bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of Cognitive Function in Patients with Heart Failure Following Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair
Authors: Gerçek Muhammed , Irimie Anca A. , Gerçek Mustafa , Fox Henrik , Fortmeier Vera , Rudolph Tanja K. , Rudolph Volker , Friedrichs Kai P.
Published: July 2022

Aims: Interventional transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TMVR) is an established treatment option for patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and high operative risk. Cognitive impairment is one of the most common conditions among often extensive comorbidities in these patients. The specific patterns of cognitive decline and particularly the effect of TMVR are not well described. Thus, this study aimed to investigate into the impact of TMVR on cognitive impairment, exercise capacity, and quality of life. Methods: Cognitive function (executive, naming, memory, attention, language, abstraction, and orientation) was assessed with the standardized Montreal Cognitive Assessment test (MoCA; range between 0 and 30 points) before and 3 months after TMVR in 72 consecutive patients alongside echocardiographic examination and assessment of exercise capacity (six-minute walk test) as well as quality-of-life questionnaires (Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire, MLHF-Q). Results: Patients’ median age was 81 [76.0; 84.5] years, 39.7% were female with a median EuroScore II of 4.4% [2.9; 7.7]. The assessment of cognitive function showed a significant improvement of the cumulative MoCA-Test result (from 22.0 [19.0; 24.5] to 24 [22.0; 26.0]; p < 0.001) with significant changes in the subcategories executive (p < 0.001), attention (p < 0.001), abstraction (p < 0.001), and memory (p < 0.001). In addition, quality of life (from 47.5 [25.0; 69.3] to 24.0 [12.0; 40.0]; p < 0.001) and exercise capacity (from 220.0 m [160.0; 320.0] to 280.0 m [200.0; 380.0]; p = 0.003) increased significantly 3 months after the TMVR procedure. Conclusions: TMVR leads to a significant improvement of cognitive function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure in 3 months follow up and again highlights the benefit of the evermore established TMVR procedure for patients with high operative risk.
Sign and Human Action Detection Using Deep Learning
Authors: Dhulipala Shivanarayna , Adedoyin Festus Fatai , Bruno Alessandro
Published: July 2022

Human beings usually rely on communication to express their feeling and ideas and to solve disputes among themselves. A major component required for effective communication is language. Language can occur in different forms, including written symbols, gestures, and vocalizations. It is usually essential for all of the communicating parties to be fully conversant with a common language. However, to date this has not been the case between speech-impaired people who use sign language and people who use spoken languages. A number of different studies have pointed out a significant gaps between these two groups which can limit the ease of communication. Therefore, this study aims to develop an efficient deep learning model that can be used to predict British sign language in an attempt to narrow this communication gap between speech-impaired and non-speech-impaired people in the community. Two models were developed in this research, CNN and LSTM, and their performance was evaluated using a multi-class confusion matrix. The CNN model emerged with the highest performance, attaining training and testing accuracies of 98.8% and 97.4%, respectively. In addition, the model achieved average weighted precession and recall of 97% and 96%, respectively. On the other hand, the LSTM model’s performance was quite poor, with the maximum training and testing performance accuracies achieved being 49.4% and 48.7%, respectively. Our research concluded that the CNN model was the best for recognizing and determining British sign language.
Water Circulation and Transport Time Scales in the Beagle Channel, Southernmost Tip of South America
Authors: Cucco Andrea , Martín Jacobo , Quattrocchi Giovanni , Fenco Harold , Umgiesser Georg , Fernández Daniel Alfredo
Published: July 2022

The Beagle Channel is a long and narrow interoceanic passage within the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the southernmost tip of South America. A high-resolution 3D hydrodynamic model based on the finite elements method was applied to investigate the residual circulation, water fluxes and transport time scales inside this channel. Numerical solutions were analyzed at seasonal time scale and the model results compared with observed ocean data. The circulation pattern is characterized by a west-to-east residual flow with low intensity and low seasonal variability. The water fluxes through the channel were estimated to be, on average, around 12,700 m3/s, with inflow through its western entrance and eastwards outflow mainly through the Mackinlay Strait. The water residence times vary seasonally with basin averages between 36 and 43 days and maximum values between 53 and 95 days. The results provide an overview of the hydrodynamics and water residence times in the Beagle Channel, a unique ecosystem threatened by recent anthropogenic pressures and climate change.
Numerical Investigation of the Sediment Hyperpycnal Flow in the Yellow River Estuary
Authors: He Zhiguo , Xu Baoxin , Okon Samuel Ukpong , Li Li
Published: July 2022

Sediment hyperpycnal flow is one of the most important processes for mass transport, which is essential to coastal morphodynamics. Herein, we studied the generation and maintenance of the sediment hyperpycnal flow in the Yellow River Estuary (YRE) using a three-dimensional finite volume coastal ocean model (FVCOM). The model considered the effect of sediment-laden water on density stratification, and was validated by field hydrodynamic and sediment data. Numerical results revealed that the hyperpycnal flow shows periodic characteristics with tidal cycles where the flow is weakened during flood tides and enhanced during ebb tides. A high suspended sediment concentration (SSC) of about 30–40 kg/m3 constitutes an important factor in the formation of hyperpycnal flows. High river discharge with high SSC is essential for maintaining the hyperpycnal flow in the YRE. The Simpson potential energy theory was applied to study the processes of estuarine circulation, tidal straining, and tidal stirring in the YRE. The tidal straining is the main control factor of the periodic stratification-mixing process of hyperpycnal flows in the YRE. Along the axis of the river mouth, the momentum balance is mainly dominated by the pressure gradient and advection.
Community Structures of Benthic Macrofauna in Reclaimed and Natural Intertidal Areas in Bahrain, Arabian Gulf
Authors: Naser Humood Abdulla
Published: July 2022

Costal reclamation has been carried out extensively along the coastlines of the Arabian Gulf during the last decades. As a small archipelago country, coastal reclamation continues to be a major option for securing land to meet the needs of the expanding population and economic development in Bahrain. Macrobenthic communities often reflect the integrity of ecosystems as they respond to natural and anthropogenic stressors. This study characterized the community structures of macrobenthic invertebrates in three reclaimed intertidal areas and a protected natural mudflat in Bahrain (August 2019 and December 2020). Macrobenthic community structures and sediment characteristics differed significantly between natural and reclaimed areas. A total of 43 species were recorded in the four study areas, of which 38 were collected from the natural mudflat. Polychaetes dominated macrobenthic communities, followed by molluscs and crustaceans. Polychaetes accounted for more than 90% of the communities in the reclaimed coastal areas. Macrobenthic monitoring is considered essential for detecting changes in coastal and marine ecosystems due to dredging and reclamation activities along the coastlines of the Arabian Gulf. The findings of this study can provide insights into the ecological dynamics of macrobenthic communities in reclaimed coastal areas for environmental monitoring and coastal planning and management in the Arabian Gulf.
Evaluating the Costs of Decarbonizing the Shipping Industry: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Cullinane Kevin , Yang Jialin
Published: July 2022

The decarbonization of the shipping industry has risen to a new level of significance on the agendas of policy makers and strategic decision makers. This paper focuses on the likely cost implications for the shipping industry of recently implemented, and future planned policies that seek to reduce the carbon footprint of the sector. The scale of the problem is presented through a summary review of the International Maritime Organization’s fourth greenhouse gas study of 2020. The regulatory context, which is emerging as a response to overcoming this challenge, is analyzed at both the global and EU level. The potential cost implications for the future, in terms of this new regulatory context, are then analyzed on the basis of a review of academic and industry sources. Our paper concludes that alternative, zero-carbon fuels are the best way forward, but that operational and technological innovations will not be sufficient to bring about the complete decarbonization of the industry within the foreseeable future. Thus, market-based measures are required. Finally, the options available, and the likely implications of each of these options, is addressed, suggesting that there will be both winners and losers in the race to decarbonize the shipping industry.
Invasive Fungal Diseases in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in Israel: A Multicenter Cohort Study
Authors: Elbaz Meital , Korem Maya , Ayalon Oshrat , Wiener-Well Yonit , Shachor-Meyouhas Yael , Cohen Regev , Bishara Jihad , Atamna Alaa , Brosh-Nissimov Tal , Maaravi Nir , Nesher Lior , Chazan Bibiana , Reisfeld Sharon , Zimhony Oren , Chowers Michal , Maor Yasmin , Katchman Eugene , Ben-Ami Ronen
Published: July 2022

Highly variable estimates of COVID-19-associated fungal diseases (IFDs) have been reported. We aimed to determine the incidence of clinically important fungal diseases in hospitalized COVID-19 patients during the first year of the pandemic. We performed a multicenter survey of IFDs among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in 13 hospitals in Israel between February 2020 and May 2021. COVID-19-associated pulmonary mold disease (PMD) and invasive candidiasis (IC) were defined using ECMM/ISHAM and EORTC/MSG criteria, respectively. Overall rates of IC and PMD among patients with critical COVID-19 were 10.86 and 10.20 per 1000 admissions, respectively, with significant variability among medical centers. PMD rates were significantly lower in centers where galactomannan was a send-out test versus centers with on-site testing (p = 0.035). The 30-day mortality rate was 67.5% for IC and 57.5% for PMD. Treatment with an echinocandin for IC or an extended-spectrum azole for PMD was associated with significantly lower mortality rates (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.26 [0.07–0.91] and 0.23 [0.093–0.57], respectively). In this multicenter national survey, variable rates of PMD were associated with on-site galactomannan testing, suggesting under-detection in sites lacking this capacity. COVID-19-related IFDs were associated with high mortality rates, which were reduced with appropriate antifungal therapy.
Kidney Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Reggiani Francesco , Moroni Gabriella , Ponticelli Claudio
Published: July 2022

Background: Systemic sclerosis is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease, characterized by diffuse fibrosis and abnormalities of microcirculation and small arterioles in the skin, joints and visceral organs. Material and Methods: We searched for the relevant articles on systemic sclerosis and kidney involvement in systemic sclerosis in the NIH library of medicine, transplant, rheumatologic and nephrological journals. Results: Half of patients with systemic sclerosis have clinical evidence of kidney involvement. Scleroderma renal crisis represents the most specific and serious renal event associated with this condition. It is characterized by an abrupt onset of moderate to marked hypertension and kidney failure. Early and aggressive treatment is mandatory to prevent irreversible organ damage and death. The advent of ACE-inhibitors revolutionized the management of scleroderma renal crisis. However, the outcomes of this serious complication are still poor, and between 20 to 50% of patients progress to end stage renal disease. Conclusions: Scleroderma renal crisis still represents a serious and life-threatening event. Thus, further studies on its prevention and on new therapeutic strategies should be encouraged.
Impact of Land Use Change and Afforestation on Soil Properties in a Mediterranean Mountain Area of Central Spain
Authors: Mongil-Manso Jorge , Navarro-Hevia Joaquín , San Martín Roberto
Published: July 2022

Afforestation can improve hydrological processes, such as infiltration, in basins and, therefore, reduce the impact on human populations of floods, soil erosion, landslides, droughts, and climate variation. The aim of this work was to analyze how afforestation and other changes in land use influence infiltrability and the evolution of soils. Infiltration rates, soil water repellency, and physical and chemical properties of sandy loam soils were measured in four types of land: native holm oak forest, afforested 20-year-old pine forest, shrubs, and grasslands. Non-forest covers are the result of the degradation of native oak forests for centuries, while the pine afforestation in this study took place on a perennial wet mountain pasture (cervunalito). Our results show that soil infiltration rates are much higher in pine afforestation areas (857.67 mm·h−1) than in holm oak forest (660.67 mm·h−1), grasslands (280.00 mm·h−1), or shrubs (271.67 mm·h−1). No statistically significant differences in fertility, organic matter content, bulk density, or effective porosity were found between afforestation areas and other types of cover; however, pine afforestation improved the drainage of the soil, as its infiltration rate was higher than that of the native holm oak forest.
Structural Insights into Substrate Binding and Antibiotic Inhibition of Enterobacterial Penicillin-Binding Protein 6
Authors: Salleh Mohd Zulkifli , Banga Singh Kirnpal Kaur , Deris Zakuan Zainy
Published: July 2022

Shigella sonnei remains the second most common cause of shigellosis in young children and is now increasingly dominant across developing countries. The global emergence of drug resistance has become a main burden in the treatment of S. sonnei infections and β-lactam antibiotics, such as pivmecillinam and ceftriaxone, are recommended to be used as second-line treatment. They work by inhibiting the biosynthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls, in which the final transpeptidation step is facilitated by penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). In this study, using protein homology modelling, we modelled the structure of PBP6 from S. sonnei and comprehensively examined the molecular interactions between PBP6 and its pentapeptide substrate and two antibiotic inhibitors. The docked complex of S. sonnei PBP6 with pentapeptides showed that the substrate bound to the active site groove of the DD-carboxypeptidase domain, via hydrogen bonding interactions with the residues S79, V80, Q101, G144, D146 and R240, in close proximity to the catalytic nucleophile S36 for the nucleophilic attack. Two residues, R240 and T208, were found to be important in ligand recognition and binding, where they formed strong hydrogen bonds with the substrate and β-lactams, respectively. Our results provide valuable information on the molecular interactions essential for ligand recognition and catalysis by PBP6. Understanding these interactions will be helpful in the development of effective drugs to treat S. sonnei infections.
On-Line Feedback Control of Sliding Friction of Metals Lubricated by Adsorbed Boundary SDS Films
Authors: Liu Chenxu , Li Xiaosong , Li Xinxin , Li Weizi , Tian Yu , Meng Yonggang
Published: July 2022

The on-line feedback control of sliding friction of metallic tribopairs lubricated by adsorbed sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) films was demonstrated on a customized tribosystem, in which the external electric field applied on the tribopair was modulated in feedback according to the electrical contact resistance signal. When a positive voltage was applied, the adsorption of SDS anions on the surface of tribopair was enhanced so that the boundary film was stable. When the contact resistance increased to a pre-set threshold (e.g., 6~10 Ω), which indicated the formation of a relatively complete boundary film, the external voltage was switched off for saving energy. For an aqueous solution with 160 mM SDS as the lubricant, the coefficient of friction (COF) was decreased by 24% for the 316 L plate/304 steel ball under 804 MPa by modulating the applied potential of +3.5 V. For the propylene carbonate lubricant with 5 mM SDS, the COF was decreased by 39% for the Cu plate/304 steel ball under 499 MPa and 54% for the Cu plate/bearing steel ball under 520 MPa by modulating the applied potential of +20 V. This novel approach could be effective to keep good boundary lubrication of machine components under variable work conditions by on-line sensing and actuation.
Remaining Useful Life Prediction of Aeroengines Based on Multi-Head Attention Mechanism
Authors: Nie Lei , Xu Shiyi , Zhang Lvfan , Yin Yehan , Dong Zhengqiong , Zhou Xiangdong
Published: July 2022

Aeroengines are the core components of an aircraft; therefore, their health determines flight safety. Currently, owing to their complex structure and problems associated with their various detection parameters, predicting the remaining useful life (RUL) of aeroengines is very important to ensure their safety and reliability. In this paper, we propose a new hybrid method based on convolutional neural networks (CNN), timing convolutional neural networks (TCN), and the multi-head attention mechanism. Firstly, an CNN-TCN model is established for multi-dimensional features, in which two layers of the CNN extract features of multi-dimensional input data, and the TCN process the timing features. Subsequently, the outputs of multiple CNN-TCNs are weighted using the multi-head attention mechanism, and the results are stitched together. Next, we compare the root mean square error (RMSE) and scores of various RUL prediction methods to show the superiority of the proposed method. The results showed that compared with previous research results, the RMSE and Score of FD001 decreased by 10.87% and 42.57%, respectively, whereas those of FD003 decreased by 14.13% and 58.15%, respectively.
Speed-Dependent Bearing Models for Dynamic Simulations of Vertical Rotors
Authors: Benti Gudeta Berhanu , Gustavsson Rolf , Aidanpää Jan-Olov
Published: July 2022

Many dynamic simulations of a rotor with a journal bearing employ non-linear fluid-film lubrication models and calculate the bearing coefficients at each time step. However, calculating such a simulation is tedious and computationally expensive. This paper presents a simplified dynamic simulation model of a vertical rotor with tilting pad journal bearings under constant and variable (transient) rotor spin speed. The dynamics of a four-shoes tilting pad journal bearing are predefined using polynomial equations prior to the unbalance response simulations of the rotor-bearing system. The Navier–Stokes lubrication model is solved numerically, with the bearing coefficients calculated for six different rotor speeds and nine different eccentricity amplitudes. Using a MATLAB inbuilt function (poly53), the stiffness and damping coefficients are fitted by a two-dimensional polynomial regression and the model is qualitatively evaluated for goodness-of-fit. The percentage relative error (RMSE%) is less than 10%, and the adjusted R-square (Radj2) is greater than 0.99. Prior to the unbalance response simulations, the bearing parameters are defined as a function of rotor speed and journal location. The simulation models are validated with an experiment based on the displacements of the rotor and the forces acting on the bearings. Similar patterns have been observed for both simulated and measured orbits and forces. The resultant response amplitudes increase with the rotor speed and unbalanced magnitude. Both simulation and experimental results follow a similar trend, and the amplitudes agree with slight deviations. The frequency content of the responses from the simulations is similar to those from the experiments. Amplitude peaks, which are associated with the unbalance force (1 × Ω) and the number of pads (3 × Ω and 5 × Ω), appeared in the responses from both simulations and experiments. Furthermore, the suggested simulation model is found to be at least three times faster than a classical simulation procedure that used FEM to solve the Reynolds equation at each time step.
Application of Fixed Point Theorem to Solvability for Non-Linear Fractional Hadamard Functional Integral Equations
Authors: Pathak Vijai Kumar , Mishra Lakshmi Narayan
Published: July 2022

In the present paper, our main work aims to discover the existence result of the fractional order non-linear Hadamard functional integral equations on [1,a] by employing the theory of measure of non-compactness together with the fixed point theory in Banach space. An example is presented to see the validity and practicability of our existence result.
Mathematical Analysis of a Low Cost Mechanical Ventilator Respiratory Dynamics Enhanced by a Sensor Transducer (ST) Based in Nanostructures of Anodic Aluminium Oxide (AAO)
Authors: Chavarri Jesús Alan Calderón , Ruiz Carlos Gianpaul Rincón , Gómez Amador Ana María , Cardenas Bray Jesús Martin Agreda , Anaya Sebastián Calero , Lozano Jauregui John Hugo , Hinostroza Alexandr Toribio , Jiménez de Cisneros y Fonfría Juan José
Published: July 2022

Mechanical ventilation systems require a device for measuring the air flow provided to a patient in order to monitor and ensure the correct quantity of air proportionated to the patient, this device is the air flow sensor. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, flow sensors were not available in Peru because of the international supply shortage. In this context, a novel air flow sensor based on an orifice plate and an intelligent transducer was developed to form an integrated device. The proposed design was focused on simple manufacturing requirements for mass production in a developing country. CAD and CAE techniques were used in the design stage, and a mathematical model of the device was proposed and calibrated experimentally for the measured data transduction. The device was tested in its real working conditions and was therefore implemented in a breathing circuit connected to a low-cost mechanical ventilation system. Results indicate that the designed air flow sensor/transducer is a low-cost complete medical device for mechanical ventilators that is able to provide all the ventilation parameters by an equivalent electrical signal to directly display the following factors: air flow, pressure and volume over time. The evaluation of the designed sensor transducer was performed according to sundry transducer parameters such as geometrical parameters, material parameters and adaptive coefficients in the main transduction algorithm; in effect, the variety of the described results were achieved by the faster response time and robustness proportionated by transducers of nanostructures based on Anodic Aluminum Oxide (AAO), which enhanced the designed sensor/transducer (ST) during operation in intricate geographic places, such as the Andes mountains of Peru.
A Multi-Start Biased-Randomized Algorithm for the Capacitated Dispersion Problem
Authors: Gomez Juan F. , Panadero Javier , Tordecilla Rafael D. , Castaneda Juliana , Juan Angel A.
Published: July 2022

The capacitated dispersion problem is a variant of the maximum diversity problem in which a set of elements in a network must be determined. These elements might represent, for instance, facilities in a logistics network or transmission devices in a telecommunication network. Usually, it is considered that each element is limited in its servicing capacity. Hence, given a set of possible locations, the capacitated dispersion problem consists of selecting a subset that maximizes the minimum distance between any pair of elements while reaching an aggregated servicing capacity. Since this servicing capacity is a highly usual constraint in real-world problems, the capacitated dispersion problem is often a more realistic approach than is the traditional maximum diversity problem. Given that the capacitated dispersion problem is an NP-hard problem, whenever large-sized instances are considered, we need to use heuristic-based algorithms to obtain high-quality solutions in reasonable computational times. Accordingly, this work proposes a multi-start biased-randomized algorithm to efficiently solve the capacitated dispersion problem. A series of computational experiments is conducted employing small-, medium-, and large-sized instances. Our results are compared with the best-known solutions reported in the literature, some of which have been proven to be optimal. Our proposed approach is proven to be highly competitive, as it achieves either optimal or near-optimal solutions and outperforms the non-optimal best-known solutions in many cases. Finally, a sensitive analysis considering different levels of the minimum aggregate capacity is performed as well to complete our study.
Resolving Boundary Layers with Harmonic Extension Finite Elements
Authors: Hakula Harri
Published: July 2022

In recent years, the standard numerical methods for partial differential equations have been extended with variants that address the issue of domain discretisation in complicated domains. Sometimes similar requirements are induced by local parameter-dependent features of the solutions, for instance, boundary or internal layers. The adaptive reference elements are one way with which harmonic extension elements, an extension of the p-version of the finite element method, can be implemented. In combination with simple replacement rule-based mesh generation, the performance of the method is shown to be equivalent to that of the standard p-version in problems where the boundary layers dominate the solution. The performance over a parameter range is demonstrated in an application of computational asymptotic analysis, where known estimates are recovered via computational means only.
Histological Transformation after Acquired Resistance to the Third-Generation EGFR-TKI in Patients with Advanced EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Lee Po-Hsin , Huang Yen-Hsiang , Lin Ho , Hsu Kuo-Hsuan , Chen Kun-Chieh , Tseng Jeng-Sen , Chang Gee-Chen , Yang Tsung-Ying
Published: July 2022

Background and Objectives: Third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) is one of the standard-of-care therapies in patients with EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma; however, acquired resistance inevitably developed. Despite the proposition of histological transformation being one of the resistance mechanisms, its incidence and influence on outcome remain unclear. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at Taichung Veterans General Hospital on patients with advanced EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma receiving the third-generation EGFR-TKI. Only patients receiving rebiopsy were included in the analysis. Results: A total of 55 patients were studied. Eight patients (14.5%) showed histological transformation, including three small cell carcinoma, three squamous cell carcinoma, one large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, and one with a mixture of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma components. The median treatment duration of the third-generation EGFR-TKI before rebiopsy was numerically longer in patients with histological transformation than those without (16.0 vs. 10.9 months). Both the overall survival time from the start of third-generation EGFR-TKI initiation (30.8 vs. 41.2 months) and from rebiopsy (6.6 vs. 12.9 months) to mortality were numerically shorter amongst the transformed population. All patients in the transformed group did not respond to the next line of systemic treatment. One patient with histological transformation receiving local treatment for the metastatic site had a longer overall survival. Conclusions: Repeating biopsy to identify histological transformation should be considered in patients with progression to the third-generation EGFR-TKI. Histological transformations could contribute to the acquired resistance with the implication of a worse prognosis. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal therapy for these patients.
Aqueous Humor Cytokines in Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Obadă Otilia , Pantalon Anca Delia , Rusu-Zota Gabriela , Hăisan Anca , Lupuşoru Smaranda Ioana , Constantinescu Daniela , Chiseliţă Dorin
Published: July 2022

Background and Objectives: Cytokines are cell-signaling proteins whose identification may serve as inflammatory markers or early indicators for progressive disease. The aim of our study was to quantify several cytokines in aqueous humor (AH) and their correlations with biochemical parameters in diabetic eyes with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Materials and Methods: A total of 62 eyes from 62 patients were included in the study: 37 eyes from nondiabetic patients (group 1), 13 diabetic eyes with no retinopathy changes (group 2) and 12 diabetic eyes with early and moderate NPDR (group 3). AH samples were collected during uneventful cataract surgery. The cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IP-10, MCP-1, TNF-α and VEGF were quantified using multiplex bead-based immunoassay. Due to unreliable results, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-12 were excluded. Concentrations were compared between groups. Biochemical parameters (fasting blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin, C-reactive protein) and the duration of diabetes were recorded. Results: VEGF levels were significantly different between groups (p = 0.001), while levels of IL-6, IL-8, IP-10 and MCP-1 were comparable across all groups (p > 0.05). IL-6 concentration correlated with VEGF in group 1 (rho = 0.651, p = 0.003) and group 3 (rho = 0.857, p = 0.007); no correlation could be proved between IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1 or VEGF and biochemical parameters. Duration of diabetes was not correlated with the cytokine levels in groups 2 and 3. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve revealed that VEGF concentrations could discriminate early and moderate NPDR from diabetes, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.897 (p = 0.001, 95% CI = 0.74–1.0). Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus induces significant intraocular changes in the VEGF expression in diabetic patients vs. normal subjects, even before proliferative complications appear. VEGF was increasingly expressed once the diabetes progressed from no retinopathy to early or moderate retinopathy.
Effectiveness of Preoperative Chest Physiotherapy in Patients Undergoing Elective Cardiac Surgery, a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Shahood Hadel , Pakai Annamaria , Kiss Rudolf , Eva Bory , Szilagyi Noemi , Sandor Adrienn , Verzar Zsofia
Published: July 2022

Background and Objectives: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery are particularly vulnerable for developing postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the role of preoperative chest physiotherapy in such patients. Materials and Methods: All original articles that assessed patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery, with preoperative chest physiotherapy, and compared them to patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery, without preoperative chest physiotherapy, were included. Animal studies, studies conducted prior to the year 2000, commentaries, or general discussion papers whose authors did not present original data were excluded. Studies assessing physiotherapy regimens other than chest physiotherapy were also excluded. The search was performed using the following electronic resources: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the PubMed central database, and Embase. The included studies were assessed for potential bias using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing the risk of bias. Each article was read carefully, and any relevant data were extracted. The extracted data were registered, tabulated, and analyzed using Review Manager software. Results: A total of 10 articles investigating 1458 patients were included in the study. The studies were published from 2006 to 2019. The populations were patients scheduled for elective CABG/cardiac surgery, and they were classified into two groups: the interventional (I) group, involving 651 patients, and the control (C) group, involving 807 patients. The meta-analysis demonstrated no significant differences between the interventional and control groups in surgery time and ICU duration, but a significant difference was found in the time of mechanical ventilation and the length of hospital stay, favoring the interventional group. A significant difference was shown in the forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1% predicted), forced vital capacity (FVC% predicted), and maximum inspiratory pressure (Pi-max), favoring the interventional group. Conclusions: This study is limited by the fact that one of the included ten studies was not an RCT. Moreover, due to lack of the assessment of certain variables in some studies, the highest number of studies included in a meta-analysis was the hospital stay length (eight studies), and the other variables were analyzed in a fewer number of studies. The data obtained can be considered as initial results until more inclusive RCTs are conducted involving a larger meta-analysis. However, in the present study, the intervention was proved to be protective against the occurrence of PPCs. The current work concluded that preoperative chest physiotherapy can yield better outcomes in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery.
The Conundrum of Occult Cancer Screening in Venous Thromboembolism: Lessons from the REMOTEV Registry
Authors: Cordeanu Elena-Mihaela , Jambert Lucas , Tousch Jonathan , Mirea Corina , Delatte Alexandre , Younes Waël , Woehl Bastien , Harter Claire , Frantz Anne-Sophie , Hamade Amer , Schini-Kerth Valérie , Ohlmann Patrick , Andres Emmanuel , Stephan Dominique
Published: July 2022

(1) Background and Objectives: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is strongly associated with cancer, and may be the first event revealing occult neoplasia. Nonetheless, the reasonable extent of the etiological assessment after an unprovoked VTE event remains debated. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of occult neoplasia one year after an episode of VTE, in consecutively hospitalized patients for VTE from the REMOTEV registry. The secondary objectives were to assess the performance of the various tests used for occult cancer screening in a real-life setting and analyze the risk factors associated with the discovery of cancer and the 1-year prognosis. (2) Methods: REMOTEV is a prospective, non-interventional cohort study of patients with acute VTE. Patients included in the registry from 23 October 2013 to 28 July 2018 were analyzed after a follow-up of 12 months. Cancer detection was performed according to local practices and consisted of a limited strategy to which an abdominal ultrasound was added. In the presence of suggestive clinical manifestations, further examinations were performed on an individual basis. (3) Results: A total of 993 patients were included in the study. At 1 year, the incidence of newly diagnosed cancer was low (5.3%). Half of the detected cancers were metastatic at discovery (51%) and had a poor global prognosis (32% of mortality at 1 year). Admission pulmonary CT scans as well as (thoracic)-abdomino-pelvic CT scans (when performed) were responsible for the majority of detected cancers. Age over 65 years and the concomitant presence of an unusual site and lower-limb deep vein thrombosis were the only factors associated with occult neoplasia in this cohort. After 1-year FU, mortality was higher in cancer patients (HR 6.0 (CI 95% 3.5–10.3, p < 0.0001)), and cancer evolution was the leading cause of death in the cancer group. (4) Conclusions: In REMOTEV, VTE-revealed occult cancer prevalence was low, but similar to recent reports and associated with higher age, multiple thrombotic sites and worse prognosis.
A Study on Biofouling and Cleaning of Anion Exchange Membranes for Reverse Electrodialysis
Authors: Tiago Gonçalo , Cristóvão Maria Beatriz , Marques Ana Paula , Huertas Rosa , Merino-Garcia Ivan , Pereira Vanessa Jorge , Crespo João Goulão , Velizarov Svetlozar
Published: July 2022

This study covers the modification, (bio)fouling characterization, use, and cleaning of commercial heterogeneous anion exchange membranes (AEMs) to evaluate their feasibility for reverse electrodialysis (RED) applications. A surface modification with poly (acrylic) acid resulted in an improved monovalent perm-selectivity (decreased sulfate membrane transport rate). Moreover, we evaluated the (bio)fouling potential of the membrane using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS), and Aeromonas hydrophila as model organic foulants and a biofoulant, respectively. A detailed characterization of the AEMs (water contact angle, ion exchange capacity (IEC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra) was carried out, verifying that the presence of such foulants reduces IEC and the maximum current obtained by CV. However, only SDS and SDBS affected the contact angle values. Cleaning of the biofouled membranes using a sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution allows for (partially) recovering their initial properties. Furthermore, this work includes a fouling characterization using real surface and sea water matrixes, confirming the presence of several types of fouling microorganisms in natural streams. A lower adhesion of microorganisms (measured in terms of total bacteria counts) was observed for the modified membranes compared to the unmodified ones. Finally, we propose a cleaning strategy to mitigate biofouling in AEMs that could be easily applied in RED systems for an enhanced long-term process performance.
Mechanical Properties and Fracture Behavior of Laser Powder-Bed-Fused GH3536 Superalloy
Authors: Ni Haohan , Zeng Qi , Zhang Kai , Chen Yingbin , Wang Jiangwei
Published: July 2022

Heat treatment (HT) is an important approach to tune the structure and mechanical properties of as-printed or hot-isostatic-pressed (HIPed) additive manufacturing materials. Due to the carbide precipitates extensively existing after HT with air cooling, this paper studies the microstructure and mechanical behavior of laser powder-bed-fused (L-PBFed) GH3536 superalloy with laminar carbide precipitates at grain boundaries. By comparing with air-cooling samples and water-quenched samples, the results revealed that air cooling often introduced precipitates at grain boundaries, which impede the plastic deformation and are prone to lead to severe transgranular cracks on the fracture surface, contributing to a higher strain-hardening rate but lower ductility of HTed sample. Water quench can largely eliminate the grain-boundary precipitates, contributing to an optimized ductility even with smaller grain size. This work provides more details on the precipitate-deformation relation after HT.
Microstructural Evolution in Large-Section Plastic Mould Steel during Multi-Directional Forging
Authors: Chen Xuan , Wu Boya , Li Jiayuan , Zhang Xiaoxiao , Zuo Pengpeng , Wu Xiaochun , Li Junwan
Published: July 2022

To obtain excellent mechanical properties from large cross-sections of plastic mould steel (SDP1), we conducted multi-directional forging (MDF) to control the microstructure of ingots. To investigate the microstructural evolution of SDP1 steel during MDF, we performed hot forging at 1150 °C using a THP01–500A hydraulic press. The dimensions of the specimens were Φ38 mm × 80 mm. The microstructure of the specimens after forging was observed under a metallographic microscope. Furthermore, the results of the finite element method (FEM) simulations were employed to improve the quality of the forgings. The predicted results agreed well with the experimental ones, indicating that FEM is effective for analysing microstructural evolution during MDF. Thus, MDF for large cross-sections of SDP1 steel (Φ1000 mm × 2200 mm) was simulated. The results showed that the average grain size of SDP1 steel at the core of an ingot after MDF ranged from 40.6 to 43.3 μm. Although this was slightly higher than the grain size of the sample after traditional upsetting and stretching forging (TUSF) (35.7–46.0 μm), the microstructure of the SDP1 steel sample after MDF was more uniform than that after TUSF. Compared with TUSF, MDF not only refines the grain size but also improves the microstructure uniformity of the sample.
Extraction and Identification of Volatile Organic Compounds in Scentless Flowers of 14 Tillandsia Species Using HS-SPME/GC-MS
Authors: Gonzalez Alexandre , Benfodda Zohra , Bénimélis David , Fontaine Jean-Xavier , Molinié Roland , Meffre Patrick
Published: July 2022

VOCs emitted by flowers play an important role in plant ecology. In the past few years, the Tillandsia genus has been scarcely studied according to the VOCs emitted by flowers. Hence, we decided to enlarge the VOCs composition study already undergone in our laboratory on fragrant 3 Tillandsia species to 12 unscented and 2 faint-scented Tillandsia species and hybrids. The headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography combined with the mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was used to explore the chemical diversity of the VOCs. This study allowed the identification of 65 VOCs among the 14 species and between 6 to 25 compounds were identified in each of the species. The aromatic profile of 10 of the species and hybrids are similar to each other’s and show 8 predominant compounds: benzaldehyde, benzacetaldehyde, hexanol, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, and furan-2-pentyl. Some specific compounds are present only in some unique species such as trans-calamenene, α-muurolene, and α-guaiene trans-β-bergamotene. The two faint-scented species studied present an original aromatic profile with a high number of monoterpenes or phenylpropanoids/benzenoids. Our studies allow a better understanding of the ecological role and function of these VOCs in the interactions between these plants with their environment.
The Activity of PHMB and Other Guanidino Containing Compounds against Acanthamoeba and Other Ocular Pathogens
Authors: Ratnayake Dharanga , Ansah Michael , Al Ani Enas , Heaselgrave Wayne
Published: July 2022

In recent years, a rise in the number of contact lens users in the UK and worldwide coincided with an increased incidence of microbial keratitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activities of polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG), polyaminopropyl biguanide (PAPB), and guazatine in comparison to the common contact lens disinfectant constituent, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB). The study investigated these compounds against a broad range of organisms, including Acanthamoeba castellanii, Acanthamoeba polyphaga, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. This study demonstrated that PHMG, PAPB, and guazatine are equal in activity to PHMB against Acanthamoeba trophozoites and cysts. PHMG and PAPB are also equal in activity to PHMB against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, whereas PHMG shows significantly better activity than PHMB against C. albicans (p < 0.001). To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the effectiveness of PHMB, PHMG, PAPB, and guazatine against Acanthamoeba and other ocular pathogens. As alternatives to PHMB, these compounds warrant further investigation for inclusion in contact lens solutions and for the treatment of keratitis.
Evaluation of an Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing Method on Enterobacterales-Positive Blood Cultures in Less Than 8 h Using the Rapid Mueller-Hinton Diffusion Method in Conjunction with the SIRscan 2000 Automatic Reading Device
Authors: Payen Mathilde , Gaudart Alice , Legueult Kevin , Kasprzak James , Emery Audrey , Mutambayi Grégoire , Pradier Christian , Robin Frédéric , Lotte Romain , Ruimy Raymond
Published: July 2022

Enterobacterales bloodstream infections are life-threatening and require rapid, targeted antibiotherapy based on antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). A new method using Muller-Hinton Rapid-SIR (MHR-SIR) agar (i2a, Montpellier, France) allows complete direct AST (dAST) to be read from positive blood culture bottles (BCBs) for all Enterobacterales species after 6–8 h of incubation. We evaluated (i) the performance of dAST from positive BCBs on MHR-SIR agar using two different inoculum protocols; (ii) the categorical agreement between dAST results obtained with MHR-SIR agar vs. those obtained with Muller-Hinton (MH) agar; and (iii) the ability of the MHR-SIR medium to detect β-lactam resistant Enterobacterales. Finally, we estimated the saved turnaround time (TAT) with MHR-SIR compared with MH agar in our 24/7 laboratory. Our results showed that the most suitable inoculation protocol for dAST on MHR-SIR agar was 1 drop of BCB/5 mL H2O. For monomicrobial Enterobacterales BCBs, dAST performed on MHR-SIR medium showed 99.3% categorical agreement with AST on MH agar. Furthermore, MHR-SIR agar allows early detection of β-lactam resistance mechanisms, including AmpC hyperproduction, extended-spectrum β-lactamase, and carbapenemase. Finally, TAT reduction in our 24/7 laboratory was 16 h, enabling a significantly faster provision of antibiotic advice.
Current Techniques to Study Beneficial Plant-Microbe Interactions
Authors: Gamalero Elisa , Bona Elisa , Glick Bernard R.
Published: July 2022

Many different experimental approaches have been applied to elaborate and study the beneficial interactions between soil bacteria and plants. Some of these methods focus on changes to the plant and others are directed towards assessing the physiology and biochemistry of the beneficial plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Here, we provide an overview of some of the current techniques that have been employed to study the interaction of plants with PGPB. These techniques include the study of plant microbiomes; the use of DNA genome sequencing to understand the genes encoded by PGPB; the use of transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to study PGPB and plant gene expression; genome editing of PGPB; encapsulation of PGPB inoculants prior to their use to treat plants; imaging of plants and PGPB; PGPB nitrogenase assays; and the use of specialized growth chambers for growing and monitoring bacterially treated plants.
Neonatal Microbiome, Intestinal Inflammation, and Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Authors: Burge Kathryn Y. , Markel Troy A.
Published: July 2022

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), the most common gastrointestinal emergency in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), is a leading cause of preterm infant morbidity and mortality [...]