bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complexity of Sex Differences and Their Impact on Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Kadlecova Marion , Freude Kristine , Haukedal Henriette
Published: April 2023

Sex differences are present in brain morphology, sex hormones, aging processes and immune responses. These differences need to be considered for proper modelling of neurological diseases with clear sex differences. This is the case for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with two-thirds of cases diagnosed in women. It is becoming clear that there is a complex interplay between the immune system, sex hormones and AD. Microglia are major players in the neuroinflammatory process occurring in AD and have been shown to be directly affected by sex hormones. However, many unanswered questions remain as the importance of including both sexes in research studies has only recently started receiving attention. In this review, we provide a summary of sex differences and their implications in AD, with a focus on microglia action. Furthermore, we discuss current available study models, including emerging complex microfluidic and 3D cellular models and their usefulness for studying hormonal effects in this disease.
A Comparative Study of the Properties of Gelatin (Porcine and Bovine)-Based Edible Films Loaded with Spearmint Essential Oil
Authors: Bhatia Saurabh , Al-Harrasi Ahmed , Jawad Muhammad , Shah Yasir Abbas , Al-Azri Mohammed Said , Ullah Sana , Anwer Md Khalid , Aldawsari Mohammed F. , Koca Esra , Aydemir Levent Yurdaer
Published: April 2023

Gelatin (bovine/porcine)-based edible films are considered as an excellent carrier for essential oils (EOs) to preserve food quality and extend their shelf life. Spearmint essential oil (SEO) is known for its potential antioxidant and antimicrobial effects; nevertheless, its food applications are limited due to the volatile nature of its active components. Thus, edible films loaded with essential oil can be an alternative to synthetic preservatives to improve their food applications. In the present study, the effect of SEO addition was investigated on the physicochemical properties of bovine and porcine gelatin films, and antioxidant activity was assessed. GCMS (Gas chromatography mass spectrometry) analysis revealed the presence of carvone (55%) and limonene (25.3%) as major components. The incorporation of SEO into the films decreased the opacity, moisture content, water solubility, and elongation at break of bovine and porcine gelatin films. However, with the addition of EO, the thickness and water vapor permeability of bovine and porcine-based gelatin films increased. Moreover, the addition of SEO increased the tensile strength (TS) of the porcine-based film, whereas bovine samples demonstrated a decrease in tensile strength. XRD (X-ray diffraction) findings revealed a decrease in the percentage crystallinity of both types of gelatin films. SEM (scanning electron microscope) results showed the changes in the morphology of films after the addition of SEO. Antioxidant properties significantly (p < 0.05) increased with the incorporation of EO when compared with control films. Therefore, the addition of SEO to gelatin-based edible films could be an effective approach to prepare an active food packaging material to prevent food oxidation.
A Highly Compact Zip Chain Arm with Origami-Inspired Folding Chain Structures
Authors: Kim Dong-Ki , Jung Gwang-Pil
Published: April 2023

A deployable robotic arm can be a useful tool for mobile systems to widen accessible areas without removing mobility. For practical use, the deployable robotic arm needs to satisfy two requirements: a high extension–compression ratio and robust structural stiffness against the environment. To this end, this paper suggests, for the first time, an origami-inspired zipper chain to achieve a highly compact, one-degree-of-freedom zipper chain arm. The key component is the foldable chain, which innovatively increases the space-saving capability in the stowed state. The foldable chain is fully flattened in the stowed state, allowing for storage of many more chains in the same space. Moreover, a transmission system was designed to transform a 2D flat pattern into a 3D chain shape in order to control the length of the origami zipper. Additionally, an empirical parametric study was performed to choose design parameters to maximize the bending stiffness. For the feasibility test, a prototype was built and performance tests were executed in relation to extension length, speed, and structural robustness.
Preparation of Iron-Based Sulfides and Their Applications in Biomedical Fields
Authors: Duan Yefan , Sun Jianfei
Published: April 2023

Recently, iron-based sulfides, including iron sulfide minerals and biological iron sulfide clusters, have attracted widespread interest, owing to their excellent biocompatibility and multi-functionality in biomedical applications. As such, controlled synthesized iron sulfide nanomaterials with elaborate designs, enhanced functionality and unique electronic structures show numerous advantages. Furthermore, iron sulfide clusters produced through biological metabolism are thought to possess magnetic properties and play a crucial role in balancing the concentration of iron in cells, thereby affecting ferroptosis processes. The electrons in the Fenton reaction constantly transfer between Fe2+ and Fe3+, participating in the production and reaction process of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This mechanism is considered to confer advantages in various biomedical fields such as the antibacterial field, tumor treatment, biosensing and the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, we aim to systematically introduce recent advances in common iron-based sulfides.
PtNPs/PEDOT:PSS-Modified Microelectrode Arrays for Detection of the Discharge of Head Direction Cells in the Retrosplenial Cortex of Rats under Dissociation between Visual and Vestibular Inputs
Authors: Yang Gucheng , Wang Yiding , Xu Zhaojie , Zhang Xue , Ruan Wang , Mo Fan , Lu Botao , Fan Penghui , Dai Yuchuan , He Enhui , Song Yilin , Wang Changyong , Liu Juntao , Cai Xinxia
Published: April 2023

The electrophysiological activities of head direction (HD) cells under visual and vestibular input dissociation are important to understanding the formation of the sense of direction in animals. In this paper, we fabricated a PtNPs/PEDOT:PSS-modified MEA to detect changes in the discharge of HD cells under dissociated sensory conditions. The electrode shape was customized for the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) and was conducive to the sequential detection of neurons at different depths in vivo when combined with a microdriver. The recording sites of the electrode were modified with PtNPs/PEDOT:PSS to form a three-dimensional convex structure, leading to closer contact with neurons and improving the detection performance and signal-to-noise ratio of the MEA. We designed a rotating cylindrical arena to separate the visual and vestibular information of the rats and detected the changes in the directional tuning of the HD cells in the RSC. The results showed that after visual and vestibular sensory dissociation, HD cells used visual information to establish newly discharged directions which differed from the original direction. However, with the longer time required to process inconsistent sensory information, the function of the HD system gradually degraded. After recovery, the HD cells reverted to their newly established direction rather than the original direction. The research based on our MEAs revealed how HD cells process dissociated sensory information and contributes to the study of the spatial cognitive navigation mechanism.
Neurophysiological and Clinical Effects of Upper Limb Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation on Motor Recovery in Patients with Subacute Stroke: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial Study Protocol
Authors: Pournajaf Sanaz , Morone Giovanni , Straudi Sofia , Goffredo Michela , Leo Maria Rosaria , Calabrò Rocco Salvatore , Felzani Giorgio , Paolucci Stefano , Filoni Serena , Santamato Andrea , Franceschini Marco ,   the Italian PowerUPS-REHAB Study Group
Published: April 2023

Background: The efficacy of upper limb (UL) robot-assisted therapy (RAT) on functional improvement after stroke remains unclear. However, recently published randomized controlled trials have supported its potential benefits in enhancing the activities of daily living, arm and hand function, and muscle strength. Task-specific and high-intensity exercises are key points in facilitating motor re-learning in neurorehabilitation since RAT can provide an assisted-as-needed approach. This study aims to investigate the clinical effects of an exoskeleton robotic system for UL rehabilitation compared with conventional therapy (CT) in people with subacute stroke. As a secondary aim, we seek to identify patients’ characteristics, which can predict better recovery after UL-RAT and detects whether it could elicit greater brain stimulation. Methods: A total of 84 subacute stroke patients will be recruited from 7 Italian rehabilitation centers over 3 years. The patients will be randomly allocated to either CT (control group, CG) or CT plus UL-RT through an Armeo®Power (Hocoma AG, CH, Volketswil, Switzerland) exoskeleton (experimental group, EG). A sample stratification based on distance since onset, DSO (DSO ≤ 30; DSO > 30), and Fugl–Meyer Assessment (FM)-UL (FM-UL ≤ 22; 22 < FM-UL ≤ 44) will be considered for the randomization. The outcomes will be recorded at baseline (T0), after 25 + 3 sessions of intervention (T1), and at 6 months post-stroke (T2). The motor functioning assessed by the FM-UL (0–66) will be considered the primary outcome. The clinical assessments will be set based on the International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF). A patient satisfaction questionnaire will be evaluated in the EG at T1. A subgroup of patients will be evaluated at T0 and T1 via electroencephalography. Their brain electrical activity will be recorded during rest conditions with their eyes closed and open (5 min each). Conclusion: The results of this trial will provide an in-depth understanding of the efficacy of early UL-RAT through a whole arm exoskeleton and how it may relate to the neural plasticity process. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrial.gov with the registration identifier NCT04697368.
Electrophysiological Correlates of the Interaction of Physical and Numerical Size in Symbolic Number Processing: Insights from a Novel Go/Nogo Numerical Stroop Task
Authors: Pekár Judit , Hofmann Wiebke , Knakker Balázs , Tamm Sascha , Kinder Annette
Published: April 2023

The interaction of physical and numerical size has been investigated and repeatedly demonstrated in the numerical Stroop task, in which participants compare digits of different physical sizes. It is, however, not entirely clear yet what psychological processes contribute to this interaction. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of inhibition in the interaction of physical and numerical size, by introducing a novel paradigm that is suitable to elicit inhibition-related event-related potential components. To this end, we combined the go/nogo paradigm with the numerical Stroop task while measuring EEG and reaction times. Participants were presented with Arabic number pairs and had to press a button if the number on one side was numerically larger and they had to refrain from responding if the number on the other side was numerically larger. The physical size of the number pairs was also manipulated, in order to create congruent, neutral, and incongruent trials. Behavioural results confirmed the well-established numerical distance and numerical Stroop effects. Analysis of electrophysiological data revealed the classical go/nogo electrophysiological effects with numerical stimuli, and showed that peak amplitudes were larger for nogo than for go trials on the N2, as well as on the P3 component, on frontal and midline electrodes. When analysing the congruency effects, the peak amplitude of N2 was larger in incongruent trials than in neutral and congruent trials, while there was no evidence of a congruency effect on the P3 component peaks. Further analysis of the electrophysiological data revealed an additional facilitatory effect in the go trials, as well as an additional interference effect in the nogo trials. Taken together, it seems that interference effects are probably resolved by inhibitory processes and that facilitatory effects are affected by different cognitive control processes required by go versus nogo trials.
Exploring the Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Scoping Review
Authors: Johnson Leslie W. , Diaz Isabella
Published: April 2023

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global health concern, that can leave lasting physical, cognitive, and/or behavioral changes for many who sustain this type of injury. Because of the heterogeneity of this population, development of appropriate intervention tools can be difficult. Social determinants of health (SDoH) are factors that may impact TBI incidence, recovery, and outcome. The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze the existing literature regarding the prevailing SDoH and health disparities (HDs) associated with TBI in adults. A scoping review, guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework was used to explore three electronic databases—PubMed, Medline, and CINAHL. Searches identified peer-reviewed empirical literature addressing aspects of SDoH and HDs related to TBI. A total of 123 records were identified and reduced to 27 studies based on inclusion criteria. Results revealed race/ethnicity was the most commonly reported SDoH impacting TBI, followed by an individual’s insurance status. Health disparities were noted to occur across the continuum of TBI, including TBI risk, acute hospitalization, rehabilitation, and recovery. The most frequently reported HD was that Whites are more likely to be discharged to inpatient rehabilitation compared to racial/ethnic minorities. Health disparities associated with TBI are most commonly associated with the race/ethnicity SDoH, though insurance status and socioeconomic status commonly influence health inequities as well. The additional need for evidence related to the impact of other, lesser researched, SDoH is discussed, as well as clinical implications that can be used to target intervention for at-risk groups using an individual’s known SDoH.
Research on the Carbon Emission Baselines for Different Types of Public Buildings in a Northern Cold Areas City of China
Authors: Li Xiaoping , Li Yitong , Zhou Haizhu , Fu Zheng , Cheng Xionglei , Zhang Wei
Published: April 2023

Global excessive CO2 emissions have caused serious environmental and health problems, such as global warming, melting glaciers, droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures, and have become a common challenge for the world. China has set a dual carbon goal, with the peak carbon emissions before 2030. In China, the building sector accounts for 50.9% of the country’s carbon emissions. In particular, public buildings are characterized by a high carbon emission intensity, accounting for 38.6% of carbon emissions in the building sector, which affects the achievement of the dual carbon goal in China’s building sector. Establishing a reasonable baseline of carbon emissions contributes to quota management and trading of carbon emissions for public buildings in Tianjin, China, and will ultimately contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions. This study investigates the operational energy consumption and carbon emissions of 721 public buildings in Tianjin (including electricity, natural gas, and district heating). The applicability of the Quartile method and the K-means clustering algorithm was compared to determine the carbon emission baseline of different types of public buildings, such as constraint value, guiding value, and advanced value, based on which the dynamic baseline from 2022 to 2030 was determined. The results show that the advanced value, guiding value, and constraint value of the Tianjin public building carbon emission baseline obtained using the Quartile method are more reasonable than those obtained by the K-means clustering algorithm. Furthermore, the carbon emission baseline in 2030 will be reduced by 3.4~9.2% compared to 2022. This study can guide the formulation of carbon emission trading schemes, and support Tianjin’s building sector to achieve the “carbon peak”.
Structural Behavior of Concrete Beams Reinforced with Biaxial Geogrid
Authors: Kumar K. Rajesh , Vijay Thiruchengode Jothimani , Bahrami Alireza , Ravindran Gobinath
Published: April 2023

In recent decades, corrosion in steel reinforcement has been one of the fundamental risks in steel-reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Geosynthetics can be an alternative approach to solve corrosion problems. The current experimental research work investigates the structural performance of geogrid-reinforced concrete (GRC) elements. Initially, five different geotextiles and biaxial geogrid materials were selected and embedded in the concrete specimens separately to study their mechanical properties. The results of the testing showed that the geogrid embedded specimen behaved more mechanically than the conventional concrete (CC) specimens due to increased bonding characteristics. The limiting moment and load-carrying capacities of the RC and GRC beams were determined with reference to limit state design principles. In order to compare the structural performance of the beams, two RC beams and two GRC beams with the size of 150 mm × 300 mm × 2100 mm were cast. The structural performances in terms of the load-carrying capacity, energy absorption, stiffness degradation, and ductility were examined. The results of the tests indicated that even though the load-carrying capacity of the GRC beams was slightly lower, they demonstrated enhanced performance by 42%, 40%, and 68% higher in the energy absorption, stiffness degradation, and ductility, respectively, than those of the RC beams on average. The augmented inelastic performance and better bonding properties of the GRC beams aid in noticeable structural performance.
Impact of COVID-19 on Construction Production Rate
Authors: Amien Doaa H. , Elbeltagi Emad , Mashhour Ibrahim M. , Ehab Ahmed
Published: April 2023

At the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 contagious virus swept, which caused a lot of disturbances in all countries worldwide. The Egyptian government declared an emergency and placed the country under lockdown. Preventive measures such as social distancing, sterilization, mask wear, frequent temperature checks, offering COVID-19-related training, and encouraging work-from-home initiatives, among other precautions, have been implemented. Such precautionary measures affected the construction production rate. This research used a questionnaire and face-to-face interviews to solicit the opinion of construction industry professionals and experts on tier-one construction companies on the impact of this pandemic on construction production rate. A quantitative analysis has been done in this study using IBM SPSS Statistics 26© to determine the most important effective factors of the production rate of the construction industry, mainly in Egypt. Also, this study illustrates an Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) model to predict the project’s cost and production rate at construction for the actual status in Egypt at the peak of COVID-19. The model does not only present the actual case but can also predict the most important and influential factors of the construction industry mainly in Egypt, at the peak of the virus, and can be used in other similar crises as a lesson learned which no study covered this area at the previous works. Finally, the results and the validation study of the proposed ANN model in the research show and present the actual status of production rate in the construction sector, mainly in Egypt (case study), and also predict the production rates of the construction sector at the future crisis.
Application of Spectrometry for Determining the Solar Radiation of Deciduous Trees’ Shade: A Passive Energy Conservation Approach for Mediterranean Climates
Authors: del Campo-Hitschfeld María Luisa , Arenas Nicolás , Rivera Marco , Ballesteros-Pérez Pablo
Published: April 2023

Deciduous trees are well known for controlling solar gains in buildings, contributing to energy savings in a sector that consumes 35% of global energy. However, there is still a lack of information about the real thermal impact that deciduous trees have. This work proposes a new method that is cheap and easy to implement to quantify the shading efficiency of different types of deciduous trees in hot seasons. The results can be applied in energy evaluations of buildings. The trees selected belong to the central valley of Chile, which is characterized by hot summers and cold winters. The trees selected can also be found in other parts of the world. A spectrometer is used for measuring the amount of solar radiation (irradiance) that is present in the shadow of trees, measuring wavelengths between 339 nm and 750 nm (mostly within the visible light range). The full referential irradiance spectrum of the site is obtained by calibrating the standard ASTM G-173-03. At the site, the spectrometer is used to obtain the visible light range, while the infrared radiation (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation ranges are obtained from the literature. Our results indicate that the analyzed deciduous trees reduce an average of 82% of the solar radiation. This information will help project designers during the building energy efficiency design phase by representative modeling of the solar radiation gains allowed by deciduous trees.
Magnetic Field-Controlled Electrical Conductivity in AA Bilayer Graphene
Authors: Apinyan Vardan , Kopeć Tadeusz
Published: April 2023

We consider the effect of the external magnetic field on the in-plane conductivity in the AA-stacked bilayer graphene system in the strong excitonic condensate regime. We include the effects of the applied inter-layer electric field and the Coulomb interactions. The on-site and inter-layer Coulomb interactions were treated via the bilayer Hubbard model. Using the solutions for the physical parameters in the system, we calculate the in-plane conductivity of the bilayer graphene. By employing the Green-Kubo formalism for the polarization function in the system, we show that the conductivity in the AA bilayer system is fully controlled by the applied magnetic field. For the partial filling in the layers, the electrical conductivity is different for different spin orientations, and, at the high values of the magnetic field, only one component remains with the given spin orientation. Meanwhile, for the half-filling limit, there is no spin-splitting observed in the conductivity function. The theory evaluated here shows the new possibility for spin-controlled electronic transport in the excitonic bilayer graphene system.
Radionuclide Therapy of HER2-Expressing Xenografts Using [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 Affibody Molecule Alone and in Combination with Trastuzumab
Authors: Liu Yongsheng , Xu Tianqi , Vorobyeva Anzhelika , Loftenius Annika , Bodenko Vitalina , Orlova Anna , Frejd Fredrik Y. , Tolmachev Vladimir
Published: April 2023

ABY-027 is a scaffold-protein-based cancer-targeting agent. ABY-027 includes the second-generation Affibody molecule ZHER2:2891, which binds to human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2). An engineered albumin-binding domain is fused to ZHER2:2891 to reduce renal uptake and increase bioavailability. The agent can be site-specifically labeled with a beta-emitting radionuclide 177Lu using a DOTA chelator. The goals of this study were to test the hypotheses that a targeted radionuclide therapy using [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 could extend the survival of mice with HER2-expressing human xenografts and that co-treatment with [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 and the HER2-targeting antibody trastuzumab could enhance this effect. Balb/C nu/nu mice bearing HER2-expressing SKOV-3 xenografts were used as in vivo models. A pre-injection of trastuzumab did not reduce the uptake of [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 in tumors. Mice were treated with [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 or trastuzumab as monotherapies and a combination of these therapies. Mice treated with vehicle or unlabeled ABY-027 were used as controls. Targeted monotherapy using [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 improved the survival of mice and was more efficient than trastuzumab monotherapy. A combination of therapies utilizing [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 and trastuzumab improved the treatment outcome in comparison with monotherapies using these agents. In conclusion, [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 alone or in combination with trastuzumab could be a new potential agent for the treatment of HER2-expressing tumors.
Comparison of Computed Tomography Scoring Systems in Patients with COVID-19 and Hematological Malignancies
Authors: Hałaburda-Rola Marta , Drozd-Sokołowska Joanna , Januszewicz Magdalena , Grabowska-Derlatka Laretta
Published: April 2023

Background: Numerous computed tomography (CT) scales have been proposed to assess lung involvement in COVID-19 pneumonia as well as correlate radiological findings with patient outcomes. Objective: Comparison of different CT scoring systems in terms of time consumption and diagnostic performance in patients with hematological malignancies and COVID-19 infection. Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis included hematological patients with COVID-19 and CT performed within 10 days of diagnosis of infection. CT scans were analyzed in three different semi-quantitative scoring systems, Chest CT Severity Score (CT-SS), Chest CT Score(CT-S), amd Total Severity Score (TSS), as well as qualitative modified Total Severity Score (m-TSS). Time consumption and diagnostic performance were analyzed. Results: Fifty hematological patients were included. Based on the ICC values, excellent inter-observer reliability was found among the three semi-quantitative methods with ICC > 0.9 (p < 0.001). The inter-observer concordance was at the level of perfect agreement (kappa value = 1) for the mTSS method (p < 0.001). The three-receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves revealed excellent and very good diagnostic accuracy for the three quantitative scoring systems. The AUC values were excellent (0.902), very good (0.899), and very good (0.881) in the CT-SS, CT-S and TSS scoring systems, respectively. Sensitivity showed high levels at 72.7%, 75%, and 65.9%, respectively, and specificity was recorded at 98.2%, 100%, 94.6% for the CT-SS, CT-S, and TSS scoring systems, respectively. Time consumption was the same for Chest CT Severity Score and TSS and was longer for Chest CT Score (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Chest CT score and chest CT severity score have very high sensitivity and specificity in terms of diagnostic accuracy. The highest AUC values and the shortest median time of analysis in chest CT severity score indicate this method as preferred for semi-quantitative assessment of chest CT in hematological patients with COVID-19.
Novel Mechanisms and Future Opportunities for the Management of Radiation Necrosis in Patients Treated for Brain Metastases in the Era of Immunotherapy
Authors: Vaios Eugene J. , Winter Sebastian F. , Shih Helen A. , Dietrich Jorg , Peters Katherine B. , Floyd Scott R. , Kirkpatrick John P. , Reitman Zachary J.
Published: April 2023

Radiation necrosis, also known as treatment-induced necrosis, has emerged as an important adverse effect following stereotactic radiotherapy (SRS) for brain metastases. The improved survival of patients with brain metastases and increased use of combined systemic therapy and SRS have contributed to a growing incidence of necrosis. The cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) and stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway (cGAS-STING) represents a key biological mechanism linking radiation-induced DNA damage to pro-inflammatory effects and innate immunity. By recognizing cytosolic double-stranded DNA, cGAS induces a signaling cascade that results in the upregulation of type 1 interferons and dendritic cell activation. This pathway could play a key role in the pathogenesis of necrosis and provides attractive targets for therapeutic development. Immunotherapy and other novel systemic agents may potentiate activation of cGAS-STING signaling following radiotherapy and increase necrosis risk. Advancements in dosimetric strategies, novel imaging modalities, artificial intelligence, and circulating biomarkers could improve the management of necrosis. This review provides new insights into the pathophysiology of necrosis and synthesizes our current understanding regarding the diagnosis, risk factors, and management options of necrosis while highlighting novel avenues for discovery.
The Relationship between Oxidative Status and Radioiodine Treatment Qualification among Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patients
Authors: Buczyńska Angelika , Sidorkiewicz Iwona , Kościuszko Maria , Adamska Agnieszka , Siewko Katarzyna , Dzięcioł Janusz , Szumowski Piotr , Myśliwiec Janusz , Popławska-Kita Anna , Krętowski Adam Jacek
Published: April 2023

Total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), tumor protein 53 (p53), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO), and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) play crucial roles in oxidative homeostasis and the progression of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), as previously demonstrated in the literature. Therefore, profiling these markers among PTC patients may be useful in determining their eligibility for radioiodine (RAI) treatment. Since treatment indications are based on multiple and dynamic recommendations, additional criteria for adjuvant RAI therapy are still needed. In our study, we evaluated the TOS, TAC, and serum concentrations of p53, NF-κB, FOXO, and SIRT1 to analyze the relationship between oxidative status and qualification for RAI treatment. For the purpose of this study, we enrolled 60 patients with PTC allocated for RAI treatment as the study group and 25 very low-risk PTC patients not allocated for RAI treatment as a reference group. The serum TOS and SIRT1 concentrations were significantly higher in the study group compared to the reference group (both p < 0.001), whereas the TAC and p53, NK-κB, and FOXO concentrations were significantly lower (all p < 0.05). We also demonstrated the diagnostic utility of TAC (AUC = 0.987), FOXO (AUC = 0.648), TOS (AUC = 0.664), SIRT1 (AUC = 0.709), p53 (AUC = 0.664), and NF-κB (AUC = 0.651) measurements as indications for RAI treatment based on American Thyroid Association recommendations. Our study revealed that oxidative status-related markers may become additional criteria for RAI treatment in PTC patients.
Functionalized Graphene-Incorporated Cupric Oxide Charge-Transport Layer for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance and Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Krishna Ambati Mounika Sai , Ramasubramanian Brindha , Haseena Sheik , Bamola Priyanka , Sharma Himani , Mahata Chandreswar , Chroneos Alexander , Krishnamurthy Satheesh , Ravva Mahesh Kumar , Chandu Basavaiah , Lim Yee-Fun , Kumar Avishek , Ramakrishna Seeram , Biring Sajal , Chakrabortty Sabyasachi , Dalapati Goutam Kumar
Published: April 2023

The production of hydrogen (H2) through photoelectrochemical water splitting (PEC-WS) using renewable energy sources, particularly solar light, has been considered a promising solution for global energy and environmental challenges. In the field of hydrogen-scarce regions, metal oxide semiconductors have been extensively researched as photocathodes. For UV-visible light-driven PEC-WS, cupric oxide (CuO) has emerged as a suitable photocathode. However, the stability of the photocathode (CuO) against photo-corrosion is crucial in developing CuO-based PEC cells. This study reports a stable and effective CuO and graphene-incorporated (Gra-COOH) CuO nanocomposite photocathode through a sol-gel solution-based technique via spin coating. Incorporating graphene into the CuO nanocomposite photocathode resulted in higher stability and an increase in photocurrent compared to bare CuO photocathode electrodes. Compared to cuprous oxide (Cu2O), the CuO photocathode was more identical and thermally stable during PEC-WS due to its high oxidation number. Additionally, the CuO:Gra-COOH nanocomposite photocathode exhibited a H2 evolution of approximately 9.3 µmol, indicating its potential as a stable and effective photocathode for PEC-WS. The enhanced electrical properties of the CuO:Gra-COOH nanocomposite exemplify its potential for use as a charge-transport layer.
Comprehensive Characterization of Tissues Derived from Animals at Different Regenerative Stages: A Comparative Analysis between Fetal and Adult Mouse Skin
Authors: Castillo Valentina , Díaz-Astudillo Pamela , Corrales-Orovio Rocío , San Martín Sebastián , Egaña José Tomás
Published: April 2023

Tissue regeneration capabilities vary significantly throughout an organism’s lifespan. For example, mammals can fully regenerate until they reach specific developmental stages, after which they can only repair the tissue without restoring its original architecture and function. The high regenerative potential of fetal stages has been attributed to various factors, such as stem cells, the immune system, specific growth factors, and the presence of extracellular matrix molecules upon damage. To better understand the local differences between regenerative and reparative tissues, we conducted a comparative analysis of skin derived from mice at regenerative and reparative stages. Our findings show that both types of skin differ in their molecular composition, structure, and functionality. We observed a significant increase in cellular density, nucleic acid content, neutral lipid density, Collagen III, and glycosaminoglycans in regenerative skin compared with reparative skin. Additionally, regenerative skin had significantly higher porosity, metabolic activity, water absorption capacity, and elasticity than reparative skin. Finally, our results also revealed significant differences in lipid distribution, extracellular matrix pore size, and proteoglycans between the two groups. This study provides comprehensive data on the molecular and structural clues that enable full tissue regeneration in fetal stages, which could aid in developing new biomaterials and strategies for tissue engineering and regeneration.
Integrated Omic Analysis Delineates Pathways Modulating Toxic TDP-43 Protein Aggregates in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Rajaratnam Saiswaroop , Soman Akhil P. , Phalguna Kanikaram Sai , Pradhan Sai Sanwid , Manjunath Meghana , Rao Raksha Kanthavara , Dandamudi Rajesh Babu , Bhagavatham Sai Krishna Srimadh , Pulukool Sujith Kumar , Rathnakumar Sriram , Kocherlakota Sai , Pargaonkar Ashish , Veeranna Ravindra P. , Arumugam Natarajan , Almansour Abdulrahman I. , Choudhary Bibha , Sivaramakrishnan Venketesh
Published: April 2023

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multi-systemic, incurable, amyloid disease affecting the motor neurons, resulting in the death of patients. The disease is either sporadic or familial with SOD1, C9orf72, FUS, and TDP-43 constituting the majority of familial ALS. Multi-omics studies on patients and model systems like mice and yeast have helped in understanding the association of various signaling and metabolic pathways with the disease. The yeast model system has played a pivotal role in elucidating the gene amyloid interactions. We carried out an integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of the TDP-43 expressing yeast model to elucidate deregulated pathways associated with the disease. The analysis shows the deregulation of the TCA cycle, single carbon metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism. Transcriptomic analysis of GEO datasets of TDP-43 expressing motor neurons from mice models of ALS and ALS patients shows considerable overlap with experimental results. Furthermore, a yeast model was used to validate the obtained results using metabolite addition and gene knock-out experiments. Taken together, our result shows a potential role for the TCA cycle, cellular redox pathway, NAD metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism in disease. Supplementation of reduced glutathione, nicotinate, and the keto diet might help to manage the disease.
Preparation and Mechanical Characteristics of Multicomponent Ceramic Solid Solutions of Rare Earth Metal Oxides Synthesized by the SCS Method
Authors: Zhuravlev Victor , Ermakova Larisa , Samigullina Rina , Ermakov Alexey
Published: April 2023

A study into the use of the Solution Combustion Synthesis (SCS) method with glycine and citric acid to synthesize fine powders of multicomponent solid solutions of oxides of rare earth (RE) metals (Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, and Ho) for the preparation of ceramic materials is presented. Synthesis parameters of 4-, 5-, and 6-component entropy-stabilized rare earth oxides (REOs) with a C-type cubic structure are determined. The stability of entropy-stabilized oxides (ESOs) with a C-type structure is shown to depend not only on heavy RE metal quantity, but also on the rate of heating/cooling of the samples. The temperature of the polymorphic transformation of C-type REO structures into B-type (monoclinic) or H-type (hexagonal) structural variants can be described by the equation T (°C) = 0.0214Vcr2 − 62.737Vcr + 46390, where Vcr is the unit cell volume of an oxide with a C-type structure regardless of the number of cations in the solid solution. High-temperature thermal analysis up to 1250 °C revealed that dispersed powders, which contain impurities of basic carbonates along with hydroxocarbonates of RE metals and X-ray amorphous carbon formed during SCS reactions, also react with air moisture during storage. The influence of the ESO phase and cationic composition on the morphology, porosity and microhardness of ceramics was studied. Higher-entropy oxides form samples with higher density, microhardness and a smaller size of particle agglomerates.
Clinical Hematochemical Parameters in Differential Diagnosis between Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Virus Infection: An Automated Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Dobrijević Dejan , Antić Jelena , Rakić Goran , Katanić Jasmina , Andrijević Ljiljana , Pastor Kristian
Published: April 2023

Background: The influenza virus and the novel beta coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) have similar transmission characteristics, and it is very difficult to distinguish them clinically. With the development of information technologies, novel opportunities have arisen for the application of intelligent software systems in disease diagnosis and patient triage. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 268 infants: 133 infants with a SARS-CoV-2 infection and 135 infants with an influenza virus infection. In total, 10 hematochemical variables were used to construct an automated machine learning model. Results: An accuracy range from 53.8% to 60.7% was obtained by applying support vector machine, random forest, k-nearest neighbors, logistic regression, and neural network models. Alternatively, an automated model convincingly outperformed other models with an accuracy of 98.4%. The proposed automated algorithm recommended a random tree model, a randomization-based ensemble method, as the most appropriate for the given dataset. Conclusions: The application of automated machine learning in clinical practice can contribute to more objective, accurate, and rapid diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus infections in children.
Effect of Maxillary Expansion on the Maxillary Arch Width in Patients with Bilateral Cleft Palate: A Review
Authors: Alkadhi Omar H. , Alotaibi Lamis Hejab , Alrashoud Rowaida R. , Almutairi Mohammed Hamad , Al Matar Huda Ali , Mallineni Sreekanth Kumar
Published: April 2023

Objectives: To perform a comprehensive review of the literature to compare the effects of slow maxillary expansion (SME) and rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on maxillary arch width in patients with bilateral cleft palate. Methods: The databases include Medline, PubMed, Cochrane (CENTRAL) and (CDSR), OpenGrey, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for relevant studies that met the eligibility criteria published before or on 31 October 2022. The search was confined to the English language. The selection of eligible studies and collection of data were performed independently. Risk of bias assessment was conducted using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0. Results: Two randomized controlled trials were available based on the search in the published literature. Both studies compared arch width between SME and RME in cleft palate patients and digitals casts and three-dimensional images used for the evaluation. A moderate risk of bias was evident in the available studies. Conclusions: Both SME and RME can achieve similar amounts of maxillary expansion in patients with bilateral cleft palate.
Assessment of the Impact of Increased Physical Activity on Body Mass and Adipose Tissue Reduction in Overweight and Obese Children
Authors: Nowaczyk Marta , Cieślik Krystyna , Waszak Małgorzata
Published: April 2023

(1) Background: Within the last 30 years, growing rates of child overweight and obesity have been observed as a very concerning phenomenon in most countries worldwide. The research aim was to assess what effect increased physical activity has on reducing body mass and adipose tissue in children between 10 and 11 years of age as well as to answer the question of whether physical activity could be considered as a factor in preventing child overweight and obesity when maintaining their existing diet and lifestyle. (2) Material and methods: There were 419 sports class primary school pupils in the experimental group who, in addition to four obligatory weekly physical education hours, attended six training hours. The control group comprised 485 children from parallel non-sports classes. In all pupils, height and weight measurements as well as physical fitness measurements were taken twice, at the beginning and end of the school year. Cole’s method was used to assess the children’s normal body weight. With the help of this method, children with excessive body weight were selected from the entire study group (N = 904), who additionally had skinfolds and adipose tissue measured using the BIA electrical bioimpedance method. The obtained results were interpreted using the variance analysis for repeated measurements and LSD test. (3) Results: The number of children with excessive body mass after 10 months of increased physical activity decreased (in the case of overweight: p = 0.0014, obesity: p = 0.0022), as did their skinfolds (p ≤ 0.001) and body fat (p ≤ 0.001), while their physical fitness considerably improved compared to the control group. (4) Conclusions: The introduction of increased physical activity in the experimental group children when maintaining their existing diet and lifestyle contributed to reducing their obesity and overweight and, at the same time, proved to be an effective factor in the process of decreasing their excessive body mass.
Incidence and Prevalence of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in Southern Italy
Authors: La Torre Francesco , Elicio Maria Pia , Monno Viviana Anna , Chironna Maria , Moramarco Fulvio , Campanozzi Angelo , Civino Adele , Cecinati Valerio , Vairo Ugo , Giordano Mario , Milella Leonardo , Loconsole Daniela , Cardinale Fabio
Published: April 2023

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a pediatric hyperinflammatory syndrome related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection whose epidemiology is not very well known at present. The objective of the study was to better understand the incidence of MIS-C in the Apulia region in southern Italy. Our primary goal was to estimate the incidence of newly identified cases of MIS-C in children aged 0–18 years, during a period of six months, encompassing the second pandemic wave. We also analyzed the characteristics of our cohort in terms of clinical features, treatment, and outcomes. The cumulative incidence of MIS-C was 3.27 per 100,000 residents between 0 and 18 years of age. In our cohort, gastrointestinal, mucocutaneous, and cardiac involvement were the most common clinical features. With our step-up approach to therapy, no patients required intensive care unit (ICU) admission and no cardiac sequelae after 6 months of onset were found in echocardiograms. Conclusion: Our epidemiological study of MIS-C in southern Italy showed unexpectedly overlapping figures with other US studies.
A Pediatric Case of COLQ-Related Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome with Marked Fatigue
Authors: Horibe Takuya , Shimomura Hideki , Tokunaga Sachi , Taniguchi Naoko , Lee Tomoko , Kimura Shigemi , Takeshima Yasuhiro
Published: April 2023

Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous inherited disorder that is treatable. Although the disease usually develops at birth or during infancy, some patients develop the disease in the second to third decades of life. Collagen-like tail subunit of asymmetric acetylcholinesterase (COLQ)-related CMS is CMS with mutations in the COLQ, which results in end-plate acetylcholinesterase deficiency. Diagnostic delay is common in patients with later-onset CMS due to slow progression and fluctuating symptoms. Understanding CMS with atypical and unusual presentations is important to treat this condition effectively. Here, we report a case of COLQ-related CMS. A 10-year-old girl presented with only marked fatigue, which was provoked by exercise but improved after 30–60 min of rest. While motor nerve conduction velocity was normal, a compound muscle action potential (CMAP) with four peaks was recorded. Repetitive stimulation of the accessory nerve exhibited a decrease in CMAP amplitude. Genetic tests revealed compound heterozygous mutations in COLQ (c.1196-1_1197delinsTG and c.1354C>T). Treatment with salbutamol improved fatigue but not the electrophysiological markers. Thus, significant fatigue is a hallmark of COLQ-related CMS; early diagnosis is essential for ensuring appropriate treatment.
GC-MS Based Characterization, Antibacterial, Antifungal and Anti-Oncogenic Activity of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Aspergillus niger Strain AK-6 Isolated from Rhizospheric Soil
Authors: Niazi Shaik Kalimulla , Basavarajappa Dhanyakumara Shivapoojar , Kumaraswamy Sushma Hatti , Bepari Asmatanzeem , Hiremath Halaswamy , Nagaraja Shashiraj Kariyellappa , Rudrappa Muthuraj , Hugar Anil , Cordero Mary Anne Wong , Nayaka Sreenivasa
Published: April 2023

Rhizospheric soil is the richest niche of different microbes that produce biologically active metabolites. The current study investigated the antimicrobial, antifungal and anticancer activities of ethyl acetate extract of the potent rhizospheric fungus Aspergillus niger AK6 (AK-6). A total of six fungal isolates were isolated, and isolate AK-6 was selected based on primary screening. Further, it exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity against pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumonia, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. The morphological and molecular characterization (18S rRNA) confirmed that the isolate AK-6 belonged to Aspergillus niger. Further, AK-6 showed potent antifungal activity with 47.2%, 59.4% and 64.1% of inhibition against Sclerotium rolfsii, Cercospora canescens and Fusarium sambucinum phytopathogens. FT-IR analysis displayed different biological functional groups. Consequently, the GC-MS analysis displayed bioactive compounds, namely, n-didehydrohexacarboxyl-2,4,5-trimethylpiperazine (23.82%), dibutyl phthalate (14.65%), e-5-heptadecanol (8.98%), and 2,4-ditert-butylphenol (8.60%), among the total of 15 compounds isolated. Further, the anticancer activity of AK-6 was exhibited against the MCF-7 cell line of human breast adenocarcinoma with an IC50 value of 102.01 μg/mL. Furthermore, flow cytometry depicted 17.3%, 26.43%, and 3.16% of early and late apoptosis and necrosis in the AK-6 extarct treated MCF-7 cell line, respectively. The results of the present analysis suggest that the isolated Aspergillus niger strain AK-6 extract has the potential to be explored as a promising antimicrobial, antifungal and anticancer drug for medical and agricultural applications.