bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient Artificial Fertilization and Ovulated Egg Preservation in Kawakawa Euthynnus affinis
Authors: Endoh Mitsuru , Hazama Ryuji , Kaya Keita , Futamura Yusuke , Doi Sakurako , Makinose Izumi , Pandey Dipak , Nishimiya Osamu , Havelka Miloš , Saito Taiju , Goto Rie , Matsubara Takahiro
Published: April 2022

Artificial fertilization of cultured fish is essential for seed production using breeding techniques. However, in tuna species, the success rate of artificial fertilization is tremendously low. In this study, it was reported that the adequate procedure for ovulated egg collection and storage for artificial fertilization in kawakawa Euthynnus affinis. The collection of ovulated eggs was attempted using new techniques that disrupt only spawning activity without discontinuing ovulation. The available time to use ovulated eggs was also examined by assessing the optimal preservation process and temperature. As a result, artificial fertilization was effectively executed by assessing spawning time and thoroughly extracting ovulated eggs immediately after ovulation, with a success rate of 70% and an ovulation rate of 51.7%. Ovulated eggs could be stored with small quantities of ovarian fluid to sustain fertility. However, fertility was better preserved with Hanks’ solution. Ovulated eggs with high productivity were achieved 3 h after egg extraction when maintained in Hanks’ solution at 20 °C, leading to a supply of one-cell stage embryo for microinjection treatment constantly by continuously executing artificial fertilization. This systematic procedure permitted selective breeding by 1:1 mating between top-quality parental fish and applying several developmental engineering techniques to kawakawa breeding.
Do the Successive Waves of SARS-CoV-2, Vaccination Status and Place of Infection Influence the Clinical Picture and COVID-19 Severity among Patients with Persistent Clinical Symptoms? The Retrospective Study of Patients from the STOP-COVID Registry of the PoLoCOV-Study
Authors: Chudzik Michał , Babicki Mateusz , Kapusta Joanna , Kołat Damian , Kałuzińska Żaneta , Mastalerz-Migas Agnieszka , Jankowski Piotr
Published: April 2022

The severity of ailments caused by SARS-CoV-2 varies and the clinical picture has already evolved during the pandemic, complicating diagnostics. In Poland, no study has been performed to assess the clinical picture of patients across the successive pandemic waves. The aim of the study was to present the characteristics of patients who present to medical center because of persistent symptoms after COVID-19, and to study differences between hospitalized/non-hospitalized, vaccinated/non-vaccinated individuals and between different waves in Poland. This is a retrospective study evaluating the clinical presentation of COVID-19 patients from the STOP-COVID registry of the PoLoCOV-Study. This registry includes patients who present to the medical center because of persistent clinical symptoms after the isolation. The patients’ data were obtained from individuals who suffered from COVID-19 between September 2020 and December 2021.The patients were divided into groups according to the infection rate increase pattern (II/III/IV pandemic wave), status of vaccination and place of isolation. Regardless of the pandemic wave, the patients’ most commonly reported weaknesses were a cough and a headache. The arterial hypertension and hyperlipidemia were the most frequent concomitant chronic conditions. Hospitalized patients more often reported weakness or a cough while home-isolated patients were more likely to have rhinitis or a headache. Patients who completed the vaccination course showed a shorter duration of clinical symptoms and a lower mean number of symptoms. Additionally, vaccinated individuals reported less taste and/or olfactory dysfunction than unvaccinated individuals. To conclude, the persistence of the pandemic has resulted in significant changes observed in the clinical picture. Successive waves caused deterioration in the subjective assessment of the disease severity. A cough seemed to occur more frequently in the later pandemic waves.
Anthropogenic and Lightning Fire Incidence and Burned Area in Europe
Authors: Dijkstra Jasper , Durrant Tracy , San-Miguel-Ayanz Jesús , Veraverbeke Sander
Published: April 2022

Fires can have an anthropogenic or natural origin. The most frequent natural fire cause is lightning. Since anthropogenic and lightning fires have different climatic and socio-economic drivers, it is important to distinguish between these different fire causes. We developed random forest models that predict the fraction of anthropogenic and lightning fire incidences, and their burned area, at the level of the Nomenclature des Unités Territoriales Statistiques level 3 (NUTS3) for Europe. The models were calibrated using the centered log-ratio of fire incidence and burned area reference data from the European Forest Fire Information System. After a correlation analysis, the population density, fractional human land impact, elevation and burned area coefficient of variation—a measure of interannual variability in burned area—were selected as predictor variables in the models. After parameter tuning and running the models with several train-validate compositions, we found that the vast majority of fires and burned area in Europe has an anthropogenic cause, while lightning plays a significant role in the remote northern regions of Scandinavia. Combining our results with burned area data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, we estimated that 96.5 ± 0.9% of the burned area in Europe has an anthropogenic cause. Our spatially explicit fire cause attribution model demonstrates the spatial variability between anthropogenic and lightning fires and their burned area over Europe and could be used to improve predictive fire models by accounting for fire cause.
Nonverbal Switching Ability of Monolingual and Bilingual Children with and without Developmental Language Disorder
Authors: Boerma Tessel , van Witteloostuijn Merel , Blom Elma
Published: April 2022

Bilingualism is associated with enhanced switching skills, while a developmental language disorder (DLD) may negatively impact switching ability. However, both studies with bilinguals as well as studies including children with DLD have revealed mixed results. Moreover, the interaction of bilingualism and DLD has not been addressed and the origin of the stronger or weaker switching performance is unknown. The current study aimed to fill these gaps. Monolingual and bilingual children with and without DLD (n = 32 in each of the four groups) completed a nonverbal color/shape switching task when they were 7 to 8 years old, and a Continuous Performance Task two years earlier. The latter tapped into their response inhibition and sustained attention skills, which may underlie switching ability. No differences between monolinguals and bilinguals were found on the switching task. Children with DLD had higher mixing costs than peers without DLD, which was driven by differences in sustained attention skills. These results add to the body of research indicating that the cognitive advantages of bilingualism are unstable. Additionally, the results substantiate the hypothesis that attention processes are foundational for complex cognitive skills, such as switching, and suggest cascading effects for children with weaker attention skills, such as children with DLD.
Experimental and Numerical Case Studies about Two-Dimensional CHS Joints with a Symmetrical Y-Shape
Authors: Heinemann Patrick , Isopescu Dorina-Nicolina
Published: April 2022

Steel hollow section joints are mainly used for offshore structures, hall support or trusses. Current standards define different kinds of steel joints, but there are limitations regarding the geometry or load scenarios. Excluded joints are full-overlapped Y-joints with on-top connection. For these kinds of joints, there is no general design fundamental, so the design engineer has to build his/her own model. The aim of this paper is to figure out the resistance of this special undefined joint type and the influence of the inclination angle between the pipes. An experimental and numerical analysis of this joint was done. Due to this evaluation of the inclination angle, the design engineer could optimize the structure economically. Two different circular profile types were focused on. It was concluded that by increasing the inclination angle, the total applicable force decreased non-linearly. On one hand, the most economic design was achieved by choosing a steep angle. On the other hand, the resistance of the structure, regarding the maximum appliable force, could be increased. For the system in this paper, an increase up to 47% was achieved by choosing a profile with a thickness of 2.8 mm instead of 2.0 mm.
A Research on Delayed Thermal Depolarization, Electric Properties, and Stress in (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-Based Ceramic Composites
Authors: Zhang Xingru , Xiao Yinan , Yang Chao , Wu Yuandong , Wen Min , Jiao Junke , Li Rui , Sheng Liyuan , Tan Wenchang
Published: April 2022

Depolarization behavior is one of the main shortcomings of (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-based ceramics. Considering the undesirable efficiency of traditional modification methods, in this paper a series of 0–3 type ceramic composites 0.85(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-0.11(Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3-0.04BaTiO3-x mol% ZnO (BNKT-BT-xZnO)) were synthesized by introducing ZnO nanoparticles. The results of the X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) demonstrate that the majority of ZnO nanoparticles grow together to form enrichment regions, and the other Zn2+ ions diffuse into the matrix after sintering. With ZnO incorporated, the ferroelectric–ergodic relaxor transition temperature, TF-R, and depolarization temperature, Td, increase to above 120 °C and 110 °C, respectively. The research on temperature-dependent P–E loops verifies an attenuated ergodic degree induced by ZnO incorporation. For this reason, piezoelectric properties can be well-maintained below 110 °C. The electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was employed to investigate the stress effect. Orientation maps reveal the random orientation of all grains, excluding the impact of texture on depolarization. The local misorientation image shows that more pronounced strain appears near the boundaries, implying stress is more concentrated there. This phenomenon supports the hypothesis that potential stress suppresses depolarization. These results demonstrate that the depolarization behavior is significantly improved by the introduction of ZnO. The composites BNKT-BT-xZnO are promising candidates of lead-free ceramics for practical application in the future.
Influence of the Tool Cutting Edge Helix Angle on the Surface Roughness after Finish Milling of Magnesium Alloys
Authors: Zagórski Ireneusz , Szczepaniak Anna , Kulisz Monika , Korpysa Jarosław
Published: April 2022

This paper shows the surface quality results after finishing milling of AZ91D and AZ31 magnesium alloys. The study was performed for variable technological parameters: cutting speed, feed per tooth, axial depth of cut and radial depth of cut. The tools used in the study were two carbide cutters with a different tool cutting edge helix angle. The measurement of the research results presented the surface roughness parameters was made on the lateral faces and the end faces of the specimens. Statistical analysis and simulations using artificial neural networks were carried out with the Statistica software. The normality of the distribution was examined, and the hypotheses of the equality of mean values and variance were verified. For the AZ91D magnesium alloy on the lateral and the end faces (Ra, Rz parameters), simulations were carried out. Two types of ANN were used: MLP (Multi-layered perceptron) and RBF (Radial Basis Function). To increase the machining stability and to obtain a high surface finish, the more suitable tool for finishing milling is the tool with a helix angle of λs = 20°. Artificial neural networks have been shown to be a good tool for predicting surface roughness parameters of magnesium alloys after finishing milling.
Impact of Precursor Concentration on Perovskite Crystallization for Efficient Wide-Bandgap Solar Cells
Authors: Du Shuxian , Yang Jing , Qu Shujie , Lan Zhineng , Sun Tiange , Dong Yixin , Shang Ziya , Liu Dongxue , Yang Yingying , Yan Luyao , Wang Xinxin , Huang Hao , Ji Jun , Cui Peng , Li Yingfeng , Li Meicheng
Published: April 2022

High-crystalline-quality wide-bandgap metal halide perovskite materials that achieve superior performance in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been widely explored. Precursor concentration plays a crucial role in the wide-bandgap perovskite crystallization process. Herein, we investigated the influence of precursor concentration on the morphology, crystallinity, optical property, and defect density of perovskite materials and the photoelectric performance of solar cells. We found that the precursor concentration was the key factor for accurately controlling the nucleation and crystal growth process, which determines the crystallization of perovskite materials. The precursor concentration based on Cs0.05FA0.8MA0.15Pb(I0.84Br0.16)3 perovskite was controlled from 0.8 M to 2.3 M. The perovskite grains grow larger with the increase in concentration, while the grain boundary and bulk defect decrease. After regulation and optimization, the champion PSC with the 2.0 M precursor concentration exhibits a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.13%. The management of precursor concentration provides an effective way for obtaining high-crystalline-quality wide-bandgap perovskite materials and high-performance PSCs.
Investigation of the Geopolymerization Potential of a Waste Silica-Rich Diabase Mud
Authors: Spanou Maria , Ioannou Sokrates , Oikonomopoulou Konstantina , Savva Pericles , Sakkas Konstantinos , Petrou Michael F. , Nicolaides Demetris
Published: April 2022

Diabase mud (DM) is a silica-rich residue yielding from aggregate crushing and washing operations in quarries. This work focuses on identifying the geopolymerization potential of a diabase mud through characterization of its mineralogical composition, investigation of its reactivity, and assessment of the early compressive strengths of alkali activated mixtures formulated based on the mud’s dissolution results. The findings suggest that considerably low amounts of Al and Si metals were dissolved following the dissolution tests conducted on DM, however, the incorporation of small quantities of CEM I, gypsum, and metakaolin (MK) moderately at a Na2SiO3:NaOH ratio of 50:50 and with a molarity of NaOH of 4 M enhanced the geopolymerization compared to low L/S ratio mixtures cured at different conditions. When M was increasing, the high L/S ratio mixtures exhibited fluctuations in strengths, especially beyond a 10 M NaOH molarity. Maximum strengths of mixtures at equivalent molarity of 10 were achieved when the Na2SiO3:NaOH ratio reached 30:70, regardless of the ambient conditions and the presence of CEM I. The curing conditions, the ratio of Na2SO3:NaOH, and the presence of CEM I in the DM-based mixtures did not appear to significantly affect the mixture when NaOH concentration was between 2 M and 4 M; at higher molarities, however, these enhanced the strengths of the geopolymerized DM.
Preparation of One-Dimensional Polyaniline Nanotubes as Anticorrosion Coatings
Authors: Yang Guangyuan , Liu Fuwei , Hou Ning , Peng Sanwen , He Chunqing , Fang Pengfei
Published: April 2022

Uniform polyaniline (PANI) nanotubes were synthesized by a self-assembly method under relatively dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy were employed to characterize the morphology and molecular structure of the PANI products. SEM images show that the PANI nanotubes have uniform morphology and form compact coating on the substrate surface. For comparison, aggregated PANI was also synthesized by conventional polymerization method. The performance of the PANI products on carbon steel was studied using eletrochemical measurement and immersion corrosion experiment in 3.5 wt% NaCl aqueous solution. The corrosion potentials of carbon steel samples increase by 0.196 V and 0.060 V after coated with PANI nanotubes and aggregated PANI, respectively, and the corrosion currents density decrease by about 76.32% and 36.64%, respectively. The 6-day immersion experiment showed that the carbon steel samples coated by PANI nanotubes showed more excellent anticorrosion performance, because the more compact coating formed by PANI nanotubes may inhibit the corrosion process between the anodic and cathodic.
Thermal Properties of Lightweight Steel Concrete Wall Panels under Different Humidity Conditions
Authors: Rybakov Vladimir , Ananeva Irina , Seliverstov Anatoly , Usanova Kseniia
Published: April 2022

The paper presents the thermal properties of lightweight steel concrete wall panels under different humidity conditions: under normal operation conditions and high moisture of the structure. The total thermal resistance (considering thermal inhomogeneity) of the enclosing lightweight steel concrete structure with a thickness of 310 mm using monolithic low-density foam concrete (density grade of D200), at an equilibrium humidity of 5% and 8%, was experimentally established. It was equal to 4.602 m2.0C/W and 4.1 m2.0C/W, respectively. In the dry state, the total thermal resistance of this structure was 5.59 m2.0 C/W, which corresponds to a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.057 m °C/W. The influence of both horizontal and vertical joints of lightweight steel concrete wall panels and the absence of thermoprofiles on thermal properties was insignificant when using heat-insulating gaskets. The actual total thermal resistance of the structure was 2.5–2.8 times higher than that obtained by calculation under high-humidity conditions (29–32%). At the same time, the decrease in the value compared to the same value at an equilibrium humidity of 5% was only 4–6%. This indicates the good workability even of a structure with high-humidity foam concrete if the reduced total thermal resistance is complied with by the standardized one.
Alkali Activation of Milled Red Brick Waste and Calcined Illite Clay with Silica Gel Addition
Authors: Bumanis Girts , Vaičiukynienė Danutė
Published: April 2022

The role of precursor characteristics and mixture composition design of alkali-activated materials (AAM) has been intensively researched with different types of alumino-silicate sources. Two illite-based precursors were prepared and investigated—(i) raw illite clay (IC) treated in a laboratory at 700, 750, and 800 ∘C and (ii) a red brick waste coming from the brick production plant. The fineness of precursors was determined and compared. The precursors were activated with 6 M and 7 M NaOH alkali solutions. Silica gel addition was considered in the composition of AAM. The XRD results indicate the transformation of both precursor types under alkali activation. The efflorescence salts were analyzed on the samples with silica gel addition. Calcined IC precursor allowed us to obtain AAM with a strength from 11 to 16 MPa with an increasing strength gain during curing. The red brick waste precursor showed a compressive strength from 14 to 28 MPa. A high early strength was obtained with no further strength increase. The hydrosodalite and zeolite crystals were detected in the structure of AAM based on the red brick waste precursor. The results indicate different characteristics of AAM based on similar source precursors, showing the important role of the proper treatment of precursors before alkali activation.
Load-Carrying Capacity of Ultra-Thin Shells with and without CNTs Reinforcement
Authors: Nguyen Tan N. , Dang L. Minh , Lee Jaehong , Nguyen Pho Van
Published: April 2022

Isotropic ultra-thin shells or membranes, as well as cable–membrane structures, cannot resist loads at the initial state and always require a form-finding process to reach the steady state. After this stage, they can work in a pure membrane state and quickly experience large deflection behavior, even with a small amplitude of load. This paper aims to improve the load-carrying capacity and strength of membrane structures via exploiting the advantages of functionally graded carbon-nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) material. In this work, the load-carrying capacity and nonlinear behavior of membrane structures with and without CNTs reinforcement are first investigated using a unified adaptive approach (UAA). As an advantage of UAA, both form finding and postbuckling analysis are performed conveniently and simultaneously based on a modified Riks method. Different from the classical membrane theory, the present theory (first-order shear deformation theory) simultaneously takes into account the membrane, shear and bending strains/stiffnesses of structures. Accordingly, the present formulation can be applied adaptively and naturally to various types of FG-CNTRC structures: plates, shells and membranes. A verification study is conducted to show the high accuracy of the present approach and formulation. Effects of CNTs distribution, volume fraction, thickness, curvature, radius-to-thickness and length-to-radius ratios on the form-finding and postbuckling behavior of FG-CNTRC membranes are particularly investigated. In particular, equilibrium paths of FG-CNTRC membrane structures are first provided in this paper.
Physicochemical Characterization of Fucoidans from Sargassum henslowianum C.Agardh and Their Antithrombotic Activity In Vitro
Authors: Lin Peichun , Chen Suhua , Liao Min , Wang Weimin
Published: April 2022

Sargassum fucoidan is a kind of sulfated heteropolysaccharide with a variety of biological activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the extraction, purification, physicochemical characterization and in vitro antithrombotic activity of fucoidan from Sargassum henslowianum C.Agardh. Hot-water-assisted ultrasound was used to extract fucoidan (F). Fucoidan was purified by DEAE cellulose 52 (F1), Vc-H2O2 (FD1) and Superdex 75 gel (FDS1). The physical and chemical properties of fucoidans were analyzed by chemical composition, monosaccharide composition, average molecular weight (Mw) and FTIR. The sulfate contents of F, F1, FD1 and FDS1 were 11.45%, 16.35% and 17.52%, 9.66%, respectively; the Mw was 5.677 × 105, 4.393 × 105, 2.176 × 104 and 6.166 × 103, respectively. The results of monosaccharide composition showed that the four fucoidans contained l-fucose, d-galactose, l-mannose, d-xylose, l-rhamnose and d-glucose, but the mass fraction ratio was different. The results of FTIR showed that fucoidan contained characteristic peaks of sugar and sulfate. In vitro, F1, FD1 and FDS1 could alleviate HUVEC damage induced by adrenaline (Adr). F1, FD1 and FDS1 decreased vWF and TF and increased the ratio of t-PA/PAI-1 in Adr-induced HUVEC.
Exploring the Mangrove Fruit: From the Phytochemicals to Functional Food Development and the Current Progress in the Middle East
Authors: Budiyanto Fitri , Alhomaidi Eman A. , Mohammed Afrah E. , Ghandourah Mohamed A. , Alorfi Hajer S. , Bawakid Nahed O. , Alarif Wailed M.
Published: April 2022

Nowadays, the logarithmic production of existing well-known food materials is unable to keep up with the demand caused by the exponential growth of the human population in terms of the equality of access to food materials. Famous local food materials with treasury properties such as mangrove fruits are an excellent source to be listed as emerging food candidates with ethnomedicinal properties. Thus, this study reviews the nutrition content of several edible mangrove fruits and the innovation to improve the fruit into a highly economic food product. Within the mangrove fruit, the levels of primary metabolites such as carbohydrates, protein, and fat are acceptable for daily intake. The mangrove fruits, seeds, and endophytic fungi are rich in phenolic compounds, limonoids, and their derivatives as the compounds present a multitude of bioactivities such as antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant. In the intermediary process, the flour of mangrove fruit stands as a supplementation for the existing flour with antidiabetic or antioxidant properties. The mangrove fruit is successfully transformed into many processed food products. However, limited fruits from species such as Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Rhizophora mucronata, Sonneratia caseolaris, and Avicennia marina are commonly upgraded into traditional food, though many more species demonstrate ethnomedicinal properties. In the Middle East, A. marina is the dominant species, and the study of the phytochemicals and fruit development is limited. Therefore, studies on the development of mangrove fruits to functional for other mangrove species are demanding. The locally accepted mangrove fruit is coveted as an alternate food material to support the sustainable development goal of eliminating world hunger in sustainable ways.
Clinical Characteristics and Distribution of Pediatric Fractures at a Tertiary Hospital in Northern France: A 20-Year-Distance Comparative Analysis (1999–2019)
Authors: Monget Faustine , Sapienza Marco , McCracken Kathryn Louise , Nectoux Eric , Fron Damien , Andreacchio Antonio , Pavone Vito , Canavese Federico
Published: April 2022

Background and objectives: The epidemiology and distribution of pediatric fractures change over time and are influenced by a multitude of factors including geography, climate, and population characteristics. The aims of our work were to study the distribution of traumatic pediatric orthopedic injuries admitted to the Lille University Hospital (LUH) Pediatric Emergency Department in 1999 and in 2019 and to analyze the epidemiological differences 20 years apart. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective, comparative, monocentric, and epidemiological study involving all children between 0 and 15 years and 3 months of age who consulted the pediatric emergencies of LUH from 1 January 1999 to 31 December 1999 and from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. On admission, the following data were collected: sex, age at the time of injury, month and time of the day the trauma occurred (4:00 a.m to 11:59 a.m, 12:00 p.m. to 19:59 p.m, and 20:00 p.m to 3:59 a.m.), mechanism of injury, laterality (right or left), anatomical location, type of injury, and whether the fracture was closed or open. The type of treatment (orthopedic or surgical) was collected from the medical records. Results: A total of 939 children were included in 1999 compared with 781 in 2019 (21% decrease); the average age of children with fractures was significantly higher in 1999 (8.81 years) than in 2019 (7.19 years). This difference was explained by the majority involvement of older children (10–15 years) in 1999 (43% of fractures in 1999 versus 25% of fractures in 2019). Conversely, small children (1–5 years) had significantly more fractures in 2019 (36%) than in 1999 (24%). Conclusions: Overall, the types and sites of fractures did not change over the studied time despite a change in the population and mechanism of injury. This suggested that the reflexes of breaking a fall still tended to implicate and damage the same bone segments. Finally, the proportion of fractures managed surgically versus orthopedically has not evolved since 1999. Exploring this is a possible area of further research that would complement our study.
Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Psychotic Disorders: A Practical Model for Interventions in Romanian Mental Health Centers
Authors: Hurmuz Marinela , Frandes Mirela , Panfil Anca-Livia , Stoica Ileana-Pepita , Bredicean Cristina , Giurgi-Oncu Catalina , Papava Ion , Nirestean Aurel
Published: April 2022

Background and Objectives: Current psychiatric care is increasingly focusing on patients’ quality of life (QoL). Research is still trying to determine the main factors which influence QoL. The present study aims to assess the QoL of patients with chronic psychotic-spectrum disorders, as well as its relation to symptomatology, functionality, adaptive behavior, and perceived level of recovery. Materials and Methods: The study included a sample of 78 patients with chronic psychosis. Symptomatology and illness severity were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale-Severity (CGI-S) scales, respectively. The Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAFS) and the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System II (ABAS-II)-Adult Form were used for the assessment of patients’ functionality, and the Quality-of-Life Inventory (QOLI) scale was applied for the evaluation of QoL. Results: According to the CGI-Severity scale, 20.5% of the patients were borderline mentally ill, and 24.4% were mildly ill. The highest number of patients (34.6%) were moderately ill, while 14.1% and 2.6% were markedly ill and severely ill, respectively. Among the moderately ill patients, more than half (63%) were patients with schizophrenia, 18.5% were patients with delusional disorder, and 18.5% were patients with schizoaffective disorder. Most of the patients (43.6%) presented moderate functioning deficiency, while 38.5% of the patients presented severe deficiency, according to the GAFS score. When assessed with the ABAS, we observed that almost half of the patients (44.9%) showed an average functioning across skill areas in the conceptual, social, and practical domains. A percent of 67.9% of the patients presented an average QoL, while 15.4% and 12.8% showed a very low and low QoL. QoL was not influenced by the patients’ symptomatology, gender, and education level. Having children, family support, better social and conceptual skills, and a higher perceived level of recovery was correlated with an increased QoL, hierarchical multiple regression R2 = 0.379, F(9, 68) = 2.616, and p = 0.012. Conclusions: Psychiatric interventions in psychosis should focus not only on symptoms’ control, but also on improving social and family support, as well as adaptive skills to increase the patients’ QoL.
The Association between Iron-Deficiency Anemia (IDA) and Septic Arthritis (SA): The Real-World Data
Authors: Chiang Cheng-Hung , Li Cheng-Yen , Hu Kai-Chieh , Fu Yi-Hsiu , Chiu Ching-Chih , Hsia Chia-Chun , Kuo Shu-Jui , Hung Chih-Hung
Published: April 2022

Background and Objectives: Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) could predispose the afflicted individuals to various infections and musculoskeletal disorders. This study attempted to investigate the association between IDA and septic arthritis (SA), a musculoskeletal disease. Materials and Methods: We investigated all the eligible subjects in the Taiwanese longitudinal health insurance database (LHID) between 2000 and 2012. Subjects with the diagnosis of IDA (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM): 280) were allocated to the IDA cohort. The control subjects were randomly matched to every subject with IDA coding by age and sex at the 1:4 ratio. All of the recruited subjects were followed since the index date to the onset of SA (ICD-9-CM: 711.0), withdrawal from the insurance (including death), or 31 December 2013. Results: The cumulative incidence of SA was assessed. We showed that the cumulative incidence of SA was higher in the IDA cohort than in the control cohort (p-value < 0.0001). After adjustment of the comorbidities, the IDA patients had a 2.53-fold risk of SA compared to control subjects (aHR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.89–3.38). Conclusions: IDA was associated with an increased risk of SA.
Ultra-Thin Terahertz Deflection Device Based on Laser Direct Writing Graphene Oxide Paper
Authors: Suo Yixin , Zhang Luming , Li Yihang , Wu Yu , Zhang Jian , Wen Qiye
Published: April 2022

In the world of terahertz bands, terahertz beam deflection has gradually attracted substantial attention, due to its great significance in wireless communications, high-resolution imaging and radar applications. In this paper, a low-reflection and fast-fabricated terahertz beam deflection device has been realized by utilizing graphene oxide paper. Using laser direct writing technology, graphene oxide has been patterned as a specific sample. The thickness of the graphene oxide-based terahertz devices is around 15–20 μm, and the processing takes only a few seconds. The experimental results show that the beam from this device can achieve 5.7° and 10.2° deflection at 340 GHz, while the reflection is 10%, which is only 1/5 of that of existing conventional devices. The proposed device with excellent performance can be quickly manufactured and applied in the fields of terahertz imaging, communication, and perception, enabling the application of terahertz technology.
Reversible Thermo-Responsive Valve for Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices
Authors: Toda Hiroki , Iwasaki Wataru , Morita Nobutomo , Motomura Taisei , Takemura Kenshin , Nagano Masaya , Nakanishi Yoshitaka , Nakashima Yuta
Published: April 2022

Fluid control on a paper channel is necessary for analysis with multiple reagents, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs). In this study, a thermo-responsive valve was fabricated by polymerizing N-isopropylacrylamide on a PVDF porous membrane by plasma-induced graft polymerization. The polymerized membrane was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and it was confirmed that more pores were closed at temperatures below 32 °C and more pores were opened at temperatures above 32 °C. Valve permeability tests confirmed that the proposed polymerized membrane was impermeable to water and proteins at temperatures below 32 °C and permeable to water at temperatures above 32 °C. The valve could also be reversibly and repeatedly opened and closed by changing the temperature near 32 °C. These results suggest that plasma-induced graft polymerization may be used to produce thermo-responsive valves that can be opened and closed without subsequent loss of performance. These results indicate that the thermo-responsive valve fabricated by plasma-induced graft polymerization could potentially be applied to ELISA with µPADs.
Modeling of Key Specifications for RF Amplifiers Using the Extreme Learning Machine
Authors: Zhou Shaohua , Yang Cheng , Wang Jian
Published: April 2022

The amplifier is a key component of the radio frequency (RF) front-end, and its specifications directly determine the performance of the system in which it is located. Unfortunately, amplifiers’ specifications degrade with temperature and even lead to system failure. To study how the system failure is affected by the amplifier specification degradation, it is necessary to couple the amplifier specification degradation into the system optimization design. Furthermore, to couple the amplifier specification degradation into the optimal design of the system, it is necessary to model the characteristics of the amplifier specification change with temperature. In this paper, the temperature characteristics of two amplifiers are modeled using an extreme learning machine (ELM), and the results show that the model agrees well with the measurement results and can effectively reduce measurement time and cost.
Flexible Wearable Pressure Sensor Based on Collagen Fiber Material
Authors: Peng Zhiqing , Zheng Shijie , Zhang Xia , Yang Junlong , Wu Shizhou , Ding Chen , Lei Lei , Chen Lei , Feng Guoying
Published: April 2022

Flexible wearable pressure sensors play a pivotal role in healthcare monitoring, disease prevention, and humanmachine interactions. However, their narrow sensing ranges, low detection sensitivities, slow responses, and complex preparation processes restrict their application in smart wearable devices. Herein, a capacitive pressure sensor with high sensitivity and flexibility that uses an ionic collagen fiber material as the dielectric layer is proposed. The sensor exhibits a high sensitivity (5.24 kPa−1), fast response time (40 ms), long-term stability, and excellent repeatability over 3000 cycles. Because the sensor is resizable, flexible, and has a simple preparation process, it can be flexibly attached to clothes and the human body for wearable monitoring. Furthermore, the practicality of the sensor is proven by attaching it to different measurement positions on the human body to monitor the activity signal.
Molecular Regulatory Mechanisms Drive Emergent Pathogenetic Properties of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Authors: Sunkavalli Ashwini , McClure Ryan , Genco Caroline
Published: April 2022

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the causative agent of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) gonorrhea, with an estimated 87 million annual cases worldwide. N. gonorrhoeae predominantly colonizes the male and female genital tract (FGT). In the FGT, N. gonorrhoeae confronts fluctuating levels of nutrients and oxidative and non-oxidative antimicrobial defenses of the immune system, as well as the resident microbiome. One mechanism utilized by N. gonorrhoeae to adapt to this dynamic FGT niche is to modulate gene expression primarily through DNA-binding transcriptional regulators. Here, we describe the major N. gonorrhoeae transcriptional regulators, genes under their control, and how these regulatory processes lead to pathogenic properties of N. gonorrhoeae during natural infection. We also discuss the current knowledge of the structure, function, and diversity of the FGT microbiome and its influence on gonococcal survival and transcriptional responses orchestrated by its DNA-binding regulators. We conclude with recent multi-omics data and modeling tools and their application to FGT microbiome dynamics. Understanding the strategies utilized by N. gonorrhoeae to regulate gene expression and their impact on the emergent characteristics of this pathogen during infection has the potential to identify new effective strategies to both treat and prevent gonorrhea.
Production of Indole and Indole-Related Compounds by the Intestinal Microbiota and Consequences for the Host: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Authors: Tennoune Naouel , Andriamihaja Mireille , Blachier François
Published: April 2022

The intestinal microbiota metabolic activity towards the available substrates generates myriad bacterial metabolites that may accumulate in the luminal fluid. Among them, indole and indole-related compounds are produced by specific bacterial species from tryptophan. Although indole-related compounds are, first, involved in intestinal microbial community communication, these molecules are also active on the intestinal mucosa, exerting generally beneficial effects in different experimental situations. After absorption, indole is partly metabolized in the liver into the co-metabolite indoxyl sulfate. Although some anti-inflammatory actions of indole on liver cells have been shown, indoxyl sulfate is a well-known uremic toxin that aggravates chronic kidney disease, through deleterious effects on kidney cells. Indoxyl sulfate is also known to provoke endothelial dysfunction. Regarding the central nervous system, emerging research indicates that indole at excessive concentrations displays a negative impact on emotional behavior. The indole-derived co-metabolite isatin appears, in pre-clinical studies, to accumulate in the brain, modulating brain function either positively or negatively, depending on the doses used. Oxindole, a bacterial metabolite that enters the brain, has shown deleterious effects on the central nervous system in experimental studies. Lastly, recent studies performed with indoxyl sulfate report either beneficial or deleterious effects depending once again on the dose used, with missing information on the physiological concentrations that are reaching the central nervous system. Any intervention aiming at modulating indole and indole-related compound concentrations in the biological fluids should crucially take into account the dual effects of these compounds according to the host tissues considered.
Textile-Based Flexible Capacitive Pressure Sensors: A Review
Authors: Su Min , Li Pei , Liu Xueqin , Wei Dapeng , Yang Jun
Published: April 2022

Flexible capacitive pressure sensors have been widely used in electronic skin, human movement and health monitoring, and human–machine interactions. Recently, electronic textiles afford a valuable alternative to traditional capacitive pressure sensors due to their merits of flexibility, light weight, air permeability, low cost, and feasibility to fit various surfaces. The textile-based functional layers can serve as electrodes, dielectrics, and substrates, and various devices with semi-textile or all-textile structures have been well developed. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent developments in textile-based flexible capacitive pressure sensors. The latest research progresses on textile devices with sandwich structures, yarn structures, and in-plane structures are introduced, and the influences of different device structures on performance are discussed. The applications of textile-based sensors in human wearable devices, robotic sensing, and human–machine interaction are then summarized. Finally, evolutionary trends, future directions, and challenges are highlighted.
Blue Titania: The Outcome of Defects, Crystalline-Disordered Core-Shell Structure, and Hydrophilicity Change
Authors: Sabinas-Hernández Sergio A. , Gracia Jiménez Justo Miguel , Silva González Nicolás Rutilo , Elizalde-González María P. , Salazar-Kuri Ulises , Tehuacanero-Cuapa Samuel
Published: April 2022

In this research, changes in several characteristics of partially reduced titania were studied. The reduction process used made it possible to gradually observe changes in the material depending on the amount of reducing agent used. We used NaBH4 to impregnate commercial TiO2 with isopropyl alcohol. Impregnated TiO2 nanoparticles were dried and thermally treated in a nitrogen flow to obtain blue titania samples. Thorough spectroscopic characterization showed that oxygen atoms from hydroxyl groups, as well as from the surface, and the lattice of TiO2 was consumed. This caused changes in the surface and even in the bulk of TiO2 when the amount of reducing agent used was increased. Structural, optical, superficial, and textural characteristics were studied using XRD, Raman, DRS UV-Vis-NIR, Mid-DRIFT, XPS, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. A photocatalytic test of the degradation of methylene blue dye was performed. Among different effects on the mentioned characteristics, we found evidence of changes in the surface properties of the blue titania samples and their probable effect on the photocatalytic properties. The reduction process implied a preponderant decrease in the surface hydrophilicity of the reduced samples, an effect shown for the first time in this type of material.
A Detailed Insight into Acoustic Attenuation in a Static Bed of Hydrophilic Nanosilica
Authors: Ali Syed Sadiq , Arsad Agus , Hossain SK Safdar , Asif Mohammad
Published: April 2022

The commercial utilization of bulk nanosilica is widespread in concrete, rubber and plastics, cosmetics and agriculture-related applications, and the market of this product is projected to exceed USD 5 billion by 2025. In this investigation, the local dynamics of a nanosilica bed, excited with sinusoidal acoustic waves of different frequencies, were carefully monitored using sensitive pressure transducers to obtain detailed insights into the effectiveness of sound waves as a means of energy transport inside the bed. The evolution of wave patterns and their frequency and power distributions were examined both in the freeboard and in the static bed. These results were compared with those obtained by using an empty column. The acoustic frequency strongly affected the signal power. The average power of the acoustic signal in the freeboard region was twice higher than that for the empty column, whereas the same (power) ratio decreased to approximately 0.03 inside the bed for 300 Hz. However, at 360 Hz, the power ratio was substantially lower at 0.24 and 0.002 for the freeboard and the granular bed, respectively, thereby indicating tremendous attenuation of acoustic waves in the granular media at all frequencies.
Communicating Nitrogen Loss Mechanisms for Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency Management, Focused on Global Wheat
Authors: Whetton Rebecca L. , Harty Mary A. , Holden Nicholas M.
Published: April 2022

Nitrogen (N) losses are a major environmental issue. Globally, crop N fertilizer applications are excessive, and N use efficiency (NUE) is low. N loss represents a significant economic loss to the farmer. NUE is difficult to quantify in real time because of the multiple chemical–biological–physical factors interacting. While there is much scientific understanding of N interactions in the plant–soil system, there is little formal expression of scientific knowledge in farm practice. The objective of this study was to clearly define the factors controlling NUE in wheat production, focusing on N inputs, flows, transformations, and outputs from the plant–soil system. A series of focus groups were conducted with professional agronomists and industry experts, and their technical information was considered alongside a structured literature review. To express this understanding, clear graphical representations are provided in the text. The analysis of the NUE processes revealed 16 management interventions which could be prioritized to increase farm nitrogen use efficiency. These management interventions were grouped into three categories—inputs, flow between pools, and outputs—and include management options through the range of application errors, fertilizer input choice, root development, pests and disease, soil structure, harvesting and storage errors, and soil resources of water, micronutrients, carbon, nitrogen, and pH. It was noted that technical solutions such as fertilizer formulation and managing organic matter require significant supply chain upgrades. It was also noted that farm-scale decision support would be best managed using a risk/probability-based recommender system rather than generic guidelines.
Comment on Suresh et al. The Short-Term Effects and Tolerability of Low-Viscosity Soluble Fibre on Gastroparesis Patients: A Pilot Clinical Intervention Study. Nutrients 2021, 13, 4298
Authors: Jones J. Wesley , Lamont Katrina , Brannan Grace D.
Published: April 2022

Zhou and colleagues are commended for their innovative research on the tolerability of “low-viscosity” fibre supplements in symptomatic diabetic gastroparesis patients [...]
Sarcopenia Prevalence and Risk Factors among Residents in Aged Care
Authors: Darroch Phillipa , O’Brien Wendy J. , Mazahery Hajar , Wham Carol
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia and associated risk factors among older adults living in three residential aged care (RAC) facilities within Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 91 older adults (63% women, mean age ± SD; 86.0 ± 8.3 years) were recruited. Using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria, sarcopenia was diagnosed from the assessment of: appendicular skeletal muscle mass/height2, using an InBody S10 body composition analyser and a SECA portable stadiometer or ulna length to estimate standing height; grip strength using a JAMAR handheld dynamometer; and physical performance with a 2.4-m gait speed test. Malnutrition risk was assessed using the Mini Nutrition Assessment–Short Form (MNA-SF). Most (83%) of residents were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, and 41% were sarcopenic. Multivariate regression analysis showed lower body mass index (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.7, p = 0.003) and lower MNA-SF score (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.4, p = 0.047) were predictive of sarcopenia after controlling for age, level of care, depression, and number of medications. Findings highlight the need for regular malnutrition screening in RAC to prevent the development of sarcopenia, where low weight or unintentional weight loss should prompt sarcopenia screening and assessment.