bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repurposing of High-Dose Erythropoietin as a Potential Drug Attenuates Sepsis in Preconditioning Renal Injury
Authors: Chancharoenthana Wiwat , Udompronpitak Kanyarat , Manochantr Yolradee , Kantagowit Piyawat , Kaewkanha Ponthakorn , Issara-Amphorn Jiraporn , Leelahavanichkul Asada
Published: November 2021

Due to (i) the uremia-enhanced sepsis severity, (ii) the high prevalence of sepsis with pre-existing renal injury and (iii) the non-erythropoiesis immunomodulation of erythropoietin (EPO), EPO was tested in sepsis with pre-existing renal injury models with the retrospective exploration in patients. Then, EPO was subcutaneously administered in mice with (i) cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) after renal injury including 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx-CLP) and bilateral nephrectomy (BiNx-CLP) or sham surgery (sham-CLP) and (ii) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection, along with testing in macrophages. In patients, the data of EPO administration and the disease characteristics in patients with sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (sepsis-AKI) were evaluated. As such, increased endogenous EPO was demonstrated in all sepsis models, including BiNx-CLP despite the reduced liver erythropoietin receptor (EPOR), using Western blot analysis and gene expression, in liver (partly through hepatocyte apoptosis). A high-dose EPO, but not a low-dose, attenuated sepsis in mouse models as determined by mortality and serum inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, EPO attenuated inflammatory responses in LPS-activated macrophages as determined by supernatant cytokines and the expression of several inflammatory genes (iNOS, IL-1β, STAT3 and NFκB). In parallel, patients with sepsis-AKI who were treated with the high-dose EPO showed favorable outcomes, particularly the 29-day mortality rate. In conclusion, high-dose EPO attenuated sepsis with preconditioning renal injury in mice possibly through the macrophage anti-inflammatory effect, which might be beneficial in some patients.
Morphological Alterations and Stress Protein Variations in Lung Biopsies Obtained from Autopsies of COVID-19 Subjects
Authors: Barone Rosario , Marino Gammazza Antonella , Paladino Letizia , Pitruzzella Alessandro , Spinoso Giulio , Salerno Monica , Sessa Francesco , Pomara Cristoforo , Cappello Francesco , Rappa Francesca
Published: November 2021

Molecular chaperones, many of which are heat shock proteins, play a role in cell stress response and regulate the immune system in various ways, such as in inflammatory/autoimmune reactions. It would be interesting to study the involvement of these molecules in the damage done to COVID-19-infected lungs. In our study, we performed a histological analysis and an immunomorphological evaluation on lung samples from subjects who succumbed to COVID-19 and subjects who died from other causes. We also assessed Hsp60 and Hsp90 distribution in lung samples to determine their location and post-translational modifications. We found histological alterations that could be considered pathognomonic for COVID-19-related lung disease. Hsp60 and Hsp90 immunopositivity was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group compared to the controls, and immunolocalization was in the plasma membrane of the endothelial cells in COVID-19 subjects. The colocalization ratios for Hsp60/3-nitrotyrosine and Hsp60/acetylate-lisine were significantly increased in the COVID-19 group compared to the control group, similar to the colocalization ratio for Hsp90/acetylate-lisine. The histological and immunohistochemical findings led us to hypothesize that Hsp60 and Hsp90 might have a role in the onset of the thromboembolic phenomena that lead to death in a limited number of subjects affected by COVID-19. Further studies on a larger number of samples obtained from autopsies would allow to confirm these data as well as discover new biomarkers useful in the battle against this disease.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Herbal Components Based on Their Regulatory Signature on Carcinogenic Cancer Cells
Authors: Esmaeili Fazileh , Lohrasebi Tahmineh , Mohammadi-Dehcheshmeh Manijeh , Ebrahimie Esmaeil
Published: November 2021

Predicting cancer cells’ response to a plant-derived agent is critical for the drug discovery process. Recently transcriptomes advancements have provided an opportunity to identify regulatory signatures to predict drug activity. Here in this study, a combination of meta-analysis and machine learning models have been used to determine regulatory signatures focusing on differentially expressed transcription factors (TFs) of herbal components on cancer cells. In order to increase the size of the dataset, six datasets were combined in a meta-analysis from studies that had evaluated the gene expression in cancer cell lines before and after herbal extract treatments. Then, categorical feature analysis based on the machine learning methods was applied to examine transcription factors in order to find the best signature/pattern capable of discriminating between control and treated groups. It was found that this integrative approach could recognize the combination of TFs as predictive biomarkers. It was observed that the random forest (RF) model produced the best combination rules, including AIP/TFE3/VGLL4/ID1 and AIP/ZNF7/DXO with the highest modulating capacity. As the RF algorithm combines the output of many trees to set up an ultimate model, its predictive rules are more accurate and reproducible than other trees. The discovered regulatory signature suggests an effective procedure to figure out the efficacy of investigational herbal compounds on particular cells in the drug discovery process.
Novel Mechanisms of Tumor Promotion by the Insulin Receptor Isoform A in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Vella Veronica , Giuliano Marika , La Ferlita Alessandro , Pellegrino Michele , Gaudenzi Germano , Alaimo Salvatore , Massimino Michele , Pulvirenti Alfredo , Dicitore Alessandra , Vigneri Paolo , Vitale Giovanni , Malaguarnera Roberta , Morrione Andrea , Sims Andrew H. , Ferro Alfredo , Maggiolini Marcello , Lappano Rosamaria , De Francesco Ernestina Marianna , Belfiore Antonino
Published: November 2021

The insulin receptor isoform A (IR-A) plays an increasingly recognized role in fetal growth and tumor biology in response to circulating insulin and/or locally produced IGF2. This role seems not to be shared by the IR isoform B (IR-B). We aimed to dissect the specific impact of IR isoforms in modulating insulin signaling in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. We generated murine 4T1 TNBC cells deleted from the endogenous insulin receptor (INSR) gene and expressing comparable levels of either human IR-A or IR-B. We then measured IR isoform-specific in vitro and in vivo biological effects and transcriptome in response to insulin. Overall, the IR-A was more potent than the IR-B in mediating cell migration, invasion, and in vivo tumor growth. Transcriptome analysis showed that approximately 89% of insulin-stimulated transcripts depended solely on the expression of the specific isoform. Notably, in cells overexpressing IR-A, insulin strongly induced genes involved in tumor progression and immune evasion including chemokines and genes related to innate immunity. Conversely, in IR-B overexpressing cells, insulin predominantly induced the expression of genes primarily involved in the regulation of metabolic pathways and, to a lesser extent, tumor growth and angiogenesis.
On the Aromaticity and 13C-NMR Pattern of Pentagonal-Pyramidal Hexamethylbenzene Dication [C6(CH3)6]2+: A {C5(CH3)5}−–{CCH3}3+ Aggregate
Authors: MacLeod-Carey Desmond , Muñoz-Castro Alvaro
Published: November 2021

The experimentally characterized hexamethylbenzene dication C6(CH3)62+ shows a pentagonal-pyramidal structure involving a carbon-capped five-membered ring. The structural characterization of this hypercoordination (or hypervalency) gives rise if the aromatic behavior remains in the resulting pentagon ring. Here, we investigated the induced magnetic field of C6(CH3)62+ to gain a deeper understanding of the resulting non-classical structural situation in a representative pentagonal-pyramidal structure. Our results support the view of a C5(CH3)5−/CCH33+ structure, depicting a π-aromatic pentamethylcyclopentadienyl anion with a 6π-electron kernel, with a capped carbon which does not decrease the characteristic shielding cone property of the aromatic ring. Hence, carbon-capped rings are suggested to retain the aromatic behavior from the former aromatic ring. We expect that the analysis of both the overall magnetic response and NMR chemical shifts may be informative to unravel the characteristic patterns in the formation of hypervalent carbon atoms involving non-classical chemical environments.
Aptamer-Conjugated Quantum Dot Optical Biosensors: Strategies and Applications
Authors: Kim Dongmin , Yoo Seungmin
Published: November 2021

Quantum dots (QDs) represent the promising new generation of luminophores owing to their size-, composition-, and surface-dependent tunable photoluminescence (PL) and photochemical stability. The development of various QD composites with high PL and good biocompatibility has facilitated the use of aptamer-functionalized QD biosensors for highly sensitive and specific detection of molecules in clinical and environmental settings. In addition to describing the recent advances in aptamer-based QD biosensor technology for the detection of diverse chemicals and biomolecules, this review provides recent examples of sensing strategies based on optical signal enhancement and quenching of QDs. It also discusses potential strategies for the development of biosensors to widen their practical applications across various scientific and technological fields.
Development of a Pathway for Multidisciplinary Neurodevelopmental Assessment and Diagnosis in Children and Young People
Authors: Rutherford Marion , Maciver Donald , Johnston Lorna , Prior Susan , Forsyth Kirsty
Published: November 2021

There is a variable standard of access to quality neurodevelopmental assessment and diagnosis. People may have negative experiences, encountering lengthy waiting times, and inconsistent practices. Practitioners need guidance on standards and practices for assessment and diagnosis matched to new ways of working. In this paper, we present a new pathway and recommendations for multidisciplinary neurodevelopmental assessment and diagnosis for children and young people (<19 years), developed by the Scottish Government funded National Autism Implementation Team (NAIT). Our research used the Medical Research Council guidance for the development of complex interventions and included several iterative stages. Stage 1: n = 44 stakeholders attended an event on developing new practices for diagnosis and assessment. Stage 2: a literature synthesis was completed by the research team of clinical guidelines and diagnosis and assessment tools. Stage 3: an event with n = 127 stakeholders included discussion and debate of the data from stages 1 and 2. Recommendations and a draft pathway were written. Stage 4: successive drafts of recommendations and the pathway documentation were circulated among an advisory group, including multidisciplinary clinical experts and people with lived experience, until the final pathway was agreed upon. The finalised pathway includes guidance on terminology, assessment, diagnosis, triage, time standards and engagement of people with lived experience. The new pathway has been adopted by the Scottish Government. The pathway and associated documentation are freely available online for use by others.
Evaluation of Serum and Salivary Iron and Ferritin Levels in Children with Dental Caries: A Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis
Authors: Sharifi Roohollah , Tabarzadi Mohammad Farid , Choubsaz Parsia , Sadeghi Masoud , Tadakamadla Jyothi , Brand Serge , Sadeghi-Bahmani Dena
Published: November 2021

Background and objective: Dental caries appears to be related to iron deficiency anemia and to low ferritin levels. In the present meta-analysis, we report salivary and serum iron and ferritin levels in children with dental caries, compared to healthy controls. Materials and methods: We searched in Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and PubMed/Medline databases to extract studies published until 25 July 2021. We calculated mean differences (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of salivary and serum iron and ferritin levels in children with dental caries, always compared to healthy controls. In addition, we applied a trial sequential analysis (TSA). Results: A total of twelve articles covering thirteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled MD for salivary iron level was −5.76 µg/dL (p = 0.57), and −27.70 µg/dL (p < 0.00001) for serum iron level: compared to healthy controls, children with dental caries did not show different salivary iron levels, while children with caries had significantly lower serum iron levels. The pooled MD of salivary ferritin level was 34.84 µg/dL (p = 0.28), and the pooled MD of serum ferritin level was −8.95 µg/L (p = 0.04): compared to healthy controls, children with dental caries did not have different salivary iron levels, but significantly lower serum ferritin levels. Conclusions: The findings of the present meta-analysis showed that salivary levels of iron and ferritin did not differ between children with and without caries, though compared to healthy controls, children with caries had significantly lower salivary and serum iron and ferritin levels. The results are of practical and clinical importance: Possibly, iron and ferritin supplementation might prevent or attenuate dental caries in children at risk. Further, children with caries might suffer from further iron- and ferritin-related health issues. Lastly, serum blood samples, but not saliva samples inform accurately about the current iron and ferritin concentrations in children with or without caries.
Risk Factors Associated with Mechanical Ventilation in Critical Bronchiolitis
Authors: Marlow Rachel K. , Brouillette Sydney , Williams Vannessa , Lenihan Ariann , Nemec Nichole , Lukowski Joseph D. , Zheng Cheng , Cullimore Melissa L. , Mahapatra Sidharth
Published: November 2021

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends supportive care for the management of bronchiolitis. However, patients admitted to the intensive care unit with severe (critical) bronchiolitis define a unique group with varying needs for both non-invasive and invasive respiratory support. Currently, no guidance exists to help clinicians discern who will progress to invasive mechanical support. Here, we sought to identify key clinical features that distinguish pediatric patients with critical bronchiolitis requiring invasive mechanical ventilation from those that did not. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary pediatric medical center. Children ≤2 years old admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) from January 2015 to December 2019 with acute bronchiolitis were studied. Patients were divided into non-invasive respiratory support (NRS) and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) groups; the IMV group was further subdivided depending on timing of intubation relative to PICU admission. Of the 573 qualifying patients, 133 (23%) required invasive mechanical ventilation. Median age and weight were lower in the IMV group, while incidence of prematurity and pre-existing neurologic or genetic conditions were higher compared to the NRS group. Multi-microbial pneumonias were diagnosed more commonly in the IMV group, in turn associated with higher severity of illness scores, longer PICU lengths of stay, and more antibiotic usage. Within the IMV group, those intubated earlier had a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and PICU length of stay, associated with lower pathogen load and, in turn, shorter antibiotic duration. Taken together, our data reveal that critically ill patients with bronchiolitis who require mechanical ventilation possess high risk features, including younger age, history of prematurity, neurologic or genetic co-morbidities, and a propensity for multi-microbial infections.
Association of Socio-Demographic and Climatic Factors with the Duration of Hospital Stay of Under-Five Children with Severe Pneumonia in Urban Bangladesh: An Observational Study
Authors: Huq K. A. T. M. Ehsanul , Moriyama Michiko , Matsuyama Ryota , Rahman Md Moshiur , Kawano Reo , Chisti Mohammod Jobayer , Tariqujjaman Md , Alam Nur Haque
Published: November 2021

Severe pneumonia is one of the leading contributors to morbidity and deaths among hospitalized under-five children. We aimed to assess the association of the socio-demographic characteristics of the patients and the climatic factors with the length of hospital stay (LoS) of under-five children with severe pneumonia managed at urban hospitals in Bangladesh. We extracted relevant data from a clinical trial, as well as collecting data on daily temperature, humidity, and rainfall from the Meteorological Department of Bangladesh for the entire study period (February 2016 to February 2019). We analyzed the data of 944 children with a generalized linear model using gamma distribution. The average duration of the hospitalization of the children was 5.4 ± 2.4 days. In the multivariate analysis using adjusted estimation of duration (beta; β), extended LoS showed remarkably positive associations regarding three variables: the number of household family members (β: 1.020, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.005–1.036, p = 0.010), humidity variation (β: 1.040, 95% Cl: 1.029–1.052, p < 0.001), and rainfall variation (β: 1.014, 95% Cl: 1.008–1.019), p < 0.001). There was also a significant negative association with LoS for children’s age (β: 0.996, 95% Cl: 0.994–0.999, p = 0.006), well-nourishment (β: 0.936, 95% Cl: 0.881–0.994, p = 0.031), and average rainfall (β: 0.980, 95% Cl: 0.973–0.987, p < 0.001). The results suggest that the LoS of children admitted to the urban hospitals of Bangladesh with severe pneumonia is associated with certain socio-demographic characteristics of patients, and the average rainfall with variation in humidity and rainfall.
Cytomegalovirus Infection in Infancy May Increase the Risk of Subsequent Epilepsy and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Childhood
Authors: Lin Chien-Heng , Chou I.-Ching , Lee Inn-Chi , Hong Syuan-Yu
Published: November 2021

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous virus, and CMV-associated diseases range from mild illness in immunologically normal hosts to life-threatening diseases in newborns and immunocompromised children. This study investigated the association between childhood CMV infection and subsequent epilepsy or neurodevelopmental disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A retrospective analysis was performed on data for 69 children with confirmed CMV infections (CMV infection group) and 292 patients with other infections (control group) between 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2012. The results indicated that the CMV infection group had a higher risk of epilepsy in comparison to the control (odds ratio (OR), 16.4; 95% CI (confidence interval), 3.32–80.7; p = 0.001). Epilepsy risk increased in younger children (age 0–2) with CMV infection when compared to the control group (OR, 32.6; 95% CI, 3.84–276; p = 0.001). The ASD risk was also determined to be higher in the CMV infection group (OR, 17.9; 95% CI, 1.96–162; p = 0.01). The ADHD risk between the groups was not significant. This study suggests that CMV infection in infancy may increase the risk of subsequent epilepsy and ASD, especially in infants younger than 2 years, but is not associated with ADHD.
The Role of Physiotherapy in Pediatric Palliative Care: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ortiz-Campoy Silvia , Lirio-Romero Cristina , Romay-Barrero Helena , Álvarez David Martín-Caro , López-Muñoz Purificación , Palomo-Carrión Rocío
Published: November 2021

Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is a set of actions aimed at children who suffer from a severe or life-threatening disease to alleviate the symptoms of the disease and improve the quality of life of both the child and his/her family. One of the tools used to control symptoms is physiotherapy; however, its application in the child population has not been thoroughly studied. The main objective of this study was to gather, analyze, and critically evaluate the available scientific evidence on physiotherapy in children who require palliative care through a systematic review of the studies published in the last 10 years in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, CINAHL, and Scopus. Of a total of 622 studies, the inclusion criteria were only met by seven articles, which were focused on the relationship between physiotherapy and PPC. This study analyzed: (1) the main pathologies treated, with a predominance of cerebral palsy and cancer; (2) the interventions applied, such as respiratory physiotherapy, neurological physiotherapy, therapeutic massage, and virtual reality; (3) the effects achieved in the child and his/her family, highlighting the control of symptoms and the improvement of the quality of life; and (4) the knowledge of the physiotherapists on PPC, observing that most of the professionals had not received training in this scope. The findings of this review indicate a lack of an adequate evidence foundation for physiotherapy in PPC.
Utilization of Psychotherapeutic Interventions by Pediatric Psychosocial Providers
Authors: Fair Cynthia , Thompson Amanda , Barnett Marie , Flowers Stacy , Burke June , Wiener Lori
Published: November 2021

One of the Standards of Psychosocial Care for Children with Cancer and their Families recommends that all youth with cancer and their family members have access to psychotherapeutic interventions and support throughout the cancer trajectory. This study was created to identify the psychosocial interventions and services provided to children with cancer and their family members, to ascertain whether there are differences in interventions provided by age of the patient and stage of treatment, and to learn about barriers to psychosocial service provision. An online survey was disseminated to psychosocial providers through the listservs of national and international professional organizations. The majority of the 242 respondents were either psychologists (39.3%) or social workers (26.9%) and 79.7% worked in the United States. The intervention offered most often to pediatric patients, caregivers, and siblings, at every stage of treatment, was psychoeducation (41.7–48.8%). Evidence-based interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy (56.6%) and mindfulness-based interventions (57.9%) were reported to be frequently used with patients. Interventions designed specifically for the pediatric oncology population were not commonly endorsed. Psychosocial providers reported quality of care would be improved by additional staff, better communication/collaboration with medical team members and increased community-based resources. Future research should focus on improving accessibility to population-specific evidenced-based interventions and translating science to practice.
A Critical Review: Recent Advancements in the Use of CRISPR/Cas9 Technology to Enhance Crops and Alleviate Global Food Crises
Authors: Rasheed Adnan , Gill Rafaqat Ali , Hassan Muhammad Umair , Mahmood Athar , Qari Sameer , Zaman Qamar U. , Ilyas Muhammad , Aamer Muhammad , Batool Maria , Li Huijie , Wu Ziming
Published: November 2021

Genome editing (GE) has revolutionized the biological sciences by creating a novel approach for manipulating the genomes of living organisms. Many tools have been developed in recent years to enable the editing of complex genomes. Therefore, a reliable and rapid approach for increasing yield and tolerance to various environmental stresses is necessary to sustain agricultural crop production for global food security. This critical review elaborates the GE tools used for crop improvement. These tools include mega-nucleases (MNs), such as zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), and transcriptional activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR). Specifically, this review addresses the latest advancements in the role of CRISPR/Cas9 for genome manipulation for major crop improvement, including yield and quality development of biotic stress- and abiotic stress-tolerant crops. Implementation of this technique will lead to the production of non-transgene crops with preferred characteristics that can result in enhanced yield capacity under various environmental stresses. The CRISPR/Cas9 technique can be combined with current and potential breeding methods (e.g., speed breeding and omics-assisted breeding) to enhance agricultural productivity to ensure food security. We have also discussed the challenges and limitations of CRISPR/Cas9. This information will be useful to plant breeders and researchers in the thorough investigation of the use of CRISPR/Cas9 to boost crops by targeting the gene of interest.
Quantitative Trait Locus Mapping of Seed Vigor in Soybean under −20 °C Storage and Accelerated Aging Conditions via RAD Sequencing
Authors: Wang Rongfan , Wu Fengqi , Xie Xianrong , Yang Cunyi
Published: November 2021

Due to its fast deterioration, soybean (Glycine max L.) has an inherently poor seed vigor. Vigor loss occurring during storage is one of the main obstacles to soybean production in the tropics. To analyze the genetic background of seed vigor, soybean seeds of a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross between Zhonghuang24 (ZH24, low vigor cultivar) and Huaxia3hao (HX3, vigorous cultivar) were utilized to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) underlying the seed vigor under −20 °C conservation and accelerated aging conditions. According to the linkage analysis, multiple seed vigor-related QTLs were identified under both −20 °C and accelerated aging storage. Two major QTLs and eight QTL hotspots localized on chromosomes 3, 6, 9, 11, 15, 16, 17, and 19 were detected that were associated with seed vigor across two storage conditions. The indicators of seed vigor did not correlate well between the two aging treatments, and no common QTLs were detected in RIL populations stored in two conditions. These results indicated that deterioration under accelerated aging conditions was not reflective of natural aging at −20 °C. Additionally, we suggest 15 promising candidate genes that could possibly determine the seed vigor in soybeans, which would help explore the mechanisms responsible for maintaining high seed vigor.
Hydrodynamic and Sediment Transport Patterns in the Minho and Douro Estuaries (NW Portugal) Based on ADCP Monitoring Data: Part 1-Tidal Sediment Exchanges
Authors: Santos Ana Isabel , Oliveira Anabela , Pinto José Paulo , Freitas M. Conceição
Published: November 2021

The tidal variability of the Minho and Douro lower estuaries (NW Portugal) water column structure was assessed at the semi-diurnal and fortnightly time scales under two contrasting seasonal river flow scenarios during the summer of 2005 and winter of 2006. Sediment fluxes inferred from calibrated ADCP acoustic backscatter revealed that, during spring tides and low runoff conditions, both estuaries act as sinks instead of sources of sediments into the inner shelf. Sediment export occurred during neaps, in both estuaries, when the river flow values were high enough to counteract the effect of the entering flood. No evidence of coarse sediment export into the inner shelf that would eventually nourish the littoral system could be inferred from these datasets.
Fabrication of a UV Photodetector Based on n-TiO2/p-CuMnO2 Heterostructures
Authors: Nicolaescu Mircea , Bandas Cornelia , Orha Corina , Şerban Viorel , Lazău Carmen , Căprărescu Simona
Published: November 2021

The heterojunction based on n-TiO2 nanolayer/p-CuMnO2 thin film was achieved using an efficient two-step synthesis process for the fabrication of a UV photodetector. The first step consisted of obtaining the TiO2 nanolayer, which was grown on titan foil by thermal oxidation (Ti-TiO2). The second step consisted of CuMnO2 thin film deposition onto the surface of Ti-TiO2 using the Doctor Blade method. Techniques such as X-ray diffraction, UV-VIS analysis, SEM, and AFM morphologies were used for the investigation of the structural and morphological characteristics of the as-synthesized heterostructures. The Mott–Schottky analysis was performed in order to prove the n-TiO2/p-CuMnO2 junction. The I-V measurements of the n-TiO2 nanolayer/p-CuMnO2 thin film heterostructure confirm its diode characteristics under dark state, UV and visible illumination conditions. The obtained heterojunction, which is based on two types of semiconductors with different energy band structures, improves the separating results of charges, which is very important for high-performance UV photodetectors.
Decarboxylation of p-Coumaric Acid during Pyrolysis on the Nanoceria Surface
Authors: Nastasiienko Nataliia , Kulik Tetiana , Palianytsia Borys , Larsson Mats , Cherniavska Tetiana , Kartel Mykola
Published: November 2021

Temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD MS) was used to study the pyrolysis of p-coumaric acid (pCmA) on the nanoceria surface. The interaction of pCmA with the CeO2 surface was investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy. The obtained data indicated the formation on the nanoceria surface of bidentate carboxylate complexes with chelate (Δν = 62 cm−1) and bridge structure (Δν = 146 cm−1). The thermal decomposition of pCmA over nanoceria occurred in several stages, mainly by decarboxylation. The main decomposition product is 4-vinylphenol (m/z 120). The obtained data can be useful for studying the mechanisms of catalytic thermal transformations of lignin-containing raw materials using catalysts containing cerium oxide and the development of effective technologies for the isolation of pCmA from lignin.
Solution of the Optimal Reactive Power Flow Problem Using a Discrete-Continuous CBGA Implemented in the DigSILENT Programming Language
Authors: Bernal-Romero David Lionel , Montoya Oscar Danilo , Arias-Londoño Andres
Published: November 2021

The problem of the optimal reactive power flow in transmission systems is addressed in this research from the point of view of combinatorial optimization. A discrete-continuous version of the Chu & Beasley genetic algorithm (CBGA) is proposed to model continuous variables such as voltage outputs in generators and reactive power injection in capacitor banks, as well as binary variables such as tap positions in transformers. The minimization of the total power losses is considered as the objective performance indicator. The main contribution in this research corresponds to the implementation of the CBGA in the DigSILENT Programming Language (DPL), which exploits the advantages of the power flow tool at a low computational effort. The solution of the optimal reactive power flow problem in power systems is a key task since the efficiency and secure operation of the whole electrical system depend on the adequate distribution of the reactive power in generators, transformers, shunt compensators, and transmission lines. To provide an efficient optimization tool for academics and power system operators, this paper selects the DigSILENT software, since this is widely used for power systems for industries and researchers. Numerical results in three IEEE test feeders composed of 6, 14, and 39 buses demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed CBGA in the DPL environment from DigSILENT to reduce the total grid power losses (between 21.17% to 37.62% of the benchmark case) considering four simulation scenarios regarding voltage regulation bounds and slack voltage outputs. In addition, the total processing times for the IEEE 6-, 14-, and 39-bus systems were 32.33 s, 49.45 s, and 138.88 s, which confirms the low computational effort of the optimization methods directly implemented in the DPL environment.
Two-Bit Embedding Histogram-Prediction-Error Based Reversible Data Hiding for Medical Images with Smooth Area
Authors: Yang Ching-Yu , Wu Ja-Ling
Published: November 2021

During medical treatment, personal privacy is involved and must be protected. Healthcare institutions have to keep medical images or health information secret unless they have permission from the data owner to disclose them. Reversible data hiding (RDH) is a technique that embeds metadata into an image and can be recovered without any distortion after the hidden data have been extracted. This work aims to develop a fully reversible two-bit embedding RDH algorithm with a large hiding capacity for medical images. Medical images can be partitioned into regions of interest (ROI) and regions of noninterest (RONI). ROI is informative with semantic meanings essential for clinical applications and diagnosis and cannot tolerate subtle changes. Therefore, we utilize histogram shifting and prediction error to embed metadata into RONI. In addition, our embedding algorithm minimizes the side effect to ROI as much as possible. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach, we benchmarked three types of medical images in DICOM format, namely X-ray photography (X-ray), computer tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Experimental results show that most of the hidden data have been embedded in RONI, and the performance achieves high capacity and leaves less visible distortion to ROIs.
Charge–Transfer Fluorescence and Room-Temperature Phosphorescence from a Bisamide-Based Derivative
Authors: Li Chengjian , Zhuo Chaozheng , Sun Jingwei , Ouyang Mi
Published: November 2021

The development of organic luminescent materials with bimodal emissions of both fluorescence and room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) remains a challenge. The investigation of the relationship between fluorescence and RTP performance is especially rare. In this work, we obtained an organic luminescent molecule, 1,4-phenylenebis((9H-carbazol-9-yl)methanone) (PBCM), which exhibits bimodal emissions of cyan fluorescence and yellow RTP in its crystalline state through adopting an electron donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) structure. The charge–transfer (CT) effects in the bimodal luminescent properties of PBCM, as well as the single-crystal structures and thermal properties, were investigated. It was found that the CT effect in the singlet states effectively reduces the ∆Est and promotes the ISC processes, resulting in an efficient phosphorescence of PBCM at room temperature. In addition, many strong intermolecular interactions are formed between the donor and acceptor parts of adjacent molecules, leading to the rigid configurations and compact packing of molecules in crystals, which was also confirmed to facilitate the efficient bimodal emissions of PBCM.
FE Modelling and Analysis of Beam Column Joint Using Reactive Powder Concrete
Authors: Nafees Afnan , Javed Muhammad Faisal , Musarat Muhammad Ali , Ali Mujahid , Aslam Fahid , Vatin Nikolai Ivanovich
Published: November 2021

Reactive powder concrete (RPC) is used in the beam-column joint region in two out of four frames. Finite element modeling of all specimens is developed by using ABAQUS software. Displacement controlled analysis is used rather than load control analysis to obtain the actual response of the structure. The prepared models were verified by using experimental results. The results showed that using RPC in the joint region increased the overall strength of the structure by more than 10%. Moreover, it also helped in controlling the crack width. Furthermore, using RPC in the joint region increased the ductility of the structures. Comparisons were made by varying the size of the mesh and viscosity parameter values. It was found that by increasing the mesh size and viscosity parameter value, analysis time and the number of steps during analysis were reduced. This study provides a new modeling approach using RPC beam-column joint to predict the behavior and response of structures and to improve the shear strength deformation against different structural loading.
Heterogeneously Integrated Photonic Chip on Lithium Niobate Thin-Film Waveguide
Authors: Wei Xing , Kesse Samuel
Published: November 2021

Lithium niobate thin film represents as an ideal material substrate for quantum photonics due to its strong electro-optic effect and high-speed modulation capability. Here, we propose a novel platform which heterogeneously integrates single self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots for a single-photon source on a lithium niobate photonic chip. The InAs/GaAs quantum dots can be transferred to the lithium niobate waveguide via a substrate transfer procedure with nanometer precision and be integrated through van der Waals force. A down-tapered structure is designed and optimized to deliver the photon flux generated from the InAs quantum dots embedded in a GaAs waveguide to the lithium niobate waveguide with an overall efficiency of 42%. In addition, the electro-optical effect is used to tune, and therefore to tune the beam splitting ratio of the integrated lithium niobate directional coupler, which can simultaneously route multiple photons to different spatial modes, and subsequently fan out through grating couplers to achieve single-photon sub-multiplexing. The proposed device opens up novel opportunities for achieving multifunctional hybrid integrated photonic chips.
An Evaluation of Total Internal Motions of Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer during SABR Using Calypso® Extracranial Tracking, and Its Possible Clinical Impact on Motion Management
Authors: Kaučić Hrvoje , Kosmina Domagoj , Schwarz Dragan , Čehobašić Adlan , Leipold Vanda , Pedišić Ivo , Mlinarić Mihaela , Lekić Matea , Šobat Hrvoje , Mack Andreas
Published: November 2021

(1) Background: the aims of this study were to determine the total extent of pancreatic cancer’s internal motions, using Calypso® extracranial tracking, and to indicate possible clinical advantages of continuous intrafractional fiducial-based tumor motion tracking during SABR. (2) Methods: thirty-four patients were treated with SABR for LAPC using Calypso® for motion management. Planning MSCTs in FB and DBH, and 4D-CTs were performed. Using data from Calypso® and 4D-CTs, the movements of the lesions in the CC, AP and LR directions, as well as the volumes of the 4D-CT-based ITV and the volumes of the Calypso®-based ITV were compared. (3) Results: significantly larger medians of tumor excursions were found with Calypso® than with 4D-CT: CC: 29 mm (p < 0.001); AP: 14 mm (p < 0.001) and LR: 11 mm (p < 0.039). The median volume of the Calypso®-based ITV was significantly larger than that of the 4D-CT based ITV (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: beside known respiratory-induced internal motions, pancreatic cancer seems to have significant additional motions which should be considered during respiratory motion management. Only direct and continuous intrafractional fiducial-based motion tracking seems to provide complete coverage of the target lesion with the prescribed isodose, which could allow for safe tumor dose escalation.
Notes on Some Interesting Sporocarp-Inhabiting Fungi Isolated from Xylarialean Fungi in Japan
Authors: Sa’diyah Wasiatus , Hashimoto Akira , Okada Gen , Ohkuma Moriya
Published: November 2021

The diversity of sporocarp-inhabiting fungi (SCIF) was examined using six samples of xylarialean fungi from two different forests in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan: a moist forest in the Sakuragawa area and an urban dry forest in the Tsukuba area. These fungi were enumerated using direct observation and dilution plate methods. We obtained 44 isolates, and careful morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies of these isolates revealed that approximately 30% of the operating taxonomic units were undescribed or cryptic species related to known fungi. Although typical mycoparasitic fungi, such as helotialean fungi and Trichoderma spp., were not isolated, the genera Acremonium, Acrodontium, and Simplicillium were detected. Comparisons of SCIF communities between the two forests suggested that the number of isolated species in the Sakuragawa area was lower than that in the Tsukuba area. Soil-borne fungi, such as Aspergillus, Beauveria, Penicillium, and Talaromyces, or polypores/corticioid mushrooms, are frequently detected in the Tsukuba area. Factors affecting SCIF communities in the two forests are discussed. Some noteworthy fungi are briefly described with notes on taxonomy, ecology, and molecular phylogeny.
It’s All about the Zone: Spider Assemblages in Different Ecological Zones of Levantine Caves
Authors: Cuff Jordan P. , Aharon Shlomi , Armiach Steinpress Igor , Seifan Merav , Lubin Yael , Gavish-Regev Efrat
Published: November 2021

Caves possess a continuum of ecological zones that differ in their microhabitat conditions, resulting in a gradient of nutrients, climate, and illumination. These conditions engender relatively rapid speciation and diverse assemblages of highly specialised spider fauna. It is unclear, however, how zonation of these caves affects spider assemblage composition and structure. Surveys of 35 Levantine caves were conducted to compare the assemblages of spiders between their different ecological zones. The diverse spider assemblages of these caves differed between the entrance, twilight, and dark zones, with troglophiles and accidental species occupying the cave entrance, endemic troglobites occupying the dark zones, and hybrid assemblages existing in the twilight zones. The progression of assemblage composition and divergence throughout cave zones is suggestive of processes of ecological specialisation, speciation, and adaptation of cave-endemic troglobites in the deepest zones of caves, while cave entrance assemblages are composed of relatively common species that can also be found in epigean habitats. Moreover, the cave entrance zone assemblages in our study were similar in the different caves, while the cave dark zone assemblages were relatively distinct between caves. Cave entrance assemblages are a subset of the regional species pool filtered by the cave conditions, while dark zone assemblages are likely a result of adaptations leading to local speciation events.
Assessing Suitable Habitats for Treefrog Species after Previous Declines in Costa Rica
Authors: Zumbado-Ulate Héctor , Searle Catherine L. , Chaves Gerardo , Acosta-Chaves Víctor , Shepack Alex , Salazar Stanley , García-Rodríguez Adrián
Published: November 2021

Treefrogs represent 22% of amphibian species in Costa Rica, but gaps in the knowledge about this group of amphibians can impede conservation efforts. In this study, we first updated the status of Costa Rican treefrogs and found that a total of 38% of treefrog species are threatened according to the most recent IUCN assessment in 2019. Additionally, 21% of Costa Rican treefrog species have a high vulnerability to extinction according to environmental vulnerability scores. Then, we predicted the historical climatic suitability of eight target species that we expected to have exhibited changes in their ranges in the last 20 years. We assessed the location of new occurrence records since 2000 to identify recovery, range expansion, or previously underestimated ranges due to methodological limitations. We also estimated the area of each species’ suitable habitat with two metrics: extent of suitable habitat (ESH) and area of minimum convex polygon (AMCP). Six declined species exhibited recovery (i.e., new occurrences across historical range after 2000), with the widest recovery found in Agalychnis annae. We also found that Isthmohyla pseudopuma appears to have spread after the decline of sympatric species and that the range of I. sukia was originally underestimated due to inadequate detection. We found that the ESH was 32–49% smaller than the AMCP for species that are slowly recovering; however, the ESH is similar or greater than the AMCP for species that are recovering in most of their ranges, as well as rare species with widespread ranges. Results of this work can be used to evaluate the risk of environmental threats and prioritize regions for conservation purposes.
Optical Biosensors for Diagnostics of Infectious Viral Disease: A Recent Update
Authors: Sharma Atul , Mishra Rupesh Kumar , Goud K. Yugender , Mohamed Mona A. , Kummari Shekher , Tiwari Swapnil , Li Zhanhong , Narayan Roger , Stanciu Lia A. , Marty Jean Louis
Published: November 2021

The design and development of biosensors, analytical devices used to detect various analytes in different matrices, has emerged. Biosensors indicate a biorecognition element with a physicochemical analyzer or detector, i.e., a transducer. In the present scenario, various types of biosensors have been deployed in healthcare and clinical research, for instance, biosensors for blood glucose monitoring. Pathogenic microbes are contributing mediators of numerous infectious diseases that are becoming extremely serious worldwide. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 is one of the most recent examples of such communal and deadly diseases. In efforts to work towards the efficacious treatment of pathogenic viral contagions, a fast and precise detection method is of the utmost importance in biomedical and healthcare sectors for early diagnostics and timely countermeasures. Among various available sensor systems, optical biosensors offer easy-to-use, fast, portable, handy, multiplexed, direct, real-time, and inexpensive diagnosis with the added advantages of specificity and sensitivity. Many progressive concepts and extremely multidisciplinary approaches, including microelectronics, microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs), nanotechnologies, molecular biology, and biotechnology with chemistry, are used to operate optical biosensors. A portable and handheld optical biosensing device would provide fast and reliable results for the identification and quantitation of pathogenic virus particles in each sample. In the modern day, the integration of intelligent nanomaterials in the developed devices provides much more sensitive and highly advanced sensors that may produce the results in no time and eventually help clinicians and doctors enormously. This review accentuates the existing challenges engaged in converting laboratory research to real-world device applications and optical diagnostics methods for virus infections. The review’s background and progress are expected to be insightful to the researchers in the sensor field and facilitate the design and fabrication of optical sensors for life-threatening viruses with broader applicability to any desired pathogens.
Influence of the Use of a Collagen Membrane Placed on the Bone Window after Sinus Floor Augmentation—An Experimental Study in Rabbits
Authors: Perini Alessandro , Viña-Almunia Jose , Carda Carmen , Martín de Llano José Javier , Botticelli Daniele , Peñarrocha-Diago Miguel
Published: November 2021

Background: We studied the influence on healing of a resorbable membrane covering the osteotomy site after maxillary sinus grafting, evaluated in different regions of the augmented area. Methods: Maxillary sinus augmentation was performed in 24 New Zealand rabbits. Osteotomy, 4 × 6 mm, were performed bilaterally. A collagenated cortico-cancellous porcine bone was used to fill the elevated region. A collagen membrane was randomly placed over the osteotomy site on one side (MG), and the other side was left uncovered (NMG). The animals were euthanized after 2, 4, and 8 weeks; and histomorphometric analysis was performed in eight different regions. Results: New bone percentages were similar in both groups. There were no statistically significant differences. In MG, the overall percentages were 15.6 ± 7.3%, 22.9 ± 6.1%, and 24.9 ± 12.0% after 2, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. In NMG, the percentages were 11.2 ± 4.5%, 24.1 ± 5.7%, and 24.5 ± 15.7%, respectively. The proportions of new bone in the various regions after 8 weeks were 31 ± 8.9% and 29.9 ± 9.1% in the bone walls region, 25 ± 10.1% and 32.8 ± 9.1% in the submucosa region, 22.6 ± 21.6% and 10.9 ± 11.5 in the middle region, 17.3 ± 14% and 13.4 ± 9.8% in the close-to-window region, and 21.8 ± 11.6%, 19.1 ± 6.4% in the osteotomy region—for MG and NMG, respectively. Conclusions: In both groups the greatest amounts of bone formation occurred near to the pre-existing bone walls, followed by the sub-mucosa region. The smallest amounts were found in the close-to-window region, followed by the central region. The placement of a collagen membrane to cover the osteotomy site did not influence the amount of new bone formation after sinus grafting.