bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasticity of the spinal glymphatic system in male SD rats with painful diabetic neuropathy induced by type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Wang Guo‐Qiang , Wang Fei‐Xiang , He Yi‐Na , Lin Jing‐Yan
Published: July 2022

The glymphatic system is a recently discovered glial‐dependent macroscopic interstitial waste clearance system that promotes the efficient elimination of soluble proteins and metabolites from the central nervous system. Its anatomic foundation is the astrocytes and aquaporin‐4 (AQP4) water channels on the endfeet of astrocytes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the plasticity of the spinal glymphatic system in male SD rats with painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) induced by type 2 diabetes mellitus. PDN rats were modeled under a high‐fat and high‐glucose diet with a low dose of streptozotocin. MRI was applied to observe the infiltration and clearance of contrast to indicate the functional variability of the glymphatic system at the spinal cord level. The paw withdrawal threshold was used to represent mechanical allodynia. The numerical change of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive astrocytes was assessed and the polarity reversal of AQP4 protein was measured by immunofluorescence. As a result, deceased contrast infiltration and clearance, enhanced mechanical allodynia, increased number of GFAP positive astrocytes, and reversed polarity of AQP4 protein were found in the PDN rats. The above molecular level changes may contribute to the impairment of the spinal glymphatic system in PDN rats. This study revealed the molecular and functional variations of the spinal glymphatic system in PDN rats and for the first time indicated that there might be a correlation between the impaired spinal glymphatic system and PDN rats.
Effect of excipient wall materials on the development of ginger oleoresin microcapsules: assessing the physicochemical, antioxidant and structural properties
Authors: Ahad Tehmeena , Gull Amir , Masoodi Farooq Ahmad , Nissar Jasia , Masoodi Lubna , Sajad Wani Mohd
Published: July 2022

BACKGROUND

Ginger oleoresin is prone to destruction from air, light and high temperatures and has a limited shelf life if kept improperly. Its viscous and sticky characteristics also make it difficult to handle and utilize. These issues can be solved via microencapsulation. The goal of this research was to evaluate how different wall materials affect the properties of microencapsulated ginger oleoresin powder.

RESULTS

Ginger oleoresin microcapsules were developed through spray drying technique using gum acacia (GA) and whey protein isolate (WPI) as wall materials. The characteristics of the obtained powder, including water activity, wettability and encapsulation efficiency, were evaluated, corresponded to values of 0.20, 90.54 s and 84.15% for whey protein isolate‐based ginger oleoresin powder. Whey protein isolate microcapsules also exhibited higher phenolic content (27.26 mg gallic acid equivalents g−1), total flavonoid (2.94 mg quercetin equivalents g−1) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (68.71%) than GA microcapsules. Both WPI‐ and GA‐based oleoresin microcapsules displayed poor flowability, but possessed a metastable amorphous state as indicated by X‐ray diffraction. GA‐encapsulated oleoresin microcapsules showed a significant increase in particle size (1983 nm) compared to WPI oleoresin microcapsules. Fourier transform infrared analysis of the developed oleoresin microcapsules indicated no change in molecular structure except for a variation in peak intensity.

CONCLUSION

Whey protein isolate proved to be more efficient in maintaining the physicochemical and antioxidant activity of spray‐dried ginger oleoresin powder. The present study revealed whey protein‐based oleoresin powder could be used as a therapeutic agent in various nutraceutical applications. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Augmentation and vocal fold biomechanics in a recurrent laryngeal nerve injury model
Authors: Miar Solaleh , Walters Benjamin , Gonzales Gabriela , Malka Ronit , Baker Amelia , Guda Teja , Dion Gregory R.
Published: July 2022

Objectives/hypothesis

Composite vocal fold (VF) biomechanical data are lacking for augmentation after recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury. We hypothesize resulting atrophy decreases VF stiffness and augmentation restores native VF biomechanics.

Methods

Sixteen Yorkshire Crossbreed swine underwent left RLN transection and were observed or underwent carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) or calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHa) augmentation at 2 weeks. Biomechanical measurements (structural stiffness, displacement, and maximum load) were measured at 4 or 12 weeks. Thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle cross‐sectional area was quantified and compared with two‐way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test.

Results

After 4 weeks, right greater than left structural stiffness (mean ± SE) was observed (49.6 ± 0.003 vs. 28.4 ± 0.002 mN/mm), left greater than right displacement at 6.3 mN (0.54 ± 0.01 vs. 0.46 ± 0.01 mm, p < .01) was identified, and right greater than left maximum load (72.3 ± 0.005 vs. 40.8 ± 0.003 mN) was recorded. TA muscle atrophy in the injured group without augmentations was significant compared to the noninjured side, and muscle atrophy was seen at overall muscle area and individual muscle bundles. CMC augmentation appears to maintain TA muscle structure in the first 4 weeks with atrophy present at 12 weeks.

Conclusions

VF biomechanical properties match TA muscle atrophy in this model, and both CMC and CaHa injection demonstrated improved biomechanical properties and slower TA atrophy compared to the uninjured side. Taken together, these data provide a quantifiable biomechanical basis for early injection laryngoplasty to improve dysphonia and potentially improve healing in reversible unilateral vocal fold atrophy.

Level of evidence

N/A
Climatological study of airflow channelling in relation to surface geostrophic wind
Authors: Sato Ryogo , Kusaka Hiroyuki
Published: July 2022

The aim of this study was to climatologically investigate forced and pressure‐driven channelling flow in the Kitakami Basin, Japan, through the use of observational surface wind and sea‐level pressure data collected over 23 years, which corresponded to 15,584 channelling flow events. Our results indicated that forced channelling tends to occur when the direction of the surface geostrophic wind is parallel to the valley axis. Contrastingly, pressure‐driven channelling tends to occur when the component perpendicular to the valley axis of the surface geostrophic wind is larger than that parallel to the valley axis of the surface geostrophic wind. The channelling flow type was determined by the wind direction of the surface geostrophic wind, which was more pronounced when the mountain Froude number of the flow across the valley was less than 1. This indicates that the type of channelling flow depends on the surface geostrophic wind speed. Moreover, neither channelling flow type was dominant when the component parallel to the valley axis of the surface geostrophic wind was slightly larger than the orthogonal component. This suggests that the flow type cannot be explained using the surface geostrophic wind alone, irrespective of whether forced channelling or pressure‐driven channelling is dominant.
Monochorionic twins with 15q26.3 duplication presenting with selective intrauterine growth restriction and discordant cardiac anomalies: A case report
Authors: Kannan Suraj , Bodurtha Joann N. , Hamosh Ada , Jordan Christopher
Published: July 2022

Background

Duplication of the distal end of chromosome 15q has been previously implicated in a characteristic overgrowth syndrome. Additionally, many patients have other congenital malformations, including cardiac, renal, genital, and musculoskeletal anomalies. However, some patients may present with intrauterine growth restriction and short stature. Different breakpoints within 15q, as well as different environmental factors, may underlie these varied presentations.

Case Presentation

We discuss monochorionic‐diamniotic twins with a ~345 kb maternally inherited duplication in 15q26.3. The twins presented with discordant pathology—one twin with a single umbilical artery, selective intrauterine growth restriction, and multiple cardiac defects including aortic coarctation, aortic valve stenosis, and ventricular septal defect, whereas the other twin was unaffected. To our knowledge, this case represents the smallest reported duplication of distal 15q.

Conclusion

The discordant phenotype seen in the twins is likely due to a complex interplay between genetic and environmental causes. The affected infant presented prenatally with growth restriction and a single umbilical artery rather than overgrowth, potentially due to a unique breakpoint within 15q. This, in turn, may have produced hemodynamic perturbations between the twins, leading to discordant cardiac disease. Our report thus highlights the importance of genetic and nongenetic mechanisms underlying discordant anomalies in monochorionic twins.
Very weak solution for the stationary exterior Stokes equations with non‐standard boundary conditions in Lp‐theory
Authors: Dhifaoui Anis
Published: July 2022

In this work, we study the very weak solution for the stationary exterior Stokes problem with Navier slip boundary condition. We try to investigate some results of the existence and the uniqueness of solutions related to this problem in an exterior domain in
‐theory where
.
Calculation of the relative basicity of three α,ω‐diphenylpolyenes with trifluoroacetic acid
Authors: Masthay Mark B. , McLean Jack B. , Santos Ariana L. , Pirlo Russell K. , Biffinger Justin C.
Published: July 2022

Linear polyenes are an important class of compounds containing two or more alternating carbon‐carbon double and single bonds that are soluble primarily in organic non‐polar solvents. However, determining the relative basicity of unsubstituted polyenes experimentally has proven to be challenging in practice because such studies require mixing non‐polar polyene‐organic solvent mixtures with high concentrations of moderately polar organic acids. In this study, we used both computational and experimental approaches to calculate potential sites of protonation of trans‐1,4‐diphenyl‐1,3‐butadiene (DPB), all trans‐1,6‐diphenyl‐1,3,5‐hexatriene (DPH), and all trans‐1,8‐diphenyl‐1,3,5,7‐octatetraene (DPO) with trifluoroacetic acid (TFAH) in both n‐hexane or benzene solvents. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations with a 6‐311 + G (d,p) basis set and the B3LYP exchange correlation functional predict that the carbon atoms α to either phenyl ring are the most likely sites of protonation. Our calculations indicate that the basicities of the DPPs increase with increasing length of the polyene moiety (DPO > DPH >> DPB) in the gas phase and in both benzene and n‐heptane solvents. Consistent with these computational predictions, the experimental rates of protonation of DPB, DPH, and DPO in benzene and hexane were consistent with the calculated basicity trends. Dynamic light scattering data confirmed that these reactions were phase separated resulting in emulsions between TFAH and both solvents; these phase separations complicated specification of the actual reaction rates. Finally, GC‐MS and NMR data confirm that the crude products from the protonation of DPB and DPH were mixtures of DPB and DPH dimers. In significant contrast, DPO did not form dimers but rather an unidentified monomeric trifluoroacetate addition product.
Baseline sensitivity of European Zymoseptoria tritici populations to the complex III respiration inhibitor fenpicoxamid
Authors: Kildea Steven , Hellin Pierre , Heick Thies M. , Hutton Fiona
Published: July 2022

BACKGROUND

Fenpicoxamid is a recently developed fungicide belonging to the quinone inside inhibitor (QiI) group. This is the first fungicide within this group to be active against the Zymoseptoria tritici, which causes Septoria tritici blotch on wheat. The occurrence of pre‐existing resistance mechanisms was monitored, using sensitivity assays and Illumina sequencing, in Z. tritici populations sampled in multiple European countries before the introduction of fenpicoxamid.

RESULTS

Although differences in sensitivity to all three fungicides tested (fenpicoxamid, fentin chloride and pyraclostrobin) existed between the isolate collections, no alterations associated with QiI resistance were detected. Among the isolates, a range in sensitivity to fenpicoxamid was observed (ratio between most sensitive/least sensitive = 53.1), with differences between the most extreme isolates when tested in planta following limited fenpicoxamid treatment. Sensitivity assays using fentin chloride suggest some of the observed differences in fenpicoxamid sensitivity are associated with multi‐drug resistance. Detailed monitoring of the wider European population using Illumina‐based partial sequencing of the Z. tritici also only detected the presence of G143A, with differences in frequencies of this alteration observed across the region.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a baseline sensitivity for European Z. tritici populations to fenpicoxamid. Target‐site resistance appears to be limited or non‐existing in European Z. tritici populations prior to the introduction of fenpicoxamid. Non‐target site resistance mechanisms exist, but their impact in the field is predicted to be limited. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Comparative study of chitosan derivatives through CoM‐polynomial
Authors: Shanmukha M. C. , Usha A.
Published: July 2022

Most abundant polysaccharides having numerous applications in biopolymers, bioscience and other fields are chitin and chitosan. Hydrogels are their derivatives, widely used in biomedical applications. Other applications include adsorbent of metals and dyes from industrial wastes. Hydrogels based chitosan is used in drugs and proteins in pharmaceutical fields. This work mainly focuses on the polysaccharides such as, chitosan and its derivatives, whose chemical structure is modeled as a chemical graph and the data regarding edge and vertex partitioning are studied. In this work, using non‐adjacent pairing of vertices approach, their polynomials are determined for various topological coindices for the polysaccharides chitosan and their chemical derivatives. These polynomials are termed CoM‐polynomials, extension of M‐polynomials for non‐adjacent vertices. Topological coindices are the real numbers, representing the molecular structure of the chemical compound whose physicochemical characteristics can be studied that relates Quantitative Structure Property Relationship/Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship (QSPR/QSAR) investigations. CoM‐polynomials are computed for the derivatives of chitosan such as alpha, beta and gamma chitin. CoM‐polynomials of 11 degree‐based topological coindices are determined and are compared for the derivatives of chitosan.
A dramatic course after the resection of an SMARCA4‐deficient undifferentiated tumour
Authors: Iguchi Takafumi , Mizuguchi Shinjiro , Chung Kyukwang , Nakajima Ryu , Takahama Makoto
Published: July 2022

Thoracic SMARCA4‐deficient undifferentiated tumours are ordinarily found as a huge mass with systemic metastasis, and the prognosis is poor. The potential of immunotherapy for these unresectable tumours has been reported. An asymptomatic 68‐year‐old man with a smoking history had a left lung mass without distant metastasis and underwent complete resection. Two months after surgery, with no adjuvant therapy, he developed multiple distant metastases with aphasia and died 4 months after surgery. Adjuvant treatment may be necessary with immune checkpoint inhibitors, with a closer follow‐up to detect recurrence without symptoms.
Reproductive health perspectives of young women with perinatally and behaviourally acquired HIV: A qualitative study
Authors: Comfort Lizelle , Watnick Dana , Peskin Melissa , Gutierrez Julie , Abadi Jacob , Atrio Jessica
Published: July 2022

Introduction

The aim of this study was to describe the sexual and reproductive goals of female adolescents with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in an urban cohort and decipher if they vary depending on the mode of HIV acquisition.

Methods

We conducted in‐depth qualitative interviews with 25 Black and/or Hispanic/Latinx female adolescents living with HIV (14 perinatally, 11 behaviourally acquired) aged 17–25 years who have access to care and antiretroviral therapy at an urban public hospitals (NYC, NY). Interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Interviews demonstrated that access to antiretroviral therapy and HIV disclosure to a sexual partner were critical aspects of sexual health for the majority of participants. Persons with perinatal HIV defined motherhood as a source of self‐validation and were confident that antiretroviral therapy prevents HIV transmission. Persons with behaviourally acquired HIV viewed their status as an insurmountable barrier that will prevent them from attaining sexual intimacy with a partner and expressed persistent concerns about HIV transmission during pregnancy despite reassurance from medical providers.

Conclusion

Sexual and reproductive perspectives of adolescents/young women living with HIV are multifactorial, highly stigmatized, and likely influenced by the mode of HIV acquisition. This population may benefit from patient‐centred care models, including sexual health counselling that addresses sexual agency, intimacy, parenting and transmission risk reduction.
Light Emission Enhancement of a ZnO/TAZ Heterostructure Piezo‐OLED by Means of a Piezo‐Phototronic Effect
Authors: Sun Li , Sun Nan , Li Tianyu , Jiang Chengming
Published: July 2022

Pressure sensing simulation using high resolution electronics is important in future robot and human‐computer interactions. In this research, we prove that the two‐dimensional distribution of strain can be mapped using an array of piezoelectric organic light‐emitting diode (piezo‐OLED) pressure sensors. Each dot is made up of a piezo‐ZnO/TAZ OLED, whose emission intensity is determined by the local strain with piezoelectric photoelectric effect. Reading out the electroluminescence signal with a temporal resolution of 100 ms produces the pressure intensity. Individuality signature and artificial skin technology for optical MEMS and bioimaging can benefit from the device‘s ability to digitally image mechanical impulses via optical methods.
Graphene Quantum Dots – Hydrothermal Green Synthesis, Material Characterization and Prospects for Cervical Cancer Diagnosis Applications: A Review
Authors: Suresh Raghavv Raghavender , Kulandaisamy Arockia Jayalatha , Nesakumar Noel , Nagarajan Saisubramanian , Lee Jung Heon , Rayappan John Bosco Balaguru
Published: July 2022

Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) have attracted significant attention and applications in the field of biosensors, particularly for early detection of cervical cancer, due to their excellent electrochemical, optical, and biocompatibility properties. In this review, recent results on green methods for the synthesis of GQDs as well as their characterization techniques are discussed, with particular emphasis on structural, morphological, elemental, optical, and functional group analysis. In addition, a comprehensive overview of how the electrochemical and biocompatibility properties of GQDs enable their use in the development of sensing elements for biosensing applications is presented. This paper also highlights the most recent developments in the fabrication of GQDs‐based biosensors for cervical cancer detection. Finally, the future prospects are critically discussed to assist researchers in identifying the shortcomings of the existing biosensors and establishing new methods centered on the development of unique, efficient, sensitive and selective GQDs‐based biosensors.
Nanoporous Gold Ring‐Integrated Photothermal Intraocular Lens for Active Prevention of Posterior Capsular Opacification
Authors: Liu Dong , Wu Qianni , Chen Wan , Chen Kexin , Lin Haotian , Liu Fanmao , Xie Xi , Chen Hui‐jiuan , Chen Weirong
Published: July 2022

Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is the leading complication after cataract surgery, and is mainly induced by the proliferation and migration of residual lens epithelial cells (LECs). Although numerous attempts have been made to reduce the incidence of PCO, this complication remains a critical challenge in postoperative visual recovery. This study aims to report a functionalized intraocular lens (R‐IOL) with a region‐confined photothermal effect for the active prevention of PCO after implantation. The outer rim of R‐IOL (non‐optical area) is decorated with a nanoporous gold (NPG) ring, which can effectively eliminate the LECs around R‐IOL, ultimately inhibiting the migration of LECs from the periphery to the visual axis center in the initial stage, and preventing the subsequent PCO. Furthermore, the mechanism of LECs elimination can be attributed to apoptosis induced by mild photothermal therapy. After in vivo implantation for 30 days, PCO is rarely observed in the R‐IOL group, whereas the considerably higher incidence of PCO (75%) is found in the pristine IOL (P‐IOL) group. The region‐confined photothermal effect based on NPG not only provides an active strategy to effectively prevent PCO, but also introduces new opportunities for the treatment of undesirable hyperplasia.
A systematized and chemometrics‐assisted liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method for quantification of aripiprazole in implantable microparticles in rat plasma from pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Rub Rehan A. , Panda Sagar Suman , Panda Sunil K , Almalki Waleed H. , Alrobaian Majed , Hafeez Abdul , Rahman Mahfoozur , Beg Sarwar , Ali Asgar , Ahmed Farhan J
Published: July 2022

The present research focuses on the systematic development of an analytical method for estimating aripiprazole in rat plasma using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry technique. Propranolol was the selected internal standard for this purpose. The reversed‐phase method was developed using ammonium acetate (2 mM) in water containing 0.1% v/v formic acid and acetonitrile with 0.1% v/v formic acid in a ratio of 20:80 v/v as the mobile phase with isocratic elution on an Acquity BEH C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm2, particle size 1.7 μm). The analyte and internal standard detection were performed under multiple reaction monitoring modes with precursor‐to‐product ion transition with a value of m/z 448.2 → 285.1 for aripiprazole and m/z 260.1 → 116.0 for the internal standard. Method linearity was observed in a concentration ranging between 0.1 and 50 ng/ml with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999, while a lower limit of quantification was observed at 0.1 ng/ml. The robustness was optimized with the mapping of the influential variables by experimental design for maximum recovery of drug from rat plasma during the pharmacokinetic evaluation of aripiprazole after intramuscular administration of microparticles.
Nutraceutical Properties of Unripe Banana Flour Resistant Starch: A Review
Authors: Dibakoane Siphosethu Richard , Du Plessis Belinda , Da Silva Laura Suzanne , Anyasi Tonna Ashim , Emmambux Mohammad Naushad , Mlambo Victor , Wokadala Obiro Cuthbert
Published: July 2022

The present review provides a comprehensive discussion of the prebiotic, anti‐diabetic, anti‐colorectal cancer, and anti‐cardiovascular disease effects of unripe banana flour resistant starch (BFRS). Unripe banana flour is considered a useful ingredient in the food industry because it has high levels of resistant starch (up to 68% w/w). The beneficial effects of BFRS against diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and colorectal cancer emanate from its resistance to hydrolysis and propensity to escape digestion in the upper‐gastrointestinal tract, which delays glucose absorption and increases the concentration of colonic short‐chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, and butyrate). Therefore, BFRS can be recommended as an alternative functional ingredient in food products. However, more in vivo studies with BFRS should be conducted to ascertain the mechanisms that underly its beneficial effects and associated changes in the gut microbiome. The influence of other food product ingredients and food processing on BFRS efficacy and targeted production of specific short‐chain fatty acids in the colon, needs to be investigated to optimize its application.
Changes and Formation of Residual Starch in Zaopei during the Fermentation Process of Strong‐Flavor Baijiu
Authors: Zong Xuyan , Wen Lei , Diao Chong , Wang Yanting , Li Li
Published: July 2022

Changes in the content and morphology of residual starch in Zaopei during strong‐flavor Baijiu fermentation are investigated. The results show that the residual starch content increases through the Baijiu production and that the residual starch content of distiller's grains (DGS) is the highest (76.35%). The crystalline structure of starch changes from A‐type (raw grain starch) to B + V‐type (Zaopei, Hongzao, Mianzao, DGS). The upper Zaopei starch has the typical diffraction peaks of B + V‐type (7.4°, 12.8°, 14.9°, 19.7°, 19.6°, 26.6°) and retains the typical diffraction peaks of A‐type (17.0°, 22.2°). The intermediate and bottom Zaopei starch has the typical diffraction peaks of B + V‐type (7.4°, 12.8°, 16.9°, 19.7°, 20.7°, 26.6°) and loses the typical diffraction peaks of A‐type. With the progression of Baijiu production, the gelatinization temperature and enthalpy of starch increase, while the water‐holding capacity, freeze‐thaw stability, solubility, and swelling power decrease. The above results show that the starch complex is the primary form of residual starch in strong‐flavor Baijiu.
Super learner machine‐learning algorithms for compressive strength prediction of high performance concrete
Authors: Lee Seunghye , Nguyen Ngoc‐Hien , Karamanli Armagan , Lee Jaehong , Vo Thuc P.
Published: July 2022

Because the proportion between the compressive strength of high‐performance concrete (HPC) and its composition is highly nonlinear, more advanced regression methods are demanded to obtain better results. Super learner models, which are based on several ensemble methods including random forest regression (RFR), an adaptive boosting (AdaBoost), gradient boosting machine (GBM), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), categorical gradient Boosting (CatBoost), are used to solve this complicated problem. A grid search method is employed to determine the best set of hyper‐parameters of each ensemble algorithm. Two super learner models, which combine all six models or select the top three effective ones as the base learners, are then proposed to develop an accurate approach to estimate the compressive strength of HPC. The results on four popular datasets show significant improvement of the proposed super learner models in terms of prediction accuracy. It also reveals that their trained models always perform better than other methods since their errors (MAE, MSE, RMSE) are always much lower and values of R2 are higher than those of the previous studies. The proposed super learner models can be used to provide a reliable tool for mixture design optimization of the HPC.
Optimization of the removal of chromium and lead by Penicillium chrysogenum using 2k factorial experiments
Authors: Malkoc Semra , Yazici Berna , Gürsel Ceren , Dikmen Sedef
Published: July 2022

This study aims to prepare a low‐cost, environmentally friendly, and alternative, biosorbent to remove chromium Cr (III) and lead Pb (II) from polluted water and to find out the highest removal efficiencies using 2k factorial experiments. The Cr (III) and Pb (II) tolerant fungal strain identified as Penicillium chrysogenum was isolated from ceramic industrial sludge. The impact of process variables on biosorption of Cr (III) and Pb (II) by P. chrysogenum was first evaluated with the Taguchi screening design. Factors and levels were determined to optimize Cr (III) and Pb (II) removal efficiency. According to this, five factors; initial concentration, pH, biosorbent dose, temperature, and inactivation methods were determined for both metals, each factor defined as a fixed factor with two levels. Optimization of the parameters affecting the removal process was determined by the Taguchi method and the signal‐to‐noise (S/N) ratios are calculated. The maximum removal efficiency (99.92%) was observed at pH 7, biosorbent 1 mg L–1, inactivation with autoclaving, and at 20°C with an initial metal concentration of 50 mg L–1 Cr (III). On the other hand, the maximum removal efficiency (98.99%) was observed at pH 4, biosorbent 5 mg L–1, inactivation with autoclaving, and at 20°C with an initial metal concentration of 50 mg L–1 Pb (II). Furthermore, metal ions removal by P. chrysogenum was also confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with an energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometer (EDS). The presence of functional groups on fungal cells of metal binding was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR).
Building Critical Reading and Critical Literacy With Picturebook Analysis
Authors: Wells Melissa Summer , Morrison Jennifer D. , López‐Robertson Julia
Published: July 2022

Through juxtaposing images and text, picturebooks have the unique power to facilitate critical reading and critical literacy. This article presents three analytical approaches to develop critical reading and critical literacy skills through picturebooks: (1) critically analyzing broad representation, (2) critical visual analysis, and (3) analyzing voices and perspectives in picturebooks. Through approaches like these, teachers can use picturebooks to craft critical classrooms.
Correspondence between theory and practice of a Beerkan infiltration experiment
Authors: Bagarello Vincenzo , Dohnal Michal , Iovino Massimo , Lai Jianbin
Published: July 2022

The Beerkan infiltration experiment is carried out by inserting the ring a short depth into the soil and establishing a positive head of water on the infiltration surface for at least a part of the run. Nevertheless, the data are analyzed by assuming a fully unconfined infiltration process (ring insertion depth, d = 0 cm) and a null ponded depth of water (H = 0 cm). The influence of ring insertion and ponded water on an infiltration process of 2 h sampled every minute was tested in this numerical investigation. Five soils varying from sand to silt loam, three ring radii (5–15 cm), and the Beerkan‐specific range of values for both d and H (between 0 and 1 cm) were considered. The differences between the theoretical (d = H = 0 cm) and the practical (d = H = 1 cm) setups varied from −10.4 to +8.6% for the mean infiltration rate and from −10.2 to +8.3% for the final cumulative infiltration. These differences were small, and they decreased in absolute value by considering a soil‐dependent ring radius. In particular, nearly negligible differences were detected using a small ring in coarse‐textured soils and a large ring in fine‐textured soils. In the coarser soils, inserting the ring and establishing a ponded depth of water did not alter the estimated coefficients of the two‐parameter infiltration model appreciably with the cumulative linearization method, because these coefficients differed between the theoretical and practical setups by no more than 9.2%. In fine soils, linearization could not be possible regardless of the considered setup, or it was the use of d = H = 1 cm instead of d = H = 0 cm that impeded a convincing linearization of the data. In conclusion, the good correspondence, in many circumstances, between the theoretical and the practical Beerkan infiltration experiment reinforced the interest in this simple experiment as a practical means to collect infiltration data in the field.
Robust regression using probabilistically linked data
Authors: Chambers Raymond L. , Fabrizi Enrico , Ranalli Maria Giovanna , Salvati Nicola , Wang Suojin
Published: July 2022

There is growing interest in a data integration approach to survey sampling, particularly where population registers are linked for sampling and subsequent analysis. The reason for doing this is simple: it is only by linking the same individuals in the different sources that it becomes possible to create a data set suitable for analysis. But data linkage is not error free. Many linkages are nondeterministic, based on how likely a linking decision corresponds to a correct match, that is, it brings together the same individual in all sources. High quality linking will ensure that the probability of this happening is high. Analysis of the linked data should take account of this additional source of error when this is not the case. This is especially true for secondary analysis carried out without access to the linking information, that is, the often confidential data that agencies use in their record matching. We describe an inferential framework that allows for linkage errors when sampling from linked registers. After first reviewing current research activity in this area, we focus on secondary analysis and linear regression modeling, including the important special case of estimation of subpopulation and small area means. In doing so we consider both robustness and efficiency of the resulting linked data inferences.

This article is categorized under:

Algorithms and Computational Methods > Maximum Likelihood Methods

Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Modeling Methods

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Multivariate Analysis
Outcome of Stroke Patients with Unknown Onset and Unknown Time Last Known Well Undergoing Endovascular Therapy
Authors: Stösser Sebastian , Bode Felix J. , Meissner Julius N. , Weller Johannes M. , Kindler Christine , Sauer Malte , Paech Daniel , Riegler Christoph , Nolte Christian H. , Pourian Amitis , Röther Joachim , Selo Nadja , Ernemann Ulrike , Poli Sven , Eckert Rosa Marie , Bohner Georg , Scherling Korbinian , Dorn Franziska , Petzold Gabor C. ,   GSR-ET study group
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Endovascular treatment (ET) in patients with large vessel occlusion stroke (LVOS) with unknown onset or an extended time window can be safe and effective if patients are selected by defined clinical and imaging criteria; however, it is unclear if these criteria should also be applied to patients with unknown onset and unknown time last known well. In this study, we aimed to assess whether absent information on the time patients were last known to be well impacts outcome in patients with unknown onset LVOS.

Methods

We analyzed patients who were enrolled in the German Stroke Registry-Endovascular Treatment between 2015 and 2019. Patients with unknown onset and unknown time last known well (LKWu) were compared to patients with known onset (KO) and to patients with unknown onset but known time last known well (LKWk) regarding clinical and imaging baseline characteristics and outcome.

Results

Out of 5909 patients, 561 presented with LKWu (9.5%), 1849 with LKWk (31.3%) and 3499 with KO (59.2%). At 90 days, functional independency was less frequent in LKWu (27.0%) compared to KO (42.6%) and LKWk patients (31.8%). These differences were not significant after adjusting for confounders. A main confounder was the initial Alberta stroke program early CT score.

Conclusion

The LKWu patients had a similar outcome after ET as KO and LKWk patients after adjusting for confounders. Thus, ET should not be withheld if the time last known well is unknown. Instead, LKWu patients may be selected for ET using the same criteria as in LKWk patients.
Pulmonale Manifestationen bei Long-COVID
Authors: Sommer Natascha , Schmeck Bernd
Published: July 2022

Hintergrund

Pulmonale Manifestationen sind sehr häufige Folgeerscheinungen nach einer Severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus-type-2(SARS-CoV-2)-Infektion, die unter dem Begriff Long-COVID-Syndrom (COVID „coronavirus disease“) zusammengefasst werden.

Ziel und Methoden

Zusammenfassung der aktuellen Literatur zu den pulmonalen Manifestationen mit einem Fokus auf Expertenempfehlungen.

Ergebnisse

Dyspnoe ist nach der chronischen Fatigue das häufigste Symptom bei Patienten mit Long-COVID-Syndrom. Auffällige Befunde finden sich vor allem nach schwerem akutem COVID-19-Verlauf und beinhalten radiologische Veränderungen im Sinne interstitieller Lungenerkrankungen, restriktive lungenfunktionelle Befunde und Einschränkungen der Diffusionskapazität als häufigsten pathologischen Befund. Obwohl sich sowohl Beschwerden als auch pathologische pulmonale Befunde im Verlauf bessern, können einige Patienten noch Monate nach der akuten Infektion unter Auffälligkeiten leiden. Dabei ist die Relevanz der pathologischen Befunde sowie eine Beteiligung funktioneller respiratorischer Einschränkungen, einer kardiopulmonalen Dekonditionierung, nichtsomatischer Ursachen und vorbestehender Erkrankungen aktuell unklar. Die diagnostische Abklärung fokussiert entsprechend auf Risikopatienten und schließt neben einer bildgebenden und lungenfunktionellen Abklärung eine Belastungsuntersuchung und bei unklaren Befunden eine Echokardiographie zur Diagnose einer pulmonalvaskulären Komponente ein. Die therapeutischen Möglichkeiten beinhalten aktuell die leitliniengerechte Therapie von Ursachen der Beschwerden (beispielsweise interstitielle Lungenerkrankungen, Husten) und Rehabilitationsmaßnahmen.

Schlussfolgerung

Das aktuelle Wissen zum Krankheitsbild wird ständig erweitert, allerdings existieren aufgrund mangelnder Studienlage noch keine evidenzbasierten Leitlinien zur Diagnostik und Therapie pulmonaler Manifestationen beim Long-COVID-Syndrom.
Renovascular involvement of systemic vascular disease: a pictorial review
Authors: Qaseem Yousuf , Cassidy Fiona , Aganovic Lejla , Purysko Andrei , Mirza Sara , Vahdat Noushin
Published: July 2022

Like many solid organs, the kidneys are susceptible to a wide variety of systemic vascular diseases. Comprising a significant subset of these diseases are the vasculitides, broadly encompassing numerous inflammatory conditions of the blood vessels. However, many of these conditions are non-vasculitic and non-inflammatory, and differentiation of these entities is crucial to guide the initiation of proper therapy. These non-vasculitic diseases include coagulopathic conditions leading to vascular complications, hemolysis, and hematogenous processes that can affect multiple organ systems. These systemic diseases can result in both macrovascular and microvascular pathology, involving the arteries, veins, and smaller vessels, and management of these conditions can differ significantly depending upon the underlying pathophysiology. Because the clinical manifestations of these disease processes can be heterogeneous, ranging from renal dysfunction to life-threatening hemorrhage, proper recognition of these entities is essential to help guide clinicians to the correct diagnosis and prevent potentially disastrous complications. Many of these systemic vascular processes can be detected by non-invasive imaging, including computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and identification of their characteristic renal manifestations by radiologists is a critical component of patient care. This review covers a variety of these diseases and their imaging manifestations, to aid in their recognition and better equip radiologists to provide vital diagnostic information that can optimize patient care.

Graphical abstract
Incidence of surgically treated post-traumatic hydrocephalus 6 months following head injury in patients undergoing acute head computed tomography
Authors: Heinonen Aaro , Rauhala Minna , Isokuortti Harri , Kataja Anneli , Nikula Milaja , Öhman Juha , Iverson Grant L. , Luoto Teemu
Published: July 2022

Background

Post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) is a well-known complication of head injury. The percentage of patients experiencing PTH in trauma cohorts (0.7–51.4%) varies greatly in the prior literature depending on the study population and applied diagnostic criteria. The objective was to determine the incidence of surgically treated PTH in a consecutive series of patients undergoing acute head computed tomography (CT) following injury.

Methods

All patients (N = 2908) with head injuries who underwent head CT and were treated at the Tampere University Hospital’s Emergency Department (August 2010–July 2012) were retrospectively evaluated from patient medical records. This study focused on adults (18 years or older) who were residents of the Pirkanmaa region at the time of injury and were clinically evaluated and scanned with head CT at the Tampere University Hospital’s emergency department within 48 h after injury (n = 1941). A thorough review of records for neurological signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus was conducted for all patients having a radiological suspicion of hydrocephalus. The diagnosis of PTH was based on clinical and radiological signs of the condition within 6 months following injury. The main outcome was surgical treatment for PTH. Clinical evidence of shunt responsiveness was required to confirm the diagnosis of PTH.

Results

The incidence of surgically treated PTH was 0.15% (n = 3). Incidence was 0.08% among patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 1.1% among those with moderate to severe TBI. All the patients who developed PTH underwent neurosurgery during the initial hospitalization due to the head injury. The incidence of PTH among patients who underwent neurosurgery for acute traumatic intracranial lesions was 2.7%.

Conclusion

The overall incidence of surgically treated PTH was extremely low (0.15%) in our cohort. Analyses of risk factors and the evaluation of temporal profiles could not be undertaken due to the extremely small number of cases.
Isometries Between Given Surfaces and the Isometric Deformation of a Single Unstretchable Material Surface
Authors: Chen Yi-chao , Fosdick Roger , Fried Eliot
Published: July 2022

The difference between the differential geometric concept of an isometry between two given surfaces as purely mathematical objects and the kinematical concept of an isometric deformation of a single unstretchable material surface as a physical object is discussed. We clarify some misunderstandings that have been promoted in recent works concerning the mechanics of unstretchable material surfaces and we discuss this issue within the context of two specific examples. A revealing distinction between isometries and isometric deformations in two space dimensions is reviewed, and the use of rectifying developable surfaces to characterize the isometric deformation of rectangular material strips is analyzed.
Influence of Particle Velocities on Adhesion Strength of Cold Spray Inner Diameter Coatings
Authors: Meeß Joachim , Anasenzl Manuel , Ossenbrink Ralf , Michailov Vesselin
Published: July 2022

Due to the recent developments of hardware components and the hereby resulting ability to increase process parameters, the application area of the cold gas spray technology is expanding quickly. The present research focuses on the influence of working gas pressure and working gas temperature on the adhesive strength of inner diameter coatings, which were produced with two different alloy steel powder variants. Gas pressure and gas temperature were varied in four different parameter sets. At first, the powder variants were examined for morphology and particle size distribution. Secondly, the influence of four different process parameters on the achievable particle velocity was measured. In addition, the arithmetical mean height (Sa) of the coating was measured in order to determine the effect of the four parameter sets on the achievable surface roughness. Furthermore, the impact of the process parameters on the steel particles’ penetration depth into the aluminum substrate was examined. Finally, adhesion strength measurements of the inner diameter coatings were carried out. The results reveal that with rising process parameters, the particle velocity increases, and the achievable surface roughness is lowered. It was also shown that the penetration depth of the particles into the substrate increases with increasing particle velocity. In addition, this study demonstrated a dependence of the process parameters on the adhesion strength for inner diameter coatings.
An Investigation to Identify Optimal Setup for Automated Assessment of Dysarthric Intelligibility using Deep Learning Technologies
Authors: Hall Kyle , Huang Andy , Shahamiri Seyed Reza
Published: July 2022

Recent advances in deep learning have provided an opportunity to improve and automate dysarthria intelligibility assessment, offering a cost-effective, accessible, and less subjective way to assess dysarthric speakers. However, reviewing previous literature in the area determines that the generalization of results on new dysarthric patients was not measured properly or incomplete among the previous studies that yielded very high accuracies due to the gaps in the adopted evaluation methodologies. This is of particular importance as any practical and clinical application of intelligibility assessment approaches must reliably generalize on new patients; otherwise, the clinicians cannot accept the assessment results provided by the system deploying the approach. In this paper, after these gaps are explained, we report on our extensive investigation to propose a deep learning–based dysarthric intelligibility assessment optimal setup. Then, we explain different evaluation strategies that were applied to thoroughly verify how the optimal setup performs with new speakers and across different classes of speech intelligibility. Finally, a comparative study was conducted, benchmarking the performance of our proposed optimal setup against the state of the art by adopting similar strategies previous studies employed. Results indicate an average of 78.2% classification accuracy for unforeseen low intelligibility speakers, 40.6% for moderate intelligibility speakers, and 40.4% for high intelligibility speakers. Furthermore, we noticed a high variance of classification accuracies among individual speakers. Finally, our proposed optimal setup delivered an average of 97.19% classification accuracy when adopting a similar evaluation strategy used by the previous studies.
Deciphering the role of miR-187-3p/LRFN1 axis in modulating progression, aerobic glycolysis and immune microenvironment of clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Xu Wenhao , Liu Wangrui , Anwaier Aihetaimujiang , Tian Xi , Su Jiaqi , Shi Guohai , Wei Shiyin , Qu Yuanyuan , Zhang Hailiang , Ye Dingwei
Published: July 2022

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most common malignant genitourinary cancers with high recurrence risk worldwide. Recently, multi-omics data facilitate obtaining a molecular landscape of tumor development, and were implemented to affect pathogenesis, phenotype, and prognosis of ccRCC. In this study, after screening for differential expressed microRNAs based on multiply datasets, we tested expression levels and prognostic value of miR-187-3p in ccRCC samples, and transfected miR-187-3p mimics or negative controls into ccRCC cells. Up-regulation of miR-187-3p restrains proliferation, migration and promotes apoptosis ability in human ccRCC A498 and 786O cells. In addition, Luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-187-3p directly targets LRFN1-3’-UTR and negatively modulates LRFN1 expression. LRFN1 rescues proliferation and invasion capacities after miR-187-3p mimic transfection in vitro and in subcutaneous xenograft models. We further performed deep-sequencing technology and bioinformatics analyses to evaluate the biological functions and potential clinical implications of LRFN1 expression in ccRCC. Interestingly, LRFN1 could serve as an independent and potential biomarker for prognosis in over 1000 patients with ccRCC from multiply independent cohorts. Besides, the up-regulated LRFN1 expression prominently promoted intra-tumoral heterogeneity and immune-infiltrating microenvironment, represented by elevated M2 macrophage infiltration, CD8+ T cells activity and PD-L1 expression. In conclusion, this study revealed the tumor-specific and immunological role of miR-187-3p/LRFN1 axis in the progression and reshaping of tumor immune microenvironment of ccRCC.