bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome—Clinical Characteristics of Most Common Cause of Secondary Glaucoma
Authors: Tomczyk-Socha Martyna , Tomczak Wojciech , Winkler-Lach Weronika , Turno-Kręcicka Anna
Published: May 2023

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (XFS) is a condition in which excess material builds up not only in the structures of the anterior chamber but also throughout the body. The frequency of the syndrome varies significantly (0.3–18%) depending on the region and the method of examination. Environmental risk factors for XFS include a large number of sunny days, proximity to the equator, dietary factors such as higher consumption of coffee and tea, long-term alcohol consumption, exposure to UV, and outdoor work. The pathognomonic sign of XFS is the presence of white material on the lens capsule and other anterior chamber components. In addition, a characteristic Sampaolesi line can be observed during gonioscopy. Systemic alterations indicative of XFS have been observed in the extracellular matrix of the eyelid skin, the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, gallbladder, meninges, and endothelium of the blood vessels. XFS is the most common cause of secondary open-angle glaucoma, which is called pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and is more severe than primary open-angle glaucoma. It is plausible that a combination of environmental factors and genetic alterations promotes the onset of pseudoexfoliation syndrome, which requires additional research.
The Position of the Virtual Hinge Axis in Relation to the Maxilla in Digital Orthognathic Surgery Planning—A k-Means Cluster Analysis
Authors: Stamm Thomas , Kanemeier Moritz , Dirksen Dieter , Middelberg Claudius , Hohoff Ariane , Kleinheinz Johannes , Schmid Jonas Q.
Published: May 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate a possible relation between skeletal phenotypes and virtual mounting data in orthognathic surgery patients. A retrospective cohort study including 323 female (26.1 ± 8.7 years) and 191 male (27.9 ± 8.3 years) orthognathic surgery patients was conducted. A k-means cluster analysis was performed on the mounting parameters: the angle α between the upper occlusal plane (uOP) and the axis orbital plane (AOP); the perpendicular distance (AxV) from the uOP to the hinge axis; and the horizontal length (AxH) of the uOP from upper incisor edge to AxV, with subsequent statistical analysis of related cepalometric values. Three clusters of mounting data were identified, representing three skeletal phenotypes: (1) balanced face with marginal skeletal class II or III and α=8∘, AxV = 36 mm and AxH = 99 mm; (2) vertical face with skeletal class II and α=11∘, AxV = 27 mm and AxH = 88 mm; (3) horizontal face with class III and α=2∘, AxV = 36 mm and AxH = 86 mm. The obtained data on the position of the hinge axis can be applied to any digital planning in orthognathic surgery using CBCT or a virtual articulator, provided that the case can be clearly assigned to one of the calculated clusters.
Erenumab and Possible CGRP Effect on Chronotype in Chronic Migraine: A Real-Life Study of 12 Months Treatment
Authors: Pilati Laura , Torrente Angelo , Di Marco Salvatore , Ferlisi Salvatore , Notaro Giulia , Romano Marika , Alonge Paolo , Vassallo Lavinia , Ferraù Ludovica , Autunno Massimo , Grugno Rosario , Camarda Cecilia , Brighina Filippo
Published: May 2023

The introduction of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), or its receptor (CGRPr), revolutionized migraine management due to their high efficacy and few side effects. Data suggest that the CGRP may even be implicated in circadian rhythm, but studies about the effect of anti-CGRP treatments on sleep are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of erenumab (70 and 140 mg per month), a human mAb directed against CGRPr, on chronotype in chronic migraineurs; secondly, we assessed its efficacy, safety, and the effects on anxiety and depression. Sleep was evaluated using self-administrable questionnaires investigating chronotype, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness. Migraine diaries and several self-administrable questionnaires regarding headache impact and psychological correlates were evaluated every 3 months during 12 months of treatment. Eighty-eight patients were included; most of them showed a significant reduction in headache frequency and an improvement in psychological symptoms. Moreover, an initial change in chronotype was observed at the three-month assessment from a morning chronotype to an intermediate one; a similar trend remained in the other evaluations, even if it did not reach a statistical significance. Lastly, patients who responded to the treatment showed a progressive sleep efficiency reduction. The present real-life study hypothesized the influence of erenumab on chronotype, representing a link between circadian rhythm, CGRP, and migraine.
Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA): Focus on Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and Genetic Susceptibility
Authors: Severino Paolo , D’Amato Andrea , Prosperi Silvia , Myftari Vincenzo , Colombo Lorenzo , Tomarelli Elisa , Piccialuti Alice , Di Pietro Gianluca , Birtolo Lucia Ilaria , Maestrini Viviana , Badagliacca Roberto , Sardella Gennaro , Fedele Francesco , Vizza Carmine Dario , Mancone Massimo
Published: May 2023

Among the most common causes of death worldwide, ischemic heart disease (IHD) is recognized to rank first. Even if atherosclerotic disease of the epicardial arteries is known as the leading cause of IHD, the presence of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) is increasingly recognized. Notwithstanding the increasing interest, MINOCA remains a puzzling clinical entity that can be classified by distinguishing different underlying mechanisms, which can be divided into atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic. In particular, coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), classifiable in non-atherosclerotic mechanisms, is a leading factor for the pathophysiology and prognosis of patients with MINOCA. Genetic susceptibility may have a role in primum movens in CMD. However, few results have been obtained for understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying CMD. Future studies are essential in order to find a deeper understanding of the role of multiple genetic variants in the genesis of microcirculation dysfunction. Progress in research would allow early identification of high-risk patients and the development of pharmacological, patient-tailored strategies. The aim of this review is to revise the pathophysiology and underlying mechanisms of MINOCA, focusing on CMD and actual knowledge about genetic predisposition to it.
Association between Cerebrospinal Fluid Soluble TREM2, Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Zhou Wenchuan , Zhou Yutong , Li Jing
Published: May 2023

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) is a potential biomarker and therapy target for neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association between CSF sTREM2 level and NDDs, and to reveal the dynamic changes in CSF sTREM2 level in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continuum. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for observational studies, which compared the levels of CSF sTREM2 between NDDs and controls. Sources of heterogeneity were analyzed using sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis and meta-regression. We assessed pooled data using a random-effects model. Results: Twenty-two observational studies which included 5716 participates were identified. Compared with the controls, the whole AD continuum group showed a significant increase in CSF sTREM2 level (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.41, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.24, 0.58, p < 0.001). The mild cognitive impairment (MCI) group displayed the largest effect size (SMD, 0.49 [95% CI: 0.10, 0.88], p = 0.014), followed by the AD cohort (SMD, 0.40 [95% CI: 0.18, 0.63], p < 0.001). The increase in sTREM2 in the preclinical stage of AD (pre-AD) group was the lowest (SMD, 0.29 [95% CI: 0.03, 0.55], p = 0.031). Other NDDs also showed an increase in the CSF sTREM2 levels compared with control groups (SMD, 0.77 [95% CI: 0.37, 1.16], p < 0.001). Conclusions: The pooled data confirmed that NDDs are associated with increased CSF sTREM2 level, thereby suggesting the CSF sTREM2 as a potential dynamic biomarker and therapy target for NDDs.
Triticum vulgare Extract and Polyhexanide (Fitostimoline® Hydrogel/Fitostimoline® Plus Gauze) versus Saline Gauze Dressing in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Della Pepa Giuseppe , Lombardi Gianluca , Gianfrancesco Salvatore , Piccolo Roberto , Chirico Giovanni , Pellegrino Micaela , Santella Luigi , Tecce Nicola , Volpicelli Anastasia , Sollo Elena , Bozzetto Lutgarda , Masulli Maria , Riccardi Gabriele , Rivellese Angela Albarosa , Saldalamacchia Gennaro
Published: May 2023

Background: The use of dressings is an essential component of the standard of care for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs); however, despite the wide variety of dressings available, there is a lack of evidence from head-to-head randomized controlled trials. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of Triticum vulgare extract and polyhexanide (Fitostimoline® hydrogel/Fitostimoline® Plus gauze) versus saline gauze dressings in patients with DFUs. Methods: This study involved a monocentric, two-arm, open-label, controlled trial in patients with DFUs (Grades I or II, Stage A or C, based on the Texas classification) randomized to 12 weeks of dressing with Fitostimoline® hydrogel/Fitostimoline® Plus gauze or saline gauze. The number of patients with complete healing, the reduction in DFU size, and the presence of local signs and symptoms of the wound and perilesional skin were evaluated every two weeks and at the end of treatment. Results: A total of 40 adult patients were recruited (20 patients in each treatment group). The proportion of patients with complete healing was similar between the two groups (61% vs. 74%, p = 0.495, Fitostimoline® hydrogel/Fitostimoline® Plus gauze vs. saline gauze, respectively), without significant differences, as well as the reduction in DFU size. A significant improvement in local signs and symptoms of the wound and signs of perilesional skin in the Fitostimoline® hydrogel/Fitostimoline® Plus gauze compared with the saline gauze group was observed. Conclusions: In a clinical setting, the use of Fitostimoline® hydrogel/Fitostimoline® Plus gauze dressing in patients with DFUs significantly improves signs and symptoms of the wound and signs of perilesional skin compared with saline gauze dressing with a similar efficacy in terms of wound healing.
Improvement in Fertility and Pain after Endometriosis Resection and Adhesion Prevention with 4DryField® PH: Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Krämer Bernhard , Andress Jürgen , Neis Felix , Hoffmann Sascha , Brucker Sara , Kommoss Stefan , Höller Alice
Published: May 2023

Background: Adhesions after endometriosis resection are frequent and the most common causes for chronic pain and secondary infertility. Primary results of our randomized controlled trial (RCT) on adhesion prevention after deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) resection using the gel barrier 4DryField® PH showed 85% adhesion reduction in second-look surgeries. Secondary endpoint data on fertility and pain development were collected during 12-month follow-ups. Methods: This RCT comprised 50 patients. Preoperatively and after 1, 6 and 12 months, pain scores for cycle-independent pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, dyschezia, and dysuria, as well as the number of pregnancies, were recorded,. Results: The pregnancy rate in the intervention group was significantly higher (p < 0.05). Pain development was also improved: after 12 months, all 5 subscores were lower in the intervention group and improvements were more pronounced, most prominently concerning cycle-independent pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea, the two subcategories with the highest preoperative scores and, therefore, the highest relevance for the patients. Cycle-independent pelvic pain even recurred in the control group, while barrier application prevented this. Conclusions: Considering the known causal link between adhesions and pain, it is apparent that the favourable outcomes in the intervention group are linked to effective adhesion prevention. The significant increase in pregnancies is remarkable.
Airborne and Underwater Noise Produced by a Hovercraft in the North Caspian Region: Pressure and Particle Motion Measurements
Authors: Vedenev Alexandr I. , Kochetov Oleg Yu. , Lunkov Andrey A. , Shurup Andrey S. , Kassymbekova Saltanat S.
Published: May 2023

The measurements of airborne and underwater noise radiated by a Griffon BHT130 hovercraft were conducted in the Ural-Caspian Channel and in the North Caspian Sea. This type of hovercraft is being used for all-season cargo and crew transportation to oil and gas platforms within the environmentally sensitive area of the Ural River estuary known for its abundant bird and fish fauna. Several field campaigns were organized from 2017 to 2022 to measure and analyze acoustic noise levels simultaneously in the air and underwater at various sites and hovercraft speeds. Airborne noise levels were estimated according to ISO 2922:2020, 2021. Underwater noise study included not only acoustic pressure recordings but also particle velocity measurements with a self-designed pressure gradient sensor (PGS), which is important since the hearing of the majority of fish perceives the sound in terms of particle motion. This study is the first to report the particle velocity levels formed underwater during hovercraft passages. The minimum levels of underwater noise, 100 dB re 1 µPa (pressure), 45 dB re 1 nm/s (particle velocity), and airborne noise, 93 dBA re 20 µPa (pressure), normalized to a distance of 25 m were observed for the hovercraft passages at a cruising speed of 7–15 m/s. Thus, this speed interval can be recommended as an optimum to minimize an acoustic impact on ornitho- and fish fauna. The directivity of the hovercraft noise was estimated for the first time and utilized for noise mapping of the Ural-Caspian Channel. The possible hydrodynamic effect of a passing hovercraft is discussed.
Risk Estimation of Typhoon Disaster Based on Three-Dimensional Information Diffusion Method
Authors: Liu Guilin , Yin Jingyi , Song Shichun , Yang Wenjin , Tian Yuhang , Wang Liping , Xu Yu
Published: May 2023

In the context of the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, assessing the risk of typhoon disasters can provide significant assistance for risk control and emergency management of typhoon disasters. In this paper, based on the three-dimensional information diffusion method, the formal expected loss model is transformed into a computable typhoon risk assessment model. The fuzzy information in the small sample data is deeply mined, and the typhoon disaster risk assessment with the expected loss as the connotation is carried out, and the probability density distribution estimation of disaster-causing factors at different levels and the functional relationship identification between disaster-causing factors at different levels and direct economic loss rate are realized by using the information matrix. At the same time, combined with the frequency of typhoon occurrence, the annual risk of disasters is predicted to make up for the problem of insufficient marine environmental data and improve the calculation accuracy of risk assessment models. Taking Guangdong Province as an example, a typhoon risk assessment was conducted, estimating the probability distribution, direct economic loss rate distribution, and annual loss expectation of typhoon disasters under different wind speed scales and extreme wave heights. The results indicate that the risk estimation value of the three-dimensional information diffusion model is higher than that of the traditional model, which weakens the limitations of the low-dimensional information diffusion model and makes the evaluation results more reasonable and reliable.
Wind Speed Prediction Based on VMD-BLS and Error Compensation
Authors: Jiao Xuguo , Zhang Daoyuan , Song Dongran , Mu Dongdong , Tian Yanbing , Wu Haotian
Published: May 2023

As one of the fastest-growing new energy sources, wind power technology has attracted widespread attention from all over the world. In order to improve the quality of wind power generation, wind speed prediction is an indispensable task. In this paper, an error correction-based Variational Mode Decomposition and Broad Learning System (VMD-BLS) hybrid model is proposed for wind speed prediction. First, the wind speed is decomposed into multiple components by the VMD algorithm, and then an ARMA model is established for each component to find the optimal number of sequence divisions. Second, the BLS model is used to predict each component, and the prediction results are summed to obtain the wind speed forecast value. However, in some traditional methods, there is always time lag, which will reduce the forecast accuracy. To deal with this, a novel error correction technique is developed by utilizing BLS. Through verification experiment with actual data, it proves that the proposed method can reduce the phenomenon of prediction lag, and can achieve higher prediction accuracy than traditional approaches, which shows our method’s effectiveness in practice.
Structural Model Test for Strength Performance Evaluation of Disconnectable Mooring Apparatuses Installed on Floating-Type Offshore Wind Turbine
Authors: Lee Kangsu , Song Chang-Yong
Published: May 2023

The destructive power of typhoons has been continuously increasing due to the influence of global warming. In a situation where the installation of floating wind turbines is increasing around the world, concerns about huge losses and collapses of floating offshore wind turbines due to strong typhoons are deepening. Regarding the safe operation of floating offshore wind turbines, the development of a new type of disconnectable mooring system is required. The newly developed disconnectable mooring apparatuses, such as fairlead chain stoppers (FCS) and submersible mooring pulleys (SMP), considered in this study are devised to more easily attach or detach the floating offshore wind turbine with mooring lines compared to other disconnectable mooring systems. In order to investigate the structural safety of the initial design of FCS and SMP that can be applied to MW class floating-type offshore wind turbines, scaled-down structural models were produced using a 3-D printer, and structural tests were performed on those models. For the structural tests of the scaled-down models, tensile specimens of the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene material used in the 3-D printing process were prepared, and the material properties were evaluated by performing tensile tests. Finite element analyses of FCS and SMP were performed by applying the material properties obtained from the tensile tests and the same load and boundary conditions as in the scaled-down model structural tests. Through the finite element analyses, the weak structural parts of FCS and SMP were reviewed. The structural model tests were performed considering the main load conditions of the fairlead chain stopper, and the test results were compared to the finite element analyses. Through the results of this study, it was possible to experimentally verify the structural safety of the initial design of disconnectable mooring apparatuses. Furthermore, the study results can be used to improve the structural strength of FCS and SMP in a detailed design stage.
Soil Fungal Community Characteristics at Timberlines of Sejila Mountain in Southeast Tibet, China
Authors: Cheng Fei , Li Mingman , Ren Yihua , Hou Lei , Gao Tan , He Peng , Deng Xiangsheng , Lu Jie
Published: May 2023

Soil fungal community characteristics of alpine timberlines are unclear. In this study, soil fungal communities in five vegetation zones across timberlines on the south and north slopes of Sejila Mountain in Tibet, China were investigated. The results show that the alpha diversity of soil fungi was not different between the north- and south-facing timberlines or among the five vegetation zones. Archaeorhizomyces (Ascomycota) was a dominant genus at the south-facing timberline, whereas the ectomycorrhizal genus Russula (Basidiomycota) decreased with decreasing Abies georgei coverage and density at the north-facing timberline. Saprotrophic soil fungi were dominant, but their relative abundance changed little among the vegetation zones at the south timberline, whereas ectomycorrhizal fungi decreased with tree hosts at the north timberline. Soil fungal community characteristics were related to coverage and density, soil pH and ammonium nitrogen at the north timberline, whereas they had no associations with the vegetation and soil factors at the south timberline. In conclusion, timberline and A. georgei presence exerted apparent influences on the soil fungal community structure and function in this study. The findings may enhance our understanding of the distribution of soil fungal communities at the timberlines of Sejila Mountain.
Challenges and Solutions for Forest Biodiversity Conservation in Sweden: Assessment of Policy, Implementation Outputs, and Consequences
Authors: Angelstam Per , Bush Terrence , Manton Michael
Published: May 2023

Swedish policies aim at conserving biological production, biodiversity, cultural heritage and recreational assets. This requires compositionally and structurally functional networks of representative habitats, the processes that maintain them, and resilient ecosystems. The term green infrastructure (GI) captures this. We review (1) policy concerning forest biodiversity conservation from the 1990s; (2) the implementation outputs, including the formulation of short-term and evidence-based long-term goals for protected areas, education, and the development of hierarchical spatial planning; (3) the consequences in terms of formally protected and voluntarily set-aside forest stands, as well as conservation management and habitat restoration. We assess the successes and failures regarding policy, outputs and consequences, discuss challenges to be addressed, and suggest solutions. Policies capture evidence-based knowledge about biodiversity, and evidence-based conservation planning as an output. However, the desired consequences are not met on the ground. Thus, the amount of formally protected and voluntary set-aside forests are presently too low, and have limited quality and poor functional connectivity. GI functionality is even declining because of forestry intensification, and insufficient conservation. Challenges include limited collaborative learning among forest and conservation planners, poor funding to conserve forest habitats with sufficient size, quality and connectivity, and national politics that ignores evidence-based knowledge. As solutions, we highlight the need for diversification of forest management systems with a landscape perspective that matches forest owner objectives and regional social-ecological contexts. This requires integrative approaches to knowledge production, learning and spatial planning.
Land Use/Land Cover Change Analysis Using Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Data: A Case Study of Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Basin
Authors: Al-Taei Azher Ibrahim , Alesheikh Ali Asghar , Darvishi Boloorani Ali
Published: May 2023

Multi-temporal land use/land cover (LULC) change analysis is essential for environmental planning and recourses management. Various global LULC datasets are available now. However, they do not show strong consistency on a regional scale and are mainly time limited. Therefore, high-quality multi-temporal LULC mapping with reasonable consistency on a regional scale is still demanding. In this study, using the Landsat 7, Landsat 8, and the NASA digital elevation model (DEM), LULC mapping of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers basin (TEB) was performed by random forest (RF) classifier in the Google Earth Engine platform during 2000–2022. The spectral bands, spectral indices, morphological, and textural features were applied in the developed procedure. The results indicated that the proposed approach had accurate performance (accuracy = 0.893 and an F score = 0.820) with a good consistency with previous studies. The feature importance evaluation was carried out using Gini index, and spectral indices were identified as the most important features in LULC mapping. Overall, severe LULC change has happened in the TEB during the last two decades. Our results revealed the expansion of water and built-up classes while trees class has experienced a decreasing trend. From a regional perspective, three main areas in the east and south-east of Iraq, north-west of Iraq, and east of Syria were identified where LULC change was intense. These areas are prone to land degradation and dust storms emission problems, and it is necessary to take steps to prevent severe LULC changes in them.
The Constraints of Monolingual Language Policy and Heteroglossic Practices as a Vehicle for Linguistic Justice
Authors: Set Beatha
Published: May 2023

This paper draws on conceptualisations of language as heteroglossic practices to examine how the experienced bilingual science teacher navigates between the monoglossic ideology that is embodied in the official Namibian Language in Education Policy (LiEP) within a linguistically constrained Namibian bilingual context. This paper aims to support recent research that challenges monolingual and monoglossic language practices, which tend to ignore the linguistic resources that children bring to the classroom. Data were collected from a classroom including video and audio recordings of lessons, field notes and photographs. The data were analysed through socio-cultural discourse and fine-grained multimodal analytical methods. The data findings illustrate the moment where the science teacher was constrained by English monolingual policy to mediate learners’ access to science learning, and harnessed all linguistic resources that the learners bring to the classroom. Subsidiary to that, there were moments where the teacher worked flexibly across languages, discourses and modes to interrupt the monoglossic ideology that is embodied in the official Namibian Language in Education Policy (LiEP). The use of rich heteroglossic practices is a clear testimony to enhanced science meaning-making regardless of learners’ ‘limited proficiency in English. The findings highlight the need to support learners from linguistically diverse backgrounds through a deliberate inclusive language policy that harnesses the heteroglossic nature of communicative practices and prepares teachers for a multilingual reality.
Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation for the Modulation of Aggressive Behavior—A Systematic Review of Randomized Sham-Controlled Studies
Authors: Casula Antony , Milazzo Bianca M. , Martino Gabriella , Sergi Alessandro , Lucifora Chiara , Tomaiuolo Francesco , Quartarone Angelo , Nitsche Michael A. , Vicario Carmelo M.
Published: May 2023

Intro: Aggressive behavior represents a significant public health issue, with relevant social, political, and security implications. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques may modulate aggressive behavior through stimulation of the prefrontal cortex. Aims: To review research on the effectiveness of NIBS to alter aggression, discuss the main findings and potential limitations, consider the specifics of the techniques and protocols employed, and discuss clinical implications. Methods: A systematic review of the literature available in the PubMed database was carried out, and 17 randomized sham-controlled studies investigating the effectiveness of NIBS techniques on aggression were included. Exclusion criteria included reviews, meta-analyses, and articles not referring to the subject of interest or not addressing cognitive and emotional modulation aims. Conclusions: The reviewed data provide promising evidence for the beneficial effects of tDCS, conventional rTMS, and cTBS on aggression in healthy adults, forensic, and clinical samples. The specific stimulation target is a key factor for the success of stimulation on aggression modulation. rTMS and cTBS showed opposite effects on aggression compared with tDCS. However, due to the heterogeneity of stimulation protocols, experimental designs, and samples, we cannot exclude other factors that may play a confounding role.
Real-Life Assessment of the Ability of an Ultraviolet C Lamp (SanificaAria 200, Beghelli) to Inactivate Airborne Microorganisms in a Healthcare Environment
Authors: Foschi Claudio , Giorgi Beatrice , Ambretti Simone , Lazzarotto Tiziana , Violante Francesco Saverio
Published: May 2023

Airborne-mediated microbial diseases represent one of the major challenges to public health. Ultraviolet C radiation (UVC) is among the different sanitation techniques useful to reduce the risk of infection in healthcare facilities. Previous studies about the germicidal activity of UVC were mainly performed in artificial settings or in vitro models. This study aimed to assess the sanitizing effectiveness of a UVC device (SanificaAria 200, Beghelli, Valsamoggia, Bologna, Italy) in ‘real-life’ conditions by evaluating its ability to reduce microbial loads in several hospital settings during routine daily activities. The efficacy of the UVC lamp in reducing the bacterial component was evaluated by microbial culture through the collection of air samples in different healthcare settings at different times (30 min–24 h) after turning on the device. To assess the anti-viral activity, air samplings were carried out in a room where a SARS-CoV-2-positive subject was present. The UVC device showed good antibacterial properties against a wide range of microbial species after 6 h of activity. It was effective against possible multi-drug resistant microorganisms (e.g., Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp.) and spore-forming bacteria (e.g., Bacillus spp.). In addition, the UVC lamp was able to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in just one hour. Thanks to its effectiveness and safety, SanificaAria 200 could be useful to inactivate airborne pathogens and reduce health risks.
Effect of Structural Flexibility of Wheelset/Track on Rail Wear
Authors: Wen Bingguang , Tao Gongquan , Wen Xuguang , Wang Shenghua , Wen Zefeng
Published: May 2023

To investigate the influence of the structural deformation of the wheelset and track on rail wear in the longitudinal and lateral directions, a rail wear prediction model is established that can calculate the three-dimensional distribution of rail wear. The difference between the multi-rigid-body dynamic model and the rigid-flexible coupled dynamic model, which considers the structural flexibility of the wheelset and track, is compared in terms of the three-dimensional distribution of rail wear. The results show that the three-dimensional distributions of rail wear predicted by the two models are relatively similar. There is no obvious difference in the wear band, and the rail wear in the longitudinal direction is almost identical. The cross sections of the worn rail shapes determined by the two models are essentially the same, with a maximum difference of 3.6% in the average value of the wear areas of all cross sections. The track irregularity is the main reason for the uneven distribution of rail wear in the longitudinal direction. The position where the rail wear is more pronounced hardly varies with the evolution of the rail wear. It is recommended to use a multi-rigid-body dynamic model for the prediction of rail wear, which allows both calculation accuracy and efficiency.
An Improved Crack Breathing Model and Its Application in Crack Identification for Rotors
Authors: Liu Qi , Cao Shancheng , Lu Zhiwen
Published: May 2023

The crack breathing model and crack identification method for rotors using nonlinearity induced by cracks are studied in this work. Firstly, the finite element method is utilized to model a rotor–bearing system with a response-dependent breathing crack to obtain the numerical data for crack identification. During the modelling, an improved breathing crack model is proposed, focused on the unreasonable assumption about crack closure line in the original crack closure line position (CCLP) model. Compared with the original model, the improved breathing model can reflect the nonlinear behavior of cracks better. Secondly, based on the established model, super-harmonic features at 1/3 and 1/2 of the critical rotating speeds under different crack locations and crack depths are extracted for crack identification. Additionally, the super-harmonic features from two measurement points are used as inputs into an artificial neural network with a Levenberg–Marquardt back-propagation algorithm, corresponding crack positions and depths as outputs. The robustness of the method is tested by examining the identification results under different levels of noise. The results show that the proposed crack identification method is efficient for simultaneous identification of crack depth and position in operating rotors.
Regularities of Changes in the Motion Resistance of Wheeled Vehicles along a Curvilinear Trajectory
Authors: Mateichyk Vasyl , Soltus Anatolii , Klimov Eduard , Kostian Nataliia , Smieszek Miroslaw , Kovbasenko Sergii
Published: May 2023

The value of the motion resistance is one of the important characteristics that determines the technical and operational properties of the vehicle, in particular its fuel economy under operating conditions. This article summarizes the approaches to determining the rolling resistance of a wheeled vehicle in straight motion, which is a separate case from curved motion. The value of this parameter is one of the vehicle components of the motion resistance along a curved path. The regularities of changes in the motion resistance of a two-axle wheeled vehicle along a curvilinear trajectory are determined based on the determination of the motion resistance of individual wheels, which considers resistance to rectilinear motion and additional resistance along a curved path caused by the twisting and lateral displacement of the wheel disc relative to the tire patch. Analytical dependences of changes in the motion resistance along a curvilinear trajectory of two-axle vehicles with the design features of transmission, placement of tires, and their characteristics were obtained. It was found that reducing the radius of curvature of the trajectory to the minimum turning radius increases the motion resistance coefficient for the investigated vehicles by 1.68−2.04 times in relation to the rolling resistance coefficient in straight motion.
An Onboard Point Cloud Semantic Segmentation System for Robotic Platforms
Authors: Wang Fei , Yang Yujie , Zhou Jingchun , Zhang Weishi
Published: May 2023

Point clouds represent an important way for robots to perceive their environments, and can be acquired by mobile robots with LiDAR sensors or underwater robots with sonar sensors. Hence, real-time semantic segmentation of point clouds with onboard edge devices is essential for robots to apprehend their surroundings. In this paper, we propose an onboard point cloud semantic segmentation system for robotic platforms to overcome the conflict between attaining high accuracy of segmentation results and the limited available computational resources of onboard devices. Our system takes raw a sequence of point clouds as inputs, and outputs semantic segmentation results for each frame as well as a reconstructed semantic map of the environment. At the core of our system is the transformer-based hierarchical feature extraction module and fusion module. The two modules are implemented with sparse tensor technologies to speed up inference. The predictions are accumulated according to Bayes rules to generate a global semantic map. Experimental results on the SemanticKITTI dataset show that our system achieves +2.2% mIoU and 18× speed improvements compared with SOTA methods. Our system is able to process 2.2 M points per second on Jetson AGX Xavier (NVIDIA, Santa Clara, USA), demonstrating its applicability to various robotic platforms.
Reliability Analysis of High-Voltage Drive Motor Systems in Terms of the Polymorphic Bayesian Network
Authors: Zheng Weiguang , Jiang Haonan , Li Shande , Ma Qiuxiang
Published: May 2023

The reliability of the high-voltage drive motor system for pure electric commercial vehicles is in premium demand. Conventional reliability based on fault tree analysis methods is not suitable for the quantitative assessment of polymorphic systems. As an example of a pure electric commercial vehicle, this paper combines polymorphic theory and Bayesian theory to establish a polymorphic Bayesian network model of a high-voltage drive motor system in terms of a polymorphic fault tree and to quantitatively judge the system. The polymorphic Bayesian network (BN) model can accurately depict the high-voltage drive motor system’s miscellaneous fault states and solve the top event’s probability in every state, also solving the system and drawing the consistent conclusion that the presence of abrasive particles, high-temperature gluing, moisture, and localized high temperatures are the system’s weak links by solving the critical importance, probabilistic importance, and posterior probability of the underlying event, which provides a theoretical reference for structure contrive optimization and fault diagnosis. This is extremely important in terms of improving pure electric commercial vehicles’ high-voltage drive motor systems.
Correction: Tolmachev et al. Algorithmic Aspects of Simulation of Magnetic Field Generation by Thermal Convection in a Plane Layer of Fluid. Mathematics 2023, 11, 808
Authors: Tolmachev Daniil , Chertovskih Roman , Zheligovsky Vladislav
Published: May 2023

There was an error in the original publication [...]
Advances in Mathematical Inequalities and Applications
Authors: Klaričić Bakula Milica
Published: May 2023

Why do we study inequalities [...]
Investigating the Impacts of UVC Radiation on Natural and Cultured Biofilms: An assessment of Cell Viability
Authors: Braga Cierra R. , Richard Kailey N. , Gardner Harrison , Swain Geoffrey , Hunsucker Kelli Z.
Published: May 2023

Biofilms are conglomerates of cells, water, and extracellular polymeric substances which can lead to various functional and financial setbacks. As a result, there has been a drive towards more environmentally friendly antifouling methods, such as the use of ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation. When applying UVC radiation, it is important to understand how frequency, and thus dose, can influence an established biofilm. This study compares the impacts of varying doses of UVC radiation on both a monocultured biofilm consisting of Navicula incerta and field-developed biofilms. Both biofilms were exposed to doses of UVC radiation ranging from 1626.2 mJ/cm2 to 9757.2 mJ/cm2 and then treated with a live/dead assay. When exposed to UVC radiation, the N. incerta biofilms demonstrated a significant reduction in cell viability compared to the non-exposed samples, but all doses had similar viability results. The field biofilms were highly diverse, containing not only benthic diatoms but also planktonic species which may have led to inconsistencies. Although they are different from each other, these results provide beneficial data. Cultured biofilms provide insight into how diatom cells react to varying doses of UVC radiation, whereas the real-world heterogeneity of field biofilms is useful for determining the dosage needed to effectively prevent a biofilm. Both concepts are important when developing UVC radiation management plans that target established biofilms.
Total Osteopontin and Its Isoform OPN4 Are Differently Expressed in Respiratory Samples during Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Infection and Progression
Authors: Martins Jéssica Santa Cruz de Carvalho , Sousa Thiago das Chagas , Oliveira Maria de Lourdes de Aguiar , Gimba Etel Rodrigues Pereira , Siqueira Marilda Mendonça , Matos Aline da Rocha
Published: May 2023

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection affects the human respiratory tract, causing an acute and highly contagious disease. Individuals with comorbidities and in the extremes of age are classified as risk groups for serious clinical outcomes. However, part of the severe infections and fatalities are observed among young healthy individuals. Noteworthy, influenza infections lack specific prognostic biomarkers that would predict the disease severity. Osteopontin (OPN) has been proposed as a biomarker in a few human malignancies and its differential modulation has been observed during viral infections. However, OPN expression levels in the primary site of IAV infection have not been previously investigated. Therefore, we evaluated the transcriptional expression patterns of total OPN (tOPN) and its splicing isoforms (OPNa, OPNb, OPNc, OPN4, and OPN5) in 176 respiratory secretion samples collected from human influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 cases and a group of 65 IAV-negative controls. IAV samples were differentially classified according to their disease severity. tOPN was more frequently detected in IAV samples (34.1%) when compared with the negative controls (18.5%) (p < 0.05), as well as in fatal (59.1%) versus non-fatal IAV samples (30.5%) (p < 0.01). OPN4 splice variant transcript was more prevalent in IAV cases (78.4%) than in the negative controls (66.1%) (p = 0.05) and in severe cases (85.7%) in relation to the non-severe ones (69.2%) (p < 0.01). OPN4 detection was also associated with severity symptoms such as dyspnea (p < 0.05), respiratory failure (p < 0.05), and oxygen saturation < 95% (p < 0.05). In addition, the OPN4 expression level was increased in the fatal cases of respiratory samples. Our data indicated that tOPN and OPN4 had a more pronounced expression pattern in IAV respiratory samples, pointing to the potential use of these molecules as biomarkers to evaluate disease outcomes.
Detection, Genophenotypic Characterization, and Antimicrobial Resistance of Microbial Contaminants
Authors: Yoon Sunghyun , Kondakala Sandeep , Kim Minjae , Foley Steven L. , Kweon Ohgew , Kim Seongjae
Published: May 2023

Microbial contamination is the inadvertent presence of microbes or their byproducts in materials or environments [...]
Petroleum-Degrading Fungal Isolates for the Treatment of Soil Microcosms
Authors: Daâssi Dalel , Almaghrabi Fatimah Qabil
Published: May 2023

The main purpose of this study was to degrade total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) from contaminated soil in batch microcosm reactors. Native soil fungi isolated from the same petroleum-polluted soil and ligninolytic fungal strains were screened and applied in the treatment of soil-contaminated microcosms in aerobic conditions. The bioaugmentation processes were carried out using selected hydrocarbonoclastic fungal strains in mono or co-cultures. Results demonstrated the petroleum-degrading potential of six fungal isolates, namely KBR1 and KBR8 (indigenous) and KBR1-1, KB4, KB2 and LB3 (exogenous). Based on the molecular and phylogenetic analysis, KBR1 and KB8 were identified as Aspergillus niger [MW699896] and tubingensis [MW699895], while KBR1-1, KB4, KB2 and LB3 were affiliated with the genera Syncephalastrum sp. [MZ817958], Paecilomyces formosus [MW699897], Fusarium chlamydosporum [MZ817957] and Coniochaeta sp. [MW699893], respectively. The highest rate of TPH degradation was recorded in soil microcosm treatments (SMT) after 60 days by inoculation with Paecilomyces formosus 97 ± 2.54%, followed by bioaugmentation with the native strain Aspergillus niger (92 ± 1.83%) and then by the fungal consortium (84 ± 2.21%). The statistical analysis of the results showed significant differences.
Antibiotics Resistance and Adhesive Properties of Clinical Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Wound Infections
Authors: Alabbosh Khulood Fahad , Zmantar Tarek , Bazaid Abdulrahman S. , Snoussi Mejdi , Noumi Emira
Published: May 2023

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a ubiquitous pathogen responsible for several severe infections. This study aimed to investigate the adhesive properties and antibiotic resistance among clinical S. aureus isolated from Hail Hospital Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), using molecular approaches. This study was conducted according to the ethical committee at Hail’s guidelines on twenty-four S. aureus isolates. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to identify genes encoding the β-lactamase resistance (blaZ), methicillin resistance (mecA), fluoroquinolone resistance (norA), nitric oxide reductase (norB), fibronectin (fnbA and fnbB), clumping factor (clfA) and intracellular adhesion factors (icaA and icaD). This qualitative study tested adhesion based on exopolysaccharide production on Congo red agar (CRA) medium and biofilm formation on polystyrene by S. aureus strains. Among 24 isolates, the cna and blaz were the most prevalent (70.8%), followed by norB (54.1%), clfA (50.0%), norA (41.6%), mecA and fnbB (37.5%) and fnbA (33.3%). The presence of icaA/icaD genes was demonstrated in almost all tested strains in comparison to the reference strain, S. aureus ATCC 43300. The phenotypic study of adhesion showed that all tested strains had moderate biofilm-forming capacity on polystyrene and represented different morphotypes on a CRA medium. Five strains among the twenty-four harbored the four genes of resistance to antibiotics (mecA, norA, norB and blaz). Considering the genes of adhesion (cna, clfA, fnbA and fnbB), these genes were present in 25% of the tested isolates. Regarding the adhesive properties, the clinical isolates of S. aureus formed biofilm on polystyrene, and only one strain (S17) produced exopolysaccharides on Congo red agar. All these results contribute to an understanding that the pathogenesis of clinical S. aureus isolates is due to their antibiotic resistance and adhesion to medical material.
Tryptophanase Expressed by Salmonella Halts Breast Cancer Cell Growth In Vitro and Inhibits Production of Immunosuppressive Kynurenine
Authors: Hababag Eljoie Anice Cada , Cauilan Allea , Quintero David , Bermudes David
Published: May 2023

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid required for tumor cell growth and is also the precursor to kynurenine, an immunosuppressive molecule that plays a role in limiting anticancer immunity. Tryptophanase (TNase) is an enzyme expressed by different bacterial species that converts tryptophan into indole, pyruvate and ammonia, but is absent in the Salmonella strain VNP20009 that has been used as a therapeutic delivery vector. We cloned the Escherichia coli TNase operon tnaCAB into the VNP20009 (VNP20009-tnaCAB), and were able to detect linear production of indole over time, using Kovács reagent. In order to conduct further experiments using the whole bacteria, we added the antibiotic gentamicin to stop bacterial replication. Using a fixed number of bacteria, we found that there was no significant effect of gentamicin on stationary phase VNP20009-tnaCAB upon their ability to convert tryptophan to indole over time. We developed a procedure to extract indole from media while retaining tryptophan, and were able to measure tryptophan spectrophotometrically after exposure to gentamicin-inactivated whole bacterial cells. Using the tryptophan concentration equivalent to that present in DMEM cell culture media, a fixed number of bacteria were able to deplete 93.9% of the tryptophan in the culture media in 4 h. In VNP20009-tnaCAB depleted tissue culture media, MDA-MB-468 triple negative breast cancer cells were unable to divide, while those treated with media exposed only to VNP20009 continued cell division. Re-addition of tryptophan to conditioned culture media restored tumor cell growth. Treatment of tumor cells with molar equivalents of the TNase products indole, pyruvate and ammonia only caused a slight increase in tumor cell growth. Using an ELISA assay, we confirmed that TNase depletion of tryptophan also limits the production of immunosuppressive kynurenine in IFNγ-stimulated MDA-MB-468 cancer cells. Our results demonstrate that Salmonella VNP20009 expressing TNase has improved potential to stop tumor cell growth and reverse immunosuppression.