bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonradiative Energy Transfer in Bi2O3/Tm2O3 Powders under IR Excitation at Liquid Nitrogen Temperature
Authors: Artamonov Dmitry A. , Tsibulnikova Anna V. , Slezhkin Vasily A. , Kozhevnikov Alexey S. , Samusev Ilia G. , Lyatun Ivan I. , Bryukhanov Valery V.
Published: March 2023

The presented work shows the study of energy transitions in the NIR and visible regions in the system of Bi2O3 and Tm2O3 powders. Mechanisms of upconversion luminescence and NIR luminescence between two Bi3+ and Tm3+ ions at T = 80 K accompanied with nonradiative energy transfer through the vibrational levels were investigated under IR photoexcitation. The absorption bands of the samples on the reflection spectra were examined in the visible region. The values of the emission cross-section parameters were calculated for the Bi2O3/Tm2O3 complexes.
Geographically Isolated Wetlands as a Reserve for the Conservation of Amphibian Biodiversity at the Edge of Their Range
Authors: Pupins Mihails , Nekrasova Oksana , Tytar Volodymyr , Garkajs Alberts , Petrov Iurii , Morozova Aleksandra , Theissinger Kathrin , Čeirāns Andris , Skute Arturs , Georges Jean-Yves
Published: March 2023

Wetlands are of great importance for biodiversity and nature conservation, especially geographically isolated wetlands (GIW). Yet literature about the ecological value of such GIW is missing, especially at the edge of the distribution of endangered species such as amphibians. In 2018 and 2022, we monitored amphibian communities in 15 isolated (GIW) and 12 non-isolated (nGIW) ponds by counting individuals using three methods: (1) capturing with hand nets, (2) visual counting, and (3) capturing with fyke traps. The three methods provided similar results, showing the great importance of GIW for amphibians, especially newts, whose abundance was 5–13 times greater in GIW compared to nGIW. The largest numbers of species and individuals (adults and larvae) were found in isolated wetlands (GIW). In non-isolated water bodies (nGIW) where more than 10 individuals of the Chinese sleeper Perccottus glenii, an alien invasive fish, were found, amphibians were not found at all. Importantly, between 2018 and 2022, the northern crested newt, T. cristatus, dramatically decreased in the nGIW. As a result of our work, it was revealed that the reconstruction of geographically isolated wetlands is very important for the conservation of amphibian biodiversity in a changing climate. One of the most effective measures aimed at protecting amphibians from negative factors—the spread of alien invasive fish species and diseases—is the reconstruction of wetlands in historically exploited landscapes with the creation of a wide range of water bodies yet broadly dominated by geographically isolated ponds.
Considering Diastolic Dyssynchrony as a Predictor of Favorable Response in LV-Only Fusion Pacing Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: Gurgu Andra , Luca Constantin-Tudor , Vacarescu Cristina , Petrescu Lucian , Goanta Emilia-Violeta , Lazar Mihai-Andrei , Arnăutu Diana-Aurora , Cozma Dragos
Published: March 2023

Background: CRT improves systolic and diastolic function, increasing cardiac output. Aim of the study: to assess the outcome of LV diastolic dyssynchrony in a population of fusion pacing CRT. Methods: Diastolic dyssynchrony was measured by offline speckle-tracking-derived TDI timing assessment of the simultaneity of E″ and A″ basal septal and lateral walls. New parameters introduced: E″ and, respectively, A″ time (E″T/A″T) as the time difference between E″ (respectively, A″) peak septal and lateral wall. Patients were divided into super-responders (SR), responders (R), and non-responders (NR). Results: Baseline characteristics: 62 pts (62 ± 11 y.o.) with idiopathic DCM, EF 27 ± 5.2%; 29% type III diastolic dysfunction (DD), 63% type II, 8% type I. Average follow-up 45 ± 19 months: LVEF 37 ± 7.9%, 34%SR, 61%R, 5%NR. The E″T decreased from 90 ± 20 ms to 25 ± 10 ms in SR with significant LV reverse remodeling (LV end-diastolic volume 193.7 ± 81 vs. 243.2 ± 82 mL at baseline, p < 0.0028) and lower LV filling pressures (E/E′ 13.2 ± 4.6 vs. 11.4 ± 4.5, p = 0.0295). DD profile improved in 65% of R with a reduction in E/E′ ratio (21 ± 9 vs. 14 ± 4 ms, p < 0.0001). Significant cut-off value calculated by ROC curve for LV diastolic dyssynchrony is E″T > 80 ms and A″T > 30 msec. Conclusions: The study identifies the cut-off values of diastolic dyssynchrony parameters as predictors of favorable outcomes in responders and super-responder patients with fusion CRT pacing. These findings may have important implications in patient selection and follow-up.
The Prognostic Significance of BRAF Gene Analysis in Children and Adolescents with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kotanidou Eleni P , Giza Styliani , Tsinopoulou Vasiliki Rengina , Margaritis Kosmas , Papadopoulou Anastasia , Sakellari Eleni , Kolanis Savvas , Litou Eleni , Serbis Anastasios , Galli-Tsinopoulou Assimina
Published: March 2023

Thyroid cancer represents the prominent endocrine cancer in children. Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) constitutes its most frequent (>90%) pediatric histological type. Mutations energizing the mitogen-activated-protein kinase (MAPK) pathway are definitely related to PTC. Its most common genetic alteration is in proto-oncogene B-Raf (BRAF). Mutated BRAF is proposed as a prognostic tool in adult PTC. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the association of mutated BRAF gene and prognostic clinicopathological characteristics of PTC in children/adolescents. Systematic search for relevant studies included PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, clinicaltrials.gov and Cochrane Library. Pooled estimates of odds ratios for categorical data and mean difference for continuous outcomes were calculated using random/fixed-effect meta-analytic models. BRAFV600E mutation presents a pooled pediatric/adolescent prevalence of 33.12%. Distant metastasis is significantly associated with mutated BRAF gene (OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.16–0.61, p = 0.001). Tumor size (MD = −0.24, 95% CI = −0.62–0.135, p = 0.21), multifocality (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.65–2.34, p = 0.74), vascular invasion (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.67–2.05, p = 0.57), lymph node metastasis (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.63–1.33, p = 0.66), extra-thyroid extension (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.53–1.13, p = 0.19) and tumor recurrence (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 0.68–4.21, p = 0.376) presented no association or risk with BRAF mutation among pediatric/adolescent PTC. Mutated BRAF gene in children and adolescents is less common than in adults. Mutation in BRAF relates significantly to distant metastasis among children/adolescents with PTC.
Clinical Value of Novel Echocardiographic Biomarkers Assessing Myocardial Work in Acute Heart Failure—Rationale and Design of the “Beyond Myo-HF Study”
Authors: Anastasiou Vasileios , Daios Stylianos , Moysidis Dimitrios V. , Bazmpani Maria-Anna , Zegkos Thomas , Karamitsos Theodoros , Makedou Kali , Savopoulos Christos , Efthimiadis Georgios , Ziakas Antonios , Kamperidis Vasileios
Published: March 2023

Background. Despite ongoing treatment advancements in chronic heart failure (HF), mortality and readmission rates remain high for patients hospitalized for decompensated acute HF. These patients represent a distinct HF group, which requires emergent echocardiographic evaluation in an attempt to provide optimal and individualized acute care. The role of serial advanced echocardiographic assessment in acute HF for risk stratification and treatment guidance has not been thoroughly explored. Methods. The “Beyond Myo-HF Study” is a prospective, non-interventional cohort trial designed to enroll acutely admitted patients with symptoms and/or signs of HF. The aim of this study is to investigate whether intrahospital changes of conventional and novel echocardiographic indices of myocardial function and congestion-related markers can predict early mortality, late mortality, and HF rehospitalization. As per the protocol, all patients undergo a pair of state-of-the-art echocardiographic assessments, with a rigorous protocol including speckle tracking analysis of all cardiac chambers and myocardial work analysis for the left and right ventricle, upon admission and pre-discharge. Their laboratory profile is captured at those two time-points, and their therapeutic management is recorded. Patients will be followed-up for a median period of 12 months after enrollment. Conclusions. The “Beyond Myo-HF” study is an ongoing, prospective trial aspiring to provide deep insight into the pathophysiology of acute HF, to enlighten the reverse cardiac functional and anatomical remodeling during hospitalization, and to recognize echocardiographic patterns capable of predicting adverse outcomes during and post decompensation of acute HF.
Hybrid Vehicle CO2 Emissions Reduction Strategy Based on Model Predictive Control
Authors: Reusser Carlos A. , Herrera Hernández Ramón , Lie Tek Tjing
Published: March 2023

This work proposes a hybrid drive controlled configuration, using a minimum emissions search algorithm, which ensures the operation of the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) in its fuel efficiency range, minimizing CO2 emissions by controlling the power flow direction of the Electric Machine (EM). This action is achieved by means of Power Converters, in this case a bi-directional DC-DC Buck-Boost Converter in the DC-side and a DC-AC T-type Converter as the inverting stage. Power flow is controlled by means of a bi-directional Model Predictive Control (MPC) scheme, based on an emissions optimization algorithm. A novel drivetrain configuration is presented where both, the ICE and the EM are in tandem arrangement. The EM is driven depending on the traction requirements and the emissions of the ICE. The EM is capable of operates in motor and generator mode ensuring the Minimum Emission Operating Point (MEOP) of the ICE regardless of the mechanical demand at the drivetrain. Simulation and validation results using a Hardware in the Loop (HIL) virtual prototype under different operation conditions are presented in order to validate the proposed overall optimization strategy.
A Graph Neural Network Social Recommendation Algorithm Integrating the Multi-Head Attention Mechanism
Authors: Yi Huawei , Liu Jingtong , Xu Wenqian , Li Xiaohui , Qian Huihui
Published: March 2023

Collaborative filtering recommendation systems are facing the data sparsity problem associated with interaction data, and social recommendations introduce user social information to alleviate this problem. Existing social recommendation methods cannot express the user interaction interest and social influence deeply, which limits the recommendation performance of the system. To address this problem, in this paper we propose a graph neural network social recommendation algorithm integrating multi-head attention mechanism. First, based on the user-item interaction graph and social network graph, the graph neural network is used to learn the high-order relationship between users and items and deeply extract the latent features of users and items. In the process of learning user embedding vector representation based on the social network graph, the multi-head attention mechanism is introduced to increase the importance of friends with high influence. Then, we make rating predictions for the target users according to the learned user embedding vector representation and item embedding vector. The experimental results on the Epinions dataset show that the proposed method outperforms the existing methods in terms of both Recall and Normalized Discounted Cumulative Gain.
Parameter Identification of Li-ion Batteries: A Comparative Study
Authors: Abdelhafiz Shahenda M. , Fouda Mohammed E. , Radwan Ahmed G.
Published: March 2023

Lithium-ion batteries are crucial building stones in many applications. Therefore, modeling their behavior has become necessary in numerous fields, including heavyweight ones such as electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, as well as lightweight ones like sensors and actuators. Generic models are in great demand for modeling the current change over time in real-time applications. This paper proposes seven dynamic models to simulate the behavior of lithium-ion batteries discharging. This was achieved using NASA room temperature random walk discharging datasets. The efficacy of these models in fitting different time-domain responses was tested through parameter identification with the Marine Predator Algorithm (MPA). In addition, each model’s term’s impact was analyzed to understand its effect on the fitted curve. The proposed models show an average absolute normalized error as low as 0.0057.
Blockchain-Based New Business Models: A Systematic Review
Authors: Taherdoost Hamed , Madanchian Mitra
Published: March 2023

The role of blockchain in new business model development requires greater focus because the technology is still in its infancy. Thus, there has been little research on the effects of the various blockchain networks (such as public, private, and consortium). This finding prompted a thorough investigation of new blockchain-based business models created between 2012 and 2022 to close this gap. This review’s focus is on journals, and duplicate articles have been removed. Works based on interviews, articles in press, non-English articles, reviews, conferences, book chapters, dissertations, and monographs are also not included. Seventy-five papers from the past ten years are included in this evaluation. This study examines the current state of new blockchain-based business models. Additionally, the implications and applications in the related literature have been investigated. These findings highlight numerous open research questions and promising new directions for investigation, which will likely be helpful to academics and professionals. The business strategies built on blockchain are currently on a path with a rapid upward trajectory. Blockchain technology offers businesses numerous chances to modify and develop new company models. By changing the conventional framework, blockchain innovation leads to the development of new methods for developing company models. The supportive potential of blockchain technologies such as NFT and P2E is increasingly being coupled with the development of new corporate projects and the modification of current business models. Since this field of study is still fairly new, researchers will have fresh opportunities to analyze its characteristics.
MFSR: Light Field Images Spatial Super Resolution Model Integrated with Multiple Features
Authors: Zhou Jianfei , Wang Hongbing
Published: March 2023

Light Field (LF) cameras can capture angular and spatial information simultaneously, making them suitable for a wide range of applications such as refocusing, disparity estimation, and virtual reality. However, the limited spatial resolution of the LF images hinders their applicability. In order to address this issue, we propose an end-to-end learning-based light field super-resolution (LFSR) model called MFSR, which integrates multiple features, including spatial, angular, epipolar plane images (EPI), and global features. These features are extracted separately from the LF image and then fused together to obtain a comprehensive feature using the Feature Extract Block (FE Block) iteratively. Gradient loss is added into the loss function to ensure that the MFSR has good performance for LF images with rich texture. Experimental results on synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms other state-of-the-art methods, with a peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) improvement of 0.208 dB and 0.274 dB on average for the 2× and 4× super-resolution tasks, and structural similarity (SSIM) of both improvements of 0.01 on average.
Novel Plant-Protein (Quinoa) Derived Bioactive Peptides with Potential Anti-Hypercholesterolemic Activities: Identification, Characterization and Molecular Docking of Bioactive Peptides
Authors: Ajayi Feyisola Fisayo , Mudgil Priti , Jobe Amie , Antony Priya , Vijayan Ranjit , Gan Chee-Yuen , Maqsood Sajid
Published: March 2023

Hypercholesterolemia remains a serious global public health concern. Previously, synthetic anti-hypercholesterolemic drugs were used for ameliorating this condition; however, long-term usage presented several side-effects. In this regard, natural products as an adjunct therapy has emerged in recent times. This study aimed to produce novel bioactive peptides with anti-hypercholesterolemic activity (cholesterol esterase (CEase) and pancreatic lipase (PL)) from quinoa protein hydrolysates (QPHs) using three enzymatic hydrolysis methods (chymotrypsin, protease and bromelain) at 2-h hydrolysis intervals (2, 4, and 6 h). Chymotrypsin-generated hydrolysates showed higher CEase (IC50: 0.51 mg/mL at 2 h) and PL (IC50: 0.78 mg/mL at 6 h) inhibitory potential in comparison to other derived hydrolysates and intact quinoa proteins. Peptide profiling by LC-MS QTOF and in silico interaction with target enzymes showed that only four derived bioactive peptides from QPHs could bind in the active site of CEase, whereas twelve peptides could bind in the active site of PL. Peptides QHPHGLGALCAAPPST, HVQGHPALPGVPAHW, and ASNLDNPSPEGTVM were identified to be potential CEase inhibitors, and FSAGGLP, QHPHGLGALCAAPPST, KIVLDSDDPLFGGF, MFVPVPH, and HVQGHPALPGVPAHW were identified as potential PL inhibitors on the basis of the maximum number of reactive residues in these bioactive peptides. In conclusion, QPHs can be considered as an alternative therapy for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Postharvest Biology and Technology of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.)
Authors: Shah Hafiz Muhammad Shoaib , Khan Ahmad Sattar , Singh Zora , Ayyub Saqib
Published: March 2023

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) fruit is a rich source of carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, sugars, and organic acids. Although it is classified as a non-climacteric fruit, susceptibility to mechanical and physical bruising causes its rapid deterioration by moisture loss and postharvest decay caused by pathogens. Anthracnose, canker, and purple spot are the most prevalent postharvest diseases of loquat fruit. Cold storage has been used for quality management of loquat fruit, but the susceptibility of some cultivars to chilling injury (CI) consequently leads to browning and other disorders. Various techniques, including cold storage, controlled atmosphere storage, hypobaric storage, modified atmosphere packaging, low-temperature conditioning, heat treatment, edible coatings, and postharvest chemical application, have been tested to extend shelf life, mitigate chilling injury, and quality preservation. This review comprehensively focuses on the recent advances in the postharvest physiology and technology of loquat fruit, such as harvest maturity, fruit ripening physiology, postharvest storage techniques, and physiological disorders and diseases.
Moderation of Structural DNA Properties by Coupled Dinucleotide Contents in Eukaryotes
Authors: Sievers Aaron , Sauer Liane , Bisch Marc , Sprengel Jan , Hausmann Michael , Hildenbrand Georg
Published: March 2023

Dinucleotides are known as determinants for various structural and physiochemical properties of DNA and for binding affinities of proteins to DNA. These properties (e.g., stiffness) and bound proteins (e.g., transcription factors) are known to influence important biological functions, such as transcription regulation and 3D chromatin organization. Accordingly, the question arises of how the considerable variations in dinucleotide contents of eukaryotic chromosomes could still provide consistent DNA properties resulting in similar functions and 3D conformations. In this work, we investigate the hypothesis that coupled dinucleotide contents influence DNA properties in opposite directions to moderate each other’s influences. Analyzing all 2478 chromosomes of 155 eukaryotic species, considering bias from coding sequences and enhancers, we found sets of correlated and anti-correlated dinucleotide contents. Using computational models, we estimated changes of DNA properties resulting from this coupling. We found that especially pure A/T dinucleotides (AA, TT, AT, TA), known to influence histone positioning and AC/GT contents, are relevant moderators and that, e.g., the Roll property, which is known to influence histone affinity of DNA, is preferably moderated. We conclude that dinucleotide contents might indirectly influence transcription and chromatin 3D conformation, via regulation of histone occupancy and/or other mechanisms.
An Acyl Carrier Protein Gene Affects Fatty Acid Synthesis and Growth of Hermetia illucens
Authors: Peng Xiaoyan , Liu Jiawen , Li Baoling , Wang Shengyin , Chen Bosheng , Zhang Dayu
Published: March 2023

Acyl carrier protein (ACP) is an acyl carrier in fatty acid synthesis and is an important cofactor of fatty acid synthetase. Little is known about ACP in insects and how this protein may modulate the composition and storage of fatty acids. We used an RNAi-assisted strategy to study the potential function of ACP in Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). We identified a HiACP gene with a cDNA length of 501 bp and a classical conserved region of DSLD. This gene was highly expressed in the egg and late larval instars and was most abundant in the midgut and fat bodies of larvae. Injection of dsACP significantly inhibited the expression level of HiACP and further regulated the fatty acid synthesis in treated H. illucens larvae. The composition of saturated fatty acids was reduced, and the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) was increased. After interfering with HiACP, the cumulative mortality of H. illucens increased to 68.00% (p < 0.05). H. illucens growth was greatly influenced. The development duration increased to 5.5 days, the average final body weights of larvae and pupae were decreased by 44.85 mg and 14.59 mg, respectively, and the average body lengths of larvae and pupae were significantly shortened by 3.09 mm and 3.82 mm, respectively. The adult eclosion rate and the oviposition of adult females were also severely influenced. These results demonstrated that HiACP regulates fatty acid content and influences multiple biological processes of H. illucens.
Seasonal Phenology and Climate Associated Feeding Activity of Introduced Marchalina hellenica in Southeast Australia
Authors: Jaroslow Duncan D. , Cunningham John P. , Smith David I. , Steinbauer Martin J.
Published: March 2023

Invasive insects pose an increasing risk to global agriculture, environmental stability, and public health. Giant pine scale (GPS), Marchalina hellenica Gennadius (Hemiptera: Marchalinidae), is a phloem feeding scale insect endemic to the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, where it primarily feeds on Pinus halepensis and other Pinaceae. In 2014, GPS was detected in the southeast of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, infesting the novel host Pinus radiata. An eradication program was unsuccessful, and with this insect now established within the state, containment and management efforts are underway to stop its spread; however, there remains a need to understand the insect’s phenology and behaviour in Australia to better inform control efforts. We documented the annual life cycle and seasonal fluctuations in activity of GPS in Australia over a 32 month period at two contrasting field sites. Onset and duration of life stages were comparable to seasons in Mediterranean conspecifics, although the results imply the timing of GPS life stage progression is broadening or accelerating. GPS density was higher in Australia compared to Mediterranean reports, possibly due to the absence of key natural predators, such as the silver fly, Neoleucopis kartliana Tanasijtshuk (Diptera, Chamaemyiidae). Insect density and honeydew production in the Australian GPS population studied varied among locations and between generations. Although insect activity was well explained by climate, conditions recorded inside infested bark fissures often provided the weakest explanation of GPS activity. Our findings suggest that GPS activity is strongly influenced by climate, and this may in part be related to changes in host quality. An improved understanding of how our changing climate is influencing the phenology of phloem feeding insects such as GPS will help with predictions as to where these insects are likely to flourish and assist with management programs for pest species.
Vascular Progenitor Cells: From Cancer to Tissue Repair
Authors: Barachini Serena , Ghelardoni Sandra , Madonna Rosalinda
Published: March 2023

Vascular progenitor cells are activated to repair and form a neointima following vascular damage such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, trauma, hypoxia, primary cancerous lesions and metastases as well as catheter interventions. They play a key role not only in the resolution of the vascular lesion but also in the adult neovascularization and angiogenesis sprouting (i.e., the growth of new capillaries from pre-existing ones), often associated with carcinogenesis, favoring the formation of metastases, survival and progression of tumors. In this review, we discuss the biology, cellular plasticity and pathophysiology of different vascular progenitor cells, including their origins (sources), stimuli and activated pathways that induce differentiation, isolation and characterization. We focus on their role in tumor-induced vascular injury and discuss their implications in promoting tumor angiogenesis during cancer proliferation and migration.
Bowman Layer Transplantation for Treating Keratoconus—Preliminary Findings
Authors: De Clerck Eline , Bravetti Giorgio , Kropp Martina , Massa Horace , Pajic Bojan , Thumann Gabriele , Guber Ivo
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: Mid-stromal isolated Bowman layer transplantation aims to reduce and stabilize corneal ectasia in patients with advanced, progressive keratoconus. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this new surgical technique. (2) Methods: Following the PRISMA statement and checklist, we searched Medline, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and Embase and used a broad systematic search strategy according to the Cochrane Collaboration. (3) Results: Eight studies with a total number of 120 eyes of 106 patients met our inclusion criteria. One month after Bowman layer transplantation, patients with keratoconus showed a significant decrease in the measured simulated keratometry (−4.74 D [95% CI −6.79 to −2.69]) and the maximum keratometry (−7.41 D [95% CI −9.64 to −5.19]), which remained significant one year postoperatively (−2.91 D [95% CI −5.29 to −0.53] and −5.80 D [−8.49 to −3.12]). Intra- and postoperative complications were observed in 3% and 9% of the patients, respectively. An estimated success rate of 75% to 85% was achieved by experienced surgeons at 5 to 8 years postoperatively. (4) Conclusions: Bowman layer transplantation may be an effective and safe treatment option in patients with advanced, progressive keratoconus. Additional multicenter prospective interventional studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
Burden of Illness beyond Mortality and Heart Failure Hospitalizations in Patients Newly Diagnosed with Heart Failure in Spain According to Ejection Fraction
Authors: Escobar Carlos , Palacios Beatriz , Gonzalez Victoria , Gutiérrez Martín , Duong Mai , Chen Hungta , Justo Nahila , Cid-Ruzafa Javier , Hernández Ignacio , Hunt Phillip R. , Delgado Juan F.
Published: March 2023

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the rates of adverse clinical outcomes, including all-cause mortality, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, myocardial infarction, and stroke, in patients newly diagnosed with HF to provide a comprehensive picture of HF burden. Methods: This was a retrospective and observational study, using the BIG-PAC database in Spain. Adults, newly diagnosed with HF between January 2013 and September 2019 with ≥1 HF-free year of enrolment prior to HF diagnosis, were included. Results: A total of 19,961 patients were newly diagnosed with HF (43.5% with reduced ejection fraction (EF), 26.3% with preserved EF, 5.1% with mildly reduced EF, and 25.1% with unknown EF). The mean age was 69.7 ± 19.0 years; 53.8% were men; and 41.0% and 41.5% of patients were in the New York Heart Association functional classes II and III, respectively. The baseline HF treatments included beta-blockers (70.1%), renin–angiotensin system inhibitors (56.3%), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (11.8%), and SGLT2 inhibitors (8.9%). The post-index incidence rates of all-cause mortality, HF hospitalization, and both combined were 102.2 (95% CI 99.9–104.5), 123.1 (95% CI 120.5–125.7), and 182 (95% CI 178.9–185.1) per 1000 person-years, respectively. The rates of myocardial infarction and stroke were lower (26.2 [95% CI 25.1–27.4] and 19.8 [95% CI 18.8–20.8] per 1000 person-years, respectively). Conclusions: In Spain, patients newly diagnosed with HF have a high risk of clinical outcomes. Specifically, the rates of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization are high and substantially greater than the rates of myocardial infarction and stroke. Given the burden of adverse outcomes, these should be considered targets in the comprehensive management of HF. There is much room for improving the proportion of patients receiving disease-modifying therapies.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Ligands and Receptors in Breast Cancer
Authors: Brogowska Klaudia Katarzyna , Zajkowska Monika , Mroczko Barbara
Published: March 2023

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy responsible for the largest number of deaths in women worldwide. The risk of developing BC is predisposed by many factors such as age, presence of genetic mutations or body weight. The diagnosis is mostly made relatively late, which is why patients are exposed to radical surgical treatments, long-term chemotherapy and lower survival rates. There are no sufficiently sensitive and specific screening tests; therefore, researchers are still looking for new diagnostic biomarkers that would indicate the appearance of neoplastic changes in the initial stage of neoplasm. The VEGF family of proteins (VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, EG-VEGF, PlGF) and their receptors are significant factors in the pathogenesis of BC. They play a significant role in the process of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in both physiological and pathological conditions. The usefulness of these proteins as potential diagnostic biomarkers has been initially proven. Moreover, the blockage of VEGF-related pathways seems to be a valid therapeutic target. Recent studies have tried to describe novel strategies, including targeting pericytes, use of miRNAs and extracellular tumor-associated vesicles, immunotherapeutic drugs and nanotechnology. This indicates their possible contribution to the formation of breast cancer and their usefulness as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
The Impact of Endometrioma on Embryo Quality in In Vitro Fertilization: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Dongye Houjin , Tian Yizheng , Qi Dan , Du Yanbo , Yan Lei
Published: March 2023

The influence of endometrioma on oocyte and embryo competence is inconclusive. Furthermore, the benefits of surgical treatment remain uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the effect of endometrioma on oocyte and embryo quality from a morphological perspective and further explore whether surgery could contribute to improving oocyte and embryo competence. A total of 664 IVF cycles with endometrioma (538 cycles underwent surgeries) and 3133 IVF cycles from the control group were included. The propensity score matching was used to balance the baseline differences between groups. There was a lower MII oocyte rate (85.0% versus 87.8%, p < 0.001; 84.9% versus 87.6%, p = 0.001) and a similar good-quality embryos rate in women with endometrioma (and those who underwent surgeries) compared with control group. For women with endometrioma, the rates of blastocyst development (67.1% versus 60.2%; p = 0.013) and good blastocyst development (40.7% versus 35.2%; p = 0.049) were significantly higher in those who had undergone surgical treatment compared with those who had not, but the rates of MII oocytes (79.9% versus 87.7%; p < 0.001) and normal fertilization (55.2% versus 66.2%; p < 0.001) were lower. The study indicates that endometrioma, including its surgical treatment, compromises the oocyte maturity not the embryo quality at the cleavage stage; however, the surgery seems to contribute to improving blastocyst development.
Comparison between Cardiac Output and Pulmonary Vascular Pressure Measured by Indirect Fick and Thermodilution Methods
Authors: Volodarsky Igor , Kerzhner Katerina , Haberman Dan , Cuciuc Valeri , Poles Lion , Blatt Alex , Kirzhner Elena , George Jacob , Gandelman Gera
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Right heart catheterization (RHC) is a diagnostic procedure, the main purpose of which is to diagnose pulmonary hypertension and investigate its etiology and treatability. In addition to measuring blood pressure in heart chambers, it includes estimating cardiac output (CO) and calculation of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) derived from the CO. There are two common methods to evaluate the CO—the indirect Fick method and the thermodilution method. Depending on the clinical conditions, either of the two may be considered better. Several studies have showed that, in most cases, there is no difference between measurements rendered by the two methods. Other studies have raised suspicion of a discrepancy between the two methods in a substantial number of patients. A clear opinion on this matter is missing. Aim: To evaluate the agreement between the values of the CO and PVR found by the thermodilution and indirect Fick methods. Methods: We retrospectively included patients that underwent RHC in Kaplan Medical Center during the last two years with a measurement of the CO using both the thermodilution and the indirect Fick methods. The measurements obtained upon RHC and the clinical data of the patients were collected. The values of the CO and PVR measured or calculated using the two methods were compared for each patient. Results: We included 55 patients that met the inclusion criteria in this study. The mean CO measured by the thermodilution method was 4.94 ± 1.17 L/min and the mean CO measured by the indirect Fick method was 5.82 ± 1.97 L/min. The mean PVR calculated using the thermodilution method was 3.33 ± 3.04 Woods’ units (WU) and the mean PVR calculated using the indirect Fick method was 2.71 ± 2.76 WU. Among the patients with normal mPAP, there was a strong and statistically significant correlation between the PVR values calculated by the two methods (Peasron’s R2 = 0.78, p-value = 0.004), while among the patients with elevated mPAP, the correlation between the PVR values calculated by the two methods was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The findings of this small study demonstrate that, in a proportion of patients, the indirect Fick method and thermodilution method classify the PVR value differently. In our experience, it seems that, in these patients, the indirect Fick method misclassified patients with a pathological finding as normal. We, therefore, recommend that upon performing RHC, at least in patients with mPAP > 25 mmHg, both the thermodilution and indirect Fick methods be performed and, whenever they disagree, the values obtained from the thermodilution method should be preferred.
Screening of Differentially Expressed Genes Based on the ACRG Molecular Subtypes of Gastric Cancer and the Significance and Mechanism of AGTR1 Gene Expression
Authors: Zhang Haoran , Zhen Shuman , Ding Pingan , Tan Bibo , Wang Hongyan , Liu Wenbo , Tian Yuan , Zhao Qun
Published: March 2023

Background: The Asian Cancer Research Group (ACRG) classification is a molecular classification established based on the tissues of gastric cancer (GC) patients in Asia. Patients with different ACRG subtypes differ significantly with regard to treatment response and prognosis, which indicates that the ACRG molecular classification is more valuable than the traditional pathological classification. However, the specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the value of the ACRG molecular subtypes of GC have not been studied in depth. Methods: Through the analysis of the GEO database, the DEGs in GC tissues of different ACRG molecular subtypes were investigated. The expression and mechanism of the screened angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR1) gene were bioinformatically analyzed and experimentally verified. The role of AGTR1 in GC cells was mainly investigated using CCK-8, wound-healing, transwell invasion assays, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting. Results: The bioinformatics results showed the presence of multiple DEGs in GC tissues with different ACRG molecular subtypes. Certain DEGs in GC tissues of different ACRG molecular subtypes have prognostic significance. AGTR1 levels in tumor tissues were significantly higher than in paired paracancerous tissues. The prognosis of GC patients with high expression of AGTR1 was poor (p < 0.05). The AGTR1 gene in GC samples was associated with the expression of immune pathways and immune checkpoint genes. After modifying AGTR1 expression in cell lines, cells’ proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities and the expression of related genes changed. Conclusions: There were significant DEGs in GC tissues with different ACGR molecular types, among which the increased expression of AGTR1 was a molecular feature of MSS/EMT type gastric cancer. Further study found that AGTR1 was closely related to tumor immune infiltration and invasion and may be a new therapeutic target gene for gastric cancer.
Molecular Characteristics and Pathogenicity of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) 1 in Taiwan during 2019–2020
Authors: Hsueh Fu-Chun , Kuo Kun-Lin , Hsu Feng-Yang , Wang Sheng-Yuan , Chiu Hsien-Jen , Wu Meng-Tien , Lin Chuen-Fu , Huang Yu-Han , Chiou Ming-Tang , Lin Chao-Nan
Published: March 2023

Two variants of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), PRRSV 1 and PRRSV 2, have caused abortion in pregnant sows and respiratory distress in nursery pigs worldwide. PRRSV 2 has been thoroughly researched in Taiwan since 1993; however, the first case of PRRSV 1 was not reported until late 2018. To decipher the genetic characteristics of PRRSV 1 in Taiwan, open reading frame 5 (ORF5) genes of PRRSV 1 strains collected from 11 individual pig farms in 2019–2020 were successfully sequenced. All Taiwanese ORF5 sequences were closely related to Spanish-like PRRSV strains, which are considered to share a common evolutionary origin with the strain used for the PRRSV 1 vaccine. Analyses of amino acid (aa) and non-synonymous substitutions showed that genetic variations resulted in numerously specific codon mutations scattered across the neutralizing epitopes within the ORF5 gene. The PRRSV 1 challenge experiment disclosed the pathogenetic capability of the NPUST2789 isolate in nursery pigs. These findings provide comprehensive knowledge of the molecular diversity of the PRRSV 1 variant in local Taiwanese fields and facilitate the development of suitable immunization programs against this disease.
Free-Choice Feeding of Whole Grains Improves Meat Quality and Intestinal Development of Pigeon Squabs Compared with Complete Pelleted Feed
Authors: Liu Tingwu , Wang Liuxiong , Jiang Xiaoyun , Liu Ying , Diao Enjie , Xie Peng
Published: March 2023

Effects of different feeding strategies on meat quality and intestinal development in pigeon squabs were investigated. 120 pairs of pigeons with two squabs each were assigned to five groups (four free-choice feeding systems and one complete feeding system): T1 (corn, pea, wheat, and pelleted feed), T2 (corn, wheat, and pelleted feed), T3 (corn, pea, and pelleted feed), T4 (corn and pelleted feed), and T5 (complete pelleted feed). Compared with T5, the diet in T4 made the breast meat redder and more yellow (p < 0.05). T2 and T4 resulted in an enhanced total superoxide dismutase activity of meat. Breast muscle in T1 and T2 was determined to have higher contents of nonessential amino acids, glycine, alanine, and glutamic acid (p < 0.05). The contents of the essential amino acids, lysine, threonine, valine, histidine, and arginine were also higher in T1 (p < 0.05). Villus height, surface area, and alkaline phosphatase activity of the duodenum and jejunum in T2 were the highest among the treatments (p < 0.05). In conclusion, free-choice feeding system can improve the meat quality and intestinal development of pigeon squabs, but which combination method of whole grains to use in the production depends on the feeding purpose.
Effects of Tool Plunging Path on the Welded Joint Properties of Pinless Friction Stir Spot Welding
Authors: Ge Xiaole , Jiang Di , Song Weiwei , Wang Hongfeng
Published: March 2023

Four tool plunging paths including a one-time plunging path and three step-by-step plunging paths were designed to study the effects of the tool plunging path on the welded joint properties of pinless friction stir spot welding (PFSSW). The appearance, cross-sectional microstructure, welding temperature, microhardness, and tensile shear failure load of the PFSSW of thin copper sheets under different tool plunging paths were explored. Furthermore, the fracture modes of welded joints under different tool plunging paths were analyzed. Studies showed that path 1 (plunge total depth at one time) produced the largest range of stirring zone, but the grains in the stirring zone were larger and the width of the thermal-mechanical affected zone was smaller. Path 1 obtained the highest peak temperature during the welding process, and path 3 (plunge 1/3 total depth + plunge 2/3 total depth) gained the lowest peak temperature. The greater the initial plunging amount of the tool, the faster the temperature rise rate in the welding stage. The tensile shear failure loads for path 1, path 2 (plunge 1/2 total depth + plunge 1/2 total depth), path 3, and path 4 (plunge 2/3 total depth + plunge 1/3 total depth) were 8.65 kN, 8.15 kN, 8.25 kN, and 8.85 kN, respectively. The tensile shear failure load of path 4 was 2.3% higher than that of path 1. The fracture modes of welded joints under different tool plunging paths were all nugget pullout fractures. The fracture morphology indicated that the fracture type was ductile fracture. The step-by-step plunging path proposed in this work extends the traditional PFSSW process. The findings of this study can provide a reference for the selection and design of tool plunging paths for PFSSW.
Clean Energy Based Multigeneration System for Sustainable Cities: Thermodynamic, and Stability Analyses
Authors: Bhatti Uzair , Aamir Hamza , Kamal Khurram , Ratlamwala Tahir Abdul Hussain , Alqahtani Fahad , Alkahtani Mohammed , Mohammad Emad , Alatefi Moath
Published: March 2023

This paper concerns the development and analysis of multigeneration systems based on hybrid sources such as biomass and wind. Industry requires different types of sources to provide several outputs, so the goal of this research was to fulfill the industrial requirement with optimization. The multigeneration cycle supplies enough power to satiate energy demands, i.e., power, cooling, hydrogen, air conditioning, freshwater, hot water, and heating. For this, the multigeneration cycle was modeled in the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) and Simulink to obtain optimized results for the industry. Energy and exergy for the multigeneration cycle were determined to assess the performance of the cycle and to investigate the optimized results for the overall system. This study shows that for configuration selection and design, different thermodynamic, economic, and environmental aspects should be considered. Based on the results, the selection of the best location for this multigeneration system was made. Power output from the wind turbine was around 7 MW and from biogas 0.6 MW. The overall exergy efficiency of the multigeneration system was found to be 0.1401.
Effects of Porous Supports in Thin-Film Composite Membranes on CO2 Separation Performances
Authors: Guo Hongfang , Xu Wenqi , Wei Jing , Ma Yulei , Qin Zikang , Dai Zhongde , Deng Jing , Deng Liyuan
Published: March 2023

Despite numerous publications on membrane materials and the fabrication of thin-film composite (TFC) membranes for CO2 separation in recent decades, the effects of porous supports on TFC membrane performance have rarely been reported, especially when humid conditions are concerned. In this work, six commonly used porous supports were investigated to study their effects on membrane morphology and the gas transport properties of TFC membranes. Two common membrane materials, Pebax and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), were employed as selective layers to make sample membranes. The fabricated TFC membranes were tested under humid conditions, and the effect of water vapor on gas permeation in the supports was studied. The experiments showed that all membranes exhibited notably different performances under dry or humid conditions. For polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and poly(ether sulfones) (PESF) membranes, the water vapor easily condenses in the pores of these supports, thus sharply increasing the mass transfer resistance. The effect of water vapor is less in the case of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and polysulfone (PSF), showing better long-term stability. Porous supports significantly contribute to the overall mass transfer resistance. The presence of water vapor worsens the mass transfer in the porous support due to the pore condensation and support material swelling. The membrane fabrication condition must be optimized to avoid pore condensation and maintain good separation performance.
Distinguishing Features of Quenched Nanoprecipitates in Allotriomorphic Ferrite and Reverted γ during Aging for Dual-Phase PHSS
Authors: Yu Ping-Jui , Tsao Tzu-Ching , Hsu Cheng-An , Gan Neng-Hao , Wang Shing-Hoa , Yang Jer-Ren , Chang Horng-Yi , Chung Tsai-Fu
Published: March 2023

A novel dual-phase PHSS consisting of lath martensite plus allotriomorphic δ ferrite (ALF) with nanoprecipitates was characterized by high-resolution field emission transmission electron microscopy for quenched, solid-solution-treated, and aged stainless steel. The effects of aging at various durations prior to H2O or liquid N2 quenching were investigated. Cu-rich nanoprecipitates evolve from body-centered cubic clusters to 9R Cu under quenching to 3R Cu and subsequently to face-centered cubic ε-Cu at various aging durations. Maximum hardness was observed after aging at 600 °C for 1 h. However, after this aging, both reversed austenite and Cu-rich nanoprecipitates coexisted in the martensite matrix. The segregation and diffusion of austenite-stabilizing elements promoted the nucleation of reversed austenite.
Uptake of Silver by Jarosite and Natrojarosite Family Compounds at 22 °C, 97 °C and 140 °C
Authors: Cogram Peter F. , Welch Mark D. , Hudson-Edwards Karen A.
Published: March 2023

The jarosite family of minerals are part of the alunite supergroup with the general formula AB3(TO4)2(OH)6. Jarosite family minerals are known to incorporate silver (Ag), but the extent to which this occurs, and at what temperature range, is not well constrained. To address this knowledge gap, jarosite compounds with the A site filled with K, Na, Ag and H3O were synthesised at 22 °C, 97 °C and 140 °C to simulate low-, moderate- and high-temperature environments, respectively. The compounds were characterised by XRD, SEM, chemical analysis and Raman spectroscopy. All of the synthesised compounds took up Ag. In general, higher temperatures of synthesis increased alkali and Ag occupancy of the A site of the products. Silver contents increased with the increasing concentration of Ag in the starting solutions at all temperatures. The order of preference for occupancy of the A site in the synthesised solids is K > Na > H3O > Ag at all temperatures, which is consistent with the reported order of ΔGf of −3309 kJ/mol, −3270 kJ/mol, −3247 kJ/mol and −2948 kJ/mol for jarosite, natrojarosite, hydroniumjarosite and argentojarosite, respectively. The results of this study show that Ag can be incorporated in jarosite and natrojarosite at low-to-high temperatures, and therefore, jarosite family minerals can be important stores of Ag in in natural and engineered environments.