bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Invasive Fungal Diseases on Survival under Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for ARDS
Authors: Poth Jens Martin , Schewe Jens-Christian , Putensen Christian , Ehrentraut Stefan Felix
Published: April 2022

Objective: To assess the incidence and significance of invasive fungal diseases (IFD) during veno-venous (VV) ECMO support for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: Retrospective analysis from January 2013 to April 2021 of all ECMO cases for ARDS at a German University Hospital. In patients with IFD (IFD patients), type of IFD, time of IFD, choice of antifungal agent, duration, and success of therapy were investigated. For comparison, patients without IFD (non-IFD patients) were selected by propensity score matching using treatment-independent variables (age, gender, height, weight, and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score at ICU admission). Demographics, hospital and ICU length of stay, duration of ECMO therapy, days on mechanical ventilation, prognostic scores (Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS), and length of survival were assessed. Results: A total of 646 patients received ECMO, 368 patients received VV ECMO. The incidence of IFD on VV ECMO was 5.98%, with 5.43% for Candida bloodstream infections (CBSI) and 0.54% for invasive aspergillosis (IA). In IFD patients, in-hospital mortality was 81.8% versus 40.9% in non-IFD patients. The hazard ratio for death was 2.5 (CI 1.1–5.4; p: 0.023) with IFD. Conclusions: In patients on VV ECMO for ARDS, about one in 17 contracts an IFD, with a detrimental impact on prognosis. Further studies are needed to address challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of IFD in this population.
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Adverse Outcomes after Kidney Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Brinza Crischentian , Covic Adrian , Stefan Anca Elena , Floria Mariana , Popa Iolanda Valentina , Scripcariu Dragos-Viorel , Burlacu Alexandru
Published: April 2022

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) has a high prevalence in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, especially those undergoing kidney transplantation (KT). We aimed to systematically review and calculate the pooled effect size of the literature evaluating the association between pre-existing PH documented by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) or invasively and adverse outcomes following KT. The primary composite outcome extracted from the included studies was represented by the mortality from any cause following KT and delayed graft function (DGF), graft dysfunction, or graft failure. The secondary outcomes were represented by individual components of the primary composite outcome. Twelve studies meeting the inclusion criteria were selected. The main finding is that pre-existing PH was associated with increased mortality and a higher rate of DGF, kidney graft dysfunction, or failure in KT recipients. The effect remained significant for all outcomes irrespective of PH evaluation, invasively or using TTE. Consequently, patients with PH defined only by TTE were at higher risk of death, DGF, or graft failure. Our findings support the routine assessment of PH in patients on the KT waitlist. PH might represent an extensively available and valuable tool for risk stratification in KT patients. These data should be confirmed in large prospective clinical trials.
Analysis of Yes-Associated Protein-1 (YAP1) Target Gene Signature to Predict Progressive Breast Cancer
Authors: Venkatasubramanian Gomathi , Kelkar Devaki A. , Mandal Susmita , Jolly Mohit Kumar , Kulkarni Madhura
Published: April 2022

Breast cancers are treated according to the ER/PR or HER2 expression and show better survival outcomes with targeted therapy. Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) with a lack of expression of ER/PR and HER2 are treated with systemic therapy with unpredictable responses and outcomes. It is essential to investigate novel markers to identify targeted therapies for TNBC. One such marker is YAP1, a transcription co-activator protein that shows association with poor prognosis of breast cancer. YAP1 transcriptionally regulates the expression of genes that drive the oncogenic phenotypes. Here, we assess a potential YAP target gene signature to predict a progressive subset of breast tumors from METABRIC and TCGA datasets. YAP1 target genes were shortlisted based on expression correlation and concordance with YAP1 expression and significant association with survival outcomes of patients. Hierarchical clustering was performed for the shortlisted genes. The utility of the clustered genes was assessed by survival analysis to identify a recurring subset. Expression of the shortlisted target genes showed significant association with survival outcomes of HER2-positive and TNBC subset in both datasets. The shortlisted genes were verified using an independent dataset. Further validation using IHC can prove the utility of this potential prognostic signature to identify a recurrent subset of HER2-positive and TNBC subtypes.
Local Ablative Therapy Associated with Immunotherapy in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Solution to Overcome the Double Trouble?—A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Garnier Jonathan , Turrini Olivier , Chretien Anne-Sophie , Olive Daniel
Published: April 2022

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a major killer and is a challenging clinical research issue with abysmal survival due to unsatisfactory therapeutic efficacy. Two major issues thwart the treatment of locally advanced nonresectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC): high micrometastasis rate and surgical inaccessibility. Local ablative therapies induce a systemic antitumor response (i.e., abscopal effect) in addition to local effects. Thus, the incorporation of additional therapies could be key to improving immunotherapy’s clinical efficacy. In this systematic review, we explore recent applications of local ablative therapies combined with immunotherapy to overcome immune resistance in PDAC and discuss future perspectives and challenges. Particularly, we describe four chemoradiation studies and nine reports on irreversible electroporation (IRE). Clinically, IRE is the ablative therapy of choice, utilized in all but two clinical trials, and may create a favorable microenvironment for immunotherapy. Various immunotherapies have been used in combination with IRE, such as NK cell- or γδ T cell-based therapy, as well as immune checkpoint inhibitors. The results of the clinical trials presented in this review and the advancement potential of these therapies to phase II/III trials remain unknown. A multiple treatment approach involving chemotherapy, local ablation, and immunotherapy holds promise in overcoming the double trouble of LAPC.
Ethnicity and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 in Spain: Results from the Multicenter SEMI-COVID-19 Registry
Authors: Ramos-Rincon Jose-Manuel , Cobos-Palacios Lidia , López-Sampalo Almudena , Ricci Michele , Rubio-Rivas Manuel , Martos-Pérez Francisco , Lalueza-Blanco Antonio , Moragón-Ledesma Sergio , Fonseca-Aizpuru Eva-María , García-García Gema-María , Beato-Perez Jose-Luis , Josa-Laorden Claudia , Arnalich-Fernández Francisco , Molinos-Castro Sonia , Torres-Peña José-David , Artero Arturo , Vargas-Núñez Juan-Antonio , Mendez-Bailon Manuel , Loureiro-Amigo Jose , Hernández-Garrido María-Soledad , Peris-García Jorge , López-Reboiro Manuel-Lorenzo , Barón-Franco Bosco , Casas-Rojo Jose-Manuel , Gómez-Huelgas Ricardo ,   on behalf of the SEMI-COVID-19 Network
Published: April 2022

(1) Background: This work aims to analyze clinical outcomes according to ethnic groups in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Spain. (2) Methods: This nationwide, retrospective, multicenter, observational study analyzed hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 in 150 Spanish hospitals (SEMI-COVID-19 Registry) from 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2021. Clinical outcomes were assessed according to ethnicity (Latin Americans, Sub-Saharan Africans, Asians, North Africans, Europeans). The outcomes were in-hospital mortality (IHM), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and the use of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Associations between ethnic groups and clinical outcomes adjusted for patient characteristics and baseline Charlson Comorbidity Index values and wave were evaluated using logistic regression. (3) Results: Of 23,953 patients (median age 69.5 years, 42.9% women), 7.0% were Latin American, 1.2% were North African, 0.5% were Asian, 0.5% were Sub-Saharan African, and 89.7% were European. Ethnic minority patients were significantly younger than European patients (median (IQR) age 49.1 (40.5–58.9) to 57.1 (44.1–67.1) vs. 71.5 (59.5–81.4) years, p < 0.001). The unadjusted IHM was higher in European (21.6%) versus North African (11.4%), Asian (10.9%), Latin American (7.1%), and Sub-Saharan African (3.2%) patients. After further adjustment, the IHM was lower in Sub-Saharan African (OR 0.28 (0.10–0.79), p = 0.017) versus European patients, while ICU admission rates were higher in Latin American and North African versus European patients (OR (95%CI) 1.37 (1.17–1.60), p < 0.001) and (OR (95%CI) 1.74 (1.26–2.41), p < 0.001). Moreover, Latin American patients were 39% more likely than European patients to use IMV (OR (95%CI) 1.43 (1.21–1.71), p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: The adjusted IHM was similar in all groups except for Sub-Saharan Africans, who had lower IHM. Latin American patients were admitted to the ICU and required IMV more often.
Novel Evolutionary Engineering Approach to Alter Substrate Specificity of Disaccharide Transporter Mal11 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: de Valk Sophie Claire , Mans Robert
Published: March 2022

A major challenge in the research of transport proteins is to understand how single amino acid residues contribute to their structure and biological function. Amino acid substitutions that result in a selective advantage in adaptive laboratory evolution experiments can provide valuable hints at their role in transport proteins. In this study, we applied an evolutionary engineering strategy to alter the substrate specificity of the proton-coupled disaccharide transporter Mal11 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has affinity for sucrose, maltose and glucose. The introduction of MAL11 in a strain devoid of all other sugar transporters and disaccharide hydrolases restored growth on glucose but rendered the strain highly sensitive to the presence of sucrose or maltose. Evolution in glucose-limited continuous cultures with pulse-wise addition of a concentrated sucrose solution at increasing frequency resulted in the enrichment of spontaneous mutant cells that were less sensitive to the presence of sucrose and maltose. Sequence analysis showed that in each of the two independent experiments, three mutations occurred in MAL11, which were found responsible for the disaccharide-insensitive phenotype via reverse engineering. Our work demonstrates how laboratory evolution with proton-motive force-driven uptake of a non-metabolizable substrate can be a powerful tool to provide novel insights into the role of specific amino acid residues in the transport function of Mal11.
Experience of Isavuconazole as a Salvage Therapy in Chronic Pulmonary Fungal Disease
Authors: Nwankwo Lisa , Gilmartin Desmond , Matharu Sheila , Nuh Ali , Donovan Jackie , Armstrong-James Darius , Shah Anand
Published: April 2022

Background: Instances of resistant fungal infection are rising in pulmonary disease, with limited therapeutic options. Therapeutic drug monitoring of azole antifungals has been necessary to ensure safety and efficacy but is considered unnecessary for the newest triazole isavuconazole. Aims: To characterise the prevalence of isavuconazole resistance and use in a tertiary respiratory centre. Methods: A retrospective observational analysis (2016–2021) of adult respiratory patients analysing fungal culture, therapeutic drug monitoring, and outcome post-isavuconazole therapy. Results: During the study period, isavuconazole susceptibility testing was performed on 26 Aspergillus spp. isolates. A total of 80.8% of A. fumigatus isolates had isavuconazole (MIC > 1 mg/L, and 73.0% > 2 mg/L) with a good correlation to voriconazole MIC (r = 0.7, p = 0.0002). A total of 54 patients underwent isavuconazole therapy during the study period (median duration 234 days (IQR: 24–499)). A total of 67% of patients tolerated isavuconazole, despite prior azole toxicity in 61.8%, with increased age (rpb = 0.31; p = 0.021) and male sex (φc = 0.30; p = 0.027) being associated with toxicity. A total of 132 isavuconazole levels were performed with 94.8% > 1 mg/L and 72% > 2 mg/L. Dose change from manufacturer’s recommendation was, however, required in 9.3% to achieve a concentration of >2 mg/L. Conclusion: We describe the use of isavuconazole as a salvage therapy in a chronic pulmonary fungal disease setting with a high prevalence of azole resistance. Therapeutic concentrations at standard dosing were high; however, results reinforce antifungal stewardship for optimization.
Emerging Biomarkers for Early Detection of Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Mizdrak Maja , Kumrić Marko , Kurir Tina Tičinović , Božić Joško
Published: April 2022

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major and serious global health problem that leads to kidney damage as well as multiple systemic diseases. Early diagnosis and treatment are two major measures to prevent further deterioration of kidney function and to delay adverse outcomes. However, the paucity of early, predictive and noninvasive biomarkers has undermined our ability to promptly detect and treat this common clinical condition which affects more than 10% of the population worldwide. Despite all limitations, kidney function is still measured by serum creatinine, cystatin C, and albuminuria, as well as estimating glomerular filtration rate using different equations. This review aims to provide comprehensive insight into diagnostic methods available for early detection of CKD. In the review, we discuss the following topics: (i) markers of glomerular injury; (ii) markers of tubulointerstitial injury; (iii) the role of omics; (iv) the role of microbiota; (v) and finally, the role of microRNA in the early detection of CKD. Despite all novel findings, none of these biomarkers have met the criteria of an ideal early marker. Since the central role in CKD progression is the proximal tubule (PT), most data from the literature have analyzed biomarkers of PT injury, such as KIM-1 (kidney injury molecule-1), NGAL (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin), and L-FABP (liver fatty acid-binding protein).
Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) Expression in Tumor-Associated Neovasculature Is an Independent Prognostic Marker in Patients with Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Hofstetter Gerda , Grech Christina , Pils Dietmar , Pammer Johannes , Neudert Barbara , Pötsch Nina , Baltzer Pascal , Traub-Weidinger Tatjana , Seebacher Veronika , Aust Stefanie
Published: April 2022

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is present in the tumor-associated neovasculature of many cancer types. Current data in ovarian cancer are limited and controversial; thus, the aim of this study was to investigate PSMA expression in a larger and homogenous patient cohort. This might lead to further studies investigating the use of imaging and therapeutic modalities targeting PSMA. Eighty patients with advanced stage high-grade serous ovarian cancers were included. Using immunohistochemistry, PSMA and CD31, a marker for endothelial cells, were examined in whole tissue sections. Percentage and intensity of PSMA expression were determined in the neovasculature. Expression levels were correlated with clinicopathological parameters and survival. Low (≤10%), medium (20–80%), and high (≥90%) PSMA expression was found in 14, 46, and 20 ovarian cancer samples, respectively. PSMA expression was confined to tumor-associated neovasculature and significantly correlated with progression-free (HR 2.24, 95% CI 1.32–3.82, p = 0.003) and overall survival (HR 2.73, 95% CI 1.41–5.29, p = 0.003) in multivariate models, considering age, FIGO stage, and residual disease. This is the first study showing a clinical relevance for PSMA in patients with ovarian cancer. PSMA was detected in the vast majority of cancer samples and showed an impact on survival.
Inferences from Portfolio Theory and Efficient Market Hypothesis to the Impact of Social Media on Sovereign Debt: Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru
Authors: Serrano-Monge Esteban
Published: April 2022

For three countries of similar economic characteristics, I ratify previous studies of the impact of fundamental macroeconomic and foreign exchange variables influencing country risk, as captured by the Emerging Market Bond Index (EMBI). I contribute to existing research, first by calculating a proxy of risk I call endogenous risk that analyzes the quarterly variability of economic activity, and second, by calculating a variable of sentiment from Twitter activity. I gauge the impact of both on the country risk metric in addition to variables in existing research about the determinants of country risk. Foreign exchange variables are the most significant determinants of risk for the countries of Colombia and Peru, which actively manage their currency, while Ecuador’s country risk is mostly affected by endogenous risk and macroeconomic fundamentals.
Ecosystem Service Valuation along Landscape Transformation in Central Ethiopia
Authors: Biratu Abera Assefa , Bedadi Bobe , Gebrehiwot Solomon Gebreyohannis , Melesse Assefa M. , Nebi Tilahun Hordofa , Abera Wuletawu , Tamene Lulseged , Egeru Anthony
Published: March 2022

Land degradation and discontinuation of ecosystem services (ES) are a common phenomenon that causes socio-economic and environmental problems in Ethiopia. However, a dearth of information is known about how ES are changing from the past to the future with regard to land use land cover (LULC) changes. This study aimed at estimating the values of ES based on the past and future LULC changes in central Ethiopia. Maximum likelihood classifier and cellular automata-artificial neuron network (CA-ANN) models that integrate the module for land use change evaluation (MOLUSE) were used to classify and predict LULC. The CA-ANN model learning and validation was employed to predict LULC of 2031 and 2051. Following LULC change detection and prediction, the total ES values were estimated using the benefit transfer method. Results revealed that forests, wetlands, grazing lands, shrub-bush-woodlands, and water bodies were reduced by 9755 ha (37%), 4092 ha (38.4%), 21,263 ha (81%), 63,161 ha (25.7%), and 905 ha (1%), respectively, between 1986 and 2021. Similarly, forests, wetlands, grazing lands, shrub-bush lands, and water bodies will experience a decline of 1.5%, 0.5%, 2.6%, 19.6%, and 0.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, cultivated lands, bare-lands, and built-up areas will experience an increase between 1986 and 2051. The estimated total ES values were reduced by US$58.3 and 85.4 million in the period 1986–2021 and 1986–2051. Food production and biological control value increased while 15 other ES decreased throughout the study periods. Proper land use policy with strategic actions, including enforcement laws for natural ecosystems protection, afforestation, ecosystems restoration, and conservation practices, are recommended to be undertaken to enhance multiple ES provision.
Evolution and Optimization of Territorial-Space Structure Based on Regional Function Orientation
Authors: Wang Shilei , Qu Yanbo , Zhao Weiying , Guan Mei , Ping Zongli
Published: April 2022

In accordance with the ecological civilization strategy, it is necessary to conduct in-depth analyses and provide a systematic elaboration of the characteristics of territorial-space structure (TSS). In the present paper, we examine Shandong Province and construct a framework for the evolution and optimization of TSS based on regional functions. The evolutionary process, pattern, and driving mechanisms of TSS are clarified using a geo-information atlas, the gravity center shift model, spatial autocorrelation analyses, and a geographic detector model. Furthermore, multi-scenario territorial-space simulations are carried out using the CA–Markov model, based on which an optimal pattern of territorial space is constructed. The results show that the comprehensive dynamic degree of territorial space in Shandong Province was valued at 0.56% from 2000 to 2020. Furthermore, six geo-information Tupu of TSS evolution changed, with a total area of 35,485 km2, distributed mainly in the Yellow River Delta, the central and southern Shandong Mountain area, and the Jiaodong Peninsula. The migration route of the TSS gravity center curved over time. Territorial spaces are characterized by the exchange of ecological and agricultural space, while urban spaces occupy agricultural ones. The level of economic development, policy, and the institutional environment are driving forces in the transformation of ecological into agricultural spaces, as well as in transforming agricultural space into ecological and urban spaces. The trade-off connection of TSSs is made evident after a multi-scenario simulation of territorial space considering the 2020–2025 timeframe. Based on the goal of regional function co-ordination, Shandong Province is divided into three and four types of single and complex TSS, respectively. The obtained results may provide scientific reference for the co-ordination between human–land relationships and the sustainable use of territorial space, and serve to guide territorial spatial planning.
Gender Agreement in a Language Contact Situation
Authors: Sánchez Liliana , Camacho José , Mayer Elisabeth , Rodríguez Alzza Carolina
Published: March 2022

Gender agreement between determiners and nouns, and gender agreement between third-person clitics and their referents, are notoriously difficult to acquire by bilingual speakers who lack them in their first language, or in one of their first languages. We present a study that explores the differences between gender agreement between a determiner and a noun and gender agreement between clitics and antecedents or doubled DPs among Shipibo-Spanish speakers. The oral production data that were elicited from 17 adult Shipibo-Spanish bilinguals by using a picture-based narration task show a notable difference in the agreement patterns between nouns and determiners, and between clitics and their antecedents/doubled DPs. Similar patterns are found among five Spanish-Shipibo bilinguals who were living in the same contact situation. While the participants consistently marked strong gender agreement within the DPs, a lack of gender specification was found in the agreement between clitics and antecedents or doubled DPs in the clitic-doubling and dislocated structures. These results are not unexpected as they mirror the results from previous work, where the clitic gender does not systematically match the antecedent gender, especially with feminine antecedents or doubled DPs. Furthermore, this study confirms previous evidence that the gender-specific clitics, lo/la, have been replaced by the invariable clitic, le, in contexts where agreement with a doubled DP or an antecedent is expected. In contrast, there is evidence of agreement between determiners and nouns in this group of bilinguals. These facts allow us to conclude that, although gender is present in Shipibo-Spanish bilingual speakers’ grammar, it is largely absent and is not operative in Shipibo-Spanish speakers’ clitic agreement in oral production.
Diagnostic Assessment of Academic Reading: Peeping into Students’ Annotated Texts
Authors: Antia Bassey E. , Vogt Karin
Published: March 2022

Text annotations are literacy practices that are not uncommon in the reading experience of university students. Annotations may be multilingual, monolingual, or multimodal. Despite their enormous diagnostic potentials, annotations have not been widely investigated for what they can reveal about the cognitive processes that are involved in academic reading. In other words, there has been limited exploration of the insights that signs (verbal and non-verbal) inscribed by students on texts offer for understanding and intervening in their academic reading practices. The aim of this exploratory study is to examine the diagnostic assessment potentials of student-annotated texts. On the basis of text annotations obtained from teacher trainee students (n = 7) enrolled at a German university, we seek to understand what different students attend to while reading, what their problem-solving strategies are, what languages and other semiotic systems they deploy, what their level of engagement with text is, and, critically, how the foregoing provide a basis for intervening to validate, reinforce, correct, or teach certain reading skills and practices. Theoretically, the study is undergirded by the notion of text movability. Data suggestive of how students journey through text are argued to have implications for understanding and teaching how they manage attention, use dictionaries, own text meaning, and appraise text.
How to Provide Breast Milk for the Preterm Infant and Avoid Symptomatic Cytomegalovirus Infection with Possible Long-Term Sequelae
Authors: Resch Bernhard
Published: March 2022

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is able to replicate in the breast milk of lactating mothers and thus the offspring might be affected by mild to severe symptoms of postnatal CMV disease in case of prematurity; not in term infants. Sepsis-like syndrome affects only very low birth infants; and few cases have been reported. The neurodevelopmental long-term outcome of those preterm infants revealed possible subtle deficiencies, but no major neurodevelopmental impairment. Neurodevelopmental sequelae are still in discussion and seem somewhat overestimated after careful evaluation of the published evidence. The main focus of postnatal CMV disease lies upon the extremely low birth weight of infants. Elimination of CMV is provided by short-term heating methods like the most widely used Holder pasteurization. Freezing and thawing methods leave a risk for CMV acquisition. The benefits of untreated breast milk have to be considered to outweigh the possible sequelae of postnatal CMV infection in the most vulnerable preterm infants.
Computational Screening of the Natural Product Osthole and Its Derivates for Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Authors: Mosebarger Angela , Reddi Rambabu N. , Menon Ramkumar , Kammala Ananth Kumar
Published: March 2022

Osthole (OS) is a natural coumarin with a long history of medicinal use in a variety of diseases, such as itch and menstrual disorders. In recent years, OS has been shown to treat inflammation and reduce the expression and activity of NF-κB, although its mechanism of action is still unclear. Overexpression of inflammatory cytokines can have many negative effects in the body, including inducing preterm labor; thus, the modulation of inflammation by OS and its derivatives may be able to delay preterm birth, increasing neonatal survival rates. The objectives of this study were to screen and identify the derivatives of OS with the highest potential for binding capacity to inflammatory mediators NF-κB, TNF-α, and ERK1, and to measure the drug-like properties of these compounds. GLIDE docking in Schrodinger Maestro software was used to calculate docking scores for a variety of semi-synthetic OS derivatives against three proteins involved in inflammation: NF-κB, TNF-α, and ERK1. Schrodinger Qikprop was also used to measure the pharmaceutically relevant properties of the compounds. The protonated demethoxy osthole 1 showed the highest docking of all the proteins tested, while the deprotonated demethoxy osthole 2 consistently had the lowest scores, denoting the importance of pH in the binding activity of this derivative. The lowest docking was at NF-κB, suggesting that this is less likely to be the primary target of OS. All of the screened derivatives showed high drug potential, based on their Qikprop properties. OS and its derivatives showed potential to bind to multiple proteins that regulate the inflammatory response and are prospective candidates for delaying preterm birth.
Inhibin-B and FSH Are Good Indicators of Spermatogenesis but Not the Best Indicators of Fertility
Authors: Jankowska Katarzyna , Suszczewicz Natalia , Rabijewski Michał , Dudek Piotr , Zgliczyński Wojciech , Maksym Radosław B.
Published: March 2022

Biochemical markers of spermatogenesis and fertility assessment are important in the practical management of infertile males and the determination of an individual’s prognosis. We performed an analysis on 100 males with a male infertility factor. The following study inclusion parameters were analyzed: seminogram, FSH, LH, testosterone, estradiol, prolactin, TSH, and inhibin B concentrations. The patients were subsequently treated by reproductive endocrinologists in accordance with AUA/ASRM and EAU guidelines. The reproductive status was evaluated over a period of 3 years. We found a strong correlation of sperm count with inhibin B (r = 0.74, p < 0.001) and FSH concentration levels (r = −0.46, p < 0.001). Among 95 patients at follow-up, pregnancies occurred for 59 of their partners (48 spontaneous, 5 after IVF–ET, and 6 after IUI). Thirty-six patients remained childless despite the therapy. Sperm count and inhibin B level were the best predictors of natural fertilization (ROC AUC: 0.86 and 0.84; cut-off: 2.7 mln/mL and 45 pg/mL). Although inhibin B and FSH can be used to evaluate spermatogenesis and fertility, the initial sperm concentration appeared to be the best predictor of success. Pregnancy was achieved in a surprisingly large proportion of patients with a very low concentration of inhibin B and a low initial sperm count. It is noteworthy that 81% of the pregnancies were achieved without medically assisted reproduction.
Satellitome Analysis and Transposable Elements Comparison in Geographically Distant Populations of Spodoptera frugiperda
Authors: Haq Inzamam Ul , Muhammad Majid , Yuan Huang , Ali Shahbaz , Abbasi Asim , Asad Muhammad , Ashraf Hafiza Javaria , Khurshid Aroosa , Zhang Kexin , Zhang Qiangyan , Liu Changzhong
Published: April 2022

Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) is a member of the superfamily Noctuoidea that accounts for more than a third of all Lepidoptera and includes a considerable number of agricultural and forest pest species. Spodoptera frugiperda is a polyphagous species that is a significant agricultural pest worldwide, emphasizing its economic importance. Spodoptera frugiperda’s genome size, assembly, phylogenetic classification, and transcriptome analysis have all been previously described. However, the different studies reported different compositions of repeated DNA sequences that occupied the whole assembled genome, and the Spodoptera frugiperda genome also lacks the comprehensive study of dynamic satellite DNA. We conducted a comparative analysis of repetitive DNA across geographically distant populations of Spodoptera frugiperda, particularly satellite DNA, using publicly accessible raw genome data from eight different geographical regions. Our results showed that most transposable elements (TEs) were commonly shared across all geographically distant samples, except for the Maverick and PIF/Harbinger elements, which have divergent repeat copies. The TEs age analysis revealed that most TEs families consist of young copies 1–15 million years old; however, PIF/Harbinger has some older/degenerated copies of 30–35 million years old. A total of seven satellite DNA families were discovered, accounting for approximately 0.65% of the entire genome of the Spodoptera frugiperda fall armyworm. The repeat profiling analysis of satellite DNA families revealed differential read depth coverage or copy numbers. The satellite DNA families range in size from the lowest 108 bp SfrSat06-108 families to the largest (1824 bp) SfrSat07-1824 family. We did not observe a statistically significant correlation between monomer length and K2P divergence, copy number, or abundance of each satellite family. Our findings suggest that the satellite DNA families identified in Spodoptera frugiperda account for a considerable proportion of the genome’s repetitive fraction. The satellite DNA families’ repeat profiling revealed a point mutation along the reference sequences. Limited TEs differentiation exists among geographically distant populations of Spodoptera frugiperda.
Effect of Base Oil and Thickener on Texture and Flow of Lubricating Greases: Insights from Bulk Rheometry, Optical Microrheology and Electron Microscopy
Authors: Hodapp Annika , Conrad Andreas , Hochstein Bernhard , Jacob Karl-Heinz , Willenbacher Norbert
Published: April 2022

The structure and flow behavior of lubricating greases depend on the base oil and the type and concentration of the dissolved thickener. In this study, the linear viscoelastic properties of greases were characterized by combining oscillatory shear and squeeze flow covering a broad frequency range (0.1–105 rad s−1). Multiple-particle tracking (MPT) microrheology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided further insight into local viscoelastic properties and sample structure on a submicron-length scale. The type and viscosity of the base oil did not affect the absolute value of the complex viscosity and the filament shape formed by a given thickener. High-frequency shear modulus data, however, indicated that the thickener lithium 12-hydroxystearate formed stiffer networks/filaments in poly-α-olefins than in mineral oils. As expected, the viscosity increased with increased thickener concentrations, but microscopy and high-frequency rheometry revealed that the thickness, length, and stiffness of the individual filaments did not change. In mineral oil, the 12-hydroxystearate thickeners yielded higher viscosity than the corresponding stearates with the same metal ion. The filamentous lithium thickeners created stronger networks than the roundish aggregates formed by magnesium and zinc stearate. Network mesh sizes varying between approximately 100 nm and 300 nm were consistently determined from SEM image analysis and MPT experiments. The MPT experiments further disclosed the existence of gel-like precursors of approximately 130 µm at thickener concentrations far below the critical value at which a sample-spanning network resulting in a characteristic grease texture is formed.
Study on Shielding and Radiation Resistance of Basalt Fiber to Gamma Ray
Authors: Ding Baoming , Zhang Lei , Liu Jiaqi
Published: March 2022

In this study, four basalt rocks were selected to produce continuous fibers, the chemical composition of basalt rocks and the corresponding fibers were compared using the XRF, the results reveal that the content of the chemical component present in the basalt fibers is consistent with basalt rocks. The mass attenuation coefficient of different fibers was analyzed using the XCOM program, the results indicate that when the incident electron energy is 0.01~0.1 MeV, fiber mass attenuation coefficient is found to be positively correlated with the content of Wt (Fe2O3 + MnO + TiO2 + CaO + K2O). The structure and properties of the fibers irradiated by different absorption doses of gamma rays were studied using the SEM, EDX and FTIR, the results indicate that irradiation produces no effect on the basalt fiber structure, surface morphology, and contents of the surface elements, the mass loss rate of the fiber was much less than 1%, fiber tensile strength and elastic modulus increased 4.7–7.5% and 3.9–9.1%, respectively, but the elongation at break of fiber decreased 4.18–10.97%. Two selected basalt fiber cloths of thickness 0.12 and 0.28 mm were irradiated with gamma rays of energies of 100 and 120 keV to examine the shielding property of basalt fibers against the gamma rays, when the energy was 100 keV, the shielding ratios of the fiber cloths were 18.9% and 22.5%, respectively, but when the energy was 120 keV, the shielding ratios of the fiber cloths decreased significantly and were at 8.7% and 10.4%, respectively. When the irradiated electron energy is 100 keV, the shielding ratio for basalt fiber cloths measuring 0.12 and 0.28 mm can reach up to 38.9% and 46.3% of that of the 0.5-mm lead plate, respectively.
A Review of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Technique to Analyze the Stability and Degradation Mechanism of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathode Materials
Authors: Anwar Mustafa , Shaikh Abdul Muhammed Ali , Khan Uneeb Masood , Hassan Muhammad , Khoja Asif Hussain , Muchtar Andanastuti
Published: March 2022

Nondestructive characterization of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) materials has drawn attention owing to the advances in instrumentation that enable in situ characterization during high-temperature cell operation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is widely used to investigate the surface of SOFC cathode materials because of its excellent chemical specificity and surface sensitivity. The XPS can be used to analyze the elemental composition and oxidation state of cathode layers from the surface to a depth of approximately 5–10 nm. Any change in the chemical state of the SOFC cathode at the surface affects the migration of oxygen ions to the cathode/electrolyte interface via the cathode layer and causes performance degradation. The objective of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the adoption of XPS for the characterization of SOFC cathode materials to understand its degradation mechanism in absolute terms. The use of XPS to confirm the chemical stability at the interface and the enrichment of cations on the surface is reviewed. Finally, the strategies adopted to improve the structural stability and electrochemical performance of the LSCF cathode are also discussed.
Performance Analysis of Three Side Roughened Solar Air Heater: A Preliminary Investigation
Authors: Behura Aruna Kumar , Mohanty Chinmaya Prasad , Singh Manas Ranjan , Kumar Ashwini , Linul Emanoil , Rajak Dipen Kumar
Published: March 2022

In recent years, sunlight has been used in several fields such as photovoltaic cells, flat plate collectors, solar cookers, green buildings, and agricultural applications. Improved thermal performance has been seen which comes of three sides absorber plate with glass cover compared to the traditional one. This paper presents the Nusselt (Nu) number, collector efficiency factor (CEF), and collector heat removal factor (CHRF) for the optimal solution of three sides artificially roughened solar air heater. Five input variables such as Reynolds (Re) number, relative roughness pitch, relative roughness height, mass flow rate, and air temperature of the duct are taken into account for improved efficiency optimization of collector, collector heat removal factor, and Nu number. Technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) technique is used to identify the best alternative amongst a number of performance measures by converting them into an equivalent single variable. Moreover, the results revealed the high accuracy of the CEF, CHRF, and Nu number of 75–80%, 74–78%, and 63–71%, respectively. Meanwhile, it has been also observed that roughness Re number varies between 12,500 and 13,500, and height of relative roughness is 0.0245, including pitch of relative roughness 10 along with the rate of mass flow is 0.041 kg/s.
Investigation on Flaw Evolution of Additively Manufactured Al2O3 Ceramic by In Situ X-ray Computed Tomography
Authors: Cai Naijia , Meng Qiaoyu , Zhang Keqiang , Geng Luchao , He Rujie , Qu Zhaoliang
Published: March 2022

The additive manufacturing process may create flaws inside ceramic materials. The flaws have a significant influence on the macroscopic mechanical behavior of ceramic materials. In order to reveal the influence of flaws on the mechanical behavior of additively manufactured ceramic, flaw evolution under mechanical loads was studied by in situ X-ray computed tomography (XCT) in this work. In situ compression XCT tests were conducted on stereolithographic additively manufactured Al2O3 ceramic. The three-dimensional full-field morphologies at different compressive loads were obtained. The evolution of flaws, including pores, transverse cracks, and vertical cracks, during compressive loading was observed. The number and volume of pores, transverse cracks, and vertical cracks were extracted. It was found that most pores and transverse cracks tend to be compacted. However, high compressive loads cause vertical cracks near the upper surface to expand, leading to the failure of the specimen. Real flaws with morphological and positional information were introduced into the finite element models. The influence of different types of flaws on the mechanical behavior is discussed. It was found that vertical cracks have a greater influence on mechanical behavior than do transverse cracks under compression. The presence of transverse cracks contributes to the evolution of vertical cracks. This study may be helpful for process optimization and performance enhancement of additively manufactured ceramic materials.
The Existence of Autonomous Chaos in EDM Process
Authors: Wang Peng , Wang Zhuo , Wang Lihui , Li Bo-Hu , Wang Binxiu
Published: April 2022

The dynamical evolution of electrical discharge machining (EDM) has drawn immense research interest. Previous research on mechanism analysis has discussed the deterministic nonlinearity of gap states at pulse-on discharging duration, while describing the pulse-off deionization process separately as a stochastic evolutionary process. In this case, the precise model describing a complete machining process, as well as the optimum performance parameters of EDM, can hardly be determined. The main purpose of this paper is to clarify whether the EDM system can maintain consistency in dynamic characteristics within a discharge interval. A nonlinear self-maintained equivalent model is first established, and two threshold conditions are obtained by the Shilnikov theory. The theoretical results prove that the EDM system could lead to chaos without external excitation. The time series of the deionization process recorded in the EDM experiments are then analyzed to further validate this theoretical conclusion. Qualitative chaotic analyses verify that the autonomous EDM process has chaotic characteristics. Quantitative methods are used to estimate the chaotic feature of the autonomous EDM process. By comparing the quantitative results of the autonomous EDM process with the non-autonomous EDM process, a deduction is further made that the EDM system will evolve towards steady chaos under an autonomous state.
Modeling of 2D Acoustic Radiation Patterns as a Control Problem
Authors: Shishlenin Maxim , Savchenko Nikita , Novikov Nikita , Klyuchinskiy Dmitriy
Published: March 2022

A problem of modeling radiation patterns of wave sources in two-dimensional acoustic tomography is considered. Each source has its own radiation patterns, and their modeling will be used to improve the solvability of inverse problems of recovering the acoustic parameters of human soft tissues and come closer to building a digital twin of acoustic tomography. The problem is considered as a control problem of the right side for the velocities by spatial variables. Two statements are investigated—control by time or space functions. A numerical solution method is implemented. The results of numerical calculations are presented.
Efficacy and Adverse Events of Carboplatin Desensitisation Therapy for Gynaecological Cancer: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Yamamoto Akihito , Kamoi Seiryu , Matsuda Shigeru , Kawase Rieko , Nakanishi Kazuho , Suzuki Shunji
Published: March 2022

Background: Carboplatin, the key drug used in treating gynaecological cancer, has an approximately 12–16% risk of hypersensitivity reactions. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of carboplatin desensitisation therapy for gynaecological cancer. Methods: The desensitisation protocol was standardised as a four-step, 4-h, carboplatin administration in the hospital. A retrospective medical record review was conducted on 15 patients who underwent carboplatin desensitisation for gynaecological malignancies at our hospital. Patients’ data were analysed to evaluate the treatment success rate, therapeutic effect of desensitisation, adverse events, and treatment. Results: Of 91 carboplatin desensitisation cycles scheduled; the completion rate was 93.4% (85/91). Adverse events occurred in 23 of these 91 (25.3%). In four (4.4%) of the 23 cycles, hypersensitivity reactions could be treated only by discontinuing the infusion and slowing the administration, while in the remaining 19 (20.9%), medication was administered intravenously after discontinuing the infusion to manage hypersensitivity reactions. No treatment-related deaths occurred. Overall, 23 series of anti-cancer agent regimens, including carboplatin desensitisation, were administered to the 15 patients. The therapeutic response rate was 82.6% and the disease control rate was 95.7%. Conclusions: Carboplatin desensitisation was beneficial in patients with a history of carboplatin-induced hypersensitivity reactions.
Designing Multi-Stage 2 A/O-MBR Processes for a Higher Removal Rate of Pollution in Wastewater
Authors: Zhou Zhengzhong , Zhang Bin , Wang Qian , Meng Xiaoshan , Wu Qigang , Zheng Tao , Huhe Taoli
Published: March 2022

Multi-stage A/O-MBR processes were designed to improve wastewater treatment efficiency; three different designs were carried out and compared in this study. The 2(A/O)-MBR process, i.e., with two sets of anoxic/oxic tanks in series, showed better effluent quality than A/O-MBR and 3(A/O)-MBR processes. The removal rates of COD, NH4+-N, TP and TN were 95.29%, 89.47%, 83.55% and 78.58%, respectively, complying satisfactorily with China’s urban sewage treatment plant pollutant discharge standards. In terms of membrane fouling, the 3(A/O)-MBR process demonstrated the lowest fouling propensity. The microbial community structure in each bioreaction tank was analyzed, the results from which matched with the process efficiency and fouling behavior.
Preparation of Nano-TiO2-Modified PVDF Membranes with Enhanced Antifouling Behaviors via Phase Inversion: Implications of Nanoparticle Dispersion Status in Casting Solutions
Authors: Zhang Jie , Zheng Ming , Zhou Yun , Yang Linlin , Zhang Yuanyuan , Wu Zhichao , Liu Guocong , Zheng Junjian
Published: April 2022

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles have been applied in membrane antifouling performance modification for years. However, the influence of TiO2 nanoparticle dispersion status during the blending process on membrane properties and the inner mechanism has seldom been focused on. Herein, we investigated the influence of the various dispersing statuses of TiO2 nanoparticles on membrane properties and antifouling performance by exploring various blending processes without changing the original recipe. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was employed as a pore-forming agent during the membrane preparation process, and also as a pre-dispersing agent for the TiO2 nanoparticles via the steric hindrance effect. Compared to the original preparation process of the PVDF/TiO2 composite membrane, the pre-dispersing of TiO2 via PEG ensured a modified membrane with uniform surface pores and structures on cross-sectional morphologies, larger porosity and water permeability, and more negative zeta potential. The contact angle was decreased by 6.0%, implying better hydrophilicity. The improved antifouling performance was corroborated by the increasing free energy of cohesion and adhesion, the interaction energy barrier (0.43 KT) between the membrane surfaces and approaching foulants assessed by classic XDLVO theory and the low flux decline in the filtration experiment. A kinetics mechanism analysis of the casting solutions, which found a low TSI value (<1.0), substantiated that the pre-dispersion of TiO2 with PEG contributed to the high stability and ultimately favorable antifouling behaviors. This study provides an optimized approach to the preparation of excellent nano-TiO2/polymeric composite membranes applied in the municipal sewage treatment field.