bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Body experience influences lexical-semantic knowledge of body parts in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy
Authors: Cruz Thalita Karla Flores , Souto Deisiane Oliveira , Moeller Korbinian , Fontes Patrícia Lemos Bueno , Haase Vitor Geraldi
Published: September 2022

Background

Disorders in different levels of body representation (i.e., body schema, body structural description, and body image) are present in hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP). However, it remains unclear whether the body image develops from aspects of body schema and body structural description, and how this occurs in children with HCP.

Objective and methods

In a cross-sectional study, we investigated 53 children with HCP (mean age about 10 years) and 204 typically developing (TD) control children to qualitatively evaluate whether and how body schema (related sensorimotor experiences) and body structural description (related visuospatial experiences) affect the development of children’s body image and whether this development is delayed through HCP. Graph analysis was used to create a lexical-semantic map of body representation from data of a semantic word fluency task.

Results

Results indicated a similar qualitative pattern of influences of sensorimotor and visuospatial experiences on lexical-semantic knowledge of body parts, with a delayed developmental course in children with HCP compared to TD children.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that children’s body image seemed to be influenced by body schema and body structural descriptions as indicated by poorer lexical-semantic knowledge of body parts in children with HCP due to missing physical experiences of the affected body parts. This might imply that “body talk” may beneficially complement physical therapy for children with HCP to promote body image development.
Does childhood trauma impact daily psychobiological stress in somatic symptom disorder? An ambulatory assessment study
Authors: Fischer Susanne , Ali Nida , Feneberg Anja C. , Mewes Ricarda , Nater Urs M.
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Somatic symptom disorder is characterized by excessive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors dedicated to bodily symptoms, which are often medically unexplained. Although 13% of the population are affected by this disorder, its aetiopathogenesis is not fully understood. Research in medically unexplained conditions (e.g., fibromyalgia) points to increased psychosocial stress and alterations in stress-responsive bodily systems as a potential contributing factor. This pattern has often been hypothesized to originate from early life stress, such as childhood trauma. The aim of this study was to examine, for the first time, whether individuals with somatic symptom disorder exhibit elevated levels of self-reported daily stress and alterations in the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, both in comparison to healthy controls and individuals with depressive disorders, and whether reports of childhood trauma influence these alterations.

Methods

A total of N = 78 individuals were recruited into this study. Of these, n = 27 had a somatic symptom disorder, n = 23 were healthy controls, and n = 28 had a depressive disorder. All individuals underwent a 14-day measurement period at home, with five assessments of self-reported stress, salivary alpha-amylase, and cortisol per day. Childhood trauma was assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.

Results

Individuals with somatic symptom disorder exhibited higher daily stress levels (p = 0.063) as well as a less pronounced alpha-amylase awakening response (p = 0.050), compared to healthy controls (statistical trends). Moreover, they were characterized by significantly attenuated diurnal cortisol concentrations (p < 0.001). A nearly identical pattern was observed in individuals with depression. In individuals with somatic symptom disorder and depressive disorders, childhood trauma was, by trend, associated with a more pronounced alpha-amylase awakening response (b = −0.27, p = 0.077).

Conclusions

This study provides preliminary evidence for elevated daily stress and blunted sympathetic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in individuals with somatic symptom disorder and depressive disorders. Further studies will help to uncover the conditions under which these dysregulations develop into medically unexplained vs. depressive symptoms.
The impact of social support on the quality of life among older adults in China: An empirical study based on the 2020 CFPS
Authors: Shen Tongtong , Li Dongju , Hu Zengyun , Li Jie , Wei Xi
Published: September 2022

Background

As aging issues become serious, how to guarantee and improve the quality of life among older adults has become a hot topic in China. This article is aimed to discuss the impact of formal and informal social support on the quality of life among older adults and the differences in gender and urban–rural areas.

Methods

The data used in this article are from the 2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). Quality of life is measured from three dimensions of life: satisfaction, self-rated health, and mental state. This article uses the ordered logistic regression model to analyze the impact of social support on life satisfaction and self-rated health, and the binary logistic regression model to analyze the impact of social support on the mental state. The method of Shapley value decomposition further analyzes the contribution of influencing factors to the quality of life.

Results

The activities of daily living (ADL) and income significantly impact the quality of life among older adults. Formal and informal social support positively improved the quality of life among older adults, but the effect of informal social support is greater than that of formal social support. The male older adults are significantly better than the female adults across all three dimensions of quality of life. The mental state of urban older adults is better than that of rural older adults.

Conclusion

Formal and informal social support should be strengthened to improve the income of older adults. Older adults should be encouraged to participate in social activities and good interpersonal relationships should be established actively. Female older adults should be paid more attention. The proportion of female older adults participating in insurance should be increased, and the family and intergenerational care burden for female older adults should be reduced. The leisure life of urban older adults should be enriched. The basic social insurance and health service systems in rural areas should be improved.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle patterns: Does gender matter?
Authors: Sultana Naznin , Asaduzzaman Md. , Mubarak Mahfuza , Hosen Ismail , Kaggwa Mark Mohan , Al-Mamun Firoj , Mamun Mohammed A.
Published: September 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted individuals to deviate from normal lifestyle behaviors. But, there is a paucity of studies conducted in Bangladesh assessing how lifestyle patterns (i.e., smoking, drug use, physical exercise) have changed after the pandemic, which was investigated in this study.

Methods

An online-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among a total of 756 Bangladeshi young adults between April 1 and 13, 2020. Lifestyle patterns data were collected based on two periods from the COVID-19 pandemic inception point in the country, (i) ‘1 year before’, and (ii) ‘1 year after’. Basic descriptive statistics (i.e., frequency and percentages) and Chi-square tests were performed to examine the associations of the independent variables in relation to lifestyle patterns.

Results

A 0.2 and 4.7% reduction in smoking and physical exercise, respectively, was observed after the pandemic. But the prevalence of drug use was 1.5% before the COVID-19 pandemic, which rose to 1.9% during the pandemic; representing a 0.4% increment. The changes in lifestyle patterns before and during the COVID-19 pandemic was statistically significant only for physical exercise. Of the gender, male participants were more prevalent in smoking, drug use, and performing physical exercise in both periods.

Conclusion

It is suggested to increase awareness concerning adverse effects of drug use and not performing physical exercise, where the gender-based focus is highly appreciated.
Patient satisfaction level and its determinants after admission in public and private tertiary care hospitals in Bangladesh
Authors: Begum Farhana , Said Jamaliah , Hossain Syed Zabid , Ali Md. Ayub
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of the quality of care provided by health care facilities. The objective of this study was to investigate the rate of satisfaction and its associated factors among the patients admitted to tertiary care hospitals in Bangladesh.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in a public and two private tertiary care hospitals in Bangladesh in December 2019, including 923 consecutive patients admitted to medical and surgical departments. Face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire was conducted to collect patient-level data. Logistic regression models were used to determine the factors associated with patients' satisfaction.

Results

Patients' overall satisfaction level was 65% (51% in public and 75% in private hospitals) with a satisfaction rate of 63% in hospital staff courtesy, 56.5% in a hospital environment, 67% in physician care, 63% in general patient satisfaction, and 58% in patient's family care. Private hospitals (aOR 3.64, 95% CI 2.2–6.03), conservative management (aOR 3.34, 95% CI 2.10–5.33), shorter hospital stay (aOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.05–2.37) and perceived improvement after treatment (aOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.01–2.76) were associated with patients' satisfaction. In contrast, patients' accommodation on the floor (aOR 0.38, aOR 0.22–0.66) and high health care costs (aOR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95–0.99) were associated with patients' dissatisfaction with the in-patient service they received in both public and private hospitals.

Conclusion

Almost two-thirds of the patients were satisfied with the inpatient service they received, though, the satisfaction rate was higher in private hospitals. Treatment modality, cost, and outcome, as well as hospital environment like accommodation, were associated with their satisfaction level.
Eugenol nanoemulsion inactivates Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on cantaloupes without affecting rind color
Authors: Balasubramanian Brindhalakshmi , Shah Trushenkumar , Allen Jodie , Rankin Kimberly , Xue Jingyi , Luo Yangchao , Mancini Richard , Upadhyay Abhinav
Published: September 2022

Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 are the major foodborne pathogens that have been implicated in outbreaks related to consumption of contaminated cantaloupes. Current chlorine-based decontamination strategies are not completely effective for inactivating the aforementioned pathogens on cantaloupes, especially in the presence of organic matter. This study investigated the efficacy of eugenol nanoemulsion (EGNE) wash treatments in inactivating L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and E. coli O157:H7 on the surface of cantaloupes. In addition, the efficacy of EGNE in inhibiting the growth of the three pathogens on cantaloupes during refrigerated and room temperature storage of 5 days was investigated. Moreover, the effect of EGNE wash treatment on cantaloupe color was assessed using a Miniscan® XE Plus. The EGNE was prepared with either Tween 80 (TW) or a combination of Gum arabic and Lecithin (GA) as emulsifiers. The cantaloupe rind was washed with EGNE (0.3, 0.6, and 1.25%), in presence or absence of 5% organic load, for 1, 5, or 10 min at 25°C. Enumeration of surviving pathogens on cantaloupe was performed by serial dilution and plating on Oxford, XLD or SMA agar followed by incubation at 37°C for 24–48 h. EGNE-GA and EGNE-TW wash significantly reduced all three pathogens by at least 3.5 log CFU/cm2 as early as 5 min after treatment. EGNE-GA at 1.25% inactivated L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7 and S. Enteritidis on cantaloupes to below the detectable limit within 5 and 10 min of treatment, respectively (~4 log CFU/cm2, P < 0.05). EGNE treatments significantly reduced the survival of L. monocytogenes, S. Enteritidis, and E. coli O157:H7 on cantaloupe by at least 6 log CFU/cm2 at day 5 of storage at 25 and 4°C (P < 0.05). Presence of organic matter did not modulate the antimicrobial efficacy of nanoemulsion treatments (P > 0.05). EGNE treatments did not affect the rind color of cantaloupes (P > 0.05). In conclusion, eugenol nanoemulsions could potentially be used as a natural sanitizer to inactivate foodborne pathogens on cantaloupes. Further investigations in an industry setting are warranted.
Prolonged postoperative urine leakage due to a calyceal diverticulum mimicking a renal cyst: A case report and literature review
Authors: Yu Jun-jie , Yang An-qi , Du Yong-jun , Huang Tian-bao
Published: September 2022

Background

The calyceal diverticulum is a rare cystic cavity that communicates with the collecting system via a narrow neck or infundibulum. In clinical practice, part of the calyceal diverticula is difficult to differentiate from simple renal cysts even after contrast-enhanced CT. To date, there have been few kinds of literature works on the diagnosis and treatment of calyceal diverticulum combined with renal pelvis dilatation, especially concerning the treatment of prolonged postoperative urine leakage.

Case description

A 53-year-old woman with calyceal diverticulum and renal pelvis dilatation mimicking a simple renal cyst suffered urine leakage after receiving laparoscopic unroofing of the renal cyst. A persistent urine leakage was observed immediately after surgery, with about 200 ml of drainage fluid per day. We first attempted to place a double-J ureteral stent and indwell a catheter. After failing that, conservative treatment was performed. The core idea of the conservative treatment is retaining the drainage tube for more than 1 month, then clamping the drainage tube for 1 week, and finally removing the drainage tube. By 3 weeks of follow-up, the urine leakage disappeared, and the CT scan showed hydronephrosis of the right kidney without perirenal exudation and the lower pole cyst of the right kidney shrank significantly.

Conclusion

This case, we reported here, is to attract the attention of clinicians. Renal cysts should exclude the possibility of the calyceal diverticulum. If urine leakage is inevitable after surgical treatment, our conservative treatment strategy is also an alternative method.
Osteotropic Effect of Parenteral Obesity in Programmed Male Rats Fed a Calorically Differentiated Diet during Growth and Development
Authors: Radzki Radoslaw Piotr , Bienko Marek , Wolski Dariusz , Polak Pawel , Topolska Kinga , Wereszczynski Mateusz
Published: September 2022

The experiment was undertaken to assess whether the continuation or change of the parents’ diet affects the previously programmed bone metabolism of the male offspring during its growth and development. A total of 16 male and 32 female Wistar rats were divided into groups and fed a standard (diet S) or high-energy (diet F). After the induction of obesity, the rats from groups S and F, as the parent generation, were used to obtain male offspring, which were kept with their mothers until the weaning day (21 days of age). In our earlier study, we documented the programming effects of the diet used in parents on the skeletal system of offspring measured on the weaning day. Weaned male offspring constitute one control group—parents and offspring fed the S diet. There were three experimental groups, where: parents received diet S and offspring were fed with the F diet; parents were treated with the diet F, while offspring received the S diet; and parents and offspring were fed with the diet F. The analyses were performed at 49 and 90 days of life. After sacrifice, cleaned-off soft tissue femora were assessed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and a three-point bending test. We observed that changing and continuation of nutrition, applied previously in parents, significantly influenced the metabolism of the bone tissue in male offspring, and the osteotropic effects differed, depending on the character of the nutrition modification and age. Additionally, an important conclusion of our study, regarding the previous, is that nutrition modification, affecting the metabolism of bone tissue, also depends on the sex.
NMR Spectroscopy Combined with Machine Learning Approaches for Age Prediction in Healthy and Parkinson’s Disease Cohorts through Metabolomic Fingerprints
Authors: Dimitri Giovanna Maria , Meoni Gaia , Tenori Leonardo , Luchinat Claudio , Lió Pietro
Published: September 2022

Biological aging can be affected by several factors such as drug treatments and pathological conditions. Metabolomics can help in the estimation of biological age by analyzing the differences between predicted and actual chronological age in different subjects. In this paper, we compared three different and well-known machine learning approaches—SVM, ElasticNet, and PLS—to build a model based on the 1H-NMR metabolomic data of serum samples, able to predict chronological age in control individuals. Then, we tested these models in two pathological cohorts of de novo and advanced PD patients. The discrepancies observed between predicted and actual age in patients are interpreted as a sign of a (pathological) biological aging process.
Complex Research on Amorphous Vanadium Oxide Thin Films Deposited by Gas Impulse Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Mazur Michał , Lubańska Aneta , Domaradzki Jarosław , Wojcieszak Damian
Published: September 2022

In this work, a complex examination of vanadium oxide thin films prepared by gas impulse magnetron sputtering with various Ar:O2 gas ratios of 2:1 ÷ 8:1 was conducted. X-ray diffraction revealed the amorphous nature of the prepared thin films, and scanning electron microscopy images showed that the thin films were crack-free and homogenous. Optical properties investigations revealed that a higher oxygen content in the Ar:O2 atmosphere during sputtering caused an increase in transparency. The sample prepared with the highest amount of oxygen in the gas mixture during deposition had 51.1% of the average transmission in the visible wavelength range. A decrease in oxygen caused deterioration in the thin film transparency with the lowest value equal to 21.8%. Electrical measurements showed that the prepared thin films had a semiconducting character with either electron or hole conduction type, depending on the sputtering gas composition. A small amount of oxygen in the gas mixture resulted in the deposition of p-type thin films, whereas an increase in the amount of oxygen caused a change to n-type electrical conduction. Resistivity decreased with increasing Ar:O2 ratio. The gas sensing response toward diluted hydrogen was investigated for all the VxOy thin films, but at low operating temperatures, only the p-type thin films exhibited a visible response.
A Progress Report on Laser Resonance Chromatography
Authors: Romero Romero Elisa , Block Michael , Jana Biswajit , Kim Eunkang , Nothhelfer Steven , Raeder Sebastian , Ramanantoanina Harry , Rickert Elisabeth , Schneider Jonas , Sikora Philipp , Laatiaoui Mustapha
Published: September 2022

Research on superheavy elements enables probing the limits of nuclear existence and provides a fertile ground to advance our understanding of the atom’s structure. However, experimental access to these atomic species is very challenging and often requires the development of new technologies and experimental techniques optimized for the study of a single atomic species. The Laser Resonance Chromatography (LRC) technique was recently conceived to enable atomic structure investigations in the region of the superheavy elements. Here, we give an update on the experimental progress and simulation results.
Distribution and Prevalence of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes of Turfgrass at Golf Courses in China
Authors: Dong Yinglu , Jin Peiyuan , Zhang Huangwei , Hu Jian , Lamour Kurt , Yang Zhimin
Published: September 2022

We sampled 127 turfgrass soil samples from 33 golf courses in NC, EC, and SC for plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs). PPNs were extracted from soil samples using the shallow dish method and were identified at the genus or species levels with a combination of morphological and molecular methods. The results revealed 41 species of nematode belonging to 20 genera and 10 families. Nine genera are new records of PPNs associated with turfgrass in China. The PPNs show strong geographical distributions. Of the 20 genera, Helicotylenchus, Paratrichodorus, Hoplolaimus, Meloidogyne, Hemicriconemoides, and Mesocriconema showed higher infestation and frequency, and most of these genera had numbers in soil samples above established damage thresholds. Four golf courses had soil samples with PPNs > 30%, indicating the potential for nematode damage. The biodiversity indices H’, SR, J’, λ, and H2 showed significant differences among different regions and turfgrass species; H’, SR, J’, and H2 were significantly higher in EC than in NC and SC, while λ was lowest in EC. Creeping bentgrass had the highest H’, SR, J’, and H2 and the lowest λ in comparison with seashore paspalum and hybrid bermudagrass. These findings provide baseline information on the occurrence of turfgrass-associated PPNs in China, and have important implications for the effective management of PPNs causing damage on turfgrass.
A New Species of Comptonia (Myricaceae) from the Early Miocene of Central Inner Mongolia, China, and Phytogeographic History of Sweet–Fern
Authors: Ji Deshuang , Xiao Liang , Guo Liyan , Li Xiangchuan , Wu Zeling , Liang Jiaqi , Wang Meiting , Xia Xiaoyuan , Sun Nan , Fu Chaofeng
Published: September 2022

Comptonia (Myricaceae) is well known as a monotypic genus living only in eastern North America; however, fossils show that the genus occurred extensively in the Northern Hemisphere during the Cenozoic. We observed dozens of Comptonia leaf fossils from the early Miocene in Zhuozi, China. The leaf architecture characteristics and epidermal features of the fossil specimens are described in detail here for the first time, and they were assigned to a new species: Comptonia hirsuta. The fruit fossils collected simultaneously from the same layer were assigned to Comptonia tymensis. The global fossil records indicate that the spatial distribution range of Comptonia reached its peak in both the Eocene and Miocene as two warm periods and then gradually decreased in the Oligocene, as well as after the late Miocene, because of the cooling global climate. Furthermore, the Comptonia taxon in East Asia may have migrated from North America via the Bering route in the late Paleocene or Eocene. Plant exchange between western Europe and eastern North America possibly occurred during the Eocene via the Thulean route. Phytogeographic variation in the Comptonia fossils from China also indicates that the reason for the disappearance of Comptonia from China may not only be due to the prolonged cooling and drying after the late Miocene, but also due to its progenitive pattern.
Iron in Alzheimer’s Disease: From Physiology to Disease Disabilities
Authors: Pal Amit , Cerchiaro Giselle , Rani Isha , Ventriglia Mariacarla , Rongioletti Mauro , Longobardi Antonio , Squitti Rosanna
Published: September 2022

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in the neurodegeneration processes. Increased oxidative stress damages lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in brain tissue, and it is tied to the loss of biometal homeostasis. For this reason, attention has been focused on transition metals involved in several biochemical reactions producing ROS. Even though a bulk of evidence has uncovered the role of metals in the generation of the toxic pathways at the base of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), this matter has been sidelined by the advent of the Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis. However, the link between metals and AD has been investigated in the last two decades, focusing on their local accumulation in brain areas known to be critical for AD. Recent evidence revealed a relation between iron and AD, particularly in relation to its capacity to increase the risk of the disease through ferroptosis. In this review, we briefly summarize the major points characterizing the function of iron in our body and highlight why, even though it is essential for our life, we have to monitor its dysfunction, particularly if we want to control our risk of AD.
Harnessing Protein Corona for Biomimetic Nanomedicine Design
Authors: Chen Zhidong , Chen Xu , Huang Juyang , Wang Junqing , Wang Zhe
Published: September 2022

Nanoparticles (NPs) are usually treated as multifunctional agents combining several therapeutical applications, like imaging and targeting delivery. However, clinical translation is still largely hindered by several factors, and the rapidly formed protein corona on the surface of NPs is one of them. The formation of protein corona is complicated and irreversible in the biological environment, and protein corona will redefine the “biological identity” of NPs, which will alter the following biological events and therapeutic efficacy. Current understanding of protein corona is still limited and incomplete, and in many cases, protein corona has adverse impacts on nanomedicine, for instance, losing targeting ability, activating the immune response, and rapid clearance. Due to the considerable role of protein corona in NPs’ biological fate, harnessing protein corona to achieve some therapeutic effects through various methods like biomimetic approaches is now treated as a promising way to meet the current challenges in nanomedicine such as poor pharmacokinetic properties, off-target effect, and immunogenicity. This review will first introduce the current understanding of protein corona and summarize the investigation process and technologies. Second, the strategies of harnessing protein corona with biomimetic approaches for nanomedicine design are reviewed. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future outlooks of biomimetic approaches to tune protein corona in nanomedicine.
Impact Analysis of a Building Collapse Caused by a Rainfall-Induced Landslide in Kerala, India
Authors: Santhosh Kumar Vaddepalli , Chandrasekaran Sembulichampalayam Sennimalai
Published: September 2022

This study presents the experimental, numerical analysis, and dynamic impact analysis of a building collapse caused by a rainfall-induced landslide (vertical cut slope failure) on 15 August 2018, in Peringavu, Kerala, India, which resulted in the death of nine people. The volume of 1500 m3 soil-applied lateral thrust force on the building’s rear side led to its demolition. The study includes extensive geotechnical characterization. General limit equilibrium and finite element methods were used in the numerical analysis. The infiltration analysis involved a rainfall pattern of low, moderate, and higher intensities on the slope. The study involved a two-stage analysis. Firstly, the analysis of the vertical cut slope with the application rainfall intensities, and second, the analysis of the building under the dynamic impact of the landslide. As a result of the study, the failure mechanism of the vertical cut during intense rainfall and triggering factors were evaluated. The dynamic impact analysis was carried out to examine the effects of the impact of the landslide debris on the building and the performance of the building under the impact load. The load-bearing walls experienced high-intensity impact force developed by the landslide, resulting in the lateral displacement of 170 mm and differential settlement of 92 mm, which led to the building’s demolition. The flexural failures, excessive deflections, bending moments, foundation settlements, and displacement of structural elements were studied.
Innovation District Typology Classification via Performance Framework: Insights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane
Authors: Adu-McVie Rosemary , Yigitcanlar Tan , Xia Bo , Erol Isil
Published: September 2022

As a new land use type, innovation districts are taking prominence in the urban development policies and plans of many cities across the globe. This new urban land use comes in many shapes and forms and offers various features and functions to the users. Despite its increasing popularity, there exist only limited approaches to classify innovation districts, and there are no holistic typologies developed so far. This study focuses on this understudied, but important area of research. The paper aims to develop an innovation district typology matrix and evaluates its practicality with real innovation district data. The methodological approach is three-fold. First, the multidimensional innovation district classification framework is adopted as a performance framework. Second, data from three eminent Australian innovation districts—i.e., Macquarie Park Innovation District (Sydney), Monash Technology Precinct (Melbourne), and Kelvin Grove Urban Village (Brisbane)—are collected. Third, both qualitative and quantitative analysis methods are employed for data analysis. The study finds that innovation district performances can be measured, and typologies can be developed though a novel approach. These, in return, inform property developers and managers, city administrators, and urban planners in their efforts to plan, design, develop, and manage competitive innovation districts.
Catalytic Oxidation of Flax Shives into Vanillin and Pulp
Authors: Tarabanko Valery E. , Vigul Dmitrii O. , Kaygorodov Konstantin L. , Chelbina Yulia V. , Mazurova Elena V.
Published: September 2022

This research deals with a process of catalytic oxidation of flax shives to vanillin and pulp. Catalytic oxidation of flax shives with molecular oxygen allows two main products to be obtained—vanillin with a yield of up to 12 wt.% of lignin, and pulp. Final forms of the catalyst particles (Cu2O and CuO) are agglomerates or monocrystals 0.5–5 µm in size. Acid prehydrolysis of the shives does not affect the oxidation, in contrast to pine-wood oxidation. Lignin prehydrolysis and oxidation was suggested as illustrate this difference. The dependence of the vanillin formation rate on stirring speed was studied. Minimum alkali consumption in the process was attained with a mild stirring speed of the reaction mass.
Reduction in Free Fatty Acid Concentration in Sludge Palm Oil Using Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Catalysis: Process Optimization, and Reusable Heterogeneous Catalysts
Authors: Juera-Ong Panupong , Pongraktham Kritsakon , Oo Ye Min , Somnuk Krit
Published: September 2022

Acid catalysts including Amberlyst 15 and sulfuric acid were used for heterogeneous and homogeneous catalyst reactions respectively, to reduce high free fatty acid (FFA) in sludge palm oil (SPO) using an esterification process. The goal of this research was to reduce high FFA content in SPO to less than 1 wt.% FFA so that it can be employed as a raw material in a transesterification process to produce biodiesel. Amberlyst 15 is an eco-friendly catalyst with many benefits, such as being reusable and generating non-toxic waste after reactions, compared to homogeneous catalysts, although the reaction time of the homogeneous catalyst was faster than the heterogeneous catalytic reaction. Therefore, esterification reactions with a heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic reaction were carried out to examine conversion of FFA. The heterogeneous catalytic reaction decreased the FFA content from 89.16 wt.% to 1.26 wt.% under the recommended conditions of 44.7 wt.% methanol, 38.6 wt.% Amberlyst 15 catalyst loading, and 360 min reaction time. For homogeneous catalytic reaction, the FFA content of 1.03 wt.% was achieved under the recommended conditions of 58.4 wt.% methanol, 16.8 wt.% sulfuric acid, and 79.7 min reaction time. Furthermore, the results of the reusability research demonstrate that the heterogeneous catalyst may be reused for at least nine cycles. This research showed the promising potential of using SPO non-edible oil for biodiesel production by employing an eco-friendly heterogeneous catalyst for cost-effective environmental remediation.
The Stability of Dimeric D-amino Acid Oxidase from Porcine Kidney Strongly Depends on the Buffer Nature and Concentration
Authors: Carballares Diego , Rocha-Martin Javier , Fernandez-Lafuente Roberto
Published: September 2022

The first step of the inactivation of the enzyme D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) from porcine kidney at pH 5 and 7 is the enzyme subunit dissociation, while FAD dissociation has not a relevant role. At pH 9, both dissociation phenomena affect the enzyme stability. A strong effect of the buffer nature and concentration on enzyme stability was found, mainly at pH 7 and 9 (it was possible at the same temperature to have the enzyme fully inactivated in 5 mM of Hepes while maintaining 100% in 5 mM of glycine). The effect of the concentration of buffer on enzyme stability depended on the buffer: at pH 5, the acetate buffer had no clear effect, while Tris, Hepes and glycine (at pH 7) and carbonate (at pH 9) decreased enzyme stability when increasing their concentrations; phosphate concentration had the opposite effect. The presence of 250 mM of NaCl usually increased enzyme stability, but this did not occur in all cases. The effects were usually more significant when using low concentrations of DAAO and were not reverted upon adding exogenous FAD. However, when using an immobilized DAAO biocatalyst which presented enzyme subunits attached to the support, where dissociation was not possible, this effect of the buffer nature on enzyme stability almost disappeared. This suggested that the buffers were somehow altering the association/dissociation equilibrium of the enzyme.
Trimeric Ruthenium Cluster-Derived Ru Nanoparticles Dispersed in MIL-101(Cr) for Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation
Authors: Oh Kyung-Ryul , Sivan Sanil E. , Yoo Changho , Hong Do-Young , Hwang Young Kyu
Published: September 2022

The synthesis of highly dispersed metal nanoparticles supported on metal–organic frameworks has been widely studied as a means to provide high-performance heterogeneous catalysts. Here, a Ru-nanoparticles-supported MIL-101(Cr) catalyst was prepared via a diamine and oxo-centered trimeric ruthenium cluster ([Ru3(μ3-O)(μ-CH3COO)6(H2O)3]CH3COO), Ru3 cluster sequential grafting, followed by alcohol reduction. Ethylenediamine (ED) acted as the linker, coordinating with unsaturated sites on both MIL-101(Cr) and the Ru3 cluster to produce Ru3-ED-MIL-101(Cr), after which selective alcohol reduction process provided the Ru/ED-MIL-101(Cr) catalyst. The synthesized Ru/ED-MIL-101(Cr) catalyst contained small, finely dispersed Ru nanoparticles, and the structural integrity of ED-MIL-101(Cr) was maintained. The Ru/ED-MIL-101(Cr) catalyst was tested for the transfer hydrogenation of benzene using isopropanol as the hydrogen source, where it was shown to outperform other Ru-based catalysts.
Photocatalytic CO2 Conversion Using Anodic TiO2 Nanotube-CuxO Composites
Authors: Savchuk Timofey P. , Kytina Ekaterina V. , Konstantinova Elizaveta A. , Kytin Vladimir G. , Pinchuk Olga , Tarhanov Andrey K. , Zaitsev Vladimir B. , Maniecki Tomasz
Published: September 2022

Nanosized titanium dioxide (TiO2) is currently being actively studied by the global scientific community, since it has a number of properties that are important from a practical point of view. One of these properties is a large specific surface, which makes this material promising for use in photocatalysts, sensors, solar cells, etc. In this work, we prepared photocatalysts based on TiO2 nanotubes for converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into energy-intensive hydrocarbon compounds. Efficient gas-phase CO2 conversion in the prepared single-walled TiO2 nanotube-CuxO composites was investigated. Parameters of defects (radicals) in composites were studied. Methanol and methane were detected during the CO2 photoreduction process. In single-walled TiO2 nanotubes, only Ti3+/oxygen vacancy defects were detected. The Cu2+ centers and O2− radicals were found in TiO2 nanotube-CuxO composites using the EPR technique. It has been established that copper oxide nanoparticles are present in the TiO2 nanotube-CuxO composites in the form of the CuO phase. A phase transformation of CuO to Cu2O takes place during illumination, as has been shown by EPR spectroscopy. It is shown that defects accumulate photoinduced charge carriers. The mechanism of methane and methanol formation is discussed. The results obtained are completely original and show high promise for the use of TiO2-CuxO nanotube composites as photocatalysts for CO2 conversion into hydrocarbon fuel precursors.
The ATG8 Family Proteins GABARAP and GABARAPL1 Target Antigen to Dendritic Cells to Prime CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells
Authors: Fonderflick Leïla , Baudu Timothée , Adotévi Olivier , Guittaut Michaël , Adami Pascale , Delage-Mourroux Régis
Published: September 2022

Vaccine therapy is a promising method of research to promote T cell immune response and to develop novel antitumor immunotherapy protocols. Accumulating evidence has shown that autophagy is involved in antigen processing and presentation to T cells. In this work, we investigated the potential role of GABARAP and GABARAPL1, two members of the autophagic ATG8 family proteins, as surrogate tumor antigen delivery vectors to prime antitumor T cells. We showed that bone marrow-derived dendritic cells, expressing the antigen OVALBUMIN (OVA) fused with GABARAP or GABARAPL1, were able to prime OVA-specific CD4+ T cells in vitro. Interestingly, the fusion proteins were also degraded by the proteasome pathway and the resulting peptides were presented by the MHC class I system. We then asked if the aforementioned fusion proteins could improve tumor cell immunogenicity and T cell priming. The B16-F10 melanoma was chosen as the tumor cell line to express the fusion proteins. B16-F10 cells that expressed the OVA-ATG8 fused proteins stimulated OVA-specific CD8+ T cells, but demonstrated no CD4+ T cell response. In the future, these constructions may be used in vaccination trials as potential candidates to control tumor growth.
Mid-Infrared Dual-Wavelength Passively Q-Switched Er: SrF2 Laser by CsPbCl3 Quantum Dots Absorber
Authors: Guo Leilei , Wang Maorong , Zhang Yifan , Zhang Shuaiyi , Zhong Kai , Zhao Qiuling , Teng Lihua , Wang Xia , Yao Jianquan
Published: September 2022

A passively Q-switched compact dual-wavelength Er: SrF2 laser, operating at a 2729.73 nm and 2747.2 nm wavelength, was demonstrated by utilizing CsPbCl3 quantum dots (QDs) as a saturable absorber (SA). The maximum average output power with the shortest duration of 510 ns and a repetition rate of 45 kHz was achieved at 190 mW, and the corresponding maximum single pulse energy and the peak power were 73.69 μJ and 141.7 W, respectively. The results present an efficient dual-wavelength laser source, and the halogen perovskite quantum dot has the potential to be employed as an excellent saturable absorber in mid-infrared pulsed solid-state lasers.
Numerical Simulation of Droplet Filling Mode on Molten Pool and Keyhole during Double-Sided Laser Beam Welding of T-Joints
Authors: Peng Jin , Liu Jigao , Yang Xiaohong , Ge Jianya , Han Peng , Wang Xingxing , Li Shuai , Yang Zhibin
Published: September 2022

The effects of droplets filling the molten pools during the double-sided laser beam welding (DSLBW) of T-joints was established. The dynamic behavior of the keyhole and the molten pool under different droplet filling modes were analyzed. The results indicated that compared with the contact transition, the stability of metal flow on the keyhole wall was reduced by free transition and slight contact transition. At the later stage of the droplet entering the molten pool via free transition, slight contact transition, and contact transition, the maximum flow velocity of the keyhole wall was 5.33 m/s, 4.57 m/s, and 2.99 m/s, respectively. When the filling mode was free transition or slight contact transition, the keyhole collapsed at the later stage of the droplet entering the molten pool. However, when the filling mode was contact transition, the middle-upper part of the interconnected keyholes became thinner at the later stage of the droplet entering the molten pool. At the later stage of the droplet entering the molten pool via free transition, the flow vortex at the bottom of the keyhole disappeared and the melt at the bottom of the keyhole flowed to the rear of the molten pool, however, the vortex remained during slight contact transition and contact transition.
Elevated Surgical Pleth Index at the End of Surgery Is Associated with Postoperative Moderate-to-Severe Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hung Kuo-Chuan , Huang Yen-Ta , Kuo Jinn-Rung , Hsu Chih-Wei , Yew Ming , Chen Jen-Yin , Lin Ming-Chung , Chen I-Wen , Sun Cheuk-Kwan
Published: September 2022

Despite acceptance of the surgical pleth index (SPI) for monitoring the intraoperative balance between noxious stimulation and anti-nociception under general anesthesia, its efficacy for predicting postoperative moderate-to-severe pain remains unclear. We searched electronic databases (e.g., Google Scholar, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE) to identify articles focusing on associations of SPI at the end of surgery with immediate moderate-to-severe pain in the postanesthesia care unit from inception to 7 July 2022. A total of six observational studies involving 756 adults published between 2016 and 2020 were eligible for quantitative syntheses. Pooled results revealed higher values of SPI in patients with moderate-to-severe pain than those without (mean difference: 7.82, 95% CI: 3.69 to 11.95, p = 0.002, I2 = 46%). In addition, an elevated SPI at the end of surgery was able to predict moderate-to-severe pain with a sensitivity of 0.71 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65–0.77; I2 = 29.01%) and a specificity of 0.58 (95% CI: 0.39–0.74; I2 = 79.31%). The overall accuracy based on the summary receiver operating characteristic (sROC) curve was 0.72. In conclusion, this meta-analysis highlighted the feasibility of the surgical pleth index to predict postoperative moderate-to-severe pain immediately after surgery. Our results from a limited number of studies warrant further investigations for verification.
A Comparative Analysis of the Choice of Mother Wavelet Functions Affecting the Accuracy of Forecasts of Daily Balances in the Treasury Single Account
Authors: Karaev Alan K. , Gorlova Oksana S. , Ponkratov Vadim V. , Sedova Marina L. , Shmigol Nataliya S. , Vasyunina Margarita L.
Published: September 2022

Improving the accuracy of cash flow forecasting in the TSA is key to fulfilling government payment obligations, minimizing the cost of maintaining the cash reserve, providing the absence of outstanding debt accumulation and ensuring investment in financial instruments to obtain additional income. This study aims to improve the accuracy of traditional methods of forecasting the time series compiled from the daily remaining balances in the TSAbased on prior decomposition using a discrete wavelet transform. The paper compares the influence of selecting a mother wavelet out of 570 mother wavelet functions belonging to 10 wavelet families (Haar;Dabeshies; Symlet; Coiflet; Biorthogonal Spline; Reverse Biorthogonal Spline; Meyer; Shannon; Battle-Lemarie; and Cohen–Daubechies–Feauveau) and the decomposition level (from 1 to 8) on the forecast accuracy of time series compiled from the daily remaining balances in the TSA in comparison with the traditional forecasting method without prior timeseries decomposition. The model with prior time series decomposition based on the Reverse Biorthogonal Spline Wavelet [5.5] mother wavelet function, upon the eighth iteration, features the highest accuracy, significantly higher than that of the traditional forecasting models. The choice of the mother wavelet and the decomposition level play an important role in increasing the accuracy of forecasting the daily remaining balances in the TSA.
Detection and Quantification of Serpula himantioides in the Wood of Chamaecyparis pisifera Butt Rot Trees by Real-Time PCR
Authors: Haraguchi Ryusei , Hirao Toshihide , Yamada Toshihiro
Published: September 2022

Serpula himantioides is a wood-decaying fungal pathogen which is widespread and causes potentially serious butt rot in living trees of numerous coniferous plantation species. This study aimed to quantify S. himantioides in the wood of Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera) with butt rot using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). Species–specific primers were designed for the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of S. himantioides. The specificity of the designed primer set was tested by end-point PCR and amplicon sequencing. End-point PCR assays were positive for S. himantioides and negative for S. lacrymans, which belongs to the same genus as S. himantioides, Coniophora puteana of the same family as S. himantioides, and other wood decay fungi. Taxonomy assignment based on amplicon sequencing detected only Serpula spp., and most of them were identified as S. himantioides. The linearity of the calibration curve for absolute quantification by real-time PCR assays was confirmed in the range from 101 to 108 copies. This molecular assay method using real-time PCR could detect trace amounts of S. himantioides in decayed wood, showing the applicability for early diagnostics of butt rot emergence in forests.
Carbon Fibers and Graphite as Pore-Forming Agents for the Obtention of Porous Alumina: Correlating Physical and Fractal Characteristics
Authors: Fang Litong , Chen Chang , Wang Yubin
Published: September 2022

Porous alumina ceramics with different porosities were prepared via atmospheric pressure sintering using a sacrificial template method with alumina powder as the raw material and carbon fiber (CF) and graphite as pore-forming agents. The effects of the contents and ratios of the pore-forming agents and the aspect ratios of CF on the microstructure, mechanical properties, pore size, and pore-size distribution of the porous alumina samples were investigated. In addition, the surface fractal dimension (Ds) of porous alumina samples with different pore-forming agents was evaluated based on the mercury intrusion porosimetry data. The pore-size distribution of the prepared porous alumina samples showed single, double, or multiple peaks. The pore structure of the samples maintained the fibrous shape of the original CF and the flake morphology of graphite with a uniform pore-size distribution, but the pore structure and morphology were different. With the increase in the content of the pore-forming agent, the porosity of the samples gradually increased to a maximum of 63.2%, and the flexural strength decreased to a minimum of 12.36 MPa. The pore structure of the porous alumina samples showed obvious fractal characteristics. Ds was closely related to the pore structure parameters of the samples when the content of the pore-forming agent was 70 vol.%. It decreased with an increase in the sample porosity, most probable pore size and median pore size, but increased with an increase in the sample flexural strength.