bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined Treatment with Ultrasound and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Hayashi Fuuka , Shigemura Katsumi , Maeda Koki , Hiraoka Aya , Maeshige Noriaki , Ooya Tooru , Sung Shian-Ying , Yang Yong-Ming , Fujisawa Masato
Published: April 2022

Background: Ultrasound (US) is mostly used for diagnostic purpose but could be used for cancer treatments with a US intensity or frequency fitted to such a purpose. Prostate cancer (PC) has the highest prevalence in the urological field, but indications for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for PC are limited to very few cases. In this study, we compared the antitumor effect of US irradiation alone with the combined use of US and ICIs in vitro and in vivo. Methods: PC cell line TRAMP-C2 cells were used in our experiments. TRAMP-C2 cells were irradiated with US with pulse repeated frequencies (PRF) of 1, 10, and 100 Hz. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTS assay and apoptotic cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. To verify the antitumor effect of US irradiation on PC in vivo, we conducted animal experiments using mice. TRAMP-C2-bearing mice were irradiated with US with PRF of 10 and 100 Hz. Three weeks after the start of US irradiation, anti-PD-1 antibody was administered to the mice. Finally, mice were sacrificed and tumors were collected. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses were assessed for cleaved caspase-3 and CD3 in tumor cell extracts. Results: Cell proliferation assays showed that 1 and 10 Hz US significantly inhibited cell survival (p < 0.0001). In addition, US irradiation induced apoptosis at 1, 10, and 100 Hz (p = 0.0129, p = 0.0150, and p = 0.0017, respectively). In animal experiments, a significant tumor growth inhibitory effect was observed at 10 and 100 Hz, and 100 Hz + ICIs (p < 0.05, respectively). Hematoxylin–eosin (H–E) staining showed a significant increase in the necrotic area of the tumor at 100 Hz and 100 Hz + ICIs (p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, under IHC staining the expression level of cleaved caspase-3 and the number of CD3-positive cells increased at 100 Hz (p < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: US irradiation induced apoptosis in cells and reduced cell viability. In vivo tumor growth was suppressed by combined treatment with US irradiation and ICIs. Further research on immune system activation will lead to less invasive and more efficient treatments for PC.
Arterial Aneurysm Localization Is Sex-Dependent
Authors: Körfer Daniel , Grond-Ginsbach Caspar , Hakimi Maani , Böckler Dittmar , Erhart Philipp
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate sex-dependent aneurysm distributions. A total of 3107 patients with arterial aneurysms were diagnosed from 2006 to 2016. Patients with anything other than true aneurysms, hereditary connective tissue disorders or vasculitides (n = 918) were excluded. Affected arterial sites and age at first aneurysm diagnosis were compared between women and men by an unpaired two-tailed t-test and Fisher’s exact test. The study sample consisted of 2189 patients, of whom 1873 were men (85.6%) and 316 women (14.4%) (ratio m:w = 5.9:1). Men had considerably more aneurysms in the abdominal aorta (83.4% vs. 71.1%; p < 0.001), common iliac artery (28.7% vs. 8.9%; p < 0.001), internal iliac artery (6.6% vs. 1.3%; p < 0.001) and popliteal artery (11.1% vs. 2.5%; p < 0.001). In contrast, women had a higher proportion of aneurysms in the ascending aorta (4.4% vs. 10.8%; p < 0.001), descending aorta (11.1% vs. 36.4%; p < 0.001), splenic artery (0.9% vs. 5.1%; p < 0.001) and renal artery (0.8% vs. 6.0%; p < 0.001). Age at disease onset and further aneurysm distribution showed no considerable difference. The infrarenal segment might be considered a natural border for aneurysm formation in men and women suspected to have distinct genetic, pathophysiologic and ontogenetic factors. Screening modalities for women at risk might need further adjustment, particularly thoracic cross-sectional imaging complementation.
Mortality Risk Associated with Diabetic Foot Complications in People with or without History of Diabetic Foot Hospitalizations
Authors: Francia Piergiorgio , Gualdani Elisa , Policardo Laura , Bocchi Leonardo , Franconi Flavia , Francesconi Paolo , Seghieri Giuseppe
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of death after hospitalizations for diabetic foot (DF) complications, comparing two different cohorts of people with or without a prior history of DF hospitalizations across the years 2011 to 2018 in Tuscany, Italy. The DF complications were categorized by administrative source datasets such as: amputations (both major and minor), gangrene, ulcers, infections, Charcot and revascularizations. A further aim was to present the trend over time of the first ever incidents of diabetic foot hospitalizations in Tuscany. The eight-year-mortality rate was higher in the cohort with prior hospitalizations (n = 6633; 59%) compared with the cohort with first incident DF hospitalizations (n = 5028; 44%). Amputations (especially major ones) and ulcers had the worst effect on survival in people without basal history of DF hospitalizations and respectively in those with a history of prior DF hospitalizations. In both cohorts, revascularization procedures, when compared to ulcers, were associated with a significantly reduced risk of mortality. The prevalence rate of minor amputations showed a slightly rising trend over time. This result agrees with the national trend. Conversely, the progressive increase over time of revascularizations, associated with the fractional decrease in the rate of gangrene, suggests a trend for more proactive behavior by DF care teams in Tuscany.
Fatigue and Associated Factors in an Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disease Population: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Iaquinta Francesco Salvatore , Grembiale Rosa Daniela , Mauro Daniele , Pantano Ilenia , Naty Saverio , Cosco Cristina , Iacono Daniela , Gaggiano Emanuela , Ruggiero Annarita , Ciccia Francesco , Doldo Patrizia , Spagnuolo Rocco
Published: April 2022

Fatigue is a main symptom of chronic diseases, including immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and inflammatory arthritis (IA); however, the pathophysiological mechanisms are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of fatigue and the associated factors in an IMIDs population. A control group, IBD, and IA patients, were enrolled. The PROMIS® fatigue questionnaire was used to evaluate the symptoms. Information on demographics, anthropometrics, disease characteristics, and medications was collected for each participant. A total of 471 subjects (137 with IBD, 103 with IA, and 206 controls) were enrolled. IBD and IA patients reported greater fatigue than controls (p < 0.001, each). In univariate regression, patients with anxiety and depression were more likely to report fatigue (p = 1.40 × 10−9 and p = 3.80 × 10−11, respectively). Males, holding a high school diploma, and being employed were inversely correlated to the domain (p = 1.3 × 10−5; p = 0.003 and p = 0.005, respectively). The use of steroids and disease activity determined increased fatigue (p = 0.014 and p = 0.019; respectively). In the multivariate analysis, anxiety and depression remained associated (p = 0.002 and p = 1.3 × 10−5, respectively). IMIDs patients present increased fatigue compared with healthy subjects. Anxiety and depression are the main associated factors, suggesting a psychological component of the symptom; thus, a holistic management should be established.
Ezrin Contributes to the Plasma Membrane Expression of PD–L1 in A2780 Cells
Authors: Tameishi Mayuka , Ishikawa Honami , Tanaka Chihiro , Kobori Takuro , Urashima Yoko , Ito Takuya , Obata Tokio
Published: April 2022

Programmed death ligand–1 (PD–L1) is one of the immune checkpoint molecule localized on the plasma membrane of numerous cancer cells that negatively regulates T-cell-mediated immunosurveillance. Despite the remarkable efficacy and safety profile of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as anti-PD–L1 antibodies, restricted poor therapeutic responses to ICIs are often observed in patients with ovarian cancer. Because higher expression of PD–L1 in advanced ovarian cancer is associated with a decreased survival rate, identifying the potential molecules to regulate the plasma membrane expression of PD–L1 may provide a novel therapeutic strategy to improve the efficacy of ICIs against ovarian cancers. Here, we reveal the involvement of the ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) family, which crosslinks transmembrane proteins with the actin cytoskeleton by serving as a scaffold protein, in the plasma membrane expression of PD–L1 in the human epithelial ovarian cancer cell line A2780. Our results demonstrate that PD–L1 and all three ERMs were expressed at the mRNA and protein levels in A2780 cells, and that PD–L1 was highly colocalized with ezrin and moesin, but moderately with radixin, in the plasma membrane. Interestingly, RNA interference-mediated gene silencing of ezrin, but not of radixin or moesin, substantially reduced the plasma membrane expression of PD–L1 without altering its mRNA expression. In conclusion, our results indicate that ezrin may be responsible for the plasma membrane expression of PD–L1, possibly by serving as a scaffold protein in A2780 cells. Ezrin is a potential therapeutic target for improving the efficacy of ICIs against ovarian cancers.
Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation in Adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in the RICCADSA Cohort
Authors: Peker Yüksel , Holtstrand-Hjälm Henrik , Celik Yeliz , Glantz Helena , Thunström Erik
Published: April 2022

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) occurs in 20–50% of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is also common in adults with CAD, and may contribute to POAF as well to the reoccurrence of AF in patients at long-term. In the current secondary analysis of the Randomized Intervention with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in Coronary Artery Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (RICCADSA) trial (Trial Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; No: NCT 00519597), we included 147 patients with CABG, who underwent a home sleep apnea testing, in average 73 ± 30 days after the surgical intervention. POAF was defined as a new-onset AF occurring within the 30 days following the CABG. POAF was observed among 48 (32.7%) patients, occurring within the first week among 45 of those cases. The distribution of the apnea-hypopnea-index (AHI) categories < 5.0 events/h (no-OSA); 5.0–14.9 events/h (mild OSA); 15.0–29.9 events/h (moderate OSA); and ≥30 events/h (severe OSA), was 4.2%, 14.6%, 35.4%, and 45.8%, in the POAF group, and 16.2%, 17.2%, 39.4%, and 27.3%, respectively, in the no-POAF group. In a multivariate logistic regression model, there was a significant risk increase for POAF across the AHI categories, with the highest odds ratio (OR) for severe OSA (OR 6.82, 95% confidence interval 1.31–35.50; p = 0.023) vs. no-OSA, independent of age, sex, and body-mass-index. In the entire cohort, 90% were on β-blockers according to the clinical routines, they all had sinus rhythm on the electrocardiogram at baseline before the study start, and 28 out of 40 patients with moderate to severe OSA (70%) were allocated to CPAP. During a median follow-up period of 67 months, two patients (none with POAF) were hospitalized due to AF. To conclude, severe OSA was significantly associated with POAF in patients with CAD undergoing CABG. However, none of those individuals had an AF-reoccurrence at long term, and whether CPAP should be considered as an add-on treatment to β-blockers in secondary prevention models for OSA patients presenting POAF after CABG requires further studies in larger cohorts.
Non-Invasive Tests of Liver Fibrosis Help in Predicting the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma among Patients with NAFLD
Authors: Pons Mònica , Rivera-Esteban Jesús , Manzano Ramiro , Bañares Juan , Bermúdez María , Vargas Víctor , Salcedo-Allende Maria Teresa , Castells Lluís , Augustin Salvador , Mínguez Beatriz , Pericàs Juan M.
Published: April 2022

Background: The potential role of non-invasive tests (NITs) for liver fibrosis for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prediction remains poorly known. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a NAFLD cohort from a single university hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Incidence rates and cumulative incidence for the overall cohort, as well as cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients were calculated. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to investigate risk factors of HCC. Results: From the entire cohort of 1040 patients, 996 patients (95.8%) were analyzed, in whom 35 cases of HCC were detected, of which 26 (72.4%) HCC incident cases were newly diagnosed during a median follow-up of 2.5 (1.9–3.6) years. Two-hundred and thirty-one (23.2%) were cirrhotic at baseline. With the exception of 2 (7.7%) cases of HCC, the rest were diagnosed in cirrhotic patients. Overall HCC cumulative incidence was 9.49 (95% CI 6.4–13.9) per 1000 person-years. The incidence rate for cirrhotic patients was 41.2 (95% CI 27.6–61.6) per 1000 person-years and 0.93 (95% CI 0.23–3.7) per 1000 person-years for patients without cirrhosis. Overall mortality was significantly higher amongst patients with HCC (4.4% vs. 30.8%, p < 0.001). In patients with available liver biopsy (n = 249, 25%), advanced fibrosis (F3–F4) was significantly associated with higher HCC incidence, but not steatosis, lobular inflammation, nor ballooning. In the overall cohort, FIB-4 ≥1.3 (HR 8.46, 95% CI 1.06–67.4, p = 0.044) and older age (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01–1.11, p = 0.025) were associated with increasing risk of HCC over time, whereas in cirrhotic patients predictors of HCC included decreasing values of albumin (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13–0.87, p = 0.024), platelets (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.98–0.99, p = 0.001), and increasing values of liver stiffness (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00–1.06, p = 0.016). Conclusions: In a Spanish cohort of NAFLD patients, HCC was rare in non-cirrhotic patients. NITs might play a relevant role at predicting HCC.
Functionalized Graphene Oxide with Chitosan for Dopamine Biosensing
Authors: Omar Amina , Bayoumy Ahmed M. , Aly Ahmed A.
Published: April 2022

Detecting biological structures via a rapid and facile method has become a pronounced point of research. Dopamine (DA) detection is critical for the early diagnosis of a variety of neurological diseases/disorders. A study on the real-time optical detection of DA is described here using graphene oxide (GO) functionalized with chitosan (Cs). Hence, a computational model dependent on a high theoretical level density functional theory (DFT) using the B3LYP/LANL2DZ model is carried out to study the physical as well as electronic properties of the proposed interaction between GO functionalized with Cs and its interaction with DA. GO functionalized with a Cs biopolymer was verified as having much higher stability and reactivity. Moreover, the addition of DA to functionalized GO yields structures with the same stability and reactivity. This ensures that GO-Cs is a stable structure with a strong interaction with DA, which is energetically preferred. Molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) calculation maps indicated that the impact of an interaction between GO and Cs increases the number of electron clouds at the terminals, ensuring the great ability of this composite when interacting with DA. Hence, these calculations and experimental results support the feasibility of using GO functionalized with Cs as a DA biosensor.
Integrated Sports Medicine: A First Investigation of Heart Performance in Opera Singers
Authors: Corsi Marco , Orlandi Goffredo , Bini Vittorio , Stefani Laura
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Opera singers are continuously subjected to cardiopulmonary exercise. The impact on cardiac performance has not been studied. Our aim was to verify the impact of singing on heart performance, particularly by the evaluation of ECG and deformation parameters as strain, rotation and twist. Methods: A population of 17 OS (opera singers) underwent a 12-lead ECG and 2D echocardiographic evaluation. A post-processing analysis of the images to obtain the deformation parameters was included. The data expressed as mean as SD were compared to a group of 15 high-level athletes (A). Results: In both groups, the ECG parameters, 2D standard systodiastolic parameters and pulmonary pressure were normal, and in the OS group—LVDd: 47 ± 2.75 mm, LVSd: 31 ± 3.38 mm, E/A: 1.08 ± 0.23, RV: 27.63 ± 3.38 mm; in the A group—LVDd: 51 ± 1.50 mm, LVSd: 32 ± 2.50 mm, E/A: 2.37 ± 0.73, RV: 25.00 ± 3.00 mm. Indexed LV mass was significantly greater in athletes, while ejection fraction (EF) results were higher in OS. Deformation parameters did not differ among the two groups, with the exclusion of GLS expressing a major value in athletes. Rotational parameters resulted in the OS group similar to the athletes. Conclusions: OS show myocardial performance as high as the athletes. The data obtained suggest a positive impact of regular training as an opera singer. Deformation parameters highlight the fitness status in this group with a specific remodeling in RV in the presence of normal PP. Classic music singing appears to have a training effect on the heart. Further studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.
Airborne Hyperspectral Imagery for Band Selection Using Moth–Flame Metaheuristic Optimization
Authors: Anand Raju , Samiaappan Sathishkumar , Veni Shanmugham , Worch Ethan , Zhou Meilun
Published: April 2022

In this research, we study a new metaheuristic algorithm called Moth–Flame Optimization (MFO) for hyperspectral band selection. With the hundreds of highly correlated narrow spectral bands, the number of training samples required to train a statistical classifier is high. Thus, the problem is to select a subset of bands without compromising the classification accuracy. One of the ways to solve this problem is to model an objective function that measures class separability and utilize it to arrive at a subset of bands. In this research, we studied MFO to select optimal spectral bands for classification. MFO is inspired by the behavior of moths with respect to flames, which is the navigation method of moths in nature called transverse orientation. In MFO, a moth navigates the search space through a process called transverse orientation by keeping a constant angle with the Moon, which is a compelling strategy for traveling long distances in a straight line, considering that the Moon’s distance from the moth is considerably long. Our research tested MFO on three benchmark hyperspectral datasets—Indian Pines, University of Pavia, and Salinas. MFO produced an Overall Accuracy (OA) of 88.98%, 94.85%, and 97.17%, respectively, on the three datasets. Our experimental results indicate that MFO produces better OA and Kappa when compared to state-of-the-art band selection algorithms such as particle swarm optimization, grey wolf, cuckoo search, and genetic algorithms. The analysis results prove that the proposed approach effectively addresses the spectral band selection problem and provides a high classification accuracy.
Beyond Competencies: Associations between Personality and School Grades Are Largely Independent of Subject-Specific and General Cognitive Competencies
Authors: Roemer Lena , Lechner Clemens M. , Rammstedt Beatrice
Published: April 2022

The Big Five personality traits are established predictors of school grades. However, the mechanisms underlying these associations are not yet well understood. Effects of personality on grades might arise because behavioral tendencies facilitate learning and increase subject-specific competencies. Alternatively, personality effects on grades might be independent of cognitive competencies and reflect otherwise valued behaviors or teachers’ grading practices. In the current study, we drew on large-scale data of 7th and 9th graders in Germany to explore the extent to which personality predicted grades even after accounting for competencies. Controlling for competencies and other key covariates, we cross-sectionally and longitudinally examined personality–grade associations across different school subjects, grade levels, and school types. Results indicate that the predictive power of personality is largely independent of subject-specific and general cognitive competencies. The largest effects emerged for conscientiousness. For openness, associations with grades partly overlapped with competencies, suggesting that openness may operate by fostering competencies. Overall, our results suggest that the associations between personality and grades unfold mostly independently of course mastery. This finding underlines the socioemotional value of personality in the classroom and encourages a more fine-grained view of the interplay between personality, competencies, classroom behavior, and grades.
Ocean Current Prediction Using the Weighted Pure Attention Mechanism
Authors: Liu Jingjing , Yang Jinkun , Liu Kexiu , Xu Lingyu
Published: April 2022

Ocean current (OC) prediction plays an important role for carrying out ocean-related activities. There are plenty of studies for OC prediction with deep learning to pursue better prediction performance, and the attention mechanism was widely used for these studies. However, the attention mechanism was usually combined with deep learning models rather than purely used to predict OC, or, if it was purely used, did not further optimize the attention weight. Therefore, a deep learning model based on weighted pure attention mechanism is proposed in this paper. This model uses the pure attention mechanism, introduces a weight parameter for the generated attention weight, and moves more attentions from other elements to the key elements based on weight parameter setting. To our knowledge, it is the first attempt to use the weighted pure attention mechanism to improve the OC prediction performance, and it is an innovation for OC prediction. The experiment results indicate that the proposed model can fully take advantage of the strengths from the pure attention mechanism; it can further optimize the pure attention mechanism and significantly improve the prediction performance, and is reliable for OC prediction with high performance for a wide time range and large spatial scope.
Spatial Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTE) Concentration in Agaricus bisporus Mushroom Collected from Local Vegetable Markets of Uttarakhand State, India
Authors: Kumar Pankaj , Kumar Vinod , Eid Ebrahem M. , AL-Huqail Arwa A. , Adelodun Bashir , Abou Fayssal Sami , Goala Madhumita , Arya Ashish Kumar , Bachheti Archana , Andabaka Željko , Choi Kyung Sook , Širić Ivan
Published: April 2022

This study presents a spatial assessment of eight potentially toxic elements (PTE: Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, Mn, and Zn) in white button (Agaricus bisporus J.E. Lange) mushroom samples collected from the local vegetable markets of Uttarakhand State, India. Fresh A. bisporus samples were collected from thirteen districts and fifteen sampling locations (M1-M15) and analyzed for the concentration of these PTE using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The results revealed that A. bisporus contained all eight selected PTE in all sampling locations. Based on the inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation, principal component (PC), and hierarchical cluster (HC) analyses, the areas with a plane geographical distribution showed the highest PTE concentrations in the A. bisporus samples as compared to those in hilly areas. Overall, the decreasing order of PTE concentration in A. bisporus was recognized as Fe > Zn > Mn > Cr > Cu > Ni > Cd > Pb. The Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA tests displayed a highly significant (p < 0.05) difference among the sampling locations. However, the concentration of PTE was below permissible limits, indicating no potential hazard in consuming the A. bisporus. Similarly, the health risk assessment studies using the target hazard quotient (THQ) also showed no significant health risk associated with the consumption of A. bisporus being sold in the local mushroom markets of Uttarakhand, India. This study is the first report on state-level monitoring of PTE in A. bisporus mushrooms, which provides crucial information regarding the monitoring and occurrence of potentially toxic metallic elements.
Piriformospora indica and Azotobacter chroococcum Consortium Facilitates Higher Acquisition of N, P with Improved Carbon Allocation and Enhanced Plant Growth in Oryza sativa
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Prasun , Yadav Bal Govind , Kumar Srinivasan Ganesh , Kumar Rahul , Kogel Karl-Heinz , Kumar Shashi
Published: April 2022

The soil microbiome contributes to nutrient acquisition and plant adaptation to numerous biotic and abiotic stresses. Numerous studies have been conducted over the past decade showing that plants take up nutrients better when associated with fungi and additional beneficial bacteria that promote plant growth, but the mechanisms by which the plant host benefits from this tripartite association are not yet fully understood. In this article, we report on a synergistic interaction between rice (Oryza sativa), Piriformospora indica (an endophytic fungus colonizing the rice roots), and Azotobacter chroococcum strain W5, a free-living nitrogen-fixing bacterium. On the basis of mRNA expression analysis and enzymatic activity, we found that co-inoculation of plant roots with the fungus and the rhizobacterium leads to enhanced plant growth and improved nutrient uptake compared to inoculation with either of the two microbes individually. Proteome analysis of O. sativa further revealed that proteins involved in nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism are upregulated and improve nitrogen and phosphate uptake. Our results also show that A. chroococcum supports colonization of rice roots by P. indica, and consequentially, the plants are more resistant to biotic stress upon co-colonization. Our research provides detailed insights into the mechanisms by which microbial partners synergistically promote each other in the interaction while being associated with the host plant.
Microfluidics Technology in SARS-CoV-2 Diagnosis and Beyond: A Systematic Review
Authors: Jamiruddin Mohd. Raeed , Meghla Bushra Ayat , Islam Dewan Zubaer , Tisha Taslima Akter , Khandker Shahad Saif , Khondoker Mohib Ullah , Haq Md. Ahsanul , Adnan Nihad , Haque Mainul
Published: April 2022

With the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic, new technologies are being implemented for more rapid, scalable, and sensitive diagnostics. The implementation of microfluidic techniques and their amalgamation with different detection techniques has led to innovative diagnostics kits to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, antigens, and nucleic acids. In this review, we explore the different microfluidic-based diagnostics kits and how their amalgamation with the various detection techniques has spearheaded their availability throughout the world. Three other online databases, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, were referred for articles. One thousand one hundred sixty-four articles were determined with the search algorithm of microfluidics followed by diagnostics and SARS-CoV-2. We found that most of the materials used to produce microfluidics devices were the polymer materials such as PDMS, PMMA, and others. Centrifugal force is the most commonly used fluid manipulation technique, followed by electrochemical pumping, capillary action, and isotachophoresis. The implementation of the detection technique varied. In the case of antibody detection, spectrometer-based detection was most common, followed by fluorescence-based as well as colorimetry-based. In contrast, antigen detection implemented electrochemical-based detection followed by fluorescence-based detection, and spectrometer-based detection were most common. Finally, nucleic acid detection exclusively implements fluorescence-based detection with a few colorimetry-based detections. It has been further observed that the sensitivity and specificity of most devices varied with implementing the detection-based technique alongside the fluid manipulation technique. Most microfluidics devices are simple and incorporate the detection-based system within the device. This simplifies the deployment of such devices in a wide range of environments. They can play a significant role in increasing the rate of infection detection and facilitating better health services.
Effects of Cannabidiol on Locomotor Activity
Authors: Calapai Fabrizio , Cardia Luigi , Calapai Gioacchino , Di Mauro Debora , Trimarchi Fabio , Ammendolia Ilaria , Mannucci Carmen
Published: April 2022

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second cannabinoid, in order of importance after Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), from Cannabis sativa. Unlike THC, CBD does not cause psychotomimetic effects, and although these compounds have the same chemical formula, their pharmacological characteristics are not equivalent. Preclinical studies suggest that CBD has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic, antiemetic, anticonvulsant, and antipsychotic properties and influences the sleep–wake cycle. The evaluation of effects on spontaneous motor activity is crucial in experimental pharmacology, and the careful measurement of laboratory animal movement is an established method to recognize the effects of stimulant and depressant drugs. The potential influence of CBD on locomotor activity has been investigated through numerous in vivo experiments. However, there is no clear picture of the impact of CBD on these issues, even though it is administered alone for medical uses and sold with THC as a drug for pain caused by muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis, and it was recently licensed as a drug for severe forms of infantile epilepsy. On this basis, with the aim of developing deeper knowledge of this issue, scientific data on CBD’s influence on locomotor activity are discussed here. We conducted research using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and a search engine for literature between January 2009 and December 2021 on life sciences and biomedical topics using the keywords “motor activity”, “locomotor activity”, and “locomotion” in combination with “cannabidiol”. In this article, we discuss findings describing the effects on locomotor activity of the CBD precursor cannabidiolic acid and of CBD alone or in combination with THC, together with the effects of CBD on locomotor modifications induced by diseases and on locomotor changes induced by other substances.
Impact of Additive Manufacturing on the Supply Chain of Aerospace Spare Parts Industry—A Review
Authors: Debnath Binoy , Shakur Md Shihab , Tanjum Fahmida , Rahman M. Azizur , Adnan Ziaul Haq
Published: April 2022

Background: Additive manufacturing (AM) applications in producing spare parts are increasing day by day. AM is bridging the digital and physical world as a 3D computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) method. The usage of AM has made the supply chain of the aviation spare parts industry simpler, more effective, and efficient. Methods: This paper demonstrates the impacts of AM on the supply chain of the aircraft spare parts industry following a systematic literature review. Hence, centralized and decentralized structures of AM supply chains have been evaluated. Additionally, the attention has been oriented towards the supply chain with AM technologies and industry 4.0, which can support maintenance tasks and the production of spare parts in the aerospace industry. Results: This review article summarizes the interconnection of the industry findings on spare parts. It evaluates the potentiality and capability of AM in conceptualizing the overall supply chain. Moreover, MROs can adopt the proposed framework technologies to assist decision-makers in deciding whether the logistics hub with AM facilities is centralized or decentralized. Conclusions: Finally, this review provides an overall view to make critical decisions on the supply chain design of spare parts driven by new and disruptive technologies of industry 4.0. The next-generation supply chain may replace the logistics barriers by reducing waste and improving capability and sustainability by implementing AM technologies.
Full Spectral Range Raman Signatures Related to Changes in Enameling Technologies from the 18th to the 20th Century: Guidelines, Effectiveness and Limitations of the Raman Analysis
Authors: Colomban Philippe
Published: April 2022

This study investigates the comparison of the Raman signatures of different phases used in underglaze, inglaze and overglaze decors of selected European, Chinese and Japanese porcelains and enameled metalworks, which are particularly representative of technological developments in enameling. Specifically, the article deals with the main structural types or host networks (corundum/hematite, spinels, zircon, cassiterite, pyrochlore, apatite, sphene, etc.) used for colored enamels on porcelain, earthenware or metal rather than considering all types of pigments and opacifiers. According to the results, Raman microspectroscopy allows identifying of the fingerprint spectra of milestone technologies and represents a simple and rapid tool for detecting copies. Particular attention is paid to the information deduced from the examination of the associated ‘background’ and signatures from electronic transitions induced by uncontrolled traces or voluntary addition of rare earths (luminescence). The relationship between the grinding procedure and Raman signature is also discussed.
Microstructural Evolution and an Improved Dynamic Recrystallization Kinetic Model of a Ni-Cr-Mo Alloy in Hot Deformation
Authors: Yan Xintao , Xia Yuchi , He Daoguang , Lin Y. C.
Published: April 2022

Microstructural evolution and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behaviors of a Ni-Cr-Mo alloy were researched utilizing hot compressive experiments. The changed features of dislocation, subgrain and grain structure correlating to forming parameters were examined by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Results illustrate that the consumption of dislocation and the coarsening of substructure/DRX grain are prominently enhanced with an increased forming temperature. However, the annihilation/interaction of dislocation and the expansion of subgrain/DRX grain boundary can be limited at a larger strain rate. Meanwhile, considering the discrepancy in DRX variation rates concerning the strain rate’s ranges, an improved DRX kinetic model was developed. Compared to the classical DRX kinetic model, the good consistency between the forecasted and tested results demonstrates that the established improved DRX kinetic model can precisely characterize the DRX features of the Ni-Cr-Mo alloy over a wide strain rate range. Additionally, the EBSD’s quantitative statistical results proved that the variation of DRX grain size can be supremely defined as the power formulation of the forming temperature and strain rate.
Influence of Ceramsite with Assembly Unit of Sludge and Excavated Soil on the Properties of Cement Concrete
Authors: Wang Jiahui , Wang Shiyu , Wang Hui , He Zhimin
Published: April 2022

The application of sludge in the manufacture of ceramic material provides an outlet for waste disposal. In this study, we aimed to produce a new lightweight aggregate applications in concrete. The influence of burning temperature on the ignition loss rate, cylinder compressive strength, and the water absorption rate of ceramsite mixed with sludge and excavated soil was investigated. The slump flow, apparent density, and mechanical strength (flexural and compressive strengths) of cement concrete with ceramsite were determined. Moreover, the chloride ion permeability coefficient and the thermal conductivity were tested. Finally, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis were applied to analyze the mechanisms of the properties of ceramsite. Results show that the ignition loss rate and the burning temperature are in a quadratic relationship. The cylinder compressive strength shows a positive quadratic relationship with the burning temperature. However, the water absorption rate negatively correlates with the burning temperature. The addition of sludge can increase the ignition loss rate and cylinder compressive strength of ceramsite. Meanwhile, the effect of sludge on the water absorption rate is the opposite. Ceramsite decreases the slump flow and the apparent density of cement concrete. Cement concrete with 10% ceramsite shows the highest mechanical strength and the lowest chloride ion migration coefficient. Correction of the chloride ion migration coefficient and the content of ceramsite was performed as an exponential equation. Ceramsite exerts a negative effect on the thermal conductivity of cement concrete. Concrete with sludge ceramsite shows higher slump flow, apparent density, mechanical strength, and resistance to chloride ion penetration and thermal conductivity than concrete sludge with clay ceramsite. The mullite content of sludge ceramsite is higher than that of clay ceramsite. Additionally, sludge ceramsite exhibits a denser structure than that of clay ceramsite.
Prediction of Compressive Strength of Sustainable Foam Concrete Using Individual and Ensemble Machine Learning Approaches
Authors: Ullah Haji , Khushnood Rao , Farooq Furqan , Ahmad Junaid , Vatin Nikolai , Ewais Dina
Published: April 2022

The entraining and distribution of air voids in the concrete matrix is a complex process that makes the mechanical properties of lightweight foamed concrete (LFC) highly unpredictable. To study the complex nature of aerated concrete, a reliable and robust prediction model is required, employing different machine learning (ML) techniques. This study aims to predict the compressive strength of LFC by using a support vector machine (SVM) as an individual learner along with bagging, boosting, and random forest (RF) as a modified ensemble learner. For that purpose, a database of 191 data points was collected from published literature, where the mix design ingredients, i.e., cement content, sand content, water to cement ratio, and foam volume, were chosen to predict the compressive strength of LFC. The 10-K fold cross-validation method and different statistical error and regression tools, i.e., mean absolute error (MAE), root means square error (RMSE), and coefficient of determinant (R2), were used to evaluate the performance of the developed ML models. The modified ensemble learner (RF) outperforms all models by yielding a strong correlation of R2 = 0.96 along with the lowest statistical error values of MAE = 1.84 MPa and RMSE = 2.52 MPa. Overall, the result suggests that the ensemble learners would significantly enhance the performance and robustness of ML models.
Dielectric Properties of Bi2/3Cu3Ti4O12 Ceramics Prepared by Mechanical Ball Milling and Low Temperature Conventional Sintering
Authors: Ahmad Mohamad M. , Alshoaibi Adil , Ansari Sajid Ali , Kayed Tarek S. , Khater Hassan A. , Kotb Hicham Mahfoz
Published: April 2022

In the current study, Bi2/3Cu3Ti4O12 (BCTO) ceramics were prepared by mechanical ball mill of the elemental oxides followed by conventional sintering of the powder without any pre-sintering heat treatments. The sintering temperature was in the range 950–990 °C, which is 100–150 °C lower than the previous conventional sintering studies on BCTO ceramics. All the ceramic samples showed body-centered cubic phase and grain size ≈ 2–6 μm. Sintering temperature in the range 950–975 °C resulted in comparatively lower dielectric loss and lower thermal coefficient of permittivity in the temperature range from −50 to 120 °C. All the BCTO ceramics showed reasonably high relative permittivity. The behavior of BCTO ceramics was correlated with the change in oxygen content in the samples with sintering temperature. This interpretation was supported by the measurements of the energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) elemental analysis and activation energy for conduction and for relaxation in the ceramics.
The Influence of Precipitate Morphology on the Growth of Austenite Grain in Nb-Ti-Al Microalloyed Steels
Authors: Yuan Junfeng , Xiao Yang , Min Na , Li Wei , Zhao Sixin
Published: April 2022

The present study investigates the morphological evolution of carbonitrides and the effect of these precipitates on grain boundary pinning during pseudo-carburizing a Nb-Ti-Al microalloyed steel. The result indicated that three kinds of complex precipitates with different morphologies containing Nb, Ti, and Al respectively were observed in samples austenitized at different temperatures and times. The NbC and TiN precipitates played an important role in pinning grain boundaries and suppressing the growth of austenite grains, relying on the high thermal stability of TiN precipitates and small size of NbC precipitates. The precipitate characteristics affected the size of austenite grain. Based on the Zener pinning model, the effect of precipitate characteristic on austenite grain size was quantitatively analyzed. It is found that the existence of NbC and TiN precipitated at high temperature makes austenite grain growth difficult when austenite grain boundaries were pinned by fine and diffused precipitates.
Evaluation of Mechanical and Microstructural Properties and Global Warming Potential of Green Concrete with Wheat Straw Ash and Silica Fume
Authors: Khan Kaffayatullah , Ishfaq Muhammad , Amin Muhammad Nasir , Shahzada Khan , Wahab Nauman , Faraz Muhammad Iftikhar
Published: April 2022

Cement and concrete are among the major contributors to CO2 emissions in modern society. Researchers have been investigating the possibility of replacing cement with industrial waste in concrete production to reduce its environmental impact. Therefore, the focus of this paper is on the effective use of wheat straw ash (WSA) together with silica fume (SF) as a cement substitute to produce high-performance and sustainable concrete. Different binary and ternary mixes containing WSA and SF were investigated for their mechanical and microstructural properties and global warming potential (GWP). The current results indicated that the binary and ternary mixes containing, respectively, 20% WSA (WSA20) and 33% WSA together with 7% SF (WSA33SF7) exhibited higher strengths than that of control mix and other binary and ternary mixes. The comparative lower apparent porosity and water absorption values of WSA20 and WSA33SF7 among all mixes also validated the findings of their higher strength results. Moreover, SEM–EDS and FTIR analyses has revealed the presence of dense and compact microstructure, which are mostly caused by formation of high-density calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and calcium hydroxide (C-H) phases in both blends. FTIR and TGA analyses also revealed a reduction in the portlandite phase in these mixes, causing densification of microstructures and pores. Additionally, N2 adsorption isotherm analysis demonstrates that the pore structure of these mixes has been densified as evidenced by a reduction in intruded volume and a rise in BET surface area. Furthermore, both mixes had lower CO2-eq intensity per MPa as compared to control, which indicates their significant impact on producing green concretes through their reduced GWPs. Thus, this research shows that WSA alone or its blend with SF can be considered as a source of revenue for the concrete industry for developing high-performance and sustainable concretes.
Robust Fuzzy Control for Uncertain Nonlinear Power Systems
Authors: Guesmi Tawfik , Alshammari Badr M. , Welhazi Yosra , Hadj Abdallah Hsan , Toumi Ahmed
Published: April 2022

This paper presents a new control technique based on uncertain fuzzy models for handling uncertainties in nonlinear dynamic systems. This approach is applied for the stabilization of a multimachine power system subject to disturbances. In this case, a state-feedback controller based on parallel distributed compensation (PDC) is applied for the stabilization of the fuzzy system, where the design of control laws is based on the Lyapunov function method and the stability conditions are solved using a linear matrix inequalities (LMI)-based framework. Due to the high number of system nonlinearities, two steps are followed to reduce the number of fuzzy rules. Firstly, the power network is subdivided into sub-systems using Thevenin’s theorem. Actually, each sub-system corresponds to a generator which is in series with the Thevenin equivalent as seen from this generator. This means that the number of sub-systems is equal to the number of system generators. Secondly, the significances of the nonlinearities of the sub-systems are ranked based on their limits and range of variation. Then, nonlinearities with non-significant variations are assumed to be uncertainties. The proposed strategy is tested on the Western systems coordinating council (WSCC) integrated with a wind turbine. The disturbances are assumed to be sudden variations in wind power output. The effectiveness of the suggested fuzzy controller is compared with conventional regulators, such as an automatic voltage regulator (AVR) and power system stabilizers (PSS).
Localized Method of Fundamental Solutions for Two-Dimensional Inhomogeneous Inverse Cauchy Problems
Authors: Zhang Junli , Zheng Hui , Fan Chia-Ming , Fu Ming-Fu
Published: April 2022

Due to the fundamental solutions are employed as basis functions, the localized method of fundamental solution can obtain more accurate numerical results than other localized methods in the homogeneous problems. Since the inverse Cauchy problem is ill posed, a small disturbance will lead to great errors in the numerical simulations. More accurate numerical methods are needed in the inverse Cauchy problem. In this work, the LMFS is firstly proposed to analyze the inhomogeneous inverse Cauchy problem. The recursive composite multiple reciprocity method (RC-MRM) is adopted to change original inhomogeneous problem into a higher-order homogeneous problem. Then, the high-order homogeneous problem can be solved directly by the LMFS. Several numerical experiments are carried out to demonstrate the efficiency of the LMFS for the inhomogeneous inverse Cauchy problems.
Stacking Machine Learning Model for the Assessment of R&D Product’s Readiness and Method for Its Cost Estimation
Authors: Chukhray Nataliya , Shakhovska Nataliya , Mrykhina Oleksandra , Lisovska Lidiya , Izonin Ivan
Published: April 2022

The modern technology universities have the necessary resource and material base for developing and transferring R&D products. However, the cost estimation process is not formalized. There are many methods of estimating the cost of R&D products’ commercialization processes. However, in some cases, we cannot consider any single technique to be the best one as each of them has advantages and disadvantages. In such conditions, all efforts should be made to use a combination of the estimation techniques to arrive at a better cost and quality estimate. The effectiveness of the valuation of R&D products is of particular importance in today’s economy and due to the need to analyze large data sets prepared for transfer from universities to the business environment. This paper presents the model, two methods, and general information technology for R&D products’ readiness level assessment and R&D products’ cost estimation. The article presents the complex method for determining the cost of R&D products, which will allow: increasing the efficiency of the transfer, commercialization, and market launch of R&D products, and promoting the interaction of all components of the national innovation infrastructure, innovations, etc. The need to consider many different indicators when evaluating R&D products has determined the need to use machine learning algorithms. We have designed a new machine learning-based model for the readiness assessment of R&D products, which is based on the principle of “crowd wisdom” and uses a stacking strategy to integrate machine learning methods. It is experimentally established that the new stacking model based on machine learning algorithms that use random forest as a meta-algorithm provides a minimum of a 1.03 times higher RMSE compared to other ensemble strategies.