bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aerocapture Optimization Method with Lift–Drag Joint Modulation Suitable for Variable Structure Spacecraft
Authors: Li Yongyuan , Sun Guang , Han Hongwei
Published: December 2022

Aerocapture, the action of delivering a vehicle from a hyperbolic orbit to a planetary orbit by using the aerodynamic force, could potentially lower fuel consumption. By controlling the direction and size of the aerodynamic force, the vehicle can accurately enter the target orbit. This paper focuses on a preliminary study of the optimal trajectory for aerocapture on the basis of a novel flight control option, which considers lift and drag joint modulation so as to suit variable structure spacecraft. In the preliminary evaluation of such a flight control option, the aerocapture corridors under lift modulation and drag modulation and the influence of the ballistic coefficient on aerocapture were analyzed, demonstrating that joint modulation can achieve complementary advantages compared with pure lift modulation and drag modulation. Based on this flight control option, optimal aerocapture trajectories with different path constraints, target orbital constraints and control variable constraints were found. It bears noting that both the bank angle and the reference area were taken as control variables for lift modulation and drag modulation, respectively, during the atmospheric flight in the process of designing the optimal trajectories. The optimal results indicate that the flight control option with lift and drag joint modulation can greatly broaden the necessary conditions for aerocapture and extend the target orbital range.
Bacillus subtilis Provides Long-Term Protection in a Murine Model of Allergic Lung Disease by Influencing Bacterial Composition
Authors: Monroy Del Toro Rosalinda , Incrocci Ryan , Negris Olivia , McGrath Shaina , Swartzendruber Julie A.
Published: December 2022

Probiotics are an attractive target for reducing the incidence of allergic disease. Bacillus subtilis is a gut-associated probiotic bacteria that can suppress allergic lung disease; however, it is not clear for how long this protection lasts. We exposed C57Bl/6 mice to B. subtilis via oral gavage and challenged them with intranasal house-dust mite for up to 8 weeks. We found that B. subtilis treatment was able to provide protection from eosinophil infiltration of the airways for 3 weeks. This loss of protection correlated with an increase in the eosinophil chemoattractant CCL24. Additionally, we demonstrate that B. subtilis treatment altered the bacterial composition by increasing the phylum Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicorbiota. The phylum Verrucomicorbiota was reduced in B. subtilis-treated mice at 8 weeks when protection was lost. These results support B. subtilis as a prophylactic for preventing the production of allergic lung disease and highlights that protection can last up to 3 weeks. This work also expands our understanding of how B. subtilis mediates protection and that in addition to modifying the immune system it is also altering the host microbiota.
Impact of Infection Control on Prevalence of Surgical Site Infections in a Large Tertiary Care Hospital in Haiphong City
Authors: Ory Jérôme , Le Minh Quang , Phan Tien Hung , Vu Hai Vinh , Careno Elodie , Price Tatiana , Andrieux Alexandre , Crouzet Julien , Dunyach-Rémy Catherine , Laureillard Didier , Lavigne Jean-Philippe , Sotto Albert
Published: December 2022

Few point prevalence surveys (PPS) have been conducted in Vietnam on Surgical Site Infections (SSI) or antimicrobial use in surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the PPSs of SSI before and after implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs (ASP) and infection control (IC) in a Vietnamese tertiary care hospital. ASP and IC practices were implemented in operating rooms and the orthopedic department, including antibiotic training, skin preparation, hand hygiene, gloves and sterile instruments, and SSIs risk factors. A PPS of SSIs and antimicrobial use was performed in January 2016 according to methods from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, before ASP and IC, and in December 2019. Information recorded included surgical data, antibiotic prophylaxis, microorganisms, and SSI risk factors. Skin preparation compliance assessed preoperative washing and antisepsis. SSI prevalence was 7.8% in 2016 versus 5.4% in 2019 (p = 0.7). The use of prophylactic antibiotics decreased from 2016 to 2019. A third-generation cephalosporin was prescribed more than 48 h after surgery for most patients. Skin preparation compliance increased from 54.4% to 70.5% between assessments. The decreased SSI, although non-statistically significant, warrants continuing this program. Vietnamese hospitals must provide comprehensive IC education to healthcare workers to address the prevention of SSI and establish IC policies.
Forecasting Seasonal Sales with Many Drivers: Shrinkage or Dimensionality Reduction?
Authors: Ramos Patrícia , Oliveira José Manuel , Kourentzes Nikolaos , Fildes Robert
Published: December 2022

Retailers depend on accurate forecasts of product sales at the Store × SKU level to efficiently manage their inventory. Consequently, there has been increasing interest in identifying more advanced statistical techniques that lead to accuracy improvements. However, the inclusion of multiple drivers affecting demand into commonly used ARIMA and ETS models is not straightforward, particularly when many explanatory variables are available. Moreover, regularization regression models that shrink the model’s parameters allow for the inclusion of a lot of relevant information but do not intrinsically handle the dynamics of the demand. These problems have not been addressed by previous studies. Nevertheless, multiple simultaneous effects interacting are common in retailing. To be successful, any approach needs to be automatic, robust and efficiently scaleable. In this study, we design novel approaches to forecast retailer product sales taking into account the main drivers which affect SKU demand at store level. To address the variable selection challenge, the use of dimensionality reduction via principal components analysis (PCA) and shrinkage estimators was investigated. The empirical results, using a case study of supermarket sales in Portugal, show that both PCA and shrinkage are useful and result in gains in forecast accuracy in the order of 10% over benchmarks while offering insights on the impact of promotions. Focusing on the promotional periods, PCA-based models perform strongly, while shrinkage estimators over-shrink. For the non-promotional periods, shrinkage estimators significantly outperform the alternatives.
State of Health Estimation of Lithium-Ion Batteries Using a Multi-Feature-Extraction Strategy and PSO-NARXNN
Authors: Ren Zhong , Du Changqing , Ren Weiqun
Published: December 2022

The lithium-ion battery state of health (SOH) estimation is critical for maintaining reliable and safe working conditions for electric vehicles (EVs). However, accurate and robust SOH estimation remains a significant challenge. This paper proposes a multi-feature extraction strategy and particle swarm optimization-nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous input neural network (PSO-NARXNN) for accurate and robust SOH estimation. First, eight health features (HFs) are extracted from partial voltage, capacity, differential temperature (DT), and incremental capacity (IC) curves. Then, qualitative and quantitative analyses are used to evaluate the selected HFs. Second, the PSO algorithm is adopted to optimize the hyperparameters of NARXNN, including input delays, feedback delays, and the number of hidden neurons. Third, to verify the effectiveness of the multi-feature extraction strategy, the SOH estimators based on a single feature and fusion feature are comprehensively compared. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed PSO-NARXNN, a simple three-layer backpropagation neural network (BPNN) and a conventional NARXNN are built for comparison based on the Oxford aging dataset. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method has higher accuracy and stronger robustness for SOH estimation, where the average mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) are 0.47% and 0.56%, respectively.
Interface Stability between Na3Zr2Si2PO12 Solid Electrolyte and Sodium Metal Anode for Quasi-Solid-State Sodium Battery
Authors: Sampathkumar Ramakumar , Echeverría María , Zhang Yan , Armand Michel , Galceran Montserrat
Published: December 2022

Solid electrolytes are renowned for their nonflammable, dendrite-blocking qualities, which also exhibit stability over large potential windows. NASICON-type Na1+xZr2SixP3-xO12 (NZSP) is a well-known solid electrolyte material for sodium metal batteries owing to its elevated room temperature sodium-ion (Na+) conductivity and good electrochemical stability. Nevertheless, the strong electrode–electrolyte interfacial resistance restricts its implementation in sodium metal batteries and remains a significant challenge. In this work, we present an efficacious process to enhance the sodium wettability of Na3Zr2Si2PO12 by sputtering a thin gold (Au) interlayer. Our experimental investigation indicates a substantial reduction in interfacial resistance, from 2708 Ω cm2 to 146 Ω cm2, by employing a fine Au interlayer between the Na metal and the NZSP electrolyte. The symmetrical Na||NZSP||Na with a gold interlayer cell shows a steady Na stripping/plating at a high current density of 320 µA cm−2. A quasi-solid-state battery, with NaFePO4 (NFP) as a cathode, metallic sodium as an anode, and a Au-sputtered NZSP electrolyte with polypropylene (PP) soaked in electrolyte as an intermediate layer on the cathode, exhibited a discharge capacity of 100 mAh g−1 and a ~100% Coulombic efficiency at 50 μA cm−2 after the 50th charge/discharge cycle at room temperature (RT).
Unveil Overcharge Performances of Activated Carbon Cathode in Various Li-Ion Electrolytes
Authors: Sun Xianzhong , An Yabin , Zhang Xiong , Wang Kai , Yuan Changzhou , Zhang Xiaohu , Li Chen , Xu Yanan , Ma Yanwei
Published: December 2022

Typically, the practical lithium-ion capacitor (LIC) is composed of a capacitive cathode (activated carbon, AC) and a battery-type anode (graphite, soft carbon, hard carbon). There is a risk of the LIC cell overcharging to an unsafe voltage under electrical abuse conditions. Since the anode potential is usually quite low during the charging process and can be controlled by adjusting the amount of anode materials, the overcharge performances of LIC full-cell mainly depend on the AC cathode. Thus, it is necessary to independently investigate the overcharge behaviors of the AC cathode in nonaqueous Li-ion electrolytes without the interference of the anode electrode. In this work, the stable upper potential limits of the AC electrode in three types of lithium-ion electrolytes were determined to be 4.0−4.1 V via the energy efficiency method. Then, the AC//Li half-cells were charged to 5.0 V and 10.0 V, respectively, to investigate the overcharge behaviors. For the half-cells with propylene carbonate (PC)-based electrolytes, the voltage increased sharply to 10.0 V with a vertical straight line at the end of the overcharging process, indicating that the deposits of electrolyte decomposition had separated the AC electrode surface from the electrolytes, forming a self-protective passivation film with a dielectric capacitor behavior. The dense and compact passivation film is significant in separating the AC electrode surface from the electrolytes and preventing LIC cells from volume expansion and explosion risks under electrical abuse and overcharging conditions.
Study of the Carbochlorination Process with CaCl2 and Water Leaching for the Extraction of Lithium from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: González Yarivith C. , Alcaraz Lorena , Alguacil Francisco J. , González Jorge , Barbosa Lucía , López Félix A.
Published: December 2022

The abundant use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in a wide variety of electric devices and vehicles will generate a large number of depleted batteries, which contain several valuable metals, such as Li, Co, Mn, and Ni, present in the structure of the cathode material (LiMO2). The present work investigates the extraction of lithium, as lithium chloride, from spent LIBs by carbochlorination roasting. The starting samples consisted of a mixture of cathode and anode materials from different spent LIBs known as black mass. Calcium chloride was used as a chlorinating agent, and carbon black was used as a reducing agent. The black mass, calcium chloride, and carbon black were mixed in 50:20:30 w/w % proportions. Non-isothermal thermogravimetric tests up to 850 °C and isothermal tests at 350, 500, and 700 °C were carried out in an inert atmosphere. It was observed that the carbochlorination reaction starts at 500 °C. An extraction percentage of 99% was attained through carbochlorination at 700 °C. The characterization results indicate that CaCO3, Ni, and Co and, to a lesser extent, CoO, NiO, and MnO2 are present in the roasted sample after the processes of washing, filtering, and drying.
A Review of Modern Machine Learning Techniques in the Prediction of Remaining Useful Life of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Sharma Prabhakar , Bora Bhaskor J.
Published: December 2022

The intense increase in air pollution caused by vehicular emissions is one of the main causes of changing weather patterns and deteriorating health conditions. Furthermore, renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and biofuels, suffer from weather and supply chain-related uncertainties. The electric vehicles’ powered energy, stored in a battery, offers an attractive option to overcome emissions and uncertainties to a certain extent. The development and implementation of cutting-edge electric vehicles (EVs) with long driving ranges, safety, and higher reliability have been identified as critical to decarbonizing the transportation sector. Nonetheless, capacity deteriorating with time and usage, environmental degradation factors, and end-of-life repurposing pose significant challenges to the usage of lithium-ion batteries. In this aspect, determining a battery’s remaining usable life (RUL) establishes its efficacy. It also aids in the testing and development of various EV upgrades by identifying factors that will increase and improve their efficiency. Several nonlinear and complicated parameters are involved in the process. Machine learning (ML) methodologies have proven to be a promising tool for optimizing and modeling engineering challenges in this domain (non-linearity and complexity). In contrast to the scalability and temporal limits of battery degeneration, ML techniques provide a non-invasive solution with excellent accuracy and minimal processing. Based on recent research, this study presents an objective and comprehensive evaluation of these challenges. RUL estimations are explained in detail, including examples of its approach and applicability. Furthermore, many ML techniques for RUL evaluation are thoroughly and individually studied. Finally, an application-focused overview is offered, emphasizing the advantages in terms of efficiency and accuracy.
Electrocatalytic and Conductive Vanadium Oxide on Carbonized Bacterial Cellulose Aerogel for the Sulfur Cathode in Li-S Batteries
Authors: Lin Xueyan , Li Wenyue , Pan Xuan , Wang Shu , Fan Zhaoyang
Published: December 2022

Many transition-metal-oxide-based catalysts have been investigated to chemically bind soluble lithium polysulfides and accelerate their redox kinetics in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery chemistry. However, the intrinsic poor electrical conductivities of these oxides restrict their catalytic performance, consequently limiting the sulfur utilization and the rate performance of Li-S batteries. Herein, we report a freestanding electrocatalytic sulfur host consisting of hydrogen-treated VO2 nanoparticles (H-VO2) anchored on nitrogen-doped carbonized bacterial cellulose aerogels (N-CBC). The hydrogen treatment enables the formation and stabilization of the rutile VO2(R) phase with metallic conductivity at room temperature, significantly enhancing its catalytic capability compared to the as-synthesized insulative VO2(M) phase. Several measurements characterize the electrocatalytic performance of this unique H-VO2@N-CBC structure. In particular, the two kinetic barriers between S8, polysulfides, and Li2S are largely reduced by 28.2 and 43.3 kJ/mol, respectively. Accordingly, the Li-S battery performance, in terms of sulfur utilization and charge/discharge rate, is greatly improved. This work suggests an effective strategy to develop conductive catalysts based on a typical transition metal oxide (VO2) for Li-S batteries.
A Combined Hydro-Mechanical and Pyrometallurgical Recycling Approach to Recover Valuable Metals from Lithium-Ion Batteries Avoiding Lithium Slagging
Authors: Holzer Alexandra , Zimmermann Jörg , Wiszniewski Lukas , Necke Tobias , Gatschlhofer Christoph , Öfner Wolfgang , Raupenstrauch Harald
Published: December 2022

Meeting the increasing demand for energy storage based on lithium-ion batteries (LIB) is not only a question of resource availability but also an issue of resource conservation and efficient recycling management. In this respect, sustainable recycling concepts play a central role in mindful interactions with valuable materials. Based on this approach, a process interconnection of hydromechanical preparation, flotation, and pyrometallurgical treatment was investigated. The hydromechanical preparation showed promising results in achieving highly pure mixtures of LIB-active material. It was found that a pre-opening step could achieve an even better separation of impurities for downstream processes such as Cu and Al to avoid excessive particle size reduction. According to an optimized mixing stage during flotation, the C amount was reduced from 33 wt.% to 19.23 wt.%. A Li-free metal alloy was obtained through the subsequent pyrometallurgical treatment, and evidence for Li removal via the gas phase was provided. Furthermore, heating microscope trials confirmed the results of the process interconnection and showed that further optimization steps for the pre-treatment are necessary for favorable product quality. Therefore, a high-stratification plot was created, which allows a quick future statement about the suitability of the input material for use in the process.
Design and Energy Analysis of Photovoltaic-Battery Prototype Considering Different Voltage Levels
Authors: Sepúlveda F. J. , Montero I. , Barrena F. , Miranda M. T. , Arranz J. I.
Published: December 2022

Photovoltaic self-consumption systems are effective at reducing energy consumption from fossil fuels and carbon emissions. Incorporating energy storage into these systems enables improved energy management and the optimization of their operation. However, to date, few studies have evaluated and compared the energy performance of PV systems with battery storage. In this context, with the current development of High Voltage batteries, research is needed on energy storage at different voltage levels incorporated into PV systems for self-consumption. In this way, the design and operation of an experimental prototype are described, consisting of two photovoltaic systems for self-consumption with energy storage using batteries operating at different voltages. One of them operates at low voltage (Low Voltage Installation, LVI) and the other at high voltage (High Voltage Installation, HVI). Through experimentation, it was demonstrated which installation is more efficient. During commissioning, the results showed the importance of considering the voltage level parameter in a renewable energy production system for self-consumption, since the energy yield of the HVI inverter-battery set was higher than in the case of the LVI on almost all of the days of the month studied. In addition, both systems showed a strong dependence on weather conditions, causing higher energy losses in their components during days with lower solar energy production. Therefore, the need for further analysis of energy efficiency to optimize the integration of these systems into the building sector was demonstrated.
Smart-Leader-Based Distributed Charging Control of Battery Energy Storage Systems Considering SoC Balance
Authors: Zhang Yalin , Liu Zhongxin , Chen Zengqiang
Published: December 2022

Battery energy storage systems are widely used in energy storage microgrids. As the index of stored energy level of a battery, balancing the State-of-Charge (SoC) can effectively restrain the circulating current between battery cells. Compared with passive balance, active balance, as the most popular SoC balance method, maximizes the capacity of the battery cells and reduces heat generation. However, there is no good solution in the battery management system (BMS) to ensure active balance during distributed charging. In view of this, this paper designs two novel distributed charging strategies based on a kind of smart leader, in which a constant static leader is modified by a dynamic leader. The modified leader is in charge of guiding SoC to converge to the target value and repress SoC imbalance. The maximum and weighed error between the state of the leader and its neighbor cells are used in the two methods, respectively, both in an event triggered manner. When the relevant index exceeds the threshold, the two methods are used to regulate the leader’s state. Under this modification, the eigenvalue of the followers’ error dynamic system is reduced, and SoCs follow the dynamic leader faster, thus repressing SoC imbalance. Compared with a constant leader, the smart leader pays more attention to improving SoC imbalance. Additionally, to facilitate analysis, a reduced method is applied to transform the system with an unified input time delay into a nondelay system. Several cases are designed to verify the effectiveness of the designed strategies and test it under different parameters and different time delays.
Storable Cell-Laden Alginate Based Bioinks for 3D Biofabrication
Authors: Kostenko Anastassia , Connon Che J. , Swioklo Stephen
Published: December 2022

Over the last decade, progress in three dimensional (3D) bioprinting has advanced considerably. The ability to fabricate complex 3D structures containing live cells for drug discovery and tissue engineering has huge potential. To realise successful clinical translation, biologistics need to be considered. Refinements in the storage and transportation process from sites of manufacture to the clinic will enhance the success of future clinical translation. One of the most important components for successful 3D printing is the ‘bioink’, the cell-laden biomaterial used to create the printed structure. Hydrogels are favoured bioinks used in extrusion-based bioprinting. Alginate, a natural biopolymer, has been widely used due to its biocompatibility, tunable properties, rapid gelation, low cost, and easy modification to direct cell behaviour. Alginate has previously demonstrated the ability to preserve cell viability and function during controlled room temperature (CRT) storage and shipment. The novelty of this research lies in the development of a simple and cost-effective hermetic system whereby alginate-encapsulated cells can be stored at CRT before being reformulated into an extrudable bioink for on-demand 3D bioprinting of cell-laden constructs. To our knowledge the use of the same biomaterial (alginate) for storage and on-demand 3D bio-printing of cells has not been previously investigated. A straightforward four-step process was used where crosslinked alginate containing human adipose-derived stem cells was stored at CRT before degelation and subsequent mixing with a second alginate. The printability of the resulting bioink, using an extrusion-based bioprinter, was found to be dependent upon the concentration of the second alginate, with 4 and 5% (w/v) being optimal. Following storage at 15 °C for one week, alginate-encapsulated human adipose-derived stem cells exhibited a high viable cell recovery of 88 ± 18%. Stored cells subsequently printed within 3D lattice constructs, exhibited excellent post-print viability and even distribution. This represents a simple, adaptable method by which room temperature storage and biofabrication can be integrated for on-demand bioprinting.
A Low Memory Requirement MobileNets Accelerator Based on FPGA for Auxiliary Medical Tasks
Authors: Lin Yanru , Zhang Yanjun , Yang Xu
Published: December 2022

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been widely applied in the fields of medical tasks because they can achieve high accuracy in many fields using a large number of parameters and operations. However, many applications designed for auxiliary checks or help need to be deployed into portable devices, where the huge number of operations and parameters of a standard CNN can become an obstruction. MobileNet adopts a depthwise separable convolution to replace the standard convolution, which can greatly reduce the number of operations and parameters while maintaining a relatively high accuracy. Such highly structured models are very suitable for FPGA implementation in order to further reduce resource requirements and improve efficiency. Many other implementations focus on performance more than on resource requirements because MobileNets has already reduced both parameters and operations and obtained significant results. However, because many small devices only have limited resources they cannot run MobileNet-like efficient networks in a normal way, and there are still many auxiliary medical applications that require a high-performance network running in real-time to meet the requirements. Hence, we need to figure out a specific accelerator structure to further reduce the memory and other resource requirements while running MobileNet-like efficient networks. In this paper, a MobileNet accelerator is proposed to minimize the on-chip memory capacity and the amount of data that is transferred between on-chip and off-chip memory. We propose two configurable computing modules: Pointwise Convolution Accelerator and Depthwise Convolution Accelerator, to parallelize the network and reduce the memory requirement with a specific dataflow model. At the same time, a new cache usage method is also proposed to further reduce the use of the on-chip memory. We implemented the accelerator on Xilinx XC7Z020, deployed MobileNetV2 on it, and achieved 70.94 FPS with 524.25 KB on-chip memory usage under 150 MHz.
Biofabrication of Poly(glycerol sebacate) Scaffolds Functionalized with a Decellularized Bone Extracellular Matrix for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Guler Selcan , Eichholz Kian , Chariyev-Prinz Farhad , Pitacco Pierluca , Aydin Halil Murat , Kelly Daniel J. , Vargel İbrahim
Published: December 2022

The microarchitecture of bone tissue engineering (BTE) scaffolds has been shown to have a direct effect on the osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and bone tissue regeneration. Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) is a promising polymer that can be tailored to have specific mechanical properties, as well as be used to create microenvironments that are relevant in the context of BTE applications. In this study, we utilized PGS elastomer for the fabrication of a biocompatible and bioactive scaffold for BTE, with tissue-specific cues and a suitable microstructure for the osteogenic lineage commitment of MSCs. In order to achieve this, the PGS was functionalized with a decellularized bone (deB) extracellular matrix (ECM) (14% and 28% by weight) to enhance its osteoinductive potential. Two different pore sizes were fabricated (small: 100–150 μm and large: 250–355 μm) to determine a preferred pore size for in vitro osteogenesis. The decellularized bone ECM functionalization of the PGS not only improved initial cell attachment and osteogenesis but also enhanced the mechanical strength of the scaffold by up to 165 kPa. Furthermore, the constructs were also successfully tailored with an enhanced degradation rate/pH change and wettability. The highest bone-inserted small-pore scaffold had a 12% endpoint weight loss, and the pH was measured at around 7.14. The in vitro osteogenic differentiation of the MSCs in the PGS-deB blends revealed a better lineage commitment of the small-pore-sized and 28% (w/w) bone-inserted scaffolds, as evidenced by calcium quantification, ALP expression, and alizarin red staining. This study demonstrates a suitable pore size and amount of decellularized bone ECM for osteoinduction via precisely tailored PGS elastomer BTE scaffolds.
Biomechanical Effect of Hybrid Dynamic Stabilization Implant on the Segmental Motion and Intradiscal Pressure in Human Lumbar Spine
Authors: Hsiao Chih-Kun , Tsai Yi-Jung , Yen Cheng-Yo , Li Yi-Chen , Hsiao Hao-Yuan , Tu Yuan-Kun
Published: December 2022

The hybrid dynamic stabilization system, Dynesys-Transition-Optima, represents a novel pedicle-based construct for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease. The theoretical advantage of this system is to stabilize the treated segment and preserve the range of motion within the adjacent segment while potentially decreasing the risk of adjacent segment disease following lumbar arthrodesis. Satisfactory short-term outcomes were previously demonstrated in the Dynesys-Transition-Optima system. However, long-term follow-up reported accelerated degeneration of adjacent segments and segmental instability above the fusion level. This study investigated the biomechanical effects of the Dynesys-Transition-Optima system on segment motion and intradiscal pressure at adjacent and implanted levels. Segmental range of motion and intradiscal pressure were evaluated under the conditions of the intact spine, with a static fixator at L4–5, and implanted with DTO at L3–4 (Dynesys fixator) and L4–5 (static fixator) by applying the loading conditions of flexion/extension (±7.5 Nm) and lateral bending (±7.5 Nm), with/without a follower preload of 500 N. Our results showed that the hybrid Dynesys-Transition-Optima system can significantly reduce the ROM at the fusion level (L4–L5), whereas the range of motion at the adjacent level (L3–4) significantly increased. The increase in physiological loading could be an important factor in the increment of IDP at the intervertebral discs at the lumbar spine. The Dynesys-Transition-Optima system can preserve the mobility of the stabilized segments with a lesser range of motion on the transition segment; it may help to prevent the occurrence of adjacent segment degeneration. However, the current study cannot cover all the issues of adjacent segmental diseases. Future investigations of large-scale and long-term follow-ups are needed.
The Effect of Tissue Stromal Vascular Fraction as Compared to Cellular Stromal Vascular Fraction to Treat Anal Sphincter Incontinence
Authors: Chen Wenbin , He Zijian , Li Shuyu , Wu Zixin , Tan Jin , Yang Weifeng , Li Guanwei , Pan Xiaoling , Liu Yuying , Lyu Feng-Juan , Li Wanglin
Published: December 2022

Background: The long-term prognosis of current treatments for anal sphincter incontinence (ASI) is poor. Here, we explored the efficacy of tissue adipose stromal vascular fraction SVF (tSVF) on ASI and compared it to that of cellular SVF (cSVF). We then investigated possible mechanisms. Methods: Rat cSVF and tSVF were isolated and labeled with DIL. One day after modeling, three groups received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), cSVF, tSVF, respectively. The control group received nil modeling nor any treatments. The effect was assessed by function test for anal pressure and electromyography, and staining for fiber content, proliferation and differentiation at day 5 and day 10. Results: cSVF injection resulted in faster healing than tSVF. The cSVF group showed significant improvement on anal pressure on day 10. For the electromyography test, cSVF showed significant improvement for the frequencies on day 10, and for the peak values on both time points, while tSVF showed significant improvement for the peak values on day 10. The two SVF both alleviated fibrosis. Immunofluorescence tracing identified differentiation of some injected cells towards myosatellite cells and smooth muscle cells in both SVF groups. For all the tests, the tSVF group tends to have similar or lower effects than the cSVF group with no significant difference. Conclusion: cSVF and tSVF are both safe and effective in treating ASI, while the effect of cSVF is slighter higher than tSVF.
Linoleate-Enrichment of Mitochondrial Cardiolipin Molecular Species Is Developmentally Regulated and a Determinant of Metabolic Phenotype
Authors: Sparagna Genevieve C. , Jonscher Raleigh L. , Shuff Sydney R. , Phillips Elisabeth K. , Wilson Cortney E. , Woulfe Kathleen C. , Garcia Anastacia M. , Stauffer Brian L. , Chatfield Kathryn C.
Published: December 2022

Cardiolipin (CL), the major mitochondrial phospholipid, regulates the activity of many mitochondrial membrane proteins. CL composition is shifted in heart failure with decreases in linoleate and increases in oleate side chains, but whether cardiolipin composition directly regulates metabolism is unknown. This study defines cardiolipin composition in rat heart and liver at three distinct ages to determine the influence of CL composition on beta-oxidation (ß-OX). CL species, expression of ß-OX and glycolytic genes, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) activity were characterized in heart and liver from neonatal, juvenile, and adult rats. Ventricular myocytes were cultured from neonatal, juvenile, and adult rats and cardiolipin composition and CPT activity were measured. Cardiolipin composition in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVMs) was experimentally altered and mitochondrial respiration was assessed. Linoleate-enrichment of CL was observed in rat heart, but not liver, with increasing age. ß-OX genes and CPT activity were generally higher in adult heart and glycolytic genes lower, as a function of age, in contrast to liver. Palmitate oxidation increased in NRVMs when CL was enriched with linoleate. Our results indicate (1) CL is developmentally regulated, (2) linoleate-enrichment is associated with increased ß-OX and a more oxidative mitochondrial phenotype, and (3) experimentally induced linoleate-enriched CL in ventricular myocytes promotes a shift from pyruvate metabolism to fatty acid ß-OX.
Critical Role of Cathepsin L/V in Regulating Endothelial Cell Senescence
Authors: Li Chan , Liu Zhaoya , Chen Mengshi , Zhang Liyang , Shi Ruizheng , Zhong Hua
Published: December 2022

The senescence of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) is characterized as a hallmark of vascular aging, which leads to the initiation, progress, and advancement of cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanism of the ECs senescence remains elusive. In this study, thoracic aortas were separated from young (8-week-old) and aged (18-month-old) mice. Decreased Ctsl expression and increased vascular remodeling were observed in senescent aorta. H2O2 was used to induce human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) senescence, as shown by increased SA-β-gal positive cells and upregulated p21 level. CTSV significantly decreased after H2O2 treatment, while over-expression of CTSV by adenovirus reduced cellular senescence. RNA sequencing analysis was conducted subsequently, and ALDH1A2 was observed to significantly increased in H2O2 group and decreased after over-expression of CTSV. This result was further confirmed by RT-PCR and WB. Moreover, over-expression of CTSV reduced the increase of ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation induced by H2O2. Additionally, retinoic acid (RA), the major production of ALDH1A2, was added to CTSV over-expressed senescent HUVECs. Administration of RA activated AKT and ERK1/2, induced the expression of p21, and enhanced SA-β-gal positive cells, while not affecting the expression of CTSV and ALDH1A2. These results were further confirmed in doxorubicin (DOX)-induced senescent ECs. In conclude, we have identified that Ctsl/CTSV plays a key role in ECs senescence by regulating ALDH1A2 to activate AKT/ ERK1/2-P21 pathway. Therefore, targeting Ctsl/CTSV may be a potential therapeutic strategy in EC senescence.
The Ecological-Health Risks of Potentially Toxic Metals in the Surface Sediments and Leaves of Salt-Secreting Avicennia officinalis as Potential Phytoremediators: A Field-Based Biomonitoring Study from Klang Mangrove Area
Authors: Yap Chee Kong , Al-Mutairi Khalid Awadh
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the ecological-health risks of potentially toxic metals in the surface sediments on the Klang mangrove ecosystem and assessed the phytoremediation potential of Avicennia officinalis collected from the area. The results showed that the concentrations (mg/kg dry weight) of Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in the surface sediments ranged between 5.30–63.8, 14.2–32.7, 30.3–62.3, and 46.4–269, respectively. The ecological risk values of the surface sediments indicated that Ni, Pb and Zn were all classified as ‘low potential ecological risk’, while the Cu ecological risk ranged between ‘low potential ecological risk’ and ‘considerable potential ecological risk’. For the health risks on the sediments, all of the values of hazard index for Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, based on a combination of three pathways, indicated < 1.00, showing that the four metals are non-carcinogenic. Based on the bioconcentration factor values, it can be concluded that the lamina has better potential as a phytoremediator of essential Cu, Zn and Fe. In contrast, midrib plus petiole has better potential as a phytoremediator of non-essential Pb and Ni. To mitigate the threats to the Klang mangrove ecosystem, the information offered in the present study can be employed in the monitoring and provision of the ecological-health risks of potentially toxic metals in the Klang mangrove ecosystem. Hence, the present findings can be employed for developing a water-energy-food framework for managing the Klang mangrove ecosystem.
Biocides with Controlled Degradation for Environmentally Friendly and Cost-Effective Fecal Sludge Management
Authors: Loiko Nataliya , Kanunnikov Oleg , Tereshkina Ksenia , Pankratov Timofei , Belova Svetlana , Botchkova Ekaterina , Vishnyakova Anastasia , Litti Yuriy
Published: December 2022

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) and polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) exhibit high antimicrobial activity and are widely used as biocidal agents in chemical toilet additives for the management of fecal sludge (FS). Disposal of such biocide-treated FS to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is a major environmental problem. It is possible to reduce environmental damage through the use of biocidal agents, which easily decompose after performing their main biocidal functions. In this work, it is proposed to use the fact of a gradual increase in pH of FS from the initial 7.5 to 9.0–10.0 due to the decomposition of urea. Six biocidal compounds were selected that are capable of rapidly degrading in an alkaline environment and one that naturally degrades upon prolonged incubation. Four of them: bronopol (30 mg/L), DBNPA (500 mg/L), Sharomix (500 mg/L), and sodium percarbonate (6000 mg/L) have shown promise for environmentally friendly management of FS. In selected dosage, they successfully reduced microbial activity under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions and are cost-effective. After 10 days of incubation, degradation of the biocide occurred as measured by biological oxygen demand (BOD5) in biocide-treated FS. Such FS can be discharged to WWTP without severe damage to the activated sludge process, the need for dilution and additional procedures to neutralize toxicity.
Machine Learning Techniques for the Prediction of Functional Outcomes in the Rehabilitation of Post-Stroke Patients: A Scoping Review
Authors: Kokkotis Christos , Moustakidis Serafeim , Giarmatzis Georgios , Giannakou Erasmia , Makri Evangelia , Sakellari Paraskevi , Tsiptsios Dimitrios , Karatzetzou Stella , Christidi Foteini , Vadikolias Konstantinos , Aggelousis Nikolaos
Published: December 2022

Stroke is one of the main causes of long-term disabilities, increasing the cost of national healthcare systems due to the elevated costs of rigorous treatment that is required, as well as personal cost because of the decreased ability of the patient to work. Traditional rehabilitation strategies rely heavily on individual clinical data and the caregiver’s experience to evaluate the patient and not in data extracted from population data. The use of machine learning (ML) algorithms can offer evaluation tools that will lead to new personalized interventions. The aim of this scoping review is to introduce the reader to key directions of ML techniques for the prediction of functional outcomes in stroke rehabilitation and identify future scientific research directions. The search of the relevant literature was performed using PubMed and Semantic Scholar online databases. Full-text articles were included if they focused on ML in predicting the functional outcome of stroke rehabilitation. A total of 26 out of the 265 articles met our inclusion criteria. The selected studies included ML approaches and were directly related to the inclusion criteria. ML can play a key role in supporting decision making during pre- and post-treatment interventions for post-stroke survivors, by utilizing multidisciplinary data sources.
Development and Characterization of a Subcutaneous Implant-Related Infection Model in Mice to Test Novel Antimicrobial Treatment Strategies
Authors: Wittmann Charlotte , Vanvelk Niels , Fürst Anton E. , Moriarty T. Fintan , Zeiter Stephan
Published: December 2022

Orthopedic-device-related infection is one of the most severe complications in orthopedic surgery. To reduce the associated morbidity and healthcare costs, new prevention and treatment modalities are continuously under development. Preclinical in vivo models serve as a control point prior to clinical implementation. This study presents a mouse model of subcutaneously implanted titanium discs, infected with Staphylococcus aureus, to fill a gap in the early-stage testing of antimicrobial biomaterials. Firstly, three different inocula were administered either pre-adhered to the implant or pipetted on top of it following implantation to test their ability to reliably create an infection. Secondly, the efficacy of low-dose (25 mg/kg) and high-dose (250 mg/kg) cefazolin administered systemically in infection prevention was assessed. Lastly, titanium implants were replaced by antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) discs to investigate the efficacy of local antibiotics in infection prevention. The efficacy in infection prevention of the low-dose perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) depended on both the inoculum and inoculation method. Bacterial counts were significantly lower in animals receiving the high dose of PAP. ALBC discs with or without the additional PAP proved highly effective in infection prevention and provide a suitable positive control to test other prevention strategies.
Emerging Roles of Cholinergic Receptors in Schwann Cell Development and Plasticity
Authors: Piovesana Roberta , Reid Adam J. , Tata Ada Maria
Published: December 2022

The cross talk between neurons and glial cells during development, adulthood, and disease, has been extensively documented. Among the molecules mediating these interactions, neurotransmitters play a relevant role both in myelinating and non-myelinating glial cells, thus resulting as additional candidates regulating the development and physiology of the glial cells. In this review, we summarise the contribution of the main neurotransmitter receptors in the regulation of the morphogenetic events of glial cells, with particular attention paid to the role of acetylcholine receptors in Schwann cell physiology. In particular, the M2 muscarinic receptor influences Schwann cell phenotype and the α7 nicotinic receptor is emerging as influential in the modulation of peripheral nerve regeneration and inflammation. This new evidence significantly improves our knowledge of Schwann cell development and function and may contribute to identifying interesting new targets to support the activity of these cells in pathological conditions.
Seizures, Epilepsy, and NORSE Secondary to Autoimmune Encephalitis: A Practical Guide for Clinicians
Authors: Vogrig Alberto , Gigli Gian Luigi , Nilo Annacarmen , Pauletto Giada , Valente Mariarosaria
Published: December 2022

The most recent International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classification has included “immune etiology” along with other well-known causes of epilepsy. This was possible thanks to the progress in detection of pathogenic neural antibodies (Abs) in a subset of patients, and resulted in an increased interest in identifying potentially treatable causes of otherwise refractory seizures. Most autoimmune encephalitides (AE) present with seizures, but only a minority of cases evolve to long-term epilepsy. The risk of epilepsy is higher for patients harboring Abs targeting intracellular antigens (T cell-mediated and mostly paraneoplastic, such as Hu, CV2/CRMP5, Ma2, GAD65 Abs), compared with patients with neuronal surface Abs (antibody-mediated and less frequently paraneoplastic, such as NMDAR, GABAbR, LGI1, CASPR2 Abs). To consider these aspects, conceptual definitions for two entities were provided: acute symptomatic seizures secondary to AE, and autoimmune-associated epilepsy, which reflect the different pathophysiology and prognoses. Through this manuscript, we provide an up-to-date review on the current state of knowledge concerning diagnosis and management of patients with Ab-mediated encephalitis and associated epilepsy. Special emphasis is placed on clinical aspects, such as brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specificities, electroencephalographic (EEG) findings, cancer screening and suggestions for a rational therapeutic approach.
Glucose and Lipid Profiles Predict Anthropometric Changes in Drug-Naïve Adolescents Starting Treatment with Risperidone or Sertraline: A Pilot Study
Authors: Matera Emilia , Cristofano Gloria , Furente Flora , Marzulli Lucia , Tarantini Martina , Margari Lucia , Piarulli Francesco Maria , De Giacomo Andrea , Petruzzelli Maria Giuseppina
Published: December 2022

Psychiatric disorders are associated with cardiometabolic diseases, partly due to adverse drug effects with individual risk variabilities. Risperidone and sertraline are widely used for youths. Although they may be exposed to anthropometric changes, few data about this population exist. We evaluated the correlation between several blood parameters and body changes in a very small group of drug-naïve adolescents who had started risperidone or sertraline. We examined weight, waist circumference (WC), WC/height ratio and body mass index (BMI) at baseline (T0) and after at least three months of therapy (T1), and blood glucose and lipid profiles at T0. Here, we show significant increases in several anthropometric parameters in both groups, a negative correlation between HDL and ΔWC in the risperidone group and positive correlations between insulin and ΔBMI and between HOMA-IR and ΔBMI in the sertraline group. Despite the sample size, these results are important because it is difficult to study adolescents who are long-term-compliant with psychotropic drugs. This pilot study supports the importance of future large-scale investigations to understand the metabolic risk profiles of psychotropic drugs, their individual vulnerabilities and their underlying mechanisms. Simultaneous guideline-based psychiatric and metabolic interventions should be part of daily practice.