bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formulation of Bismuth (Bi2O3) and Cerium Oxides (CeO2) Nanosheets for Boosted Visible Light Degradation of Methyl Orange and Methylene Blue Dyes in Water
Authors: Shahzad Khurram , Fernandez-Garcia Javier , Khan Muhammad Imran , Shanableh Abdallah , Khan Naseem Ahmad , ur Rehman Aziz
Published: October 2022

Annealing of periodic mesoporous organosilica supported with bismuth (Bi@PMOS) and cerium (Ce@PMOS) nanoparticles was carried out to derive bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and cerium oxide (CeO2) nanosheets. The hydrothermal sol-gel method was used to synthesize hexagonal Bi@PMOS and Ce@PMOS. These PMOS provided an opportunity for bismuth and cerium to retain a hexagonal configuration alongside their traditional crystalline phases (tetragonal and cubic) in Bi2O3 and CeO2 nanosheets. All produced materials were found to be dynamic under sunlight irradiation for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO). However, the Bi2O3 and CeO2 nanosheets showed better potential and photo-catalytic performances than Bi@PMOS and Ce@PMOS due to the presence of the unique blend of crystalline phases. The synthesized Bi@PMOS, Ce@PMOS, Bi2O3, and CeO2 were structurally characterized by FTIR and XRD techniques. These showed characteristic vibrations of successfully loaded bismuth and cerium with hexagonal symmetry. EDX results confirmed the elemental detection of bismuth and cerium, while SEM images revealed the nanosheets in the synthesized materials. The optical response and detection of reactive species were carried out by photoluminescence (PL) and showed emissions at 700 nm. The PL data were also used to calculate band gaps of 3.72, 3.70, 3.35, and 2.88 eV for Ce@PMOS, Bi@PMOS, CeO2, and Bi2O3, respectively. A UV/visible spectrophotometer scanned the photocatalytic competences of the synthesized nanomaterials through the degradation of MB and MO dyes. Then, 10 mg of Bi@PMOS and Ce@PMOS degraded 15 mg and 8.4 mg of MB and 10.8 mg and 8 mg of MO, respectively, in 20 mg/L solutions. However, equivalent quantities of Bi2O3 and CeO2 (10 mg of each) exhibited more efficient photocatalysis of the 20 mg/L solutions of MB and MO, degrading 18.4 mg and 15.4 mg, and 12.4 mg and 17 mg, respectively, in only 1 h. The Bi2O3 and CeO2 photocatalysts were regenerated and their photodegradation results were also recovered. Bi2O3 and CeO2 showed only 10% and 8% (for MB), and 8% and 10% (for MO) decline in catalytic efficiency, respectively, even after four consecutive recycles. These results demonstrate that these materials are dynamic, long-lasting photocatalysts for the rapid degradation of azo dyes in contaminated water.
Calcium-Related Genes Predicting Outcomes and Serving as Therapeutic Targets in Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Huang Ting , Feng Xuan , Wang Jiaqi , Zhou Jingyi , Wang Jianliu
Published: October 2022

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic cancer with increasing incidence. The dysregulation of intracellular calcium plays a crucial role in cancer progression. However, the relationship between calcium-related genes and prognosis remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to establish a risk model based on calcium-related genes for prognosis prediction in patients with EC. The TCGA-total set was divided into a training set and a testing set (1:1). The four-gene prognostic signature (CACNA2D1, SLC8A1, TRPM4 and CCL2) was established and classified all EC patients into a low-risk or high-risk group. This model was validated in both the testing dataset and the total set. The EC patients with high RiskScores showed significantly shorter overall survival than those with low RiskScores, and this trend was consistent among most subgroups. Moreover, an enrichment analysis confirmed that calcium-related and estrogen-response signalings were significantly enriched in the high-risk group. The knockdown of CACNA2D1 by siRNA or its blocker, amlodipine (AM) inhibited cell proliferation and induced cycle arrest in vitro. The calcium channel blocker AM inhibited cell proliferation and induced cycle arrest in vitro. AM also showed marked tumor inhibition effects in vivo. In summary, the prognostic model constructed by four calcium-related genes can reliably predict the outcomes of EC patients, and a calcium channel blocker, AM, has significant potential for EC treatment.
Left Atrial Myocardium in Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Kockskämper Jens , Pluteanu Florentina
Published: October 2022

Arterial hypertension affects ≈ 1 billion people worldwide. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and responsible for millions of deaths each year. Hypertension mediates damage of target organs including the heart. In addition to eliciting left ventricular hypertrophy, dysfunction and heart failure, hypertension also causes left atrial remodeling that may culminate in atrial contractile dysfunction and atrial fibrillation. Here, we will summarize data on the various aspects of left atrial remodeling in (essential) hypertension gathered from studies on patients with hypertension and from spontaneously hypertensive rats, an animal model that closely mimics cardiac remodeling in human hypertension. Analyzing the timeline of remodeling processes, i.e., distinguishing between alterations occurring in prehypertension, in early hypertension and during advanced hypertensive heart disease, we will derive the potential mechanisms underlying left atrial remodeling in (essential) hypertension. Finally, we will discuss the consequences of these remodeling processes for atrial and ventricular function. The data imply that left atrial remodeling is multifactorial, starts early in hypertension and is an important contributor to the progression of hypertensive heart disease, including the development of atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
Cell-Enriched Lipotransfer (CELT) Improves Tissue Regeneration and Rejuvenation without Substantial Manipulation of the Adipose Tissue Graft
Authors: Prantl Lukas , Eigenberger Andreas , Reinhard Ruben , Siegmund Andreas , Heumann Kerstin , Felthaus Oliver
Published: October 2022

The good availability and the large content of adult stem cells in adipose tissue has made it one of the most interesting tissues in regenerative medicine. Although lipofilling is one of the most frequent procedures in plastic surgery, the method still struggles with high absorption rates and volume losses of up to 70%. Therefore, many efforts have been made to optimize liposuction and to process the harvested tissue in order to increase fat graft retention. Because of their immunomodulatory properties, their cytokine secretory activity, and their differentiation potential, enrichment with adipose tissue-derived stem cells was identified as a promising tool to promote transplant survival. Here, we review the important parameters for lipofilling optimization. Finally, we present a new method for the enrichment of lipoaspirate with adipose tissue-derived stem cells and discuss the parameters that contribute to fat graft survival.
Pathological Role of HDAC8: Cancer and Beyond
Authors: Kim Ji Yoon , Cho Hayoung , Yoo Jung , Kim Go Woon , Jeon Yu Hyun , Lee Sang Wu , Kwon So Hee
Published: October 2022

Histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) is a class I HDAC that catalyzes the deacetylation of histone and non-histone proteins. As one of the best-characterized isoforms, numerous studies have identified interacting partners of HDAC8 pertaining to diverse molecular mechanisms. Consequently, deregulation and overexpression of HDAC8 give rise to diseases. HDAC8 is especially involved in various aspects of cancer progression, such as cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, immune evasion, and drug resistance. HDAC8 is also associated with the development of non-cancer diseases such as Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases, and myopathy. Therefore, HDAC8 is an attractive therapeutic target and various HDAC8 selective inhibitors (HDAC8is) have been developed. Here, we address the pathological function of HDAC8 in cancer and other diseases, as well as illustrate several HDAC8is that have shown anti-cancer effects.
Fe Atom—Mixed Edges Fractal Graphene via DFT Calculation
Authors: Aloui Lobna , Dintzer Thierry , Janowska Izabela
Published: October 2022

The stability of small fractal graphene models with two different symmetries and Fe atoms at their mixed edges is addressed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Four kinds of edge configurations and Fe atom localizations are determined depending on the model. The edges have mixed configuration, the zig-zag and “intra-zig-zag” in symmetrical structures and armchair and zig-zag type in the architectures with rotational symmetry. The rotational symmetry graphene exhibits slightly higher stability per carbon atom compared to the symmetrical model, while the localization of Fe atoms is more favorable at armchair and “inversed zigzag” than at zigzag type carbon termination. Larger graphene structures with rotational symmetry were observed previously via experimental cutting of graphene with Fe nanoparticles (NPs).
Development of Power-to-X Catalytic Processes for CO2 Valorisation: From the Molecular Level to the Reactor Architecture
Authors: Bobadilla Luis F. , Azancot Lola , Luque-Álvarez Ligia A. , Torres-Sempere Guillermo , González-Castaño Miriam , Pastor-Pérez Laura , Yu Jie , Ramírez-Reina Tomás , Ivanova Svetlana , Centeno Miguel A. , Odriozola José A.
Published: October 2022

Nowadays, global climate change is likely the most compelling problem mankind is facing. In this scenario, decarbonisation of the chemical industry is one of the global challenges that the scientific community needs to address in the immediate future. Catalysis and catalytic processes are called to play a decisive role in the transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon future. This critical review analyses the unique advantages of structured reactors (isothermicity, a wide range of residence times availability, complex geometries) with the multifunctional design of efficient catalysts to synthesise chemicals using CO2 and renewable H2 in a Power-to-X (PTX) strategy. Fine-chemistry synthetic methods and advanced in situ/operando techniques are essential to elucidate the changes of the catalysts during the studied reaction, thus gathering fundamental information about the active species and reaction mechanisms. Such information becomes crucial to refine the catalyst’s formulation and boost the reaction’s performance. On the other hand, reactors architecture allows flow pattern and temperature control, the management of strong thermal effects and the incorporation of specifically designed materials as catalytically active phases are expected to significantly contribute to the advance in the valorisation of CO2 in the form of high added-value products. From a general perspective, this paper aims to update the state of the art in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) and PTX concepts with emphasis on processes involving the transformation of CO2 into targeted fuels and platform chemicals, combining innovation from the point of view of both structured reactor design and multifunctional catalysts development.
High-Performance Sulfur Dioxide Gas Sensor Based on Graphite-Phase Carbon-Nitride-Functionalized Tin Diselenide Nanorods Composite
Authors: Zhang Hao , Pan Qiannan , Zhang Yating , Zhang Yanting , Zhang Dongzhi
Published: October 2022

In this paper, a composite of tin diselenide (SnSe2) functionalized by graphite-phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was successfully prepared by a hydrothermal method, and was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These microstructure characterization results verified the successful synthesis of a multilayer g-C3N4/rod-shaped SnSe2 composite. The gas sensitivity results showed that when the g-C3N4 ratio was 30%, the g-C3N4/SnSe2 composite sensor had the highest response (28.9%) at 200 °C to 20 ppm sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas, which was much higher than those of pristine g-C3N4 and SnSe2 sensors at the optimum temperature. A series of comparative experiments proved that the g-C3N4/SnSe2 composite sensor demonstrated an excellent response, strong reversibility and good selectivity for ppm-level SO2 gas detection. The possible SO2 sensing mechanism was ascribed to the heterostructure between the n-type SnSe2 and n-type g-C3N4 nanomaterials. Furthermore, we also proposed the influence of the special structure of the g-C3N4 functionalized SnSe2 composite on the gas-sensing characteristics.
Plasmonic Sensing of Glucose Based on Gold–Silver Core–Shell Nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Junjie , Yue Xiaoping , Zhang Yulong , Zhu Chengcheng , Kang Xing , Yu Hai-Dong , Lu Gang
Published: October 2022

Developing a simple and convenient approach for glucose sensing is crucially important in disease diagnosis and health monitoring. In this work, a glucose sensor based on plasmonic nanostructures was developed using gold–silver core–shell nanoparticles as the sensing platform. Based on the oxidative etching of the silver shell, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and glucose could be determined quantitatively via the spectral change. This spectral change could also be observed with the naked eye or with a phone camera, realizing colorimetric sensing. To demonstrate this, glucose solutions at different concentrations were quantitatively detected in a wide concentration range of 0–1.0 mM using this colorimetric sensor. Importantly, shell thickness could significantly affect the sensitivity of our colorimetric sensor. This work provides a deeper understanding of the plasmonic sensing of glucose, which will help to realize its real applications. Based on this strategy, the non-invasive sensing of metabolites may be realized for disease diagnosis and health monitoring.
Difference in Using Protrusion Face Mask before or after Rapid Palatal Expansion in Skeletal Class III Children: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Lucchi Patrizia , Rosa Marco , Bruno Giovanni , De Stefani Alberto , Zalunardo Francesca , Gracco Antonio
Published: October 2022

Treatment of third-class malocclusions often presents a challenge for orthodontists. Skeletal disharmony is often associated with dental malposition. There are several therapeutic choices, including the use in combination of transverse expansion of the maxilla with rapid palatal expander (RPE) and posterior-anterior traction with a Delaire face mask (FM). The purpose of the study is to verify whether there are significant differences in the treatment outcome in the case of use of a face mask followed by a palatal expander or with the sequence of these auxiliaries reversed. Subject and Methods: The two groups were both made up of 13 patients, subdivided into group A, i.e., those whose sequence involved the use of extraoral traction first and then the disjunctor, and those with an inverted sequence in group B. Some cephalometric parameters and dento-skeletal characteristics were evaluated pre-treatment (t0) and at the end of therapy (t1). Results: Considering the T1–T0 of group A (Delaire + rapid palatal expander), the evaluation of the results obtained in this work allows us to observe how within group A there is a significant improvement in the Witts and Nanda indices and facial convexity. Group B (treated with the palate disjunctor sequence followed by traction with Delaire’s mask) showed a significant improvement in ANB, in AoBo, and AppBpp values and in convexity. The two groups were comparable, and no statistically significant difference was highlighted. Discussion: The early therapy of the third skeletal classes by means of a rapid palate expander and face mask is effective. There is no statistically significant difference in the two groups who performed the therapy in reverse mode. This suggests that the clinician should choose the treatment sequence based on the skeletal and occlusal conditions of their patients at the start of treatment. Conclusion: Early therapy of third skeletal classes with sagittal expansion using a rapid palate expander can be performed earlier or later than posterior-anterior traction with a Delaire mask.
Left Atrial Dysfunction in Children with Repaired Pulmonary Artery Atresia with Ventricular Septal Defect: A Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Authors: Ma Yanyan , Hu Liwei , Wang Qian , Sun Aimin , Ouyang Rongzhen , Wang Jinglei , Zhang Hao , Zhang Haibo , Guo Chen , Zhong Yumin
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: The left atrium (LA) is much more than a reservoir for left ventricular filling. The aim of this study was to assess the LA volume and function in patients with repaired pulmonary artery atresia with ventricular septal defect (rPA/VSD) using CMR. (2) Methods: 31 pediatric patients with rPA/VSD and 30 healthy controls were prospectively recruited. Left atrial ejection fraction (EF), strain and strain rate of three phases (reservoir, conduit, and pump) and left atrial volume were measured with cardiac function analysis software. (3) Results: Patients with rPA/VSD had decreased maximal volume index (p = 0.008). Compared to controls, LA reservoir strain and strain rate, conduit strain and strain rate, booster pump strain rate, total EF and passive EF were significantly lower (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.02, p = 0.03, p < 0.001, p < 0.001); the patients with preserved but lower RVEF(<50%) had lower reservoir strain, reservoir strain rate and pump strain rate (p = 0.01, p = 0.02, p = 0.04, respectively) than the patients with higher RVEF (≥50%). (4) Conclusions: In patients with rPA/VSD, LA function was altered when biventricular EF was preserved, which may provide an early indication of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. CMR can detect LA dysfunction at an early stage, even before LA enlargement.
Evaluation of the Inactivating Ability of Carbon-Nanotube Coated Plasma Treatment on Bioaerosols for Indoor Air Cleaning
Authors: Chuang Chi-Yu , Hsu Ying-Fang , Hung Po-Chen , Dai Yu-Tung , Yang Shinhao
Published: October 2022

This work considers the ability of carbon-nanotube (CNT)-coated plasma to inactivate bioaerosols. Escherichia coli (E. coli) and λ virus phage were chosen as the challenge bioaerosols. A test chamber was used to simulate an indoor environment and to control the air exchange rate (ACH). The results demonstrated that CNT-coated plasma had a significant antimicrobial effect on both bacterial and viral bioaerosols. The experimental results revealed that CNT-coated plasma under an operating voltage of 6.0 kV and an ACH of 0.5 h−1 had significantly higher bioaerosol inactivating ability (kCNT, 0.24 and 0.23 min−1 for E. coli and λ virus phage, respectively) compared to the results without using CNT-coated plasma (kn, 0.09 and 0.08 min−1 for E. coli and λ virus phage, respectively). Under the higher ACH condition, the system demonstrated higher bioaerosol removal efficiency due to the mechanical effect of clean air exchange. Increasing flow rate and operating voltage could raise the inactivating ability of the CNT-coated plasma system. A CNT-coated plasma air-cleaning device was tested in a real indoor medical environment and yielded bacterial bioaerosol removal efficiency in the range from 70% to 80% within 6 h of operation (7.5 Lpm and 6.0 kV), which suggests that CNT-coated plasma treatment has the potential for further application in improving indoor air quality.
Dynamic Coupling Analysis on Thermo–Chemo–Mechanical Field and Fluid–Structure Interaction for Aero-Engine Turbine Blade with Functional Gradient Thermal Barrier Coatings
Authors: Li Dinghe , Yuan Hang , Ma Shuo , Yang Jimeng
Published: October 2022

In this study, an extended layerwise/solid-element (XLW/SE) method is developed for the thermo–chemo–mechanical (TCM) coupling problem of an aero-engine turbine blade with thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). The method consists of two parts, the extended layerwise (XLW) method and the three-dimensional (3D) solid-element (SE) method, which are adopted to formulate the governing equations of TBCs and substrate, respectively. Then, according to the compatibility conditions of displacement, temperature, concentration and internal force equilibrium at the TBCs/substrate interface, the governing equation of the final blade structure is assembled. Through a time integration, the dynamic responses of displacement, temperature and concentration can be calculated. In addition, the fluid–structure coupling analysis is conducted by using COMSOL. The nonuniform thermal load is imported into the XLW/SE method to calculate the mechanical response of blade structure. Finally, the corresponding computing program is compiled with C++. In numerical examples, the TCM coupling analysis is conducted on the blade structure with and without interfacial debonding and delamination damages. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, the dynamic TCM responses of the XLW/SE model is compared with those of a 3D elastic model generated by COMSOL, which shows that the two models are in good agreement.
Influence of Pre-Tinning Process on Coating Morphology and Interface Structure of Low Carbon Steel Dipped in Molten 6061 Al Alloy
Authors: Fathy Naglaa , Abdel Halim Khaled Saad , Hafez K. M. , Ramadan Mohamed , Ayadi Badreddine , Alghamdi Abdulaziz S. , Ibrahim Khaled M.
Published: October 2022

Pre-treated low carbon steel specimens with flux or flux + tin mixture were coated by hot-dip aluminizing process. Al alloy (6061) was melted and hold at 750 °C. Fluxed and pre-tinned low carbon steel samples were dipped in a molten bath for time intervals of 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 3.5 min. Applying double coating processes via tinning-aluminizing techniques facilitated the formation of Fe-Al intermetallic interface and increasing the thickness of homogenous coating layer over the substrate material. The presence of Sn facilitates to great extent the formation of a better interlayer-free bond of residual flux and/or oxides. The fluxed–dipped steel substrates have inhomogeneous distribution of Al alloy coating as well as an interface with residual flux and oxides for dipping time up to 2.5 min. A homogenous distribution with good thickness morphology of the Al alloy coating and homogeneous thin intermetallic interface was achieved for tinned steel substrate at all applied dipping times. The comparison between the pre-tinning and pre-fluxing processes on steel substrates showed a significant effect of tinning over fluxing treatment acting on the thickness layer of Al-coating and interface using a short time dipping. For dipping time up to 2.5 min, the hardness of pre-tinning substrates is greater than that of fluxed ones due to the presence of residual flux and void interface in fluxed steel.
Corrosion Behaviour of an Epoxy Resin Reinforced with Aluminium Nanoparticles
Authors: Samardžija Marina , Alar Vesna , Špada Vedrana , Stojanović Ivan
Published: October 2022

During exploitation, the properties of the epoxy coating deteriorate and therefore, it is necessary to modify it with metal particles. In this paper, spherical aluminium nanoparticles (Al NP) of 100 nm with 99.9% purity were used to modify the epoxy coating for the better corrosion protection of grey cast iron. Pure Al has a high corrosion resistance and can form a thin protective film that prevents its further oxidation, thus, becoming inert and environmentally friendly. To examine these facts, different concentrations (0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 3.0, and 6.0 wt.%) of Al nanoparticles were dispersed in the epoxy coating. The surface of the modified nanocomposite coating was analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Furthermore, the physical properties such as colour, thickness, hardness, and adhesion to the cast iron surface were tested as well. The same properties were tested by exposing the sample plates to corrosive conditions in the climate chamber. Their anticorrosion properties were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) by their immersion in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution as a corrosive medium. The coating with 0.75% Al NP showed the best corrosion resistance after 10 days of exposure in salt water, while the sample with 1.0% Al NP showed the best corrosion resistance after exposure to the icing/deicing process.
Universal Adhesives: Evaluation of the Relationship between Bond Strength and Application Strategies—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses
Authors: Triani Federico , Pereira da Silva Lígia , Ferreira Lemos Bernardo , Domingues Joana , Teixeira Liliana , Manarte-Monteiro Patrícia
Published: October 2022

Adhesive resins with guided application protocols have been developed with the main goal of reducing the number of clinical steps. Universal Adhesives (UA) can be applied with both Self-Etch (SE) or Etch-and-Rinse (ER) adhesion strategies. This review aims to evaluate the bond strength of UA, applied to dental tissues, by a systematic bibliometric review of in vitro studies. The research question, through the PICO model, aimed to assess the current knowledge of the immediate and long-term bond strength of UA, applied with a direct restorative technique. PubMed and ScienceDirect database searches focused on the bond resistance of UA applied with the ER and SE strategies. Studies assessing shear bond strength and microtensile bond strength, in both enamel and dentin, were included. From 1109 screened articles, 12 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The bond strength of UA to enamel showed better results with the ER approach, while the adhesion strategy did not significantly affect the bond strength of UA to dentin. Evidence from in vitro studies has tended to suggest that the use of the SE adhesion approach seems to be a better choice to improve the bond strength to the dentin. The selective enamel etching is advisable when applied with the SE adhesion approach to optimize the UA bond strength to the enamel.
Corrosion Behavior of SiO2-Al2O3 Glass Composite Coating on TC4 in Marine Environment
Authors: Li Wenbo , Feng Min , Liu Lanlan , Zhang Jun , Hu Bo , Cheng Qiao
Published: October 2022

Compressor blades made of TC4 that are serviced in marine environments suffer from severe active corrosion under the synergetic effect of NaCl and H2O(g). A SiO2-Al2O3 glass composite coating was applied on TC4 substrate for protection by first air spraying slurry and subsequent a suitable sintering process. The corrosion behavior of the SiO2-Al2O3 glass composite coating and uncoated alloy in marine environment under the simultaneous effect of NaCl(s) and H2O(g) at 650 °C were investigated. The results indicated that the SiO2-Al2O3 glass composite coating presented good corrosion behavior and provided protection for the alloy; the superior corrosion resistance is mainly attributed to the favorable effect of the SiO2-Al2O3 glass composite coating on inhibiting self-sustainable oxychlorination. The detrimental effect of Ti on self-sustainable oxychlorination mechanism in marine environment are discussed.
Recent Advances in Antibacterial Composite Coatings
Authors: Isopencu Gabriela , Mocanu Alexandra
Published: October 2022

For the removal of pathogens, classical methods such as chemical disinfection, sterilization (thermal or ionic) are used and continue to be used, but the current conditions of energy conservation and environmental protection require approaching this problem from a different perspective [...]
Scattering of Ultrashort X-ray Pulses on Diamonds with NV Centers
Authors: Eseev Marat , Makarova Ksenia , Makarov Dmitry
Published: October 2022

The scattering of ultra-short X-ray pulses (USPs) is an important component of diffraction analysis of matter. Usually, the specific scattering of such USPs is not taken into account to determine the structure of a substance. Taking into account the specifics of scattering on complex structures will give more accurate results when deciphering complex structures. In this work, it is shown that when X-ray USPs are scattered on diamond with NV centers, it is necessary to take into account the pulse duration. The results obtained can be very different from the widely used theory of diffraction analysis, which confirms the need to take into account the specifics of USP scattering when diagnosing complex structures. It is shown that the scattering spectra are very sensitive to the concentration of NV-centres in the diamond structure, and this can be used in diffraction analysis.
Biological Mineralization of Hydrophilic Intraocular Lenses
Authors: Koutsoukos Petros G. , Natsi Panagiota D. , Gartaganis Sotirios P. , Gartaganis Panos S.
Published: October 2022

Biomaterials calcify upon implantation in contact with biological fluids, which are supersaturated with respect to more than one crystalline phase of calcium phosphate. The implantation of intraocular lenses (IOLs) for cataract treatment has been hailed as a major advance. Hydrophilic acrylic IOLs, made of Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), upon contact with aqueous humor, exhibit significant incidence of opacification, due to the formation of calcium phosphate crystals, mainly hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH, HAP) on the surface or in their interior. The aqueous humor is supersaturated with respect to HAP. Clinical findings were duplicated by laboratory experiments through the development of appropriate experimental models which included batch reactors, well stirred operating at constant supersaturation (CCR) and reactors simulating anterior eye chamber (ECSR). In both CCR and ECSR, simulated aqueous humor was used. In ECSR the flow rate was the same as in the eye chamber (2.5 mL per 24 h). HAP formed both on the surface and inside the IOLs tested. Induction times preceding the crystallization of HAP on the surface of the IOLs and crystal growth rates were measured. Surface hydroxyl ionized groups favored the development of locally high supersaturation by surface complexation. In the interior of the IOLs, HAP formed by the diffusion of the calcium and phosphate ions inside the polymeric matrix.
Swelling and Salt Formation in Ibuprofen and Tranexamic Acid-Containing Tablets during High-Temperature Storage
Authors: Kawano Yuto , Tanaka Yoshiharu , Hata Nanami , Yoshiike Yuki , Nakajima Masato , Yonemochi Etsuo , Ishihara Nobuhiro
Published: October 2022

Ibuprofen (IBP)- and Tranexamic acid (TXA)-containing tablets are known to swell when stored at high temperatures, but the mechanism of swelling is unknown. In this study, we investigated the possible mechanism of swelling with high-temperature storage. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD) analyses showed that a new complex was formed in swollen tablets, when stored at 50 °C for 60 days. Additionally, we prepared single crystals of IBP and TXA, and analyzed them using single crystal X-ray diffractometry (SCXRD), to identify the new complex formed during storage. This revealed that the single crystal was a salt consisting of IBP and TXA. The PXRD peak of the salt simulated by SCXRD matched that of the PXRD peak of the swollen tablet after storage. These results suggest a close relationship between the swelling and crystal structures of IBP and TXA.
Venetoclax in Combination with Azacitidine for the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Canadian Cost–Utility Analysis
Authors: Guinan Kimberly , Mathurin Karine , Au Yunghan , Schuh Andre C. , Bui Cat N. , Chai Xinglei , Lachaine Jean
Published: October 2022

Treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) typically involves intensive chemotherapy (IC); however, there is an unmet need for approximately 50% of AML patients who are deemed unfit or ineligible for IC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, from a Canadian perspective, the economic impact of venetoclax in combination with azacitidine (Ven+Aza) for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed AML who are 75 years or older or who have comorbidities that preclude using IC. A lifetime partitioned survival model was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of Ven+Aza compared with Aza. Health states included event-free survival, progressive/relapsed disease, and death. Efficacy parameters were based on the VIALE-A trial. Analyses were conducted from Ministry of Health (MoH) and societal perspectives. Over a lifetime horizon, Ven+Aza was associated with a gain of 1.65 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) compared with Aza. From an MoH perspective, Ven+Aza and Aza were associated with total costs of $204,305 and $82,333, respectively, resulting in an incremental cost–utility ratio of $73,841/QALY. Results were similar from a societal perspective. This economic evaluation demonstrates that, in comparison with Aza, Ven+Aza is a cost-effective strategy for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed AML who are deemed unfit for IC.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Alpha Fetoprotein, and Liver Allocation for Transplantation: Past, Present and Future
Authors: Ruch Brianna , Wagler Josiah , Kumm Kayla , Zhang Chi , Katariya Nitin N. , Garcia-Saenz-de-Sicilia Mauricio , Giorgakis Emmanouil , Mathur Amit K.
Published: October 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading indications for liver transplantation and has been the treatment of choice due to the oncologic benefit for patients with advanced chronic liver disease (AdvCLD) and small tumors for the last 25 years. For HCC patients undergoing liver transplantation, alpha fetoprotein (AFP) has increasingly been applied as an independent predictor for overall survival, disease free recurrence, and waitlist drop out. In addition to static AFP, newer studies evaluating the AFP dynamic response to downstaging therapy show enhanced prognostication compared to static AFP alone. While AFP has been utilized to select HCC patients for transplant, despite years of allocation policy changes, the US allocation system continues to take a uniform approach to HCC patients, without discriminating between those with favorable or unfavorable tumor biology. We aim to review the history of liver allocation for HCC in the US, the utility of AFP in liver transplantation, the implications of weaving AFP as a biomarker into policy. Based on this review, we encourage the US transplant community to revisit its HCC organ allocation model, to incorporate more precise oncologic principles for patient selection, and to adopt AFP dynamics to better stratify waitlist dropout risk.
New Molecular-Based Phylogeny of Mussel-Associated Mites Reveals a New Subgenus and Three New Species Representing an Example of a Host-Driven Radiation in Indochina and Confirms the Concept of Division of the Genus Unionicola Haldeman, 1842 (Acari: Unionicolidae) into Numerous Subgenera
Authors: Chapurina Yulia E. , Konopleva Ekaterina S. , Vidrine Malcolm F. , Vikhrev Ilya V. , Lunn Zau , Chan Nyein , Win Than , Kondakov Alexander V. , Zubrii Natalia A. , Bespalaya Yulia V. , Aksenova Olga V. , Gofarov Mikhail Y. , Bolotov Ivan N.
Published: October 2022

Here we describe a new subgenus and three new species of parasitic water mites in the genus Unionicola (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from Myanmar: Myanmaratax subgen. nov., Unionicola (Myanmaratax) savadiensis subgen. and sp. nov. (hosts: Lamellidens savadiensis and L. generosus), U. (My.) generosa sp. nov. (the same hosts), and U. (My.) trapezidenssp. nov. (hosts: Trapezidens dolichorhynchus and T. angustior). These taxa were identified based on a two-gene phylogenetic analysis (COI + 28S), which also confirms the division of the genus Unionicola into numerous subgenera. The new species are cryptic species, which are morphologically indistinguishable but strongly resemble U. (Prasadatax) brandti Vidrine, 1985 described from Thailand (hosts: Lens spp. and Ensidens spp.). We also transfer the latter taxon from Prasadatax to Myanmaratax based on a set of morphological evidence and propose U. (My.) brandti comb. nov. The new subgenus contains a total of five species, one of which needs future sampling efforts and will be described elsewhere. Additionally, 56 valid subgenera, which were placed in the synonymy of the genus and in one case raised to the genus level, are restored here until robust phylogenetic evidence on their taxonomic status is available. Our results also confirm that Unionicola mites are narrow host specialists that are associated with either one or a few closely related freshwater mussel species belonging to one or two sister genera.
A High-Quality Genome Assembly of the Mitochondrial Genome of the Oil-Tea Tree Camellia gigantocarpa (Theaceae)
Authors: Lu Cui , Gao Li-Zhi , Zhang Qun-Jie
Published: October 2022

Camellia gigantocarpa is one of the oil-tea trees whose seeds can be used to extract high-quality vegetable oil. To date, there are no data on the mitochondrial genome of the oil-tea tree, in contrast to the tea-tree C. sinensis, which belongs to the same genus. In this paper, we present the first complete mitochondrial genomes of C. gigantocarpa obtained using PacBio Hi-Fi (high-fidelity) and Hi-C sequencing technologies to anchor the 970,410 bp genome assembly into a single sequence. A set of 44 protein-coding genes, 22 non-coding genes, 746 simple sequence repeats (SSRs), and more than 201 kb of repetitive sequences were annotated in the genome assembly. The high percentage of repetitive sequences in the mitochondrial genome of C. gigantocarpa (20.81%) and C.sinensis (22.15%, tea tree) compared to Arabidopsis thaliana (4.96%) significantly increased the mitogenome size in the genus Camellia. The comparison of the mitochondrial genomes between C. gigantocarpa and C. sinensis revealed genes exhibit high variance in gene order and low substitution rate within the genus Camellia. Information on the mitochondrial genome provides a better understanding of the structure and evolution of the genome in Camellia and may contribute to further study of the after-ripening process of oil-tea trees.
A Call to Action: Evidence for the Military Integration of Teledermoscopy in a Pandemic Era
Authors: Pendlebury Gehan A. , Roman John , Shrivastava Vikas , Yuan Jerry
Published: October 2022

Skin disease remains a common complaint among deployed service members. To mitigate the limited supply of dermatologists in the U.S. Military Health System (MHS), teledermatology has been harnessed as a specialist extender platform, allowing for online consultations in remote deployed settings. Operational teledermatology has played a critical role in reductions of medical evacuations with significant cost-savings. When direct in-person lesion visualization is unattainable, teledermoscopy can be harnessed as an effective diagnostic tool to distinguish suspicious skin lesions. Teledermoscopy has the versatile capacity for streamlined incorporation into the existing asynchronous telemedicine platforms utilized worldwide among deployed U.S. military healthcare providers. In terms of clinical utility, teledermoscopy offers a unique and timely opportunity to improve diagnostic accuracy, early detection rates, and prognostic courses for dermatological conditions. Such improvements will further reduce medical evacuations and time away from mission, thereby operational improving mission readiness and combat effectiveness. As mission goals are safeguarded, associated operational budget costs are also preserved. This innovative, cost-effective technology merits integration into the U.S. Military Health System.
How to Differentiate Pronator Syndrome from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Comprehensive Clinical Comparison
Authors: Balcerzak Adrian Andrzej , Ruzik Kacper , Tubbs Richard Shane , Konschake Marko , Podgórski Michał , Borowski Andrzej , Drobniewski Marek , Olewnik Łukasz
Published: October 2022

The diagnostic process that allows pronator syndrome to be differentiated reliably from carpal tunnel syndrome remains a challenge for clinicians, as evidenced by the most common cause of pronator syndrome misdiagnosis: carpal tunnel syndrome. Pronator syndrome can be caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes through the anatomical structures of the forearm, while carpal tunnel syndrome refers to one particular topographic area within which compression occurs, the carpal tunnel. The present narrative review is a complex clinical comparison of the two syndromes with their anatomical backgrounds involving topographical relationships, morphology, clinical picture, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic options. It discusses the most frequently used diagnostic techniques and their correct interpretations. Its main goal is to provide an up-to-date picture of the current understanding of the disease processes and their etiologies, to establish an appropriate diagnosis, and introduce relevant treatment benefiting the patient.
Short-, Mid-, and Long-Term Epidemiological and Economic Effects of the World Bank Loan Project on Schistosomiasis Control in the People’s Republic of China
Authors: Li Qin , Xu Jing , Li Shi-Zhu , Utzinger Jürg , McManus Donald P. , Zhou Xiao-Nong
Published: October 2022

It is widely acknowledged that the 10-year World Bank Loan Project (WBLP) on schistosomiasis control in the People’s Republic of China played an important role in raising the public and political profile of schistosomiasis, particularly regarding its prevention, control, and elimination. The WBLP adopted large-scale administration of praziquantel as the main control measure. At the end of the 10-year project in 2001, data from high-, medium-, and low-endemic areas suggested that the infection rates of both humans and domestic animals had fallen to the expected levels. However, major floods in the Yangtze River basin, coupled with reduced funding for schistosomiasis control, resulted in a rebound of the disease in endemic areas. Since 2005, a steady decline in infection rates was observed and it was hypothesized that the experiences and technological advances accumulated during the WBLP played a role. Nonetheless, relatively little is known about the long-term effects of the WBLP on schistosomiasis, particularly management mechanisms, technological innovations, epidemiological changes, and long-term economic impact. To fill these gaps, we systematically searched the literature for articles in English and Chinese on the WBLP on schistosomiasis from 1 January 1992 to 30 July 2022. Relevant studies were analyzed for short-, mid-, and long-term epidemiological and economic effects of the WBLP on schistosomiasis prevention, control, and elimination. Overall, 81 articles met our inclusion criteria, of which 17 were related to management mechanism reform, 20 pertained to technological innovation, and 44 examined epidemiological changes and economic effects. Most papers documented the WBLP as a positive contribution to schistosomiasis prevention and control in the People’s Republic of China. Regarding the long-term effects, there was a significant contribution to the national schistosomiasis control and elimination programme in terms of renewed management mechanisms, talent development, and technological innovation. In conclusion, the WBLP contributed to enhanced control of schistosomiasis and shaped the ultimate response towards schistosomiasis elimination in the People’s Republic of China. Experiences and lessons learned might guide schistosomiasis control and elimination elsewhere.
Using Variational Quantum Algorithm to Solve the LWE Problem
Authors: Lv Lihui , Yan Bao , Wang Hong , Ma Zhi , Fei Yangyang , Meng Xiangdong , Duan Qianheng
Published: October 2022

The variational quantum algorithm (VQA) is a hybrid classical–quantum algorithm. It can actually run in an intermediate-scale quantum device where the number of available qubits is too limited to perform quantum error correction, so it is one of the most promising quantum algorithms in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum era. In this paper, two ideas for solving the learning with errors problem (LWE) using VQA are proposed. First, after reducing the LWE problem into the bounded distance decoding problem, the quantum approximation optimization algorithm (QAOA) is introduced to improve classical methods. Second, after the LWE problem is reduced into the unique shortest vector problem, the variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) is used to solve it, and the number of qubits required is calculated in detail. Small-scale experiments are carried out for the two LWE variational quantum algorithms, and the experiments show that VQA improves the quality of the classical solutions.
Multi-Task Transformer with Adaptive Cross-Entropy Loss for Multi-Dialect Speech Recognition
Authors: Dan Zhengjia , Zhao Yue , Bi Xiaojun , Wu Licheng , Ji Qiang
Published: October 2022

At present, most multi-dialect speech recognition models are based on a hard-parameter-sharing multi-task structure, which makes it difficult to reveal how one task contributes to others. In addition, in order to balance multi-task learning, the weights of the multi-task objective function need to be manually adjusted. This makes multi-task learning very difficult and costly because it requires constantly trying various combinations of weights to determine the optimal task weights. In this paper, we propose a multi-dialect acoustic model that combines soft-parameter-sharing multi-task learning with Transformer, and introduce several auxiliary cross-attentions to enable the auxiliary task (dialect ID recognition) to provide dialect information for the multi-dialect speech recognition task. Furthermore, we use the adaptive cross-entropy loss function as the multi-task objective function, which automatically balances the learning of the multi-task model according to the loss proportion of each task during the training process. Therefore, the optimal weight combination can be found without any manual intervention. Finally, for the two tasks of multi-dialect (including low-resource dialect) speech recognition and dialect ID recognition, the experimental results show that, compared with single-dialect Transformer, single-task multi-dialect Transformer, and multi-task Transformer with hard parameter sharing, our method significantly reduces the average syllable error rate of Tibetan multi-dialect speech recognition and the character error rate of Chinese multi-dialect speech recognition.
Multi-Party Quantum Secret Sharing Based on GHZ State
Authors: Li Zhihui , Jiang Xue , Liu Lu
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we propose an efficient multi-party quantum secret sharing scheme based on GHZ entangled state. The participants in this scheme are divided into two groups, and share secrets as a group. There is no need to exchange any measurement information between the two groups, reducing the security problems caused by the communication process. Each participant holds one particle from each GHZ state; it can be found that the particles of each GHZ state are related after measuring them, and the eavesdropping detection can detect external attacks based on this characteristic. Furthermore, since the participants within the two groups encode the measured particles, they can recover the same secrets. Security analysis shows that the protocol can resist the intercept-and-resend attack and entanglement measurement attack, and the simulation results show that the probability of an external attacker being detected is proportional to the amount of information he can obtain. Compared with the existing protocols, this proposed protocol is more secure, has less quantum resources and is more practical.