bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations of Perceived Socially Unfavorable Attitudes toward Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriage with Suicidal Ideation in Taiwanese People before and after Same-Sex Marriage Referendums
Authors: Ko Nai-Ying , Lin I-Hsuan , Huang Yu-Te , Chen Mu-Hong , Lu Wei-Hsin , Yen Cheng-Fang
Published: February 2020

This study examined the associations of perceived socially unfavorable attitudes toward homosexuality and same-sex marriage with suicidal ideation in non-heterosexual and heterosexual participants from first (Wave 1, 23 months prior to same-sex marriage referendums) and second (Wave 2, one week after the referendums) wave surveys in Taiwan. Data provided by 3239 participants in Wave 1 and 1337 participants in Wave 2 who were recruited through a Facebook advertisement were analyzed. Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing suicidal ideation and perceived unfavorable attitudes toward homosexuality and same-sex marriage from Taiwanese society, heterosexual friends, and family members. The results indicate that perceived unfavorable attitudes toward homosexuality from Taiwanese society, heterosexual friends, and family members were positively associated with suicidal ideation among non-heterosexual individuals in the first but not the second survey. In addition, among non-heterosexual individuals, such attitudes toward same-sex marriage in family members and in heterosexual friends were positively associated with suicidal ideation in the Wave 1 and Wave 2 surveys, respectively. Perceived unfavorable attitudes toward homosexuality and same-sex marriage in heterosexual friends were associated with suicidal ideation in heterosexual participants with a favorable attitude but not in those individuals with an unfavorable attitude toward homosexuality, in both surveys. Perceived socially unfavorable attitudes toward homosexuality and same-sex marriage were significantly associated with suicidal ideation before and after same-sex marriage referendums; however, the associations varied between non-heterosexual and heterosexual individuals.
Changes in the Association between European Workers’ Employment Conditions and Employee Well-Being in 2005, 2010 and 2015
Authors: Marin-Garcia Juan A. , Bonavia Tomas , Losilla Josep-Maria
Published: February 2020

The aim of this paper is to study whether there is a change in the association between employment conditions and European employees’ well-being at three different time points (the years 2005, 2010 and 2015), characterized by different socio-economic contexts. We based our study on the European Working Conditions Survey. Logistic regressions were performed by adjusting for gender, age, level of education, seniority, occupation, establishment size, activity sector and economic activity. Adjusted odds ratios (ORadj) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) are reported. In general, the association between employment conditions (type of employment contract, supervising, weekly working hours, long working hours, other paid jobs, working at weekends or doing shifts) and well-being indicators (anxiety, fatigue and dissatisfaction) seemed to continue being harmful, or had even changed for the worse since 2005. The paper briefly discusses the possible reasons for this situation and calls for future research on the relation between well-being and irregular type of contracts, self-employment, supervising others or hours worked per week. Some implications in public health policies are also discussed.
The Short- and Long-Term Impacts of Hurricane Irma on Florida Agricultural Leaders as Early Emergency Responders: The Importance of Workplace Stability
Authors: Grattan Lynn M. , Lindsay Angela , Liang Yuanyuan , Kilmon Kelsey A. , Cohen Scott , Irani Tracy , Morris John Glenn
Published: February 2020

The impacts of hurricane-related disasters in agricultural communities include extensive losses of fields, orchards, and livestock, the recovery of which could span many years. Agricultural Extension Agents (EAs) try to manage and mitigate these losses, while simultaneously overseeing emergency shelter operations. These non-professional emergency responders face numerous potential stressors, the outcomes of which are minimally known. This study examined the short- and long-term medical and behavioral outcome of 36 University of Florida Agricultural Extension Agents within two months and one year after Hurricane Irma, Florida, USA, taking into consideration personal/home and work-related hurricane impacts. Regression analyses indicated that combined home and work hurricane impacts were associated with greater anxiety, depression, and medical symptoms controlling for age and number of prior hurricane experiences within two months of landfall. One year later, depression symptoms increased as well as the use of negative disengagement coping strategies for which stability of the work environment was protective. The findings suggest that advanced training in emergency response, organization and time management skills, time off and temporary replacement for personally impacted EAs, and workplace stability, including enhanced continuity of operations plans, represent critical elements of health prevention and early intervention for this occupational group.
Inverse Association between Statin Use and Stomach Cancer Incidence in Individuals with Hypercholesterolemia, from the 2002–2015 NHIS-HEALS Data
Authors: You Hyo-Sun , You Nayoung , Lee Jae-Woo , Lim Hyoung-Ji , Kim Joungyoun , Kang Hee-Taik
Published: February 2020

Purpose: To investigate the association between statin use and stomach cancer incidence in individuals with hypercholesterolemia. Materials and methods: To examine the cumulative effect of statins, we defined a statin user as one who used statins during 2002–2003 at baseline. Statin users were further classified into high and low users according to the medication possession rate. Statin non-users consisted of participants who had never used statins during the entire period of 2002–2015, despite having hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol level ≥250 mg/dL at baseline). Ultimately, 17,737 statin users and 13,412 statin non-users were used in the analysis. We performed survival analyses, considering the diagnosis of stomach cancer as an event of interest. Results: Median follow-up duration was 12.9 years. The cumulative incidence rates of stomach cancer were lowest in high users (1.90% in men and 0.98% in women). Compared to non-users, hazard ratios (95% confidential intervals) for stomach cancer of low users and high users were 0.953 (0.755–1.203) and 0.526 (0.399–0.693) in men and 0.629 (0.457–0.865) and 0.370 (0.256–0.535) in women, respectively, after adjusting for possible confounders. Conclusions: We observed an inverse association between statin use and stomach cancer incidence in participants with hypercholesterolemia.
Adsorption of Strontium onto Adaxial and Abaxial Cuticle of Photinia serrulata Leaf
Authors: Li Yungui , Luo Xiang , Bai Xueying , Lv Wenxuan , Liao Yang
Published: February 2020

Leaf cuticle sorption is one important process for the uptake of environment pollutants in plants, and mixed powder including adaxial and abaxial cuticle is generally used to demonstrate the sorption behavior. However, the difference of adaxial and abaxial cuticle on plant cuticle sorption is not well understood. Abaxial cuticle (PAC) and adaxial cuticle (PBC) were isolated from hypostomatic Photinia serrulata to investigate their adsorption of a model radionuclide (strontium). The elemental composition and FTIR spectra for two cuticles were quite similar and both show high affinity (H/C, 1.59 and 1.65) and polarity ((O + N)/C, 0.470 and 0.499). Both adsorption isotherms fit well with Langmuir model (R2, 0.97 and 0.97), and the maximum adsorption capacity of PAC was 12.1 mg/g, little higher than that of PBC (10.3 mg/g). Adsorption of strontium increased with the increase of pH, and the maximum was attained when pH ≥4. Electrostatic attraction was demonstrated to be the main mechanism of -strontium adsorption onto PAC and PBC, and the similar adsorption of adaxial and abaxial cuticle was consistent with their similar isoelectric point.
Prevalence of Oral Mucosal Lesions and Relation to Serum Cotinine Levels—Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in South Africa
Authors: Pontes Carla Cruvinel , Chikte Usuf , Kimmie-Dhansay Faheema , Erasmus Rajiv T. , Kengne Andre P. , Matsha Tandi E.
Published: February 2020

Oral mucosal lesions (OML) can decrease oral health-related quality of life and some have the potential to become malignant. The aim of the present study was to report the prevalence of OML in relation to age, sex, and serum cotinine levels in a population with mixed ancestry from South Africa. This study is part of the Cape Town Vascular and Metabolic Health (VHM) study, conducted between 2014–2016. Trained dental examiners assessed the oral mucosa for the presence of OML according to WHO criteria. In total, 1976 individuals were included in the study, being 1496 females (75.7%) and 480 males (24.3%) with average age of 49.5 years (SD = 15.3). In total, 262 lesions were detected in 252 participants (overall prevalence of 13%). Males had higher prevalence than females (14% vs. 9%, p = 0.008). Participants aged 25–34 had the highest prevalence rates (21%). Participants who had cotinine ≥15 ng/mL had higher prevalence of OML as compared to those with <15 ng/mL (15% vs. 5%, p < 0.001). Most common lesions were nicotine stomatitis (33%) and leukoplakia (19%). Age, male sex, and higher cotinine levels were associated with increased prevalence of OML.
Digital Soil Mapping over Large Areas with Invalid Environmental Covariate Data
Authors: Fan Nai-Qing , Zhu A-Xing , Qin Cheng-Zhi , Liang Peng
Published: February 2020

Environmental covariates are fundamental inputs of digital soil mapping (DSM) based on the soil–environment relationship. It is normal to have invalid values (or recorded as NoData value) in individual environmental covariates in some regions over an area, especially over a large area. Among the two main existing ways to deal with locations with invalid environmental covariate data in DSM, the location-skipping scheme does not predict these locations and, thus, completely ignores the potentially useful information provided by valid covariate values. The void-filling scheme may introduce errors when applying an interpolation algorithm to removing NoData environmental covariate values. In this study, we propose a new scheme called FilterNA that conducts DSM for each individual location with NoData value of a covariate by using the valid values of other covariates at the location. We design a new method (SoLIM-FilterNA) combining the FilterNA scheme with a DSM method, Soil Land Inference Model (SoLIM). Experiments to predict soil organic matter content in the topsoil layer in Anhui Province, China, under different test scenarios of NoData for environmental covariates were conducted to compare SoLIM-FilterNA with the SoLIM combined with the void-filling scheme, the original SoLIM with the location-skipping scheme, and random forest. The experimental results based on the independent evaluation samples show that, in general, SoLIM-FilterNA can produce the lowest errors with a more complete spatial coverage of the DSM result. Meanwhile, SoLIM-FilterNA can reasonably predict uncertainty by considering the uncertainty introduced by applying the FilterNA scheme.
A Head/Tail Breaks-Based Method for Efficiently Estimating the Absolute Boltzmann Entropy of Numerical Raster Data
Authors: Zhang Hong , Wu Zhiwei
Published: February 2020

Shannon entropy is the most popular method for quantifying information in a system. However, Shannon entropy is considered incapable of quantifying spatial data, such as raster data, hence it has not been applied to such datasets. Recently, a method for calculating the Boltzmann entropy of numerical raster data was proposed, but it is not efficient as it involves a series of numerical processes. We aimed to improve the computational efficiency of this method by borrowing the idea of head and tail breaks. This paper relaxed the condition of head and tail breaks and classified data with a heavy-tailed distribution. The average of the data values in a given class was regarded as its representative value, and this was substituted into a linear function to obtain the full expression of the relationship between classification level and Boltzmann entropy. The function was used to estimate the absolute Boltzmann entropy of the data. Our experimental results show that the proposed method is both practical and efficient; computation time was reduced to about 1% of the original method when dealing with eight 600 × 600 pixel digital elevation models.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Patients Living with HIV Infection: Several Questions, Fewer Answers
Authors: Forghieri Fabio , Nasillo Vincenzo , Bettelli Francesca , Pioli Valeria , Giusti Davide , Gilioli Andrea , Mussini Cristina , Tagliafico Enrico , Trenti Tommaso , Cossarizza Andrea , Maffei Rossana , Barozzi Patrizia , Potenza Leonardo , Marasca Roberto , Narni Franco , Luppi Mario
Published: February 2020

Both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may be considered relatively uncommon disorders in the general population, but the precise incidence of AML in people living with HIV infection (PLWH) is uncertain. However, life expectancy of newly infected HIV-positive patients receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is gradually increasing, rivaling that of age-matched HIV-negative individuals, so that the occurrence of AML is also expected to progressively increase. Even if HIV is not reported to be directly mutagenic, several indirect leukemogenic mechanisms, mainly based on bone marrow microenvironment disruption, have been proposed. Despite a well-controlled HIV infection under ART should no longer be considered per se a contraindication to intensive chemotherapeutic approaches, including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, in selected fit patients with AML, survival outcomes are still generally unsatisfactory. We discussed several controversial issues about pathogenesis and clinical management of AML in PLWH, but few evidence-based answers may currently be provided, due to the limited number of cases reported in the literature, mainly as case reports or small retrospective case series. Prospective multicenter clinical trials are warranted to more precisely investigate epidemiology and cytogenetic/molecular features of AML in PLWH, but also to standardize and further improve its therapeutic management.
Different Frequency of Cyclic Tensile Strain Relates to Anabolic/Catabolic Conditions Consistent with Immunohistochemical Staining Intensity in Tenocytes
Authors: Kubo Yusuke , Hoffmann Bernd , Goltz Katja , Schnakenberg Uwe , Jahr Holger , Merkel Rudolf , Schulze-Tanzil Gundula , Pufe Thomas , Tohidnezhad Mersedeh
Published: February 2020

Tenocytes are mechanosensitive cells intimately adapting their expression profile and hence, their phenotype to their respective mechanomilieu. The immunolocalization and expression intensity of tenogenic, anabolic and catabolic markers in tenocytes in response to in vitro mechanical loading have not been monitored by immunohistochemical staining (IHC). Thus, we investigated the association between IHC intensities, different stimulation frequencies, and tenogenic metabolism using a versatile mechanical stretcher. Primary tenocytes obtained from murine Achilles tendons were transferred to poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) elastomeric chamber. Chambers were cyclically stretched by 5% in uniaxial direction at a variation of tensile frequency (1 or 2 Hz) for 3 h. After stretching, cell physiology, IHC intensities of tendon-related markers, and protein level of the angiogenesis marker vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated. Cell proliferation in tenocytes stimulated with 1 Hz stretch was significantly higher than with 2 Hz or without stretch, while 2 Hz stretch induced significantly reduced cell viability and proliferation with microscopically detectable apoptotic cell changes. The amount of scleraxis translocated into the nuclei and tenomodulin immunoreactivity of tenocytes treated with stretch were significantly higher than of non-stretched cells. The collagen type-1 expression level in tenocytes stretched at 1 Hz was significantly higher than in those cultivated with 2 Hz or without stretching, whereas the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-13 immunoreactivities of cells stretched at 2 Hz were significantly higher than in those stimulated with 1 Hz or without stretching. The secreted VEGF-protein level of tenocytes stretched at 2 Hz was significantly higher than without stretching. Our IHC findings consistent with cell physiology suggest that appropriate stretching can reproduce in vitro short-term tenogenic anabolic/catabolic conditions and allow us to identify an anabolic stretching profile.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease in 2019
Authors: JCDD Editorial Office
Published: February 2020

Peer review is an essential part in the publication process, ensuring that Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease maintains high quality standards for its published papers [...]
Postpartum Diet Quality: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health
Authors: Martin Julie C. , Joham Anju E. , Mishra Gita D. , Hodge Allison M. , Moran Lisa J. , Harrison Cheryce L.
Published: February 2020

Reproductive-aged women are at high risk of developing obesity, and diet quality is a potential modifiable risk factor. There is limited research exploring diet quality and its association with time since childbirth. Using data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) survey 5 (2009) of women born between 1973–1978, who reported having previously given birth, we investigated the association between time since childbirth and diet quality, and differences in energy, macronutrients, micronutrient intake, and diet quality assessed by the dietary guideline index (DGI) in women stratified by time from last childbirth, early (0–6 months; n = 558) and late (7–12 months; n = 547), and all other women with children (>12 months post childbirth n = 3434). From this cohort, 8200 participants were eligible, of which 4539 participants completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and were included in this analysis. Overall, diet quality was higher in early and late postpartum women (mean DGI score 89.8 (SD 10.5) and mean DGI score 90.0 (SD 10.2), respectively) compared to all other women with children (>12 months post childbirth), mean DGI score 85.2 (SD 11.7), p < 0.001. Factors positively associated with diet quality included higher education, physical activity, health provider support, and vitamin and/or mineral supplement use. Conversely, increasing time from childbirth (>12 months), smoking compared with non-smoking and medium income level compared with no income was negatively associated with diet quality. A lower diet quality in women greater than 12 months post childbirth may be reflective of increased pressures, balancing childrearing and return to work responsibilities. This highlights the need to support women beyond the postpartum period to improve modifiable factors associated with weight gain, including diet quality, to optimize health and reduce chronic disease risk.
Inpatient Burden and Mortality of Goodpasture’s Syndrome in the United States: Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2003–2014
Authors: Kaewput Wisit , Thongprayoon Charat , Boonpheng Boonphiphop , Ungprasert Patompong , Bathini Tarun , Chewcharat Api , Srivali Narat , Vallabhajosyula Saraschandra , Cheungpasitporn Wisit
Published: February 2020

Background: Goodpasture’s syndrome is a rare, life-threatening, small vessel vasculitis. Given its rarity, data on its inpatient burden and resource utilization are lacking. We conducted this study aiming to assess inpatient prevalence, mortality, and resource utilization of Goodpasture’s syndrome in the United States. Methods: The 2003–2014 National Inpatient Sample was used to identify patients with a principal diagnosis of Goodpasture’s syndrome. The inpatient prevalence, clinical characteristics, in-hospital treatment, end-organ failure, mortality, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization cost were studied. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Results: A total of 964 patients were admitted in hospital with Goodpasture’s syndrome as the principal diagnosis, accounting for an overall inpatient prevalence of Goodpasture’s syndrome among hospitalized patients in the United States of 10.3 cases per 1,000,000 admissions. The mean age of patients was 54 ± 21 years, and 47% were female; 52% required renal replacement therapy, whereas 39% received plasmapheresis during hospitalization. Furthermore, 78% had end-organ failure, with renal failure and respiratory failure being the two most common end-organ failures. The in-hospital mortality rate was 7.7 per 100 admissions. The factors associated with increased in-hospital mortality were age older than 70 years, sepsis, the development of respiratory failure, circulatory failure, renal failure, and liver failure, whereas the factors associated with decreased in-hospital mortality were more recent year of hospitalization and the use of therapeutic plasmapheresis. The median length of hospital stay was 10 days. The median hospitalization cost was $75,831. Conclusion: The inpatient prevalence of Goodpasture’s syndrome in the United States is 10.3 cases per 1,000,000 admissions. Hospitalization of patients with Goodpasture’s syndrome was associated with high hospital inpatient utilization and costs.
Body Weight as a Determining Factor in the Predominance of Adverse Drug Reactions Induced by Fixed-Dose Adalimumab Injections in Female Patients in a Korean Hospital Setting
Authors: Kim Kwi Suk , Choi Young Hee , Moon Aree , Kim Sang Geon
Published: February 2020

Adalimumab is used at 40-mg dose to treat systemic inflammatory diseases. Given the impact of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), which particularly result in the discontinuation of adalimumab therapy in female patients, this study examined whether sex affects the frequency and type of ADRs induced by adalimumab. In this study, the prescription records and laboratory data of patients aged ≥19 years who had been admitted to the Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) and prescribed adalimumab were analyzed using an electronic medical record database. The analysis revealed that female patients more frequently experienced adalimumab-induced ADRs compared with male patients (63.2% vs. 52.2%). The incidence of ADRs was significantly higher in female patients with ankylosing spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis than in male patients with similar conditions (81.5% vs. 60.7% or 64.4% vs. 50.0%, respectively). The median body weight (BW) was lower in female patients than in male patients (54.0 vs. 66.0 kg). Moreover, the incidence of ADRs in patients with a BW of <54.0 kg (i.e., the median female BW) was higher than for those with a BW of ≥54.0 kg, in both males and females. Our results suggested that the predominance of ADRs induced by adalimumab in females was because of their relatively lower BW. This suggests the importance of BW as a determining factor in sex disparity of ADR occurrences.
Left Atrial Volumetric and Deformation Analysis in Adult Patients with Dextro-Transposition of the Great Arteries (Insights from the CSONGRAD Registry and MAGYAR-Path Study)
Authors: Nemes Attila , Rácz Gergely , Kormányos Árpád , Domsik Péter , Kalapos Anita , Gyenes Nándor , Ambrus Nóra , Bogáts Gábor , Hartyánszky István , Havasi Kálmán
Published: February 2020

Background: In complete or dextro-transposition of the great arteries (dTGA), the aorta and the pulmonary artery are transposed. The present study was designed to examine dTGA-associated left atrial (LA) volumetric and functional abnormalities in adult patients late after repair and to compare their results to those of healthy controls. Methods: The present study consisted of 15 dTGA patients (30.3 ± 8.1 years, 9 males), the patients had Mustard (n = 8) or Senning (n = 7) procedure performed. Their results were compared to those of 36 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects (28.7 ± 1.5 years, 24 males). Results: Increased maximum LA volume and reduced LA emptying fractions respecting the cardiac cycle could be demonstrated in our dTGA patients. LA stroke volumes representing all LA functions were significantly reduced. Peak LA circumferential, longitudinal, and area strains and LA circumferential, longitudinal, and area strains measured at atrial contraction were reduced in our dTGA patients. Most LA strains were reduced in patients having Mustard surgery compared to controls and patients undergoing Senning operation. Conclusions: Significant LA volumetric and functional abnormalities could be demonstrated in adult patients with dTGA late after repair. Senning procedure seems to have more beneficial long-term effects on LA volumetric and functional features as compared to the Mustard procedure.
The Clinical Impact of Flow Titration on Epoprostenol Delivery via High Flow Nasal Cannula for ICU Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension or Right Ventricular Dysfunction: A Retrospective Cohort Comparison Study
Authors: Li Jie , Gurnani Payal K. , Roberts Keith M. , Fink James B. , Vines David
Published: February 2020

(1) Background: inhaled epoprostenol (iEPO) delivered via high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has been reported to be effective for pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction. In vitro studies have identified HFNC gas flow as a key factor in trans-nasal aerosol delivery efficiency; however, little evidence is available on the clinical impact of flow titration on trans-nasal aerosol delivery. At our institution, iEPO via HFNC was initiated in 2015 and the concept of flow titration during iEPO via HFNC has been gradually accepted and carried out by clinicians in the recent years. (2) Methods: a retrospective review of the electronic medical records for all adult patients who received iEPO via HFNC in a tertiary teaching hospital. Pre- and post- iEPO responses were reported for patients whose HFNC flow was titrated or maintained constant during iEPO delivery. Positive response to iEPO was defined as the reduction of mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) > 10% for pulmonary hypertension patients or the improvement of oxygenation [pulse oximetry (SpO2)/fraction of inhaled oxygen (FIO2)] > 20%. The number of responders to iEPO was compared between groups with titrated vs constant flow. (3) Results: 51 patients who used iEPO to treat pulmonary hypertension and/or right ventricular dysfunction were reviewed. Following iEPO administration via HFNC, mPAP decreased (43.6 ± 11.7 vs. 36.3 ± 9.7 mmHg, p < 0.001). Among the 51 patients, 24 had concomitant refractory hypoxemia, their oxygenation (SpO2/FIO2) improved after iEPO delivery (127.8 ± 45.7 vs. 157.6 ± 62.2, p < 0.001). During iEPO initiation, gas flow was titrated in 25 patients and the remaining 26 patients used constant flow. The percentage of patients in the flow titration group who met the criteria for a positive response was higher compared to the group with constant flow (85.7% vs. 50%, p = 0.035). Pre- vs post-iEPO responses were significant in the flow titration group included improvement in cardiac output (p = 0.050), cardiac index (p = 0.021) and FIO2 reduction (p = 0.016). These improvements in hemodynamics and FIO2 were not observed in the constant flow group. (4) Conclusion: in patients with pulmonary hypertension and/or right ventricular dysfunction, trans-nasal iEPO decreased pulmonary arterial pressure. It also improved oxygenation in patients with combined refractory hypoxemia. These improvements were more evident in patients whose gas flow was titrated during iEPO initiation than those patients using constant flow.
Harnessing the Potential of Stem Cells for Disease Modeling: Progress and Promises
Authors: Argentati Chiara , Tortorella Ilaria , Bazzucchi Martina , Morena Francesco , Martino Sabata
Published: February 2020

Ex vivo cell/tissue-based models are an essential step in the workflow of pathophysiology studies, assay development, disease modeling, drug discovery, and development of personalized therapeutic strategies. For these purposes, both scientific and pharmaceutical research have adopted ex vivo stem cell models because of their better predictive power. As matter of a fact, the advancing in isolation and in vitro expansion protocols for culturing autologous human stem cells, and the standardization of methods for generating patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells has made feasible to generate and investigate human cellular disease models with even greater speed and efficiency. Furthermore, the potential of stem cells on generating more complex systems, such as scaffold-cell models, organoids, or organ-on-a-chip, allowed to overcome the limitations of the two-dimensional culture systems as well as to better mimic tissues structures and functions. Finally, the advent of genome-editing/gene therapy technologies had a great impact on the generation of more proficient stem cell-disease models and on establishing an effective therapeutic treatment. In this review, we discuss important breakthroughs of stem cell-based models highlighting current directions, advantages, and limitations and point out the need to combine experimental biology with computational tools able to describe complex biological systems and deliver results or predictions in the context of personalized medicine.
Effects of Ultrasonic Surface Rolling on the Localized Corrosion Behavior of 7B50-T7751 Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Xu Xingchen , Liu Daoxin , Zhang Xiaohua , Liu Chengsong , Liu Dan , Ma Amin
Published: February 2020

The effects of an ultrasonic surface rolling process (USRP) on the localized corrosion behavior of 7B50-T7751 aluminum alloy in a sodium chloride + hydrogen peroxide solution were investigated through microstructural observation, immersion testing, and electrochemical measurements. The results revealed that this alloy is prone to pitting. However, the localized corrosion resistance can be significantly improved via both one-pass USRP and 12-pass USRP treatment. Furthermore, in the test solution, the thickness and the acceptor density of the passivation film were affected by the USRP treatment. The improved corrosion resistance of one-pass USRP-treated samples resulted mainly from the introduced compressive residual stress. However, this stress played a secondary role in the considerable enhancement observed for the corrosion resistance of the 12-pass USRP-treated samples. This enhancement is attributed primarily to the nanocrystalline surface and homogeneous surface microstructure induced by the multiple-pass USRP treatment.
Rate-Dependent Cohesive Zone Model for Fracture Simulation of Soda-Lime Glass Plate
Authors: Li Dong , Wei Demin
Published: February 2020

In this paper, rate-dependent cohesive zone model was established to numerical simulate the fracture process of soda-lime glass under impact loading. Soda-lime glass is widely used in architecture and automobile industry due to its transparency. To improve the accuracy of fracture simulation of soda-lime glass under impact loading, strain rate effect was taken into consideration and a rate-dependent cohesive zone model was established. Tensile-shear mixed mode fracture was also taken account. The rate-dependent cohesive zone model was implemented in the commercial finite element code ABAQUS/Explicit with the user subroutine VUMAT. The fracture behavior of a monolithic glass plate impacted by a hemispherical impactor was simulated. The simulation results demonstrated that the rate-dependent cohesive zone model is more suitable to describe the impact failure characteristics of a monolithic glass plate, compared to cohesive zone model without consideration of strain rate. Moreover, the effect of the strain rate sensitivity coefficient C, the mesh size of glass plate and the impact velocity on the fracture characteristics were studied.
Crystallization and Dielectric Properties of MWCNT /Poly(1-Butene) Composite Films by a Solution Casting Method
Authors: Li Lingfei , Sun Qiu , Chen Xiangqun , Xu Yongjun , Jiang Zhaohua
Published: February 2020

In this work, poly(1-butene) (PB-1) composite films with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were prepared by a solution casting method. The relationship between the dielectric properties and the crystal transformation process of the films was investigated. It was indicated that there were two crystal forms of I and II of PB-1 during the solution crystallization process. With the prolongation of the phase transition time, form II was converted into form I. The addition of the conductive filler (MWCNT) accelerated the rate of phase transformation and changed the nucleation mode of PB-1. The presence of crystal form I in the system increased the breakdown strength and the dielectric constant of the films and reduced the dielectric loss, with better stability. In addition, the dielectric constant and the dielectric loss of the MWCNT/PB-1 composite films increased with the addition of MWCNT, due to the interfacial polarization between MWCNT and PB-1 matrix. When the mass fraction of the MWCNT was 1.0%, the composite film had a dielectric constant of 43.9 at 25 °C and 103 Hz, which was 20 times that of the original film.
Er,Cr:YSGG Laser Performance Improves Biological Response on Titanium Surfaces
Authors: Yao Wan-Ling , Lin Jerry Chin Yi , Salamanca Eisner , Pan Yu-Hwa , Tsai Pei-Yo , Leu Sy-Jye , Yang Kai-Chiang , Huang Haw-Ming , Huang Huei-Yu , Chang Wei-Jen
Published: February 2020

Porphyromonas gingivalis infection is one of the causes of implant failures, which can lead to peri-implantitis. Implant surface roughness is reportedly related strongly to P. gingivalis adhesion, which can lead to peri-implantitis and, later, cell adhesion. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of Er,Cr:YSGG laser on titanium (Ti) disc surfaces and its interaction with bacterial adhesion and fibroblast viability. Ti discs underwent two treatments: autoclaving (control) and erbium, chromium-doped yttrium scandium gallium garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser treatment (test). Ti disc surfaces were examined with scanning electronic microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface roughness same as wettability were also investigated. Fibroblast viability was assessed with the water-soluble tetrazolium 1 (WST-1) test, and osteoblast differentiation was assessed with the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay. Bacterial structure and colony formation were detected with scanning electron microscopy and Gram stain. In comparison to control discs, the test discs showed smoother surfaces, with 0.25-µm decrease in surface roughness (p < 0.05); lower P. gingivalis adhesion (p < 0.01); less P. gingivalis colonization (p < 0.05); and increased fibroblast viability and osteoblast differentiation (p < 0.05). Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment improved disc surfaces by making them slightly smoother, which reduced P. gingivalis adhesion and increased fibroblast viability and osteoblast differentiation. Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment can be considered a good option for managing peri-implantitis. Further investigations of laser-assisted therapy are necessary for better guidelines in the treatment of peri-implantitis.
Design of Multifunctional Titania-Based Photocatalysts by Controlled Redox Reactions
Authors: Lopes Diogo , Daniel-da-Silva Ana Luísa , Sarabando Artur R. , Arias-Serrano Blanca I. , Rodríguez-Aguado Elena , Rodríguez-Castellón Enrique , Trindade Tito , Frade Jorge R. , Kovalevsky Andrei V.
Published: February 2020

This work aims at the preparation of multifunctional titania-based photocatalysts with inherent capabilities for thermal co-activation and stabilisation of anatase polymorph, by designing the phase composition and microstructure of rutile-silicon carbide mixture. The processing involved a conventional solid state route, including partial pre-reduction of rutile by SiC in inert Ar atmosphere, followed by post-oxidation in air. The impacts of processing conditions on the phase composition and photocatalytic activity were evaluated using Taguchi planning. The XRD studies confirmed the presence of rutile/anatase mixtures in the post-oxidised samples. The results emphasise that pre-reduction and post-oxidation temperatures are critical in defining the phase composition, while post-oxidation time is relevant for the photocatalytic performance. Microstructural studies revealed the formation of core-shell particles, which can suppress the photocatalytic activity. The highest apparent reaction rate of the photodegradation of methylene blue was observed for the sample pre-reduced in Ar at 1300 °C for 5 h and then calcined in air at 400 °C for 25 h. Though its performance was ~1.6-times lower than that for the same amount of nanostructured industrial P25 photocatalyst, it was achieved in the material possessing 2–3 times lower surface area and containing ~50 mol% of SiO2 and SiC, thus demonstrating excellent prospects for further improvements.
Properties of Iron Bacteria Biofouling on Ni-P-rGO Coating under Flowing Conditions
Authors: Sun Mingyang , Xu Zhiming , Liu Zuodong , Wang Bingbing , Di Huishuang
Published: February 2020

Biofouling on heat exchange devices can decrease heat transfer efficiency, corrode materials, and even lead safety accidents. Most heat exchange devices are made of carbon steel, which produces biofouling easily. In this paper, nickel-phosphorus-reduced graphene oxide (Ni-P-rGO) coating was prepared on carbon steel by electroless plating as a kind of advanced material to study the properties of iron bacteria biofouling under flowing conditions. The coating was analyzed via scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The properties of iron bacteria biofouling on carbon steel and Ni-P-rGO coating were then compared under flowing conditions. Compared with carbon steel, the asymptotic value of fouling resistance on the Ni-P-rGO coating significantly decreased. Additionally, the induction period and the time of reaching the asymptotic value greatly increased. The inhibition properties of biofouling of advanced materials Ni-P-rGO coating under different temperatures, flow velocities, and initial concentrations was also studied.
A Rare Case of Fatal Endobronchial Mucormycosis Masquerading as Endobronchial Tuberculosis
Authors: Kim Minjeong , Lim Jun Hyeok , Park Mihwa , Cha Hyung Keun , Kim Lucia , Nam Hae-Seong
Published: February 2020

Pulmonary mucormycosis is a relatively rare but often fatal opportunistic fungal infection that occurs mostly in immunocompromised patients. Endobronchial mucormycosis, a distinct clinical form of pulmonary mucormycosis, is very rare, and only a few cases have been reported. The most common bronchoscopic findings in patients with endobronchial mucormycosis are stenosis, erythematous mucosa and airway obstruction. Here, we present a case of fatal endobronchial mucormycosis mimicking actively caseating endobronchial tuberculosis in a young diabetic patient living in a country with an intermediate tuberculosis burden.
Evaluation of Pain Management after Surgery: An Observational Study
Authors: Sierżantowicz Regina , Lewko Jolanta , Bitiucka Dorota , Lewko Karolina , Misiak Bianka , Ładny Jerzy Robert
Published: February 2020

Background and Objectives: Choosing a pain management strategy is essential for improving recovery after surgery. Effective pain management reduces the stress response, facilitates mobilization, and improves the quality of the postoperative period. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of pain management in patients after surgery. Materials and Methods: The study included 216 patients operated on in the following surgical wards: the Department of Cardiosurgery and the Department of General and Endocrine Surgery. Patients were hospitalized on average for 6 ± 4.5 days. Patients were randomly selected for the study using a questionnaire technique with a numerical rating scale. Results: Immediately after surgery, pre-emptive analgesia, multimodal analgesia, and analgosedation were used significantly more frequently than other methods (p < 0.001). In the subsequent postoperative days, the method of administering drugs on demand was used most often. Patients with confirmed complications during postoperative wound healing required significantly more frequent use of drugs from Steps 2 and 3 of the World Health Organization (WHO) analgesic ladder compared with patients without complications. Conclusion: The mode of patient admission for surgery significantly affected the level of pain perception. Different pain management methods were used and not every method was effective.
Electrochemical Corrosion Resistance of Ni and Co Bonded Near-Nano and Nanostructured Cemented Carbides
Authors: Aleksandrov Fabijanić Tamara , Kurtela Marin , Škrinjarić Irbas , Pötschke Johannes , Mayer Markus
Published: February 2020

The advantages of nanostructured cemented carbides are a uniform, homogenous microstructure and superior, high uniform mechanical properties, which makes them the best choice for wear-resistant applications. Wear-resistant applications in the chemical and petroleum industry, besides mechanical properties, require corrosion resistance of the parts. Co as a binder is not an optimal solution due to selective dissolution in an acidic environment. Thus, the development of cemented carbides with alternative binders to increase the corrosion resistance but still retaining mechanical properties is of common interest. Starting mixtures with WC powder, grain growth inhibitors GGIs; VC and Cr3C2, and an identical binder amount of 11-wt.% were prepared. GGIs were added to retain the size of the starting WC powder in the sintered samples. The parameters of the powder metallurgy process were adapted, and samples have been successfully consolidated. A very fine homogeneous microstructure with relatively uniform grain-size distribution and without microstructural defects in the form of carbide agglomerates and abnormal grain growth was achieved for both Ni-bonded and Co-bonded samples. Achieved mechanical properties, Vickers hardness, and Palmqvist toughness, of Ni-bonded near-nanostructured cemented carbides are slightly lower but still comparable to Co-bonded nanostructured cemented carbides. Two samples of each grade were researched by different electrochemical direct current corrosion techniques. The open circuit potential Ecorr, the linear polarisation resistance (LPR), the Tafel extrapolation method, and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) at room temperature in the solution of 3.5% NaCl. From the carried research, it was found that chemical composition of the binder significantly influenced the electrochemical corrosion resistance. Better corrosion resistance was observed for Ni-bonded samples compared to Co-bonded samples. The corrosion rate of Ni-bonded cemented carbides is approximately four times lower compared to Co-bonded cemented carbides.
Microstructural and Mechanical Stability of a Ti-50.8 at.% Ni Shape Memory Alloy Achieved by Thermal Cycling with a Large Number of Cycles
Authors: Churakova Anna , Gunderov Dmitry
Published: February 2020

The influence of thermal cycling (TC) with a large number of cycles on the microstructure, the parameters of martensitic transformations (MTs), and the mechanical properties of a Ti-50.8 at.% Ni shape-memory alloy in coarse-grained (CG) and ultrafine-grained (UFG) states was investigated. The effect of microstructural and mechanical stability was found in both coarse-grained and ultrafine-grained states starting from the 100th cycle of martensitic transformations. In addition, an unusual temperature change was observed in martensitic transformations occurring with the formation of an intermediate R phase.
Selection for Growth and Precocity Alters Muscle Metabolism in Nellore Cattle
Authors: Cônsolo Nara Regina Brandão , da Silva Juliana , Buarque Vicente Luiz Macedo , Higuera-Padilla Angel , Barbosa Luis Carlos Garibaldi Simon , Zawadzki Andressa , Colnago Luis Alberto , Saran Netto Arlindo , Gerrard David Edwin , Silva Saulo Luz
Published: February 2020

To clarify the relationship between beef genetic selection for growth and precocity with muscle metabolism and metabolites, we performed metabolomic analysis using Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle from Nellore cattle with divergent selection for these traits (high growth, HG; low growth, LG; high precocity, HP; low precocity, LP). Genetic potential for growth affected muscle protein and energetic metabolism. HG animals had a high concentration of arginine, carnosine, and leucine compared to LG animals. HP animals presented a high concentration of glutamine, betaine, creatinine, isoleucine, carnitine, acetyl carnitine, and lower levels of glucose compared to LP animals, affecting protein and fatty acid metabolism. Intensity of selection (high or low) was correlated with changes in protein metabolism, and the type of selection (growth or precocity) affected fat metabolism. In conclusion, both HG and HP appear to be correlated with a high concentration of protein metabolites and changes in protein metabolic pathways, while selection for precocity is more correlated with changes in fat metabolism compared to animals selected for growth.
Chromium-Based Polypyrrole/MIL-101 Nanocomposite as an Effective Sorbent for Headspace Microextraction of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether in Soil Samples
Authors: Darabi Jila , Ghiasvand Alireza
Published: February 2020

The performance of headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was upgraded by easy and low-cost preparation of a new nanocomposite fiber. A polypyrrole/chromium-based metal–organic framework, PPy@MIL-101(Cr), nanocomposite was electrochemically synthesized and simultaneously coated on a steel wire as a microextraction sorbent. The morphology and chemical structure of the prepared nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) techniques. The microsorbent was used for sampling of methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in solid samples, through an HS-SPME sampling strategy, followed by GC-FID measurement. The optimal experimental conditions, including extraction temperature, extraction time, and GC desorption conditions, were evaluated and optimized. The proposed procedure showed good sensitivity (limit of detection was 0.01 ng·g−1) and precision (relative standard deviation was 8.4% for six replicated analyses). The calibration curve was linear over the range of 5–40,000 ng·g−1, with a correlation coefficient of 0.994. The limit of quantification was 0.4 ng·g−1. The fabricated fiber exhibited good repeatability and reproducibility for the sampling of MTBE, with average recovery values of 88–114%. The intra-fiber and inter-fiber precisions were found to be 8.4% and 19%, respectively. The results demonstrated the superiority of the PPy@MIL-101(Cr)-coated fiber in comparison with handmade (polypyrrole, PPY) and commercial fibers (polyacrylate, PA; polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS; and divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane, DVB/CAR/PDMS) for the analysis of solid samples. The developed method was successfully employed for the analysis of MTBE in different soil samples contaminated by oil products.