bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anxiety and Depression Levels and Coping Strategies among Polish Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Budzyńska Natalia , Moryś Joanna
Published: February 2023

During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical staff were commonly exposed to stress, work under pressure, and long shifts, and may have experienced a fear of infecting loved ones or a fear for their own health. All of these factors may have increased the likelihood that healthcare workers will experience the symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders. In this cross-sectional study, a group of respondents was gathered from the employees of 78 hospitals in Poland. A questionnaire was completed electronically by 282 people, aged between 20 and 78 years. The study used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the MiniCOPE questionnaire to examine anxiety and depression symptoms, and coping strategies, respectively. With age, the respondents declared fewer symptoms of anxiety and tended to have milder symptoms of depression. Participants with chronic illnesses, mood disorders, or anxiety disorders also reported higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms. More than 20% of healthcare workers felt the need to consult with a psychologist. In the entire group of healthcare professionals surveyed, the most commonly used strategies for coping with stress were “denial”, “psychoactive drug and alcohol use”, and “cessation of activities”, while the least used strategy was “acceptance”. Given the most commonly used strategies in the surveyed group of healthcare professionals, they may be predictors for a deterioration in mental state in the long run. The obtained results also suggest that it is likely that pre-existing health problems had a greater impact on the mental health of medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic than the profession itself. Therefore, taking care of the well-being and mental health of healthcare workers should be a priority for employers.
Associations between Anxiety, Depression, Chronic Pain and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, Happiness, and Polymorphisms in Adolescents’ Genes
Authors: Baldiotti Ana Luiza Peres , Amaral-Freitas Gabrielle , Barbosa Mariane Carolina Faria , Moreira Paula Rocha , Machado Renato Assis , Coletta Ricardo Della , Meger Michelle Nascimento , Paiva Saul Martins , Scariot Rafaela , Ferreira Fernanda de Morais
Published: February 2023

Adolescence is marked by changes and vulnerability to the emergence of psychological problems. This study aimed to investigate associations between anxiety/depression/chronic pain and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL)/happiness/polymorphisms in the COMT, HTR2A and FKBP5 genes in Brazilian adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with ninety adolescents 13 to 18 years. Anxiety, depression and chronic pain were evaluated using the RDC/TMD. The Oral Health Impact Profile was used to assess oral OHRQoL. The Subjective Happiness Scale was used to assess happiness. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in COMT (rs165656, rs174675), HTR2A (rs6313, rs4941573) and FKBP5 (rs1360780, rs3800373) were genotyped using the Taqman® method. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed (p < 0.05). Chronic pain and depression were associated with feelings of happiness (p < 0.05). A significant inverse association was found between anxiety and OHRQoL (p = 0.004). The presence of minor allele C of COMT rs174675 was significantly associated with depression (p = 0.040). Brazilian adolescents with depression and chronic pain considers themselves to be less happy than others and those with anxiety are more likely to have a negative impact on OHRQoL. Moreover, the rs174675 variant allele in the COMT gene was associated with depressive symptoms in Brazilian adolescents.
COVID-19 Effects on Environmentally Responsible Behavior: A Social Impact Perspective from Latin American Countries
Authors: Valenzuela-Fernández Leslier , Escobar-Farfán Manuel , Guerra-Velásquez Mauricio , García-Salirrosas Elizabeth Emperatriz
Published: February 2023

The aim of the research is to examine the relationships between the following variables (a) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), composed of Attitudes (ATT), Subjective Norms (SN), and Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC); and (b) Consciousness (EC) on the dependent variable Environmentally Responsible Purchase Intention (ERPI) from the perspective of the Latin American consumer in a pandemic. Currently, the literature on the relationships proposed in the explanatory model is still scarce at a theoretical and practical level, without empirical evidence in Latin America. The data collection is from 1624 voluntary responses from consumers in Chile (n = 400), Colombia (n = 421), Mexico (n = 401), and Peru (n = 402) collected through online surveys. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) and multi-group to test invariance analysis and the moderating effects, we can determine the relationship between the variables in the proposed model, generating evidence from Latin American countries. The empirical analysis verified that Attitude (ATT), Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC), and Environmental Consciousness (CE) have a positive and significant effect on Environmentally Responsible Purchase Intention (ERPI). The results also show that the generation variable presents invariance. Therefore, the groups are not different at the model level for the generation variable, becoming relevant to the difference at the path level. Therefore, the results of this study become a relevant contribution, indicating a moderating effect on the generation variable. This research provides insights for understanding Latin American consumers, and managerial implications are also provided for developing strategies to promote sustainable consumption.
Quiescent Cancer Cells—A Potential Therapeutic Target to Overcome Tumor Resistance and Relapse
Authors: Lindell Emma , Zhong Lei , Zhang Xiaonan
Published: February 2023

Quiescent cancer cells (QCCs) are nonproliferating cells arrested in the G0 phase, characterized by ki67low and p27high. QCCs avoid most chemotherapies, and some treatments could further lead to a higher proportion of QCCs in tumors. QCCs are also associated with cancer recurrence since they can re-enter a proliferative state when conditions are favorable. As QCCs lead to drug resistance and tumor recurrence, there is a great need to understand the characteristics of QCCs, decipher the mechanisms that regulate the proliferative–quiescent transition in cancer cells, and develop new strategies to eliminate QCCs residing in solid tumors. In this review, we discussed the mechanisms of QCC-induced drug resistance and tumor recurrence. We also discussed therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance and relapse by targeting QCCs, including (i) identifying reactive quiescent cancer cells and removing them via cell-cycle-dependent anticancer reagents; (ii) modulating the quiescence-to-proliferation switch; and (iii) eliminating QCCs by targeting their unique features. It is believed that the simultaneous co-targeting of proliferating and quiescent cancer cells may ultimately lead to the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of solid tumors.
Kinesins Modify ERR1-Dependent Transcription Using a Conserved Nuclear Receptor Box Motif
Authors: Seneviratne A. M. Pramodh Bandara , Lidagoster Sarah , Valbuena-Castor Sofia , Lashley Kareena , Saha Sumit , Alimova Aleksandra , Kreitzer Geri
Published: February 2023

Kinesin family motors are microtubule (MT)-stimulated ATPases known best as transporters of cellular cargoes through the cytoplasm, regulators of MT dynamics, organizers of the mitotic spindle, and for insuring equal division of DNA during mitosis. Several kinesins have also been shown to regulate transcription by interacting with transcriptional cofactors and regulators, nuclear receptors, or with specific promotor elements on DNA. We previously showed that an LxxLL nuclear receptor box motif in the kinesin-2 family motor KIF17 mediates binding to the orphan nuclear receptor estrogen related receptor alpha (ERR1) and is responsible for the suppression of ERR1-dependent transcription by KIF17. Analysis of all kinesin family proteins revealed that multiple kinesins contain this LxxLL motif, raising the question as to whether additional kinesin motors contribute to the regulation of ERR1. In this study, we interrogate the effects of multiple kinesins with LxxLL motifs on ERR1-mediated transcription. We demonstrate that the kinesin-3 family motor KIF1B contains two LxxLL motifs, one of which binds to ERR1. In addition, we show that expression of a KIF1B fragment containing this LxxLL motif inhibits ERR1-dependent transcription by regulating nuclear entry of ERR1. We also provide evidence that the effects of expressing the KIF1B-LxxLL fragment on ERR1 activity are mediated by a mechanism distinct from that of KIF17. Since LxxLL domains are found in many kinesins, our data suggest an expanded role for kinesins in nuclear receptor mediated transcriptional regulation.
Identification of CoDREB Genes for Drought and Cold Tolerance in Camellia oleifera
Authors: Wang Ying , Guo Purui , Sheng Song , Li Jian’an , Yan Jindong
Published: February 2023

DREB is a plant-specific transcription factor family that plays a pleiotropic regulatory role in response to abiotic stresses such as drought and cold. In this study, we identified 51 DREB genes of Camellia oleifera. These CoDREBs ranged from 88 to 518 amino acids (average/median 259/237 aa). The predicted molecular weights (MW) of the CoDREB proteins ranged from 9.7 kDa to 59.6 kDa, and the isoelectric points (pI) ranged from 4.62 to 10.44. A gene structure analysis showed that 43/51 (84.3%) CoDREBs were intronless, and the number of exons varied from one to three. Then, we focused on the response of CoDREB genes in terms of plant drought and cold acclimation. Under short-/long-term drought stress, CoDREB1.2/4.1/4.4/4.8/4.12/4.15/5.1/5.3/5.5/6.2 have different regulations in response to long-term drought response, and CoDREB1.4/2.5/4.6/4.1/6.3/6.5 specifically in the short term. Additionally, in response to mild/severe drought and followed by recovery, we found that CoDREBs may be involved in a complex drought-responsive regulatory network. Under cold stress, CoDREB5.2 and CoDREB6.5 are significantly up-regulated, and CoDREB may participate in the regulation of the low-temperature response of C. oleifera.
The Gut Microbiome and Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Meza Luis , Feng Matthew , Lee Kyle , Sperandio Rubens , Pal Sumanta Kumar
Published: February 2023

The introduction of targeted therapy (TT) and immuno-oncology (IO) agents have revolutionized the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). However, despite the significant improvements in survival and clinical response yielded by these agents, a significant percentage of patients still experience progressive disease. Evidence now suggests that microorganisms living in the gut (i.e., the gut microbiome) could be used as a biomarker for response and may also have utility in increasing response to these treatments. In this review, we present an overview of the role of the gut microbiome in cancer and its potential implications in the treatment of mRCC.
High Fat-to-Muscle Ratio Was Associated with Increased Clinical Severity in Patients with Abdominal Trauma
Authors: Li Jiang , Xi Fengchan , He Yuanchen , Sun Chuanrui , Yu Wenkui , Wang Xiling
Published: February 2023

Overweight and moderate obesity confer a survival benefit in chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease and chronic kidney disease, which has been termed the “obesity paradox”. However, whether this phenomenon exists in trauma patients remains controversial. We performed a retrospective cohort study in abdominal trauma patients admitted to a Level I trauma center in Nanjing, China between 2010 and 2020. In addition to the traditional body mass index (BMI) based measures, we further examined the association between body composition-based indices with clinical severity in trauma populations. Body composition indices including skeletal muscle index (SMI), fat tissue index (FTI), and total fat-to-muscle ratio (FTI/SMI) were measured using computed tomography. Our study found that overweight was associated with a four-fold risk of mortality (OR, 4.47 [95% CI, 1.40–14.97], p = 0.012) and obesity was associated with a seven-fold risk of mortality (OR, 6.56 [95% CI, 1.07–36.57], p = 0.032) compared to normal weight. Patients with high FTI/SMI had a three-fold risk of mortality (OR, 3.06 [95% CI, 1.08–10.16], p = 0.046) and double the risk of an intensive care unit length of stay ≥ 5 d (OR, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.06–2.91], p = 0.031) compared to patients with low FTI/SMI. The obesity paradox was not observed in abdominal trauma patients, and high FTI/SMI ratio was independently associated with increased clinical severity.
Progressive Review of Functional Nanomaterials-Based Polymer Nanocomposites for Efficient EMI Shielding
Authors: Kallambadi Sadashivappa Prashanth , Venkatachalam Revathi , Pothu Ramyakrishna , Boddula Rajender , Banerjee Prasun , Naik Ramachandra , Radwan Ahmed Bahgat , Al-Qahtani Noora
Published: February 2023

Nanomaterials have assumed an imperative part in the advancement of human evolution and are more intertwined in our thinking and application. Contrary to the conventional micron-filled composites, the unique nanofillers often modify the properties of the polymer matrix at the same time, bestowing new functionality because of their chemical composition and their nano dimensions. The unprecedented technological revolution is driving people to adapt to miniaturized electronic gadgets. The sources of electromagnetic fields are ubiquitous in a tech-driven society. The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated the proliferation of electromagnetic interference as the world embraced remote working and content delivery over mobile communication devices. While EMI shielding is performed using the combination of reflection, absorption, and electrical and magnetic properties, under certain considerations, the dominant nature of any one of the properties may be required. The miniaturization of electronic gadgets coupled with wireless technologies is driving us to search for alternate lightweight EMI shielding materials with improved functionalities relative to conventional metals. Polymer nanocomposites have emerged as functional materials with versatile properties for EMI shielding. This paper reviews nanomaterials-based polymer nanocomposites for EMI shielding applications.
Tension and Impact Analysis of Tungsten Inert Gas Welded Al6061-SiC Composite
Authors: Jayashree P. K. , Sharma Sathyashankara , Kumar Sourabh , Bhagyalaxmi Bhagyalaxmi , Bangera Mithesh , Bhat Ritesh
Published: February 2023

An aluminum 6061 (Al6061) metal matrix composite (MMC) reinforced with silicon carbide was prepared by stir casting. Specimens of the required dimensions were welded using the tungsten inert gas (TIG) method. ER5356 (Al-5%Mg) was chosen as the appropriate filler material for TIG welding. The input current parameter was varied (150, 170 and 200nA) while maintaining the other welding parameters at constant values. An assessment of the mechanical (tensile and impact strength) and microstructure properties of the TIG-welded Al6061 MMC with 6 wt. % silicon carbide particles was accomplished. An 8.27% improvement was observed in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) for the 150 A TIG-welded sample. UTS and elasticity decreased linearly with an increase in welding current but exhibited higher values than in non-welded specimens. The microstructural analysis of the welded MMCs showed a mixed mode of failure, with equiaxial dimples being dominant in lower-weld-current specimens. Compared to non-welded specimens, a 40% increase in impact strength was observed for the 150 A TIG-welded specimens, which decreased with an increase in the welding current value. SEM analysis revealed ductile striations and continuous river patterns, resulting in mixed failure.
A Novel Dressing Composed of Adipose Stem Cells and Decellularized Wharton’s Jelly Facilitated Wound Healing and Relieved Lymphedema by Enhancing Angiogenesis and Lymphangiogenesis in a Rat Model
Authors: Lu Jen-Her , Hsia Kai , Su Chih-Kuan , Pan Yi-Hsiang , Ma Hsu , Chiou Shih-Hwa , Lin Chih-Hsun
Published: February 2023

Lymphedema causes tissue swelling due to the accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the tissue, which delays the process of wound-healing. Developing effective treatment options of lymphedema is still an urgent issue. In this study, we aim to fabricate tissue-engineered moist wound dressings with adipose stem cells (ASCs) and decellularized Wharton’s jelly (dWJ) from the human umbilical cord in order to ameliorate lymphedema. Rat ASCs were proliferated and an apparent layer was observed on dWJ at day 7 and 14. A rat tail lymphedema model was developed to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment. Approximately 1 cm of skin near the base of the rat tail was circularly excised. The wounds were treated by secondary healing (control) (n = 5), decellularized Wharton’s jelly (n = 5) and ASC-seeded dWJ (n = 5). The wound-healing rate and the tail volume were recorded once a week from week one to week five. Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis were assessed by immunochemistry staining with anti-CD31 and anti-LYVE1. The results showed that the wound-healing rate was faster and the tail volume was lesser in the ASC-seeded dWJ group than in the control group. More CD31+ and LYVE-1+ cells were observed at the wound-healing area in the ASC-seeded dWJ group than in the control group. This proves that tissue-engineered moist wound dressings can accelerate wound-healing and reduce lymphedema by promoting angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.
A Quality, Size and Time Assessment of the Binarization of Documents Photographed by Smartphones
Authors: Bernardino Rodrigo , Lins Rafael Dueire , Barboza Ricardo da Silva
Published: February 2023

Smartphones with an in-built camera are omnipresent today in the life of over eighty percent of the world’s population. They are very often used to photograph documents. Document binarization is a key process in many document processing platforms. This paper assesses the quality, file size and time performance of sixty-eight binarization algorithms using five different versions of the input images. The evaluation dataset is composed of deskjet, laser and offset printed documents, photographed using six widely-used mobile devices with the strobe flash off and on, under two different angles and four shots with small variations in the position. Besides that, this paper also pinpoints the algorithms per device that may provide the best visual quality-time, document transcription accuracy-time, and size-time trade-offs. Furthermore, an indication is also given on the “overall winner” that would be the algorithm of choice if one has to use one algorithm for a smartphone-embedded application.
Advancing Osteoporosis Evaluation Procedures: Detailed Computational Analysis of Regional Structural Vulnerabilities in Osteoporotic Bone
Authors: Wysocki Matthew A. , Doyle Scott T.
Published: February 2023

Osteoporotic fractures of the femur are associated with poor healing, disability, reduced quality of life, and high mortality rates within 1 year. Moreover, osteoporotic fractures of the femur are still considered to be an unsolved problem in orthopedic surgery. In order to more effectively identify osteoporosis-related fracture risk and develop advanced treatment approaches for femur fractures, it is necessary to acquire a greater understanding of how osteoporosis alters the diaphyseal structure and biomechanical characteristics. The current investigation uses computational analyses to comprehensively examine how femur structure and its associated properties differ between healthy and osteoporotic bones. The results indicate statistically significant differences in multiple geometric properties between healthy femurs and osteoporotic femurs. Additionally, localized disparities in the geometric properties are evident. Overall, this approach will be beneficial in the development of new diagnostic procedures for highly detailed patient-specific detection of fracture risk, for establishing novel injury prevention treatments, and for informing advanced surgical solutions.
Deciphering Differential Behavior of Immune Responses as the Foundation for Precision Dosing in Allergen Immunotherapy
Authors: Magnan Antoine , Nicolas Jean-François , Caimmi Davide , Vocanson Marc , Haddad Thierry , Colas Luc , Scurati Silvia , Mascarell Laurent , Shamji Mohamed H.
Published: February 2023

Like in many fields of medicine, the concept of precision dosing has re-emerged in routine practice in allergology. Only one retrospective study on French physicians’ practice has addressed this topic so far and generated preliminary data supporting dose adaptation, mainly based on experience, patient profile understanding and response to treatment. Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors shape the individual immune system response to allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Herein, we focus on key immune cells (i.e., dendritic cells, innate lymphoid cells, B and T cells, basophils and mast cells) involved in allergic disease and its resolution to further understand the effect of AIT on the phenotype, frequency or polarization of these cells. We strive to discriminate differences in immune responses between responders and non-responders to AIT, and discuss the eligibility of a non/low-responder subset for dose adaptation. A differential behavior in immune cells is clearly observed in responders, highlighting the importance of conducting clinical trials with large cohorts of well-characterized subjects to decipher the immune mechanism of AIT. We conclude that there is a need for designing new clinical and mechanistic studies to support the scientific rationale of dose adaptation in the interest of patients who do not properly respond to AIT.
The Effect of Social Capital on Auditor’s Performance
Authors: Azghandi Maryamalsadat Mousavi , Jabbari Sahar , Ranjbar Hossien Rezaei , Al-janabi Ahmed
Published: February 2023

This paper investigates the relationship between social capital and auditor’s performance in Iranian listed firms. The sample included 128 firms on the Tehran Stock Exchange from 2014 to 2020. The research method was descriptive-correlational, and the relationship between research variables was explained using regression models based on the panel data. The results illustrated that social capital positively correlates with auditor performance and Audit report quality. In other words, social capital decreases audit opinion shopping, audit expectation gap, internal control weakness, and audit report lag. Therefore, society’s influential assets, social capital, and audit report quality strongly influence the auditor’s performance. The auditor’s performance affects the probability of discovery and reporting material errors and misstatements. Therefore, recognizing influential factors on auditors’ performance can improve the quality of audit reports.
Landslide Susceptibility Assessment of a Part of the Western Ghats (India) Employing the AHP and F-AHP Models and Comparison with Existing Susceptibility Maps
Authors: Bhagya Sheela Bhuvanendran , Sumi Anita Saji , Balaji Sankaran , Danumah Jean Homian , Costache Romulus , Rajaneesh Ambujendran , Gokul Ajayakumar , Chandrasenan Chandini Padmanabhapanicker , Quevedo Renata Pacheco , Johny Alfred , Sajinkumar Kochappi Sathyan , Saha Sunil , Ajin Rajendran Shobha , Mammen Pratheesh Chacko , Abdelrahman Kamal , Fnais Mohammed S. , Abioui Mohamed
Published: February 2023

Landslides are prevalent in the Western Ghats, and the incidences that happened in 2021 in the Koottickal area of the Kottayam district (Western Ghats) resulted in the loss of 10 lives. The objectives of this study are to assess the landslide susceptibility of the high-range local self-governments (LSGs) in the Kottayam district using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy-AHP (F-AHP) models and to compare the performance of existing landslide susceptible maps. This area never witnessed any massive landslides of this dimension, which warrants the necessity of relooking into the existing landslide-susceptible models. For AHP and F-AHP modeling, ten conditioning factors were selected: slope, soil texture, land use/land cover (LULC), geomorphology, road buffer, lithology, and satellite image-derived indices such as the normalized difference road landslide index (NDRLI), the normalized difference water index (NDWI), the normalized burn ratio (NBR), and the soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI). The landslide-susceptible zones were categorized into three: low, moderate, and high. The validation of the maps created using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) technique ascertained the performances of the AHP, F-AHP, and TISSA maps as excellent, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) value above 0.80, and the NCESS map as acceptable, with an AUC value above 0.70. Though the difference is negligible, the map prepared using the TISSA model has better performance (AUC = 0.889) than the F-AHP (AUC = 0.872), AHP (AUC = 0.867), and NCESS (AUC = 0.789) models. The validation of maps employing other matrices such as accuracy, mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE) also confirmed that the TISSA model (0.869, 0.226, and 0.122, respectively) has better performance, followed by the F-AHP (0.856, 0.243, and 0.147, respectively), AHP (0.855, 0.249, and 0.159, respectively), and NCESS (0.770, 0.309, and 0.177, respectively) models. The most landslide-inducing factors in this area that were identified through this study are slope, soil texture, LULC, geomorphology, and NDRLI. Koottickal, Poonjar-Thekkekara, Moonnilavu, Thalanad, and Koruthodu are the LSGs that are highly susceptible to landslides. The identification of landslide-susceptible areas using diversified techniques will aid decision-makers in identifying critical infrastructure at risk and alternate routes for emergency evacuation of people to safer terrain during an exigency.
Regional Integration and Sustainable Development in the Yangtze River Delta, China: Towards a Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda
Authors: Wu Jiawei , Sun Wei
Published: February 2023

Understanding the interactions between the human sphere and the natural sphere in key places and regions of the world is crucial for promoting sustainability science and achieving sustainable development. As one of the emerging global city-regions in China and the Global South, the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) plays an increasingly nonnegligible role in the globalized economy and telecoupling social-ecological systems (SESs). Considering the well-known importance and representativeness, the YRD has been regarded as an appropriate experimental site of integrated research on geographical and sustainability science at the subnational scale. This paper tries to establish theoretical and practical linkages between regional integration and sustainable development at the subnational scale based on the sustainable development goals (SDGs), the Chinese contexts, and a literature review of relevant researches. We argue that future research should pay more attention to the interdisciplinary, transregional, and multi-scale attributes of issues related to regional integrated and sustainable development in the YRD. The following research agendas, such as linking SDGs to regional integrative development, analyzing the sustainability of regional SESs, assessing the integrated region at the subnational scale, investigating the YRD at different geographical scales, exploring applicable governance structures and institutions, as well as applying multi-source data and interdisciplinary methodologies, call for more scholarly attention. We hope that this paper could be an initial motion to expand and enrich relevant research.
Study of Lithium Biodistribution and Nephrotoxicity in Skin Melanoma Mice Model: The First Step towards Implementing Lithium Neutron Capture Therapy
Authors: Taskaeva Iuliia , Kasatova Anna , Surodin Dmitry , Bgatova Nataliya , Taskaev Sergey
Published: February 2023

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is one of the promising treatment methods for malignant melanoma. The main issue of this technology is the insufficient selectivity of 10B accumulation in tumor cells. As a result of the neutron absorption by boron, an 84% energy release occurred within the cell by the nuclear reaction 10B (n, α)7Li, which lead to tumor cell death. The use of lithium instead of boron brings a new unique opportunity—local 100% energy release—since all products of the 6Li (n, α)3H reaction have high linear energy transfer characteristics. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of Li in the tumor, skin, blood, brain and kidney in experimental animals with B16 melanoma and to analyze the potential Li toxicity after lithium carbonate administration at single doses of 300 and 400 mg/kg. Lithium carbonate was chosen since there is a long-term experience of its use in clinical practice for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry was used to evaluate Li concentrations in tissue samples. The accumulation efficiency of Li in the tumor was the highest at a time point of 30 min (22.4 µg/g; at a dose of 400 mg/kg). Despite the high lithium accumulation in the kidneys, the pathological changes in kidney tissues were not found. Thus, lithium may actually be used for the Li-NCT development and future studies can be conducted using 6Li and following irradiation of tumor cells using the schemes of lithium administration tested in this work.
The Role of Dietary Nutrients in Male Infertility: A Review
Authors: Almujaydil Mona S.
Published: February 2023

Male infertility is the main health issue with economic, psychological, and medical attributions. Moreover, it is characterized by an inability to produce a sufficient amount of sperm for the fertilization of an oocyte. Dietary nutrients (DN) have a great effect on male reproductive potential. Observations have indicated that adding DN may protect or treat male infertility. The scope of this criticism is to scrutinize the DN, such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals, in enhancing the semen attributes, sperm bioenergetics and sperm functionality in male infertility. It seems that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids affect sperm quality and maintain the sperm membrane and mitochondria stability. An administration of phytochemicals caused an escalation in sperm mitochondrial function and a decrease in oxidative damage. Furthermore, sundry dietary natural phytochemicals differentially affect (negatively or positively) sperm motility, semen quality, and mitochondrial function, dependent on their levels. Vitamins and trace elements are also nutritional modulators in reducing oxidative stress, thereby enhancing sperm quality, which is accurately connected with sperm mitochondrial function. Also, we described the different types of DN as mitochondrial enhancer for sperm functionality and health. We believe that understanding the DN supports sperm mitochondria and epigenetic modulators that may be responsible for sperm quality and health, and will lead to more embattled and efficient therapeutics for male infertility.
Current Applications of Machine Learning for Spinal Cord Tumors
Authors: Katsos Konstantinos , Johnson Sarah E. , Ibrahim Sufyan , Bydon Mohamad
Published: February 2023

Spinal cord tumors constitute a diverse group of rare neoplasms associated with significant mortality and morbidity that pose unique clinical and surgical challenges. Diagnostic accuracy and outcome prediction are critical for informed decision making and can promote personalized medicine and facilitate optimal patient management. Machine learning has the ability to analyze and combine vast amounts of data, allowing the identification of patterns and the establishment of clinical associations, which can ultimately enhance patient care. Although artificial intelligence techniques have been explored in other areas of spine surgery, such as spinal deformity surgery, precise machine learning models for spinal tumors are lagging behind. Current applications of machine learning in spinal cord tumors include algorithms that improve diagnostic precision by predicting genetic, molecular, and histopathological profiles. Furthermore, artificial intelligence-based systems can assist surgeons with preoperative planning and surgical resection, potentially reducing the risk of recurrence and consequently improving clinical outcomes. Machine learning algorithms promote personalized medicine by enabling prognostication and risk stratification based on accurate predictions of treatment response, survival, and postoperative complications. Despite their promising potential, machine learning models require extensive validation processes and quality assessments to ensure safe and effective translation to clinical practice.
Statistical Evaluation of CEB-FIP 2010 Model for Concrete Creep and Shrinkage
Authors: Pan Zuanfeng , Zhang Haipeng , Zeng Bin , Wang Yuwei
Published: February 2023

An extensive experimental database consisting of 2838 shrinkage data points and 3598 creep data points is used to evaluate the accuracy of the newly proposed CEB-FIP 2010 model in predicting the creep and shrinkage of concrete structures. To study the applicability of the model for high-strength concrete in general environments, the database was developed by only retaining the test data of concrete components with the average compressive strength greater than 30 MPa and the relative humidity in the test environment less than 95%. On this basis, combined with the B3 and CEB variation coefficient methods, the paper mainly adopts the residual method to assess the accuracy of the CEB-FIP 2010 model and compare it with the previous model, CEB-FIP 1990. The influences of several properties, such as the compressive strength, the age of concrete, the relative humidity, and the component size on the prediction accuracy of these two models are further studied. The results show that for the CEB-FIP 2010 model within the time interval of 0–9000 days, 52% and 48% of the shrinkage strain residuals of the total specimens are located in the negative and positive regions, respectively, while the positive and negative regions of the CEB-FIP 1990 model account for 73% and 27%, demonstrating the CEB-FIP 2010 model has better performance in predicting shrinkage strain than the CEB-FIP 1990 model, whereas the two models have comparable accuracy in predicting creep compliance. The CEB-FIP 2010 model is more reliable for considering the effects of compressive strength, relative humidity, and age at loading on shrinkage and creep than for considering the effect of member size.
Optimization of Structural Damage Repair with Single and Double-Sided Composite Patches through the Finite Element Analysis and Taguchi Method
Authors: Aabid Abdul , Ibrahim Yasser E. , Hrairi Meftah , Ali Jaffar Syed Mohamed
Published: February 2023

Over the last four decades, numerous studies have been conducted on the use of bonded composite repairs for aircraft structures. These studies have explored the repair of damaged plates through experimental, numerical, and analytical methods and have found that bonded composite repairs are effective in controlling crack damage propagation in thin plates. The use of double-sided composite repairs has been found to improve repair performance within certain limits. This study focuses on these limits and optimizes double-sided composite repairs by varying adhesive bond and composite patch parameters. The optimization process begins with a finite element analysis to determine the stress intensity factor (SIF) for various variables and levels, followed by the application of the Taguchi method to find the optimal combination of parameters for maximizing the normalized SIF. In conclusion, we successfully determined the stress intensity factor (SIF) for various variations and normalized it for optimization. An optimization study was then performed using the Taguchi design and the results were analyzed. Our findings demonstrate the repair performance of bonded composite patches using a cost-effective and energy-efficient approach.
Organobentonite Binder for Binding Sand Grains in Foundry Moulding Sands
Authors: Grabowska Beata , Cukrowicz Sylwia , Bobrowski Artur , Drożyński Dariusz , Żymankowska-Kumon Sylwia , Kaczmarska Karolina , Tyliszczak Bożena , Pribulová Alena
Published: February 2023

A series of studies related to the production of organobentonite, i.e., bentonite-poly(acrylic acid), and its use as a matrix grain-binding material in casting moulding sand is presented. In addition, a new carbon additive in the form of shungite was introduced into the composition of the moulding sand. Selected technological and strength properties of green sand bond with the obtained organobentonite with the addition of shungite as a new lustrous carbon carrier (Rcw, Rmw, Pw, Pw, PD) were determined. The introduction of shungite as a replacement for coal dust in the hydrocarbon resin system demonstrated the achievement of an optimum moulding sand composition for practical use in casting technology. Using chromatographic techniques (Py-GC/MS, GC), the positive effect of shungite on the quantity and quality of the gaseous products generated from the moulding sand during the thermal destruction of its components was noted, thus confirming the reduced environmental footprint of the new carbon additive compared to the commonly used lustrous carbon carriers. The test casting obtained in the mould of the organobentonite moulding sand and the shungite/hydrocarbon resin mixture showed a significantly better accuracy of the stepped model shape reproduction and surface smoothness compared to the casting obtained with the model moulding sand.
Rotation-Angle Solution and Singularity Handling of Five-Axis Machine Tools for Dual NURBS Interpolation
Authors: Sun Pengpeng , Liu Qiang , Wang Jian , Yin Zhenshuo , Wang Liuquan
Published: February 2023

Dual NURBS interpolation has been proven an essential technique for high-speed precision machining of complex surfaces. The solution of rotation angles and their derivatives is the basis of kinematic transformation and feedrate optimization in dual NURBS interpolation. The characteristics of the rotation motion of five-axis machine tools with different structures are analyzed. A generic model of dual heads of the vertical five-axis machine tool is established to unify the solution of rotation angles. Then, a generic method for solving the rotation angles and derivatives based on the vector inner product is proposed, and the solution space is analyzed. A singularity handling is given to avoid abrupt rotation angles based on the higher derivatives of the tool orientation vector. The proposed method obtained smooth rotation angles at the singularity points in the cardioid dual NURBS interpolation experiment. It reduced the machining time by 43.3% compared with the simple inverse trigonometric method based on kinematic transformation. Experiment results demonstrate that the proposed method is feasible and effective, and has significant theoretical and practical value for optimizing five-axis CNC machining.
Approximation of the Solution of Split Equality Fixed Point Problem for Family of Multivalued Demicontractive Operators with Application
Authors: Beg Ismat , Abbas Mujahid , Asghar Muhammad Waseem
Published: February 2023

In this paper, a new viscosity type iterative algorithm is used for obtaining a strong convergence result of split equality fixed point solutions for infinite families of multivalued demicontractive mappings in real Hilbert spaces. Our iterative scheme is based on choosing the step-sizes without calculating or estimating the operator norms and the condition of hemicompactness was relaxed to prove the strong convergence result. As an application, the solution of split convex minimization problem was approximated. The result presented herein unifies and extends several comparable results in the literature.
A Fast Forward and Inversion Strategy for Three-Dimensional Gravity Field
Authors: Qiang Jianke , Xu Jing , Lu Kai , Guo Zhenwei
Published: February 2023

Obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) density distribution within a reasonable time is one of the most critical problems in gravity exploration. In this paper, we present an efficient 3D forward modeling and inversion method for gravity data. In forward modeling, the 3D model is discretized into multiple horizontal layers, with the gravity field at a point on the surface being the sum of the gravity fields from all layers. To calculate the gravity field from each horizontal layer, we use the fast Fourier transform (FFT) method and the Block Toeplitz with Toeplitz Blocks (BTTB) matrix, which dramatically reduces both the computation time and storage requirement. In the inversion, the observed gravity data are separated into multiple gravity components of different depths using the cutting separation method. An iterative method is used to adjust the model to fit the above gravity component for each cutting radius. The initial model is constructed from the transformation of gravity components. These methods were applied to both synthetic data and field data. The numerical simulation validated the proposed methods, and the inversion results of field data were consistent with information obtained from well logging. The computational time and memory usage were also reasonable.
The Study on Mathematical Simulation and Analysis of the Molecular Discrete System of the Sulfurated Eucommia Ulmoides Gum
Authors: Yan Simeng , Guo Naisheng , Jin Xin , Chu Zhaoyang , Yan Sitong
Published: February 2023

In recent years, sulfurized eucommia ulmoides gum (SEUG) has been used and developed in many fields due to its good properties. The cross-linking degree is crucial to the performance of SEUG. In order to explore the effect of the cross-linking degree on SEUG in depth, this paper combines macroscopic and microscopic techniques, and molecular discrete system models of EUG and SEUG with different cross-linking degrees are calculated by molecular dynamics simulation, and the density and solubility parameters of EUG, glass transition temperature, radial distribution function and mechanical property parameters of SEUG are derived. The results show that (1) the suitable minimum degree of polymerization of EUG is N = 30; (2) the degree of cross-linking has a significant effect on the intramolecular radial distribution of SEUG, but it has a small effect on the intermolecular radial distribution of SEUG; (3) the degree of cross-linking of SEUG should be controlled to be between 40% and 80% because the mechanical properties of SEUG, namely the bulk modulus, shear modulus, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, Corsi pressure, are the best ones. Therefore, the conclusions of this study provide a theoretical basis for engineering practices.
Sequences over Finite Fields Defined by OGS and BN-Pair Decompositions of PSL2(q) Connected to Dickson and Chebyshev Polynomials
Authors: Shwartz Robert , Yadayi Hadas
Published: February 2023

The factorization of groups into a Zappa–Szép product, or more generally into a k-fold Zappa–Szép product of its subgroups, is an interesting problem, since it eases the multiplication of two elements in a group and has recently been applied to public-key cryptography. We provide a generalization of the k-fold Zappa–Szép product of cyclic groups, which we call OGS decomposition. It is easy to see that the existence of an OGS decomposition for all the composition factors of a non-abelian group G implies the existence of an OGS for G itself. Since the composition factors of a soluble group are cyclic groups, it has an OGS decomposition. Therefore, the question of the existence of an OGS decomposition is interesting for non-soluble groups. The Jordan–Hölder theorem motivates us to consider the existence of an OGS decomposition for finite simple groups. In 1993, Holt and Rowley showed that PSL2(q) and PSL3(q) can be expressed as a product of cyclic groups. In this paper, we consider an OGS decomposition of PSL2(q) from a different point of view to that of Holt and Rowley. We look at its connection to the BN-pair decomposition of the group. This connection leads to sequences over Fq, which can be defined recursively, with very interesting properties, and are closely connected to Dickson and Chebyshev polynomials. Since every finite simple Lie-type group exhibits BN-pair decomposition, the ideas in this paper might be generalized to further simple Lie-type groups.
Study on the Effects of Fluid Parameters on Erosion-Enhanced Corrosion of 90/10 Copper–Nickel Alloy Using Wire Beam Electrode
Authors: Wang Zehua , Wang Zhengbin , Hu Hongxiang , Zhang Chunhua , Zhang Song , Zheng Yugui
Published: February 2023

This paper clarifies the effects of the fluid parameters of flow velocity, impact angle and sand impact frequency on the erosion-enhanced corrosion of 90/10 copper–nickel alloy by combining computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, wire beam electrode (WBE) technology and electrochemical measurements. The results show that under the conditions without sand particles, erosion-enhanced corrosion is dominated by the impact angle and the flow velocity at lower (<0.860 m/s) and higher (2.370~5.644 m/s) flow velocities, respectively, while both the two fluid parameters have noticeable effects on erosion-enhanced corrosion at intermediate flow velocities (0.860~2.370 m/s). In contrast, adding sand particles corresponding to the sand impact frequency can further increase the corrosion current density without changing the effects of the flow velocity and impact angle. It demonstrates that all three fluid parameters show great effects on the erosion-enhanced corrosion of 90/10 copper–nickel alloy under conditions with sand particles.
Life Assessment of Corroded Wire for Prestressing
Authors: Momcilovic Dejan , Atanasovska Ivana , Vulovic Snezana , Pavlovic Ana
Published: February 2023

The repair of structural elements for the prestressing of reinforced concrete is necessary when existing prestressing wires are damaged or after a certain period of time. The objective of this paper is to describe the methodology for the life assessment of corroded prestressing wires, sampled from prestressed concrete elements after a few decades of use. The aim of the presented research was to determine the real properties of corroded wire in terms of the evaluation of remaining load capacity using the Theory of Critical Distances (TCD). The methodology also includes spatial 3D characterization of corroded surfaces, determination of mechanical properties, and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of a model of wire with corrosion pits. The final goal of the presented methodology is to enable more efficient evaluation of repair range and options for the elements of mechanical prestressing systems within various structures. The results and conclusions indicate that the developed methodology, based on the interdisciplinary approach and implementation of state-of-the-art methods, has a high applicability potential for both static and fatigue fracture prediction in the case of prestressed wires. The proposed method has a huge potential for simple and fast prediction of the life assessment of engineering structures, particularly for damaged elements with arbitrary geometry features.