaku , Kudo Yu , Shinazawa Ryo , Watanabe Yuki , Ishikawa Takehiko , Ozawa Shumpei
Published: July 2022

To accurately measure the surface tension of liquid titanium free of contamination from chemical reaction with the supporting materials and dissolution of atmospheric oxygen, the measurement was performed by using electromagnetic levitation (EML) and electrostatic levitation (ESL) in consideration of the influence of oxygen partial pressure of the measurement atmosphere, PO2. When liquid titanium was maintained at 2000 K under Ar–He gas with PO2 of 10 Pa flowing at 2 L·min−1 using EML, the surface tension decreased with time due to the dissolution of atmospheric oxygen into the sample. When the PO2 of the gas was decreased to 10−2 Pa, the oxygen content and the surface tension were confirmed to not vary, even after 120 min. Even though PO2 further decreased to 10−11 Pa under Ar–He–H2 gas, the surface tension slightly increased with time due to gas phase equilibrium between H2 and H2O that allowed for a continuous dissolution of atmospheric oxygen into the liquid titanium. The surface tension of liquid titanium measured by ESL, which prevents contamination of the sample from supporting materials and the high 10−5 Pa vacuum inhibits the dissolution of oxygen, showed almost the same value as that measured under Ar–He gas at PO2 of 10−2 Pa by EML. From the measurement results of EML and ESL, the surface tension of the 99.98 mass % pure liquid titanium, free from any contaminations from chemical reactions, with the supporting material and dissolved oxygen was expressed as σ99.98%=1613−0.2049T−1941 (10−3 N·m−1).
Modulation of Deiodinase Types 2 and 3 during Skeletal Muscle Regeneration
Authors: Ogawa-Wong Ashley , Carmody Colleen , Le Katherine , Marschner Rafael Aguiar , Larsen P. Reed , Zavacki Ann Marie , Wajner Simone Magagnin
Published: July 2022

The muscle stem-cell niche comprises numerous cell types, which coordinate the regeneration process after injury. Thyroid hormones are one of the main factors that regulate genes linked to skeletal muscle. In this way, deiodinase types 2 and 3 are responsible for the fine-tuning regulation of the local T3 amount. Although their expression and activity have already been identified during muscle regeneration, it is of utmost importance to identify the cell type and temporal pattern of expression after injury to thoroughly comprehend their therapeutic potential. Here, we confirmed the expression of Dio2 and Dio3 in the whole tibialis anterior muscle. We identified, on a single-cell basis, that Dio2 is present in paired box 7 (PAX7)-positive cells starting from day 5 after injury. Dio2 is present in platelet derived growth factor subunit A (PDGFA)-expressing fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells between days 7 and 14 after injury. Dio3 is detected in myogenic differentiation (MYOD)-positive stem cells and in macrophages immediately post injury and thereafter. Interestingly, Dio2 and Dio3 RNA do not appear to be present in the same type of cell throughout the process. These results provide further insight into previously unseen aspects of the crosstalk and synchronized regulation of T3 in injured muscle mediated by deiodinases. The set of findings described here further define the role of deiodinases in muscle repair, shedding light on potential new forms of treatment for sarcopenia and other muscular diseases.
Electrochemical Milling of Deep-Narrow Grooves on GH4169 Alloy Using Tube Electrode with Wedged End Face
Authors: Ye Zhisen , Qiu Guilin , Chen Xiaolei
Published: July 2022

Deep-narrow grooves (DNGs) of nickel-based alloy GH4169 are extensively used in aerospace industry. Electrochemical milling (EC-milling) can manufacture special structures including DNGs by controlling the moving path of simple tool, showing a flexible process with the advantages of high machining efficiency, regardless of material hardness, no residual stresses, burrs, and tool wear. However, due to the inefficient removal of electrolytic by-products in the inter-electrode gap (IEG), the machining accuracy and surface quality are always unsatisfactory. In this paper, a novel tube tool with wedged end face is designed to generate pulsating flow field in IEG, which can enhance the removal of electrolytic by-products as well as improve the machining quality of DNG. The flow field simulation results show that the electrolyte velocity in the IEG is changed periodically along with the rotation of the tube tool. The pulsating amplitude of electrolyte is changed by adjusting the wedged angle in the end face of the tube tool, which could affect the EC-milling process. Experimental results suggest that the machining quality of DNG, including the average width, taper of sidewall, and surface roughness, is significantly improved by using the tube tool with wedged end face. Compared with other wedged angles, the end face with the wedged angle of 40° is more suitable for the EC-milling process. DNG with the width of 1.49 mm ± 0.04 mm, taper of 1.53° ± 0.46°, and surface roughness (Ra) of 1.04 μm is well manufactured with the milling rate of 0.42 mm/min. Moreover, increasing the spindle speed and feed rate can further improve the machining quality of DNG. Finally, a complex DNG structure with the depth of 5 mm is well manufactured with the spindle speed of 4000 rpm and feed rate of 0.48 mm/min.
A Novel Mechanical Frequency Tuning Method Based on Mass-Stiffness Decoupling for MEMS Gyroscopes
Authors: Chen Chuanfu , Wu Kai , Lu Kuo , Li Qingsong , Wang Chengxiang , Wu Xuezhong , Wang Beizhen , Xiao Dingbang
Published: July 2022

MEMS gyroscopes play an important role in inertial navigation measurements, which mainly works in n = 2 mode. However, mode matching is the basis for high-precision detection, which can improve the sensitivity, resolution, and signal-to-noise ratio of the gyroscopes. An initial frequency split is inevitably generated during the manufacturing process. There are two methods to eliminate the frequency split and to achieve mode matching for the gyroscopes, which are electrostatic tuning and mechanical trimming, respectively. In this paper, we report a novel ring MEMS resonator and a novel method of mechanical frequency tuning. The most prominent characteristic of the resonator is that 16 raised mass blocks are increased in the circumferential positions of the ring uniformly. This structural design can achieve mass-stiffness decoupling, which means that punching holes on the mass blocks only affects the mass distribution but the stiffness is almost unchanged for the resonator. We verify the mass-stiffness decoupling by way of comparing the simulation with the conventional resonator. In addition, we put up an online tuning platform based on a femtosecond laser and reduce a resonator’s frequency split from 23.3 Hz to 0.4 Hz, which reveals that the frequency split is linearly related to the removed mass. These findings will have a referential significance for other transducers.
Contact Pattern Recognition of a Flexible Tactile Sensor Based on the CNN-LSTM Fusion Algorithm
Authors: Song Yang , Li Mingkun , Wang Feilu , Lv Shanna
Published: July 2022

Recognizing different contact patterns imposed on tactile sensors plays a very important role in human–machine interaction. In this paper, a flexible tactile sensor with great dynamic response characteristics is designed and manufactured based on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) material. Four contact patterns (stroking, patting, kneading, and scratching) are applied to the tactile sensor, and time sequence data of the four contact patterns are collected. After that, a fusion model based on the convolutional neural network (CNN) and the long-short term memory (LSTM) neural network named CNN-LSTM is constructed. It is used to classify and recognize the four contact patterns loaded on the tactile sensor, and the recognition accuracies of the four patterns are 99.60%, 99.67%, 99.07%, and 99.40%, respectively. At last, a CNN model and a random forest (RF) algorithm model are constructed to recognize the four contact patterns based on the same dataset as those for the CNN-LSTM model. The average accuracies of the four contact patterns based on the CNN-LSTM, the CNN, and the RF algorithm are 99.43%, 96.67%, and 91.39%, respectively. All of the experimental results indicate that the CNN-LSTM constructed in this paper has very efficient performance in recognizing and classifying the contact patterns for the flexible tactile sensor.
Protected Areas vs. Highway Construction—Problem of Environmental Pollution
Authors: Turek Anna , Wieczorek Kinga , Szczesio Małgorzata , Kubicki Jakub
Published: July 2022

Landscape parks are protected areas, attractive to live close to and relax in. In parks, economic and agricultural activities are allowed to a limited extent. The high interest in these areas is the cause of unfavorable changes, including environmental contamination. This paper presents the results of soil quality research in Wzniesienia Łódzkie Landscape Park (Poland). The analyses were performed in 2008, before the construction of the highway in the park began, and after its completion in 2016. The contents of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Ni were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), and geographic information system (GIS) were used to assess the impact of different sources on the content of metal in the soil. Over the period of 8 years, there has been an increase in pH and the level of metals, especially nickel. The changes in the metal content result from the different land use, especially abandonment of agricultural activity and emissions related to the construction of the A1 highway.
Editorial for Special Issue “Exploring Mining Landscapes: Reconciling Past and Present of Mining Activity”
Authors: Fernández-Lozano Javier
Published: July 2022

The first mining compendium, edited by Georg Bauer, also known as G. Agricola, was published in 1556, providing the basis of mining and metallurgical processing methods for almost two centuries [...]
The Li-Bearing Pegmatites from the Pampean Pegmatite Province, Argentina: Metallogenesis and Resources
Authors: Galliski Miguel Ángel , Márquez-Zavalía María Florencia , Roda-Robles Encarnación , von Quadt Albrecht
Published: July 2022

The Li-bearing pegmatites of the Pampean Pegmatite Province (PPP) occur in a rare-element pegmatite belt developed mainly in the Lower Paleozoic age on the southwestern margin of Gondwana. The pegmatites show Li, Rb, Nb ≤ Ta, Be, P, B, Bi enrichment, and belong to the Li-Cs-Ta (LCT) petrogenetic family, Rare-Element-Li (REL-Li) subclass; most of them are of complex type and spodumene subtype, some are of albite-spodumene type, and a few of petalite subtype. The origin of the pegmatites is attributed predominantly to fractionation of fertile S-type granitic melts produced by either fluid-absent or fluid-assisted anatexis of a thick pile of Gondwana-derived turbiditic sediments. Most of the pegmatites are orogenic (530–440 Ma) and developed during two overlapped collisional orogenies (Pampean and Famatinian); a few are postorogenic (~370 Ma), related to crustal contaminated A-type granites. The pegmatites were likely intruded in the hinterland, preferably in medium-grade metamorphic rocks with PT conditions ~200–500 MPa and 400–650 °C, where they are concentrated in districts and groups. Known combined resources add up 200,000 t of spodumene, with variable grades between 5 and 8 wt.% Li2O. The potential for future findings and enlargement of the resources is high, since no systematic exploration program has yet been developed.
Global Resource Circularity for Lithium-Ion Batteries up to 2050: Traction and Stationary Use
Authors: Kosai Shoki , Takata Ukyo , Yamasue Eiji
Published: July 2022

The use of the lithium-ion battery (LIB) in both traction and stationary applications has become ubiquitous. It is essential that retired LIBs are wisely treated, with a basis in the concept of the circular economy, to mitigate primary resource use. A closed-loop repurposing and recycling treatment is required. Thus, using the concept of total material requirement as an indicator of natural resource use based on mining activity, a dynamic material flow analysis was executed considering the degradation of the battery, its lifespan, and demand patterns under several scenarios. Then, the effect of circularity on the savings in global natural resource use involved across the entire lifecycles of LIBs was evaluated. It was found that the global resource use for LIBs will increase to between 10 and 48 Gt in 2050. Circularity has the potential to contribute to an 8–44% reduction in the global resource use associated with LIBs in 2050. It was also found that a longer lifespan in the years leading up to 2050 would have a greater impact on the reduction of resource use for LIBs, despite the lower effectiveness of circularity, because it would reduce the demand for LIBs.
The Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Chaga Extracts Obtained by Different Extraction Methods against LPS-Induced RAW 264.7
Authors: Alhallaf Weaam , Perkins Lewis B.
Published: July 2022

Chaga, a sclerotia formed by the Inonotus obliquus fungus, has been widely recognized for a number of medicinal properties. Although numerous scientific investigations have been published describing various biological activities of chaga from different geographical locations, little work has focused on chaga harvested in the USA or extraction techniques to maximize anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of chaga collected in Maine (USA) extracted using traditional aqueous (hot water steeping) methods against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Chaga extracts obtained from both conventional (ethanol/water) extraction methods and an accelerated solvent extraction method (ASE) at optimized conditions were compared to aqueous extracts (tea) obtained from chaga in the powder form (P) and powder form in tea bags (B) based on their effect on both nitric oxide (NO) production and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, in particular, the expression of TNF-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-β (IL-1β). Phenolic acid extracts from chaga and individual phenolic acid standards were also investigated for their effect on the same parameters. Results indicated that various chaga extracts have significant anti-inflammatory activity on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The inhibitory effect was through a decrease in the production of NO and the downregulation of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in RAW 264.7 macrophages. ASE1 (novel, optimized ethanol/water extraction) and P6 (six-minute steeping of powder in 100 °C water) extracts showed the highest inhibitory activity on NO production and on the expression of the inflammatory cytokines, compared to extracts obtained by conventional extraction methods.
In Silico Screening of Novel TMPRSS2 Inhibitors for Treatment of COVID-19
Authors: Wang Shuo , Fang Xuexun , Wang Ye
Published: July 2022

COVID-19, a pandemic caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, has spread globally, necessitating the search for antiviral compounds. Transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) is a cell surface protease that plays an essential role in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, researchers are searching for TMPRSS2 inhibitors that can be used for the treatment of COVID-19. As such, in this study, based on the crystal structure, we targeted the active site of TMPRSS2 for virtual screening of compounds in the FDA database. Then, we screened lumacaftor and ergotamine, which showed strong binding ability, using 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations to study the stability of the protein–ligand binding process, the flexibility of amino acid residues, and the formation of hydrogen bonds. Subsequently, we calculated the binding free energy of the protein–ligand complex by the MM-PBSA method. The results show that lumacaftor and ergotamine interact with residues around the TMPRSS2 active site, and reached equilibrium in the 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations. We think that lumacaftor and ergotamine, which we screened through in silico studies, can effectively inhibit the activity of TMPRSS2. Our findings provide a basis for subsequent in vitro experiments, having important implications for the development of effective anti-COVID-19 drugs.
The Nucleoside/Nucleotide Analogs Tenofovir and Emtricitabine Are Inactive against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Feng Joy Y. , Du Pont Venice , Babusis Darius , Gordon Calvin J. , Tchesnokov Egor P. , Perry Jason K. , Duong Vincent , Vijjapurapu Arya , Zhao Xiaofeng , Chan Julie , Cohen Cal , Juneja Kavita , Cihlar Tomas , Götte Matthias , Bilello John P.
Published: July 2022

The urgent response to the COVID-19 pandemic required accelerated evaluation of many approved drugs as potential antiviral agents against the causative pathogen, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Using cell-based, biochemical, and modeling approaches, we studied the approved HIV-1 nucleoside/tide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) tenofovir (TFV) and emtricitabine (FTC), as well as prodrugs tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and tenofovir disoproxilfumarate (TDF) for their antiviral effect against SARS-CoV-2. A comprehensive set of in vitro data indicates that TFV, TAF, TDF, and FTC are inactive against SARS-CoV-2. None of the NRTIs showed antiviral activity in SARS-CoV-2 infected A549-hACE2 cells or in primary normal human lung bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells at concentrations up to 50 µM TAF, TDF, FTC, or 500 µM TFV. These results are corroborated by the low incorporation efficiency of respective NTP analogs by the SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent-RNA polymerase (RdRp), and lack of the RdRp inhibition. Structural modeling further demonstrated poor fitting of these NRTI active metabolites at the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp active site. Our data indicate that the HIV-1 NRTIs are unlikely direct-antivirals against SARS-CoV-2, and clinicians and researchers should exercise caution when exploring ideas of using these and other NRTIs to treat or prevent COVID-19.
High-Density “Windowpane” Coordination Patterns of Water Clusters and Their NBO/NRT Characterization
Authors: Weinhold Frank
Published: July 2022

Cluster mixture models for liquid water at higher pressures suggest the need for water clusters of higher coordination and density than those commonly based on tetrahedral H-bonding motifs. We show here how proton-ordered water clusters of increased coordination and density can assemble from a starting cyclic tetramer or twisted bicyclic (Möbius-like) heptamer to form extended Aufbau sequences of stable two-, three-, and four-coordinate “windowpane” motifs. Such windowpane clusters exhibit sharply reduced (~90°) bond angles that differ appreciably from the tetrahedral angles of idealized crystalline ice Ih. Computed free energy and natural resonance theory (NRT) bond orders provide quantitative descriptors for the relative stabilities of clusters and strengths of individual coordinative linkages. The unity and consistency of NRT description is demonstrated to extend from familiar supra-integer bonds of the molecular regime to the near-zero bond orders of the weakest linkages in the present H-bond clusters. Our results serve to confirm that H-bonding exemplifies resonance–covalent (fractional) bonding in the sub-integer range and to further discount the dichotomous conceptions of “electrostatics” for intermolecular bonding vs. “covalency” for intramolecular bonding that still pervade much of freshman-level pedagogy and force-field methodology.
Naringenin and Phytoestrogen 8-Prenylnaringenin Protect against Islet Dysfunction and Inhibit Apoptotic Signaling in Insulin-Deficient Diabetic Mice
Authors: Park Song , Sim Kyu-Sang , Hwangbo Yeop , Park Sung-Jin , Kim Young-Jun , Kim Jun-Ho
Published: July 2022

It has been shown that citrus flavanone naringenin and its prenyl derivative 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) possess various pharmacological activities in in vitro and in vivo models. Interestingly, it has been proposed that prenylation can enhance biological potentials, including the estrogen-like activities of flavonoids. The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-diabetic potential and molecular mechanism of 8-PN in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced insulin-deficient diabetic mice in comparison with naringenin reported to exhibit hypoglycemic effects. The oral administration of naringenin and 8-PN ameliorated impaired glucose homeostasis and islet dysfunction induced by STZ treatment. These protective effects were associated with the suppression of pancreatic β-cell apoptosis and inflammatory responses in mice. Moreover, both naringenin and 8-PN normalized STZ-induced insulin-signaling defects in skeletal muscles and apoptotic protein expression in the liver. Importantly, 8-PN increased the protein expression levels of estrogen receptor-α (ERα) in the pancreas and liver and of fibroblast growth factor 21 in the liver, suggesting that 8-PN could act as an ERα agonist in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. This study provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying preventive effects of naringenin and 8-PN on the impairment of glucose homeostasis in insulin-deficient diabetic mice.
An Improved POD Model for Fast Semi-Quantitative Analysis of Carbendazim in Fruit by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Yang Qiaoling , Lin Hong , Ma Jinge , Chen Niannian , Zhao Chaomin , Guo Dehua , Niu Bing , Zhao Zhihui , Deng Xiaojun , Chen Qin
Published: July 2022

The current detection method of carbendazim suffers from the disadvantages of complicated preprocessing and long cycle time. In order to solve the problem of rapid quantitative screening of finite contaminants, this article proposed a qualitative method based on characteristic peaks and a semi-quantitative method based on threshold to detect carbendazim in apple, and finally the method is evaluated by a validation system based on binary output. The results showed that the detection limit for carbendazim was 0.5 mg/kg, and the detection probability was 100% when the concentration was no less than 1 mg/kg. The semi-quantitative analysis method had a false positive rate of 0% and 5% at 0.5 mg/kg and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively. The results of method evaluation showed that when the added concentration was greater than 2.5 mg/kg, the qualitative detection method was consistent with the reference method. When the concentration was no less than 5 mg/kg, the semi-quantitative method is consistent between different labs. The semi-quantitative method proposed in this study can achieve the screening of finite contaminants in blind samples and simplify the test validation process through the detection probability model, which can meet the needs of rapid on-site detection and has a good application prospect.