bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Older Age and Frailty on the Time to Diagnosis of Cancer: A Connected Bradford Electronic Health Records Study
Authors: Summerfield Charlotte , Smith Lesley , Todd Oliver , Renzi Cristina , Lyratzopoulos Georgios , Neal Richard D. , Jones Daniel
Published: November 2022

Over 60% of cancer diagnoses in the UK are in patients aged 65 and over. Cancer diagnosis and treatment in older adults is complicated by the presence of frailty, which is associated with lower survival rates and poorer quality of life. This population-based cohort study used a longitudinal database to calculate the time between presentation to primary care with a symptom suspicious of cancer and a confirmed cancer diagnosis for 7460 patients in the Bradford District. Individual frailty scores were calculated using the electronic frailty index (eFI) and categorised by severity. The median time from symptomatic presentation to cancer diagnosis for all patients was 48 days (IQR 21–142). 23% of the cohort had some degree of frailty. After adjustment for potential confounders, mild frailty added 7 days (95% CI 3–11), moderate frailty 23 days (95% CI 4–42) and severe frailty 11 days (95% CI −27–48) to the median time to diagnosis compared to not frail patients. Our findings support use of the eFI in primary care to identify and address patient, healthcare and system factors that may contribute to diagnostic delay. We recommend further research to explore patient and clinician factors when investigating cancer in frail patients.
Peroxymonosulfate Activation by BaTiO3 Piezocatalyst
Authors: Yu Maogen , Ni Cheng , Hou Tian , Guo Weihong , Wang Jinlong
Published: November 2022

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) plays an important role in the advanced oxidation process for environmental remediation. In this study, barium titanate (BTO) piezocatalyst was selected for the activation of PMS driven by ultrasonic power. The degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) by BTO single component, PMS single component, and BTO/PMS double components were investigated. The results indicated that PMS can be efficiently activated by BTO under an ultrasound with an RhB degradation rate of 98% within 20 min. The ultrasound not only promoted the activation of the PMS itself, but the surface charge carriers of BTO induced by the ultrasound also contributed to the activation of PMS. ·O2−, ·OH, and ·SO4− radicals were found to be the main active species that participated in the reaction. In order to verify the reaction’s environmental applicability, amoxicillin (AMX) as a typical environmental pollutant was studied. BTO/PMS displayed 80% removal efficiency of AMX, and the products generated were less toxic as demonstrated by eco-toxicity comparison. This work provides a promising strategy to improve the utilization of ultrasonic energy and apply it to the field of environmental pollutants treatment.
Influence of Components Deposition Order on Silver Species Formation in Bimetallic Ag-Fe System Supported on Mordenite
Authors: Sánchez-López Perla , Kotolevich Yulia , Antúnez-García Joel , Chávez-Rivas Fernando , Khramov Evgeny , Berlier Gloria , Moreno-Ruiz Luis , Zubavichus Yan , Petranovskii Vitalii , Fuentes-Moyado Sergio , Pestryakov Alexey
Published: November 2022

In the present work, various experimental and theoretical methods were combined to study in detail the modifying effect of differences in the order of deposition of components on the state of silver in bimetallic iron–silver samples based on mordenite. In each of the silver-containing samples, the formation of large (≥2 nm in diameter) varieties of silver was observed, which differed from the varieties in the other samples, and in varying degrees. The formation of large Ag NPs on the outer surface of mordenite is explained by the redox interaction of Ag+-Fe2+ and the selectivity of ion exchange. The local surrounding of Ag in the studied samples is different: for AgMOR—monatomic species dominate, FeAgMOR—silver dimers and AgFeMOR—metal particles. In all investigated samples, the partially charged intra-channel Agnδ+ clusters (~0.7 nm in size) were formed due to partial Ag+ reduction and subsequent Ag0 agglomeration into the mordenite channel. Most of the silver in the bulk of the zeolite is represented in the cationic state attached to the mordenite framework by differently coordinated electrostatic forces, which can be Ag-O, Ag-Si or Ag-Al, with variations in interatomic distances and do not depend on the order of metal deposition. In addition, the arrangement of the cations in the side pockets means that the transport channels of mordenite are free, which is favorable for the application of the materials under study in catalysis and adsorption.
Cofactor and Process Engineering for Nicotinamide Recycling and Retention in Intensified Biocatalysis
Authors: Rocha Raquel A. , North Andrea J. , Speight Robert E. , Williams Charlotte C. , Scott Colin
Published: November 2022

There is currently considerable interest in the intensification of biocatalytic processes to reduce the cost of goods for biocatalytically produced chemicals, including pharmaceuticals and advanced pharmaceutical intermediates. Continuous-flow biocatalysis shows considerable promise as a method for process intensification; however, the reliance of some reactions on the use of diffusible cofactors (such as the nicotinamide cofactors) has proven to be a technical barrier for key enzyme classes. This minireview covers attempts to overcome this limitation, including the cofactor recapture and recycling retention of chemically modified cofactors. For the latter, we also consider the state of science for cofactor modification, a field reinvigorated by the current interest in continuous-flow biocatalysis.
Development of a Graphene Oxide-Supported N-Heterocyclic Carbene Copper(I) Complex as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Selective N-Monoalkylation of Amines
Authors: Kujur Shelly , Verma Shruti , Pathak Devendra Deo
Published: November 2022

A new N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) copper(I) complex supported on graphene oxide (GO-NHC-Cu) was synthesised and thoroughly characterised by various instrumental techniques such as FT-IR, FT-Raman, PXRD, XPS, FESEM, EDX, HRTEM, TGA and ICP-OES. The catalytic activity of the supported complex was explored in the N-alkylation of anilines with alcohols under solvent-free and aerobic conditions to afford monoalkylated products in good to excellent yields (20 products, 83–96%). All products were isolated and characterised by 1H and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopy. The catalyst was recuperated from the reaction mixture by simple filtration and reused for up to five successive cycles with insignificant loss in the catalytic activity. The control experiments showed that the reaction proceeded in aerobic conditions. The green chemistry metrics for the reaction were found to be fairly close to the ideal values: carbon efficiency (95.9%), E-factor (0.15), atom economy (92.14%), process mass intensity (1.15) and reaction mass efficiency (86.80%). The air stability, selectivity, recyclability of the catalyst, and the high yields of the products under solvent-free conditions are some of the salient features of the reported methodology.
Pulsed-Laser Induced Photolysis of Synthesizing Magnetic Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Visible-Light Photocatalysis
Authors: Wang Bing-Yen , Huang Sheng-Yang , Hsiao Ya-Shing , Wei Pei-Ching , Chou Chia-Man , Hsiao Vincent K. S.
Published: November 2022

Our report is the first example describing the successful synthesis of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs), for which we used pulsed-laser induced photolysis (PLIP). Compared with the previous method of using pulsed-laser ablation of a target, or strong energy of pulsed-laser light to decompose precursors in generating a solvated-ion reaction, the PLIP method used here is dependent on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to generate a hydrolysis reaction. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to demonstrate the Fe3O4 crystalline structure of the synthesized NPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed that the average size of the NPs was about 20–50 nm. Regarding their magnetic characteristics, the synthesized NPs exhibited a saturation magnetization of 5.62 emu/g, remanence of 3.82 emu/g, and coercive force of 49.8 Oe. The photocatalytic experiments confirmed that the synthesized magnetic Fe3O4 NPs have visible light-degradation effects based on their ability to photocatalytically degrade methylene blue (MB). The MB degradation efficiency was 60–80% under white-light exposure for 180 min. This study presents a new route for synthesizing magnetic Fe3O4 NPs for their potential use in photocatalysis.
Expression and Interaction Proteomics of GluA1- and GluA3-Subunit-Containing AMPARs Reveal Distinct Protein Composition
Authors: van der Spek Sophie J. F. , Pandya Nikhil J. , Koopmans Frank , Paliukhovich Iryna , van der Schors Roel C. , Otten Mylene , Smit August B. , Li Ka Wan
Published: November 2022

The AMPA glutamate receptor (AMPAR) is the major type of synaptic excitatory ionotropic receptor in the brain. AMPARs have four different subunits, GluA1–4 (each encoded by different genes, Gria1, Gria2, Gria3 and Gria4), that can form distinct tetrameric assemblies. The most abundant AMPAR subtypes in the hippocampus are GluA1/2 and GluA2/3 heterotetramers. Each subtype contributes differentially to mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, which may be in part caused by how these receptors are regulated by specific associated proteins. A broad range of AMPAR interacting proteins have been identified, including the well-studied transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins TARP-γ2 (also known as Stargazin) and TARP-γ8, Cornichon homolog 2 (CNIH-2) and many others. Several interactors were shown to affect biogenesis, AMPAR trafficking, and channel properties, alone or in distinct assemblies, and several revealed preferred binding to specific AMPAR subunits. To date, a systematic specific interactome analysis of the major GluA1/2 and GluA2/3 AMPAR subtypes separately is lacking. To reveal interactors belonging to specific AMPAR subcomplexes, we performed both expression and interaction proteomics on hippocampi of wildtype and Gria1- or Gria3 knock-out mice. Whereas GluA1/2 receptors co-purified TARP-γ8, synapse differentiation-induced protein 4 (SynDIG4, also known as Prrt1) and CNIH-2 with highest abundances, GluA2/3 receptors revealed strongest co-purification of CNIH-2, TARP-γ2, and Noelin1 (or Olfactomedin-1). Further analysis revealed that TARP-γ8-SynDIG4 interact directly and co-assemble into an AMPAR subcomplex especially at synaptic sites. Together, these data provide a framework for further functional analysis into AMPAR subtype specific pathways in health and disease.
Rearing in an Enriched Environment Ameliorates the ADHD-like Behaviors of Lister Hooded Rats While Suppressing Neuronal Activities in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex
Authors: Utsunomiya Ryo , Mikami Kanta , Doi Tomomi , Choudhury Mohammed E. , Jogamoto Toshihiro , Tokunaga Naohito , Ishii Eiichi , Eguchi Mariko , Yano Hajime , Tanaka Junya
Published: November 2022

In addition to genetic factors, environmental factors play a role in the pathogenesis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study used Lister hooded rats (LHRs) as ADHD model animals to evaluate the effects of environmental factors. Male LHR pups were kept in four rearing conditions from postnatal day 23 (4 rats in a standard cage; 12 rats in a large flat cage; and 4 or 12 rats in an enriched environment [EE]) until 9 weeks of age. EE rearing but not rearing in a large flat cage decreased the activity of LHRs in the open field test that was conducted for 7 consecutive days. In the drop test, most rats reared in an EE remained on a disk at a height, whereas most rats reared in a standard cage fell off. RNA sequencing revealed that the immediate-early gene expression in the medial prefrontal cortex of LHRs reared in an EE was reduced. cFos-expressing neurons were reduced in number in LHRs reared in an EE. These results suggest that growing in an EE improves ADHD-like behaviors and that said improvement is due to the suppression of neuronal activity in the mPFC.
Single-Molecule and Vesicle Trafficking Analysis of Ubiquitination Involved in the Activity of Ammonium Transporter AMT1;3 in Arbidopsis under High Ammonium Stress
Authors: Zhao Ran , Cao Yangyang , Ge Yanrui , Xu Jing , Li Ruofan , Yang Mei , Chen Yingying , Wu Dingjie , Xiao Jianwei , Li Ruili
Published: November 2022

Plants absorb nitrogen from the soil using ammonium transporters (AMTs). Plants can precisely regulate AMT1;3 levels using sophisticated regulatory systems, ensuring adequate nitrogen uptake without hazardous ammonium production. Here, we demonstrated that ubiquitylation can contribute to AMT1;3 degradation under high ammonium stress. Using the ubiquitin site mutant AMT1;3K75R,K233R-EGFP, we demonstrated that the loss of ubiquitination affects the dynamic characteristics of AMT1;3 proteins on the plasma membrane and markedly inhibits the endocytosis of AMT1;3 proteins under high ammonium stress. AMT1;3K75R,K233R-EGFP plants also showed inhibition of protein degradation that targets the vesicular pathway after being exposed to high levels of ammonium. Our findings showed that the dynamic properties, endocytosis, and vesicle trafficking pathways of AMT1;3 proteins are altered in AMT1;3K75R,K233R-EGFP under high ammonium conditions.
Upregulated Immunogenic Cell-Death-Associated Gene Signature Predicts Reduced Responsiveness to Immune-Checkpoint-Blockade Therapy and Poor Prognosis in High-Grade Gliomas
Authors: Tang Xin , Guo Dongfang , Yang Xi , Chen Rui , Jiang Qingming , Zeng Zhen , Li Yu , Li Zhenyu
Published: November 2022

Background: Immunogenic cell death (ICD) has emerged as a potential mechanism mediating adaptive immune response and tumor immunity in anti-cancer treatment. However, the signature of ICD in high-grade gliomas (HGGs) remains largely unknown, and its relevance to immunotherapies is still undetermined. The purpose of this study is to identify ICD-associated genotypes in order to explore their relevance to tumor immunity, patient prognosis and therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy in HGGs. Methods: Bulk RNA-seq data and clinical information on 169 and 297 patients were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and China Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), respectively. The functional enrichment and characterization of ICD genotyping were detected, and the ICD prognostic signature prediction model was constructed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. The responsiveness to immunotherapy was predicted according to the scoring of the ICD prognostic signature. Results: The HGG patients with high ICD gene signature (C1) showed poor outcomes, increased activity of immune modulation and immune escape, high levels of immune-checkpoint markers, and HLA-related genes, which may explain their reduced response to ICB immunotherapy. A gene set of the ICD signature, composing FOXP3, IL6 LY96, MYD88 and PDIA3, showed an independent prognostic value in both the TCGA and the CGGA HGG cohort. Conclusions: Our in silico analyses identified the ICD gene signature in HGGs with potential implications for predicting the responsiveness to ICB immune therapy and patient outcomes.
Low-Dose rIL-15 Protects from Nephrotoxic Serum Nephritis via CD8+ T Cells
Authors: Mooslechner Agnes A. , Schuller Max , Artinger Katharina , Kirsch Alexander H. , Schabhüttl Corinna , Eller Philipp , Rosenkranz Alexander R. , Eller Kathrin
Published: November 2022

Rapid progressive glomerulonephritis (GN) often leads to end-stage kidney disease, driving the need for renal replacement therapy and posing a global health burden. Low-dose cytokine-based immunotherapies provide a new strategy to treat GN. IL-15 is a strong candidate for the therapy of immune-mediated kidney disease since it has proven to be tubular-protective before. Therefore, we set out to test the potential of low-dose rIL-15 treatment in a mouse model of nephrotoxic serum nephritis (NTS), mimicking immune complex-driven GN in humans. A single low-dose treatment with rIL-15 ameliorated NTS, reflected by reduced albuminuria, less tissue scarring, fewer myeloid cells in the kidney, and improved tubular epithelial cell survival. In addition, CD8+ T cells, a primary target of IL-15, showed altered gene expression and function corresponding with less cytotoxicity mediated by rIL-15. With the use of transgenic knock-out mice, antibody depletion, and adoptive cell transfer studies, we here show that the beneficial effects of rIL-15 treatment in NTS depended on CD8+ T cells, suggesting a pivotal role for them in the underlying mechanism. Our findings add to existing evidence of the association of IL-15 with kidney health and imply a potential for low-dose rIL-15 immunotherapies in GN.
Scalable Production of Size-Controlled Cholangiocyte and Cholangiocarcinoma Organoids within Liver Extracellular Matrix-Containing Microcapsules
Authors: van Tienderen Gilles S. , Willemse Jorke , van Loo Bas , van Hengel Eline V. A. , de Jonge Jeroen , van der Laan Luc J. W. , Leijten Jeroen , Verstegen Monique M. A.
Published: November 2022

Advances in biomaterials, particularly in combination with encapsulation strategies, have provided excellent opportunities to increase reproducibility and standardization for cell culture applications. Herein, hybrid microcapsules are produced in a flow-focusing microfluidic droplet generator combined with enzymatic outside-in crosslinking of dextran-tyramine, enriched with human liver extracellular matrix (ECM). The microcapsules provide a physiologically relevant microenvironment for the culture of intrahepatic cholangiocyte organoids (ICO) and patient-derived cholangiocarcinoma organoids (CCAO). Micro-encapsulation allowed for the scalable and size-standardized production of organoids with sustained proliferation for at least 21 days in vitro. Healthy ICO (n = 5) expressed cholangiocyte markers, including KRT7 and KRT19, similar to standard basement membrane extract cultures. The CCAO microcapsules (n = 3) showed retention of stem cell phenotype and expressed LGR5 and PROM1. Furthermore, ITGB1 was upregulated, indicative of increased cell adhesion to ECM in microcapsules. Encapsulated CCAO were amendable to drug screening assays, showing a dose-response response to the clinically relevant anti-cancer drugs gemcitabine and cisplatin. High-throughput drug testing identified both pan-effective drugs as well as patient-specific resistance patterns. The results described herein show the feasibility of this one-step encapsulation approach to create size-standardized organoids for scalable production. The liver extracellular matrix-containing microcapsules can provide a powerful platform to build mini healthy and tumor tissues for potential future transplantation or personalized medicine applications.
Emerging Arboviruses of Public Health Concern in Africa: Priorities for Future Research and Control Strategies
Authors: Tajudeen Yusuf Amuda , Oladipo Habeebullah Jayeola , Oladunjoye Iyiola Olatunji , Yusuf Rashidat Onyinoyi , Sodiq Hammed , Omotosho Abass Olawale , Adesuyi Damilola Samuel , Yusuff Sodiq Inaolaji , El-Sherbini Mona Said
Published: November 2022

Arboviruses are most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, where arthropods are widespread. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that the mortality burden of arbovirus diseases, such as yellow fever in Africa, was 84,000–170,000 severe cases and 29,000–60,000 deaths in 2013. These epidemics emphasize the urgent need for integrated control and prevention of arboviral diseases. Challenges in managing and controlling arboviral diseases in Africa are mainly attributed to poor insect vector control, insecticide resistance, and poor sanitation and solid waste management. The removal or reduction of mosquito populations amongst susceptible individuals is identified as the most effective measure to control many vector-borne diseases. Current public health needs call for efficient vector control programs and maintenance of adequate surveillance systems through the availability of trained personnel and rapid diagnostic facilities, providing an interdisciplinary response to control and mitigate the threats of emerging and re-emerging arboviruses. Furthermore, research priorities should focus on understanding the factors responsible for adaptation to other vectors, determinants of infection and transmission, and the development of high efficiency antiviral molecules or candidate vaccines. Here, we explore and review our current understanding of arboviruses of public health importance in Africa, with a focus on emerging arboviruses, their arthropod vectors, and the epidemiology of major arboviruses. Finally, we appraise the role of planetary health in addressing the threat of arboviruses and identify other priority areas of research for effective control.
Optimization of Aluminum Dopant Amalgamation Immersion Time on Structural, Electrical, and Humidity-Sensing Attributes of Pristine ZnO for Flexible Humidity Sensor Application
Authors: Subki A Shamsul Rahimi A , Mamat Mohamad Hafiz , Mohamed Zahidi Musa , Abdullah Mohd Hanapiah , Shameem Banu I. B. , Vasimalai Nagamalai , Ahmad Mohd Khairul , Nayan Nafarizal , Abu Bakar Suriani , Mohamed Azmi , Birowosuto Muhammad Danang , Mahmood Mohamad Rusop
Published: November 2022

This study synthesized pristine and aluminum (Al)-doped zinc oxide (Al:ZnO) nanostructures through a simplistic low-temperature ultrasonicated solution immersion method. Al:ZnO nanostructures were synthesized as a sensing material using different immersion times varying from two to five hours. The Al:ZnO nanostructured-based flexible humidity sensor was fabricated by employing cellulose filter paper as a substrate and transparent paper glue as a binder through a simplistic brush printing technique. XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, EDS, XPS, a two-probe I–V measurement system, and a humidity measurement system were employed to investigate the structural, morphological, chemical, electrical, and humidity-sensing properties of the pristine ZnO and Al:ZnO nanostructures. The structural and morphological analysis confirmed that Al cations successfully occupied the Zn lattice or integrated into interstitial sites of the ZnO lattice matrix. Humidity-sensing performance analysis indicated that the resistance of the Al:ZnO nanostructure samples decreased almost linearly as the humidity level increased, leading to better sensitivity and sensing response. The Al:ZnO-4 h nanostructured-based flexible humidity sensor had a maximum sensing response and demonstrated the highest sensitivity towards humidity changes, which was noticeably superior to the other tested samples. Finally, this study explained the Al:ZnO nanostructures-based flexible humidity sensor sensing mechanism in terms of chemical adsorption, physical adsorption, and capillary condensation mechanisms.
Impressive Nasal Septum Regeneration after Cord Blood Platelet Gel (CBPG) in Extreme Premature Neonate with Non-Invasive Ventilation: A Case Report
Authors: Falsaperla Raffaele , Biondi Giulia Marialidia , Motta Milena , Gallerano Pasquale , Tancredi Giusi , Pavone Piero , Ruggieri Martino
Published: November 2022

Background: We evaluated the efficacy of Cord Blood Platelet Gel (CBPG) in the regenerative reconstruction of the nasal septal tissue of a preterm infant undergoing non-invasive ventilation. Methods: A CBPC treatment was used to enhance the regeneration of the nasal septum of a premature patient in an experimental way, evaluating the efficacy described in the literature (selective bibliographic search in PubMed) of the use of blood products for non-transfusion purposes. Results: A partial but satisfactory regeneration of the patient’s nasal septum was observed. Using the free NIH Image J online software, we were able to calculate the regenerated surface (about 83% of the destroyed cartilage). Conclusions: The use of platelet gel has been a promising alternative to surgical treatment in patients with severe damage to the nasal septum.
QTc Interval Reference Values and Their (Non)-Maturational Factors in Neonates and Infants: A Systematic Review
Authors: De Smet Lisa , Devolder Nathalie , Salaets Thomas , Smits Anne , Allegaert Karel
Published: November 2022

QTc interval measurement is a widely used screening tool to assess the risk of cardiac diseases, arrhythmias, and is a useful biomarker for pharmacovigilance. However, the interpretation of QTc is difficult in neonates due to hemodynamic maturational changes and uncertainties on reference values. To describe trends in QTc values throughout infancy (1 year of life), and to explore the impact of (non)-maturational changes and medicines exposure, a structured systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42022302296) was performed. In term neonates, a decrease was observed over the first week of life, whereafter values increased until two months of age, followed by a progressive decrease until six months. A similar pattern with longer QTc values was observed in preterms. QTc is influenced by cord clamping, hemodynamic changes, therapeutic hypothermia, illnesses and sleep, not by sex. Cisapride, domperidone and doxapram result in QTc prolongation in neonates. Further research in this age category is needed to improve primary screening practices and QTcthresholds, earlier detection of risk factors and precision pharmacovigilance.
Multi-Physics Fields Simulations and Optimization of Solder Joints in Advanced Electronic Packaging
Authors: Yu Boyan , Gao Yisai
Published: November 2022

The endurability of solder joints in the ball-grid array (BGA) packaging is crucial to the functioning of the microelectronic system. To improve electronic packaging reliability, this paper is dedicated to numerically optimize solder joint array configuration and study the influence of multi-physical fields on solder joint reliability. The uniqueness of this study is that on the basis of temperature field and stress field, the electric field is added to realize the coupling simulation of three physical fields. In addition, the “Open Angle” is mathematically defined to describe the array configuration, and it was used to reveal the influence factors of solder joint fatigue, including stress, temperature, and current density. In the single solder joint model, the impacts of geometric shape and working conditions on the maximum value and distribution of these evaluation factors (stress, temperature, and current density) were investigated. Overall, the numerical investigation gives the optimal configuration, geometric shape, and working condition of solder joints, which benefits the design of endurable and efficient BGA packaging.
Climate Change and the Caribbean: Challenges and Vulnerabilities in Building Resilience to Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Lewis Clint T.
Published: November 2022

Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to the impacts of climate change. The region has prioritized adaptation to climate change and has implemented many adaptation actions over the past 20 years. However, the region is becoming increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of tropical cyclones (TC). This paper analyses the impacts of TC on the region between 1980 to 2019. It aims to examine the economic loss and damage sustained by the region, identify the sectors most impacted, and ascertain the perspectives of key stakeholders on the factors that hinder building resilience. Statistical analysis techniques and semi-structured interviews were to unpack and understand the dataset. The paper finds that economic loss and damage has gradually increasing between 1980 to 2009 with a drastic increase between 2010 to 2019. The paper highlights the agriculture, housing, transport, and utility sectors as the most impacted. The findings also call to attention the need for increased access to adaptation financing for SIDS, the disadvantages of the income status that hinders building resilience, and the need for increased Early Warning Systems. The paper recommends revising the per capita national income as an eligibility criterion for accessing concessional development finance assistance, a comprehensive EWS for the countries in the region, and consideration of debt relief for countries affected by TC.
Effect of Ag Doping on Photobleaching in Ge28Sb12Se60 Chalcogenide Films
Authors: Cao Lixiao , Zhou Yao , Zhao Jianxing , Song Hongfei , Zhou Jianhong
Published: November 2022

Chalcogenide glass is an optical material with excellent mid-infrared and far-infrared penetration properties. The silver-doped Ge28Sb12Se60 (GSS) chalcogenide films in this paper were deposited on a glass substrate by the co-evaporation technique. A continuous laser with different power outputs was then used to scan the glass material at a constant speed, and the photobleaching (PB) effects were observed using optical microscopy. The results show that silver doping can speed up the PB of GSS film only under high-power laser irradiation. While silver doping helps to speed up the PB effect, it also increases the risk of film damage. This study is beneficial in the development of embedded optical waveguide structures.
Deposition of Iridium Coating on Pure Tungsten and High-Temperature Oxidation Behavior at 1300 K
Authors: Zhang Jifu , Chen Dongchu , Zhang Xueying , Niu Ben , Wang Biao , Li Runxia
Published: November 2022

Iridium (Ir) coating was electrodeposited on tungsten (W) substrate for resistance to high-temperature oxidation. The reduction of iridium was studied using an electrochemical cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurement technique. The structure characterization and performance testing were carried out by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and a high-temperature oxidation test. The results showed that the reduction of tetravalent iridium ions to metallic iridium included three reduction steps. The deposited iridium coating had a fine polycrystalline + amorphous structure, no grain orientation phenomenon was observed after electrodeposition, and the microstructure was isotropic. The iridium-coated tungsten metal had excellent resistance to high temperatures at 1300 K, which was attributed to the better chemical stability of the oxide film generated on the surface of the iridium coating.
TiO2 Photocatalytic Ultrafiltration Membrane Developed with Suspension Plasma Spray Process
Authors: Alebrahim Elnaz , Rahaman Md. Saifur , Moreau Christian
Published: November 2022

The suspension plasma spray process was used to fabricate photocatalytic ultrafiltration membranes for potential water and wastewater treatment applications. An aqueous suspension of 30 wt.% titanium dioxide with an average individual particle size of around 30 nm was used as feedstock material. The spray parameters, such as suspension solid content, suspension feed rate, and spray distance, were optimized using an Ar/H2 plasma to retain a fraction of unmelted feedstock nanoparticles as the source of fine pores in the membrane microstructure. The microstructure, porosity, phase composition, and pure water permeability of the membranes were characterized comprehensively. The average pore size of the membrane was around 40 nm, which was very close to the particle size of the pristine titanium dioxide powder. The membranes demonstrated a high water permeability between 2000 and 7200 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, which was inversely proportional to the thickness. They also exhibited significant photocatalytic activity under visible light.
Water-Soluble Holographic Photopolymers for a Sustainable Future—A Review
Authors: Mihaylova Emilia Mitkova
Published: November 2022

Holographic photopolymers are subject to extensive studies in recent years because they are low-cost, easy-to-handle, self-processing materials, which have a number of advantages over more traditional holographic materials. The development of low-toxicity photopolymers that are environmentally friendly is highly desirable. The availability of low-toxicity photopolymers will permit the mass production of commercial holograms without harm to the environment. This paper reviews recent developments in low-toxicity water-soluble holographic photopolymers. A novel composition for a water-soluble, low-toxicity photopolymer is described. This new holographic photopolymer has 90% diffraction efficiency in the transmission mode of recording and 50% diffraction efficiency in the reflection mode of recording. This photopolymer has all the necessary holographic characteristics to make it very attractive for commercialisation. The optimised chemical composition of the holographic photopolymer for the production of pressure sensors is addressed. A novel and unique feature of this new material is its high sensitivity to pressure, which can be controlled by changing its composition. Several promising environmentally friendly optical materials are being developed for future holographic applications. The presented review of low-toxicity, water-soluble, holographic photopolymers is the first of its kind. Thus, the importance of the review is twofold—it helps contribute to the development of low-toxicity holographic photopolymers, and it provides insight and new ideas for the development of water-soluble photopolymers for other applications.
Inflammation in COVID-19: A Risk for Superinfections
Authors: Boulos Mariana , Bassal Tamara , Layyous Asad , Basheer Maamoun , Assy Nimer
Published: November 2022

The worldwide coronavirus pandemic has been one of the most significant health crisis threats in recent years. COVID-19 has not been the only cause of mortality in this pandemic. A dangerous but frequent complication of viral infections is secondary superinfection or superimposed bacterial infection. Despite lacking data on the prevalence, microbiology, and outcomes of co-infection and superinfection, limited publications have reported the high incidence of severe infection in COVID-19 patients and its effect on mortality. Those who have severe clinical symptoms of the disease, and others requiring prolonged stay in intensive care units (ICU), are more susceptible to developing superinfections by nosocomial pathogens. Ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) is the most common type of infection observed among COVID-19 patients, followed by bacteraemia with sepsis, and urinary tract infections (UTI). There is an urgent need for prospective studies to provide epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological data on superinfections, which can be used to form effective antimicrobial guidelines that could have an important role in disease outcomes.
Machining Performance Analysis of Rotary Ultrasonic-Assisted Drilling of SiCf/SiC Composites
Authors: He Jingyuan , Su Honghua , Qian Ning , Xu Pengfei
Published: November 2022

An SiCf/SiC composite has the following excellent properties: high strength, low specific gravity, and high temperature resistance, which has great prospects in the combustion chamber of rockets or aero engines. Hole-making in SiCf/SiC parts is an important processing method. Generally, water-based or oil-based coolants are avoided, so dry drilling is the primary hole-making approach for SiCf/SiC. However, the abrasion resistance and high hardness of SiCf/SiC often lead to fast tool wear as well as serious damage to the fiber and matrix during dry drilling. This study proposes an innovative strategy for hole-making in SiCf/SiC parts—rotary ultrasonic-assisted drilling (RUAD) using an orderly arranged brazed diamond core drill. The influence of tool life and wear on drilling accuracy is analyzed. Additionally, the impacts of the process parameters of conventional drilling (CD) and RUAD on drilling force, torque, the surface roughness of the hole wall, and the exit tearing factor are investigated. The results show that the orderly arranged brazed diamond core drill exhibits longer tool life and higher accuracy in hole-making. Meanwhile, compared with CD, RUAD with the proposed core drill effectively improves the drilling quality and efficiency, and reduces the force and torque of drilling. The range of process parameters for dry drilling is broadened.
Crystal Growth and Electronic Properties of LaSbSe
Authors: Pandey Krishna , Sayler Lauren , Basnet Rabindra , Sakon Josh , Wang Fei , Hu Jin
Published: November 2022

The ZrSiS-type materials have gained intensive attentions. The magnetic version of the ZrSiS-type materials, LnSbTe (Ln = Lanthanide), offers great opportunities to explore new quantum states owing to the interplay between magnetism and electronic band topology. Here, we report the growth and characterization of the non-magnetic LaSbSe of this material family. We found the metallic transport, low magnetoresistance and non-compensated charge carriers with relatively low carrier density in LaSbSe. The specific heat measurement has revealed distinct Sommerfeld coefficient and Debye temperature in comparison to LaSbTe. Such addition of a new LnSbSe selenide compound could provide the alternative material choices in addition to LnSbTe telluride materials.
COVID-19 and Cancer Patients in the Second Year of the Pandemic: Investigating Treatment Impact, Information Sources, and COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices
Authors: Ugas Mohamed A. , Avery Lisa , Wang Yanning , Berlin Alejandro , Giuliani Meredith E. , Krzyzanowska Monika , Papadakos Tina J. , Quartey Naa Kwarley (Linda) , Samoil Diana , Papadakos Janet K.
Published: November 2022

Background: The novel coronavirus that has triggered the present COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread globally, resulting in widespread morbidity and mortality. Patients with cancer remain one of the most vulnerable subsets of the population to the disease. This study examined the effects of the pandemic on cancer patients’ treatment, psychology, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Methods: A survey was emailed to 9861 patients at a cancer centre in Toronto, Canada. Descriptive results were summarized. Qualitative feedback was coded and summarized. Regression modelling was used to explore factors associated with patient psychological well-being, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results: A total of 1760 surveys were completed, with a response rate of 17.8%. Most participants did not experience any pandemic-related treatment delays, and vaccination rates were high. Participants who identified themselves as non-white (OR 3.30, CI: 1.30–5.30; p ≤ 0.001), and those who referred to journal articles for information (p = 0.002) reported higher psychological impact scores. There were no significant predictors of whether participants would use personal protective equipment when leaving their homes or whether they would go to crowded places. Discussion: This study provides another snapshot of cancer patients perceptions and needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Effects of Invasive Plant Diversity on Soil Microbial Communities
Authors: Wang Xiaoyan , Wang Xue , Wang Wei , Wang Jiang , Yu Feihai
Published: November 2022

Native plant communities can be invaded by different numbers of alien plant species or by the same number of alien plant species with different levels of evenness. However, little is known about how alien invasive plant species richness and evenness affect soil microbial communities. We constructed native herbaceous plant communities invaded by exotic plants with different richness (1, 2, 4 and 8 species) and evenness (high and low) and analyzed soil physico-chemical properties and the diversity and composition of soil fungal and bacterial communities by high-throughput Illumina sequencing. Overall, the species richness and evenness of invasive plants had no significant effect on bacterial and fungal alpha diversity (OTUs, Shannon, Simpson, Chao1 and ACE) or the soil physico-chemical properties. However, invasive species richness had a significant impact on the relative abundance of the most dominant fungi, Ascomycota and Bipolaris, and the dominant bacteria, Actinobacteriota, which increased with increasing invasive species richness. The relative abundance of the dominant microbial groups was significantly correlated with the relative abundance of some specific invasive plants in the community. This study sheds new light on the effects of plant co-invasion on soil microbial communities, which may help us understand the underlying mechanisms of multiple alien plant invasion processes from the perspective of soil microorganisms.
CoviRx: A User-Friendly Interface for Systematic Down-Selection of Repurposed Drug Candidates for COVID-19
Authors: Jain Hardik A. , Agarwal Vinti , Bansal Chaarvi , Kumar Anupama , Faheem Faheem , Mohammed Muzaffar-Ur-Rehman , Murugesan Sankaranarayanan , Simpson Moana M. , Karpe Avinash V. , Chandra Rohitash , MacRaild Christopher A. , Styles Ian K. , Peterson Amanda L. , Cooper Matthew A. , Kirkpatrick Carl M. J. , Shah Rohan M. , Palombo Enzo A. , Trevaskis Natalie L. , Creek Darren J. , Vasan Seshadri S.
Published: November 2022

Although various vaccines are now commercially available, they have not been able to stop the spread of COVID-19 infection completely. An excellent strategy to get safe, effective, and affordable COVID-19 treatments quickly is to repurpose drugs that are already approved for other diseases. The process of developing an accurate and standardized drug repurposing dataset requires considerable resources and expertise due to numerous commercially available drugs that could be potentially used to address the SARS-CoV-2 infection. To address this bottleneck, we created the CoviRx.org platform. CoviRx is a user-friendly interface that allows analysis and filtering of large quantities of data, which is onerous to curate manually for COVID-19 drug repurposing. Through CoviRx, the curated data have been made open source to help combat the ongoing pandemic and encourage users to submit their findings on the drugs they have evaluated, in a uniform format that can be validated and checked for integrity by authenticated volunteers. This article discusses the various features of CoviRx, its design principles, and how its functionality is independent of the data it displays. Thus, in the future, this platform can be extended to include any other disease beyond COVID-19.
An Improved Diagnostic of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Drug Resistance Status by Applying a Decision Tree to Probabilities Assigned by the CatBoost Multiclassifier of Matrix Metalloproteinases Biomarkers
Authors: Lavrova Anastasia I. , Postnikov Eugene B.
Published: November 2022

In this work, we discuss an opportunity to use a set of the matrix metalloproteinases MMP-1, MMP-8, and MMP-9 and the tissue inhibitor TIMP, the concentrations of which can be easily obtained via a blood test from patients suffering from tuberculosis, as the biomarker for a fast diagnosis of the drug resistance status of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The diagnostic approach is based on machine learning with the CatBoost system, which has been supplied with additional postprocessing. The latter refers not only to the simple probabilities of ML-predicted outcomes but also to the decision tree-like procedure, which takes into account the presence of strict zeros in the primary set of probabilities. It is demonstrated that this procedure significantly elevates the accuracy of distinguishing between sensitive, multi-, and extremely drug-resistant strains.
Claudin-10 Expression Is Increased in Endometriosis and Adenomyosis and Mislocalized in Ectopic Endometriosis
Authors: Loeffelmann Anna C. , Hoerscher Alena , Riaz Muhammad A. , Zeppernick Felix , Meinhold-Heerlein Ivo , Konrad Lutz
Published: November 2022

Claudins, as the major components of tight junctions, are crucial for epithelial cell-to-cell contacts. Recently, we showed that in endometriosis, the endometrial epithelial phenotype is highly conserved, with only minor alterations. For example, claudin-11 is strongly expressed; however, its localization in the endometriotic epithelial cells was impaired. In order to better understand the role of claudins in endometrial cell-to-cell contacts, we analyzed the tissue expression and localization of claudin-10 by immunohistochemistry analysis and two scoring systems. We used human tissue samples (n = 151) from the endometrium, endometriosis, and adenomyosis. We found a high abundance of claudin-10 in nearly all the endometrial (98%), endometriotic (98–99%), and adenomyotic (90–97%) glands, but no cycle-specific differences and no differences in the claudin-10 positive endometrial glands between cases with and without endometriosis. A significantly higher expression of claudin-10 was evident in the ectopic endometrium of deep-infiltrating (p < 0.01) and ovarian endometriosis (p < 0.001) and in adenomyosis in the cases with endometriosis (p ≤ 0.05). Interestingly, we observed a shift in claudin-10 from a predominant apical localization in the eutopic endometrium to a more pronounced basal/cytoplasmic localization in the ectopic endometria of all three endometriotic entities but not in adenomyosis. Significantly, despite the impaired endometriotic localization of claudin-10, the epithelial phenotype was retained. The significant differences in claudin-10 localization between the three endometriotic entities and adenomyosis, in conjunction with endometriosis, suggest that most of the aberrations occur after implantation and not before. The high similarity between the claudin-10 patterns in the eutopic endometrial and adenomyotic glands supports our recent conclusions that the endometrium is the main source of endometriosis and adenomyosis.
A Comparative Study of Deep Neural Networks for Real-Time Semantic Segmentation during the Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumors
Authors: Varnyú Dóra , Szirmay-Kalos László
Published: November 2022

Bladder cancer is a common and often fatal disease. Papillary bladder tumors are well detectable using cystoscopic imaging, but small or flat lesions are frequently overlooked by urologists. However, detection accuracy can be improved if the images from the cystoscope are segmented in real time by a deep neural network (DNN). In this paper, we compare eight state-of-the-art DNNs for the semantic segmentation of white-light cystoscopy images: U-Net, UNet++, MA-Net, LinkNet, FPN, PAN, DeepLabv3, and DeepLabv3+. The evaluation includes per-image classification accuracy, per-pixel localization accuracy, prediction speed, and model size. Results show that the best F-score for bladder cancer (91%), the best segmentation map precision (92.91%), and the lowest size (7.93 MB) are also achieved by the PAN model, while the highest speed (6.73 ms) is obtained by DeepLabv3+. These results indicate better tumor localization accuracy than reported in previous studies. It can be concluded that deep neural networks may be extremely useful in the real-time diagnosis and therapy of bladder cancer, and among the eight investigated models, PAN shows the most promising results.