bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical Properties Evaluation for Cotton/Glass/Epoxy Hybrid Composite
Authors: Gaval Vivek Ramdas
Published: October 2022

Natural fibre reinforced composites of any group are essential to satisfy the current demand and to keep the environment-friendly approach. In the present work, an attempt has been made to replace glass fibres partially by cotton fabric so as to reduce weight and cost of the resultant composite Here, cotton fabric 0.4 mm thick (125 GSM) and fibreglass woven roving 0.15 mm thick (180 GSM) were used with epoxy resin in different weight fractions to prepare hybrid composites. The composites were prepared using hand lay-up method. The Tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength and hardness tests were performed as per ASTM standards and results are reported for each sample. The specimens were characterised using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The mechanical properties of composites with 80% glass fibre and 20% cotton fabric are found to be closer to glass/epoxy composites. Hence it is concluded that 20% glass fibres can be replaced by cotton fabric in the existing glass/epoxy products in which mechanical properties are important.
Implementation of stubble in agricultural production: A review
Authors: Barrera Guzmán Luis Ángel , Cadena-Iñiguez Jorge , Ramírez-OjedaGabriela Gabriela
Published: October 2022

Objective: To elucidate the benefits that agricultural residues or stubble have in agricultural activities, through a bibliographic and objective review that could help to make the actors of agricultural sector aware of the benefits and their correct implementation in production systems.
Design/methodology/approach: A detailed review of scientific articles from the main academic databases and repositories was performed. We took into account aspects such as the use of stubble as plant cover; effects and changes in physical and chemical structure of soil; crop yield and use for livestock feeding.
Results: The use of stubble has beneficial effects on agricultural activities. In agriculture, they have positive effects for the proliferation of beneficial organisms and assimilation of nutrients, which are easily absorbed by plants. Consequently, crop yield is maximized both in quantity and quality terms. In livestock sector, the stubble implement provides nutrients such as proteins, ashes and vitamins, which together with conventional diets, reduce production costs and improve meat and milk production.
Limitations on study/implications: The repertoire of scientific articles related to stubble is very broad, making it difficult to assimilate the information. In Mexico, particularly, more research is needed to inform farmers of the possible uses of stubble.
Findings/conclusions: The use of stubble in agricultural activities generates benefits at ecological and economic levels, which ensure the sustainability and resilience of agroecosystems. Nutritional content of stubble is a function of the species and/or varieties of agricultural species. The lack of knowledge in the management of stubble leads to these being incinerated, releasing particles and toxic and polluting substances for the environment, further favoring the conditions for greenhouse effect.
Yield and quality of Guinea grass cv. Mombasa according to plant spacing and season of the year
Authors: Ramírez Ordóñes Sergio , Rueda Barrientos José Angel , Antonio Cisneros Cynthia Magaly , Sánchez Hernández Miguel Ángel , Hernández Bautista Jorge
Published: October 2022

Objective: The purpose was to evaluate the yield, the chemical composition and the in vitro digestibility of Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus, Jacq.) cv. Mombasa according to plant spacing and season of the year.
Design/methodology/approach: The Mombasa grass was stablished at spacing between plants of: 25x25, 50x25, 70x25 and 100x25 cm between rows and plants, respectively, and with broadcasting (traditional planting); cutting was conducted in cool, dry and rainy seasons. A factorial split-plot design in randomized blocks was used, with four replications.
Results: The dry matter yield (DMY) of Mombasa grass was equal (p˃0.05) in cool and rainy seasons and lower (p<0.05) in dry season (27.2, 27.5 and 12.7 kg ha-1 d-1, respectively). The crude protein (CP) increased with greater plant spacing (p<0.05). The fodder of the dry season showed a higher (p<0.05) CP content than cool or rainy seasons (10.5, 9.7 and 8.7%). The content of all fiber fractions, except lignin, did not differ between plant spacing (p>0.05).
Study limitations/implications: The season of the year affects the quality of tropical grasses. On the other hand, there is no information about the effect of plant spacing on the quality of Mombasa grass.
Findings/conclusions: The highest DMY was in the cool season at 75x25 cm and 100x25 cm. The fodder harvested in the dry season showed lower fiber content in cell walls and higher in vitro digestibility (p˂0.05), but lower DMY. To ensure proper yield and quality, it is recommended to establish the Guinea grass cv. Mombasa at greater plant spacing, such as 75x25 cm or 100x25 cm.
Iraqi EFL Learners' Recognition of House-Related Idioms: An Investigation of the Learners’ Performance and Relevant Cultural Cognition Idiosyncrasies
Authors: Hadi Shahla Abdul Kadhim
Published: October 2022

Iraqi EFL learners' recognition of meanings of house-related idioms has been Investigated. The paper assumes that cultural idiosyncrasies related to the conceptual knowledge underlying the idiomatic expression may become obstacles to learners’ recognition of the correct interpretation, while having conceptual knowledge similar to that of the target will do the opposite. A multiple-choice test was adopted, and the learners were asked to choose an idiom's accurate meaning out of four-meaning options provided for each of the ten sentences of the test.   The analysis highlights the role of conventional knowledge in patterning learners' thinking. It also foregrounds some learners’ tendency to literalism by mapping from one physical domain to another one, which can be an analogy of the preliminary step of the universal mechanism of humans' mental conceptualization that widens and matures through interaction to cover abstract domains of human existence. It is also found that it is the immediate dynamic cultural knowledge rather than knowledge due to cultural membership, which governs individuals' thinking and guides their choices.
Economía de la salud: nuevos retos "
Authors: Escobar Espinoza Andrés
Published: October 2022

En la actualidad, uno de los principales desafios desde las ciencias economicas tiene que ver con la integración de los distintos saberes de diferentes disciplinas para la generación de nuevo conocimiento que permita comprender las complejas y diversas problematicas que enfrentan nuestras sociedades, en especial aquellas que se encuentran en el sur del mundo. En éste sentido, con el fin de avanzar en el avance cientfico, la revista Panorama Economico de la Universidad de Cartagena, presenta un numero orientado al estudio de las problematicas de la salud desde una perspectiva económica. De esta manera, se reunen resultados de proyectos de investigación que permiten profundizar lo relacionado con las evaluaciones economicas de las tecnologias en salud, los desafios de los sistemas de salud, los costos de bolsillo y la eficiencia de las empresas del sector salud. Ademas, trabajos que buscan comprender la salud de los jovenes colombianos en sus procesos educativos y lo relacionado con los factores de desnutrición.
Bīsotūn Inscription - A Jeopardy of Achaemenid History
Authors: Ahmadi Amir
Published: October 2022

According to the currently favoured view among historians of the Persian Empire, the Bīsotūn Inscription is a deceitful piece of propaganda whose purpose was to resolve Darius’s legitimacy problem. To this effect, Darius cobbles a family relation with Cyrus and fabricates the story of a magus who impersonates Smerdis, son of Cyrus, and usurps the throne. This view, however, contradicts not only the Bīsotūn Inscription but also the ancient Greek testimonies. This article examines the arguments historians have given for their position. Since all views of the two issues in question are necessarily interpretations of the relevant sources that rely on argumentation, reasons and inferences must stand up to critical scrutiny.
Multi Classification of Bacterial Microscopic Images Using Inception V3
Authors: Nurtanio Ingrid , Bustamin Anugrayani , Yohannes Christoforus , Handoyo Alif Tri
Published: October 2022

Microorganisms such as bacteria are the main cause of various infectious diseases such as cholera, botulism, gonorrhea, Lyme disease, sore throat, tuberculosis and so on. Therefore, identification and classification of bacteria is very important in the world of medicine to help experts diagnose diseases suffered by patients. However, manual identification and classification of bacteria takes a long time and a professional individual. With the help of artificial intelligence, we can effectively and efficiently classify bacteria and save a lot of time and human labor. In this study, a system was created to classify bacteria from microscopic image samples. This system uses deep learning with the transfer learning method. Inception V3 architecture was modified and retained using 108 image samples labeled with five types of bacteria, namely Acinetobacter baumanii, Escherichia coli, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Propionibacterium acnes and Veionella. The data is then divided into training and validation using the k-fold cross validation method. Furthermore, the features that have been extracted by the model are trained with the configuration of minibatchsize 5, maxepoch 5, initiallearnrate 0.0001, and validation frequency 3. The model is then tested with data validation by conducting ten experiments and getting an average accuracy value of 94.42%.
Implementation of Deep Learning for Handwriting Imagery of Sundanese Script Using Convolutional Neural Network Algorithm (CNN)
Authors: Purnama Arif , Bahri Saeful , Gunawan Gunawan , Hidayatulloh Taufik , Suhada Satia
Published: October 2022

Aksara Sunda becomes one of the cultures of sundanese land that needs to be preserved. Currently, not all people know Aksara Sunda because of the shift in cultural values and there is a presumption that Aksara Sunda is difficult to learn because it has a unique and complicated shape. The use of deep learning has been widely used, especially in the field of computer vision to classify images, one of the commonly used algorithms is the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The application of The Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) algorithm on sundanese handwriting imagery can make it easier for people to learn Sundanese script, this study aims to find out how accurate the neural network convolutional algorithm is in classifying Aksara Sunda imagery. Data collection techniques are done by distributing questionnaires to respondents. System testing using accuracy tests, testing on CNN models using data testing get 97.5% accuracy and model testing using applications get 98% accuracy. So based on the results of the trial, the implementation of deep learning methods using neural network convolution algorithms was able to classify the handwriting image of Aksara Sunda well.
High-resolution esophageal manometry in children
Authors: Waikar Yogesh
Published: October 2022

Functional disorders of the esophagus are known as esophageal dysmotility disorders. Esophageal manometry can be used to study swallowing disorders, feeding problems, nonobstructive dysphagia, and lower esophageal dysfunction. This paper discusses the recent advances in and reviews the use of high-resolution esophageal manometry in children. The Chicago 4.0 classification should be used judiciously in children. Manometric studies can guide the proper management of dysmotility in children.
Wave exposure affects the persistence of kelp beds amidst outbreaks of the invasive bryozoan Membranipora membranacea
Authors: Attridge CM , Metaxas A , Denley D
Published: October 2022

In certain regions of the northwest Atlantic, rocky subtidal habitats have transitioned from luxuriant kelp beds to turf dominated ecosystems. Encrustation by the invasive epiphytic bryozoan Membranipora membranacea has accelerated the defoliation of macroalgal stands, particularly on the southwestern shore (SWS) of Nova Scotia. In contrast, at the Eastern Shore Islands (ESI) in Nova Scotia, a temperate island archipelago with relatively high wave exposure, kelp beds persist. We investigated how spatial and temporal dynamics of the dominant kelps (Saccharina latissima and Laminaria digitata) and M. membranacea relate to wave exposure. We examined canopy cover and density of kelps using video transects and quadrat sampling at 6 sites of different wave exposures at ESI and a highly wave exposed site on the SWS (Shag Rock), where kelp also persists, in summer and autumn 2018-2020. We measured percent cover of adult colonies of M. membranacea on kelps from autumn 2018 to autumn 2020, and density of settlers in 2019. Colony cover of M. membranacea was comparable across the range of wave exposures at ESI, whereas settler density peaked at intermediate wave exposure. Despite annual outbreaks of the bryozoan, kelp beds at ESI persisted over multiple years, in contrast to a declining trend at Shag Rock. Overwinter recovery of kelps at ESI following bryozoan-induced seasonal declines the preceding autumn indicate that, in contrast to sites on the SWS, these colder more wave exposed kelp beds may be resilient to defoliation.
An Integrated Approach for Doing Comparative Discursive Policy Analysis
Authors: Walsh Denise
Published: October 2022

Public policy scholars study an array of contentious issues. Consider practices such as Muslim women’s dress that many argue involve a clash between culture and women’s rights. Contrary to conventional wisdom, I argue this clash is never inevitable. Instead of seeking to resolve it, liberal democratic states should attack imperial sexism instead. Qualitative policy scholars can generate novel claims like these while enhancing the trustworthiness of their scholarship by carefully tethering constructivist and constructionist policy methods. This paper explains how to apply this integrated approach by drawing on two types of discursive policy analysis: Critical Frame Analysis and “What is the Policy Represented to Be?” I illustrate my argument with examples from three dissimilar policy controversies involving culture and women’s rights. The result is an integrated approach for doing discursive public policy analysis that is systematic, rigorous, and can generate politically provocative results.
Violence Sensitivity and Violent Discipline Use of Parents With Disabled and Non-Disabled Children
Authors: Cevik Guner Umran , Batkin Erturk Dondu , Koc Medine
Published: October 2022

Aim: Children with disabilities are more vulnerable than non-disabled children. The family is the key point in preventing and starting violence against children. However, data on the violence sensitivity and violent discipline used by parents with disabled children are quite insufficient. This study aimed to determine violence sensitivity and violent discipline used by parents with disabled and non-disabled children.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-five parents (with 60 disabled and 95 non-disabled children) completed the Violence Sensitivity Towards Children Scale with sociodemographic and disciplinary practices information form.

Results: In this study, it was determined that the Violence Sensitivity Towards Children Scale’s mean score of the parents with disabled children (41.66±5.30) was lower than that of the parents with non-disabled children (44.18±4.94), and the difference between them was statistically significant. It was also found that the percentages of discipline used by the parents with disabled children and of the parents with non-disabled children were 96.7% and 84.2%, respectively, and using verbal violence most frequently. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups only in terms of verbal and physical violence.

Conclusion: The study concludes that parents with disabled children are less sensitive to violence against their children and they resort to violent discipline more than parents with non-disabled children.

Keywords: disabled children, parents, violence
NiFe2O4/ZnO-coated Poly(L-Lactide) nanofibrous scaffold enhances osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Shariati Shiva , Seyedjafari Ehsan , Mahdavi Fatemeh Sadat , Maali Amirhosein , Ferdosi-Shahandashti Elaheh
Published: October 2022

Background: A combination of bioceramics and polymeric materials has attracted the research community’s interest in bone tissue engineering. These composites are essential to support cell attachment, proliferation, and osteogenesis differentiation, which are vital as a classic strategy in bone tissue engineering. In this study, NiFe2O4/ZnO-coated poly L-Lactide (PLLA) was employed as a scaffold to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation capability of human adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs).

Material and methods: The electrospun PLLA nanofibers were fabricated, coated with nanocomposite (NiFe2O4/ZnO), and evaluated by the water contact angle (WCA), tensile test, attenuated total reflectance fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then, the osteogenic differentiation potential of hAMSCs was assessed using NiFe2O4/ZnO-coated PLLA compared to tissue culture plastic (TCP) and a simple scaffold (PLLA) in vitro conditions.

Results: The adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of hAMSCs were supported by the mechanical and biological properties of the NiFe2O4/ZnO-coated PLLA scaffold, according to SEM and 4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) staining patterns. During bone differentiation, Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme activity, biomineralization, calcium content, and osteogenic gene expression (ALP, Osteonectin, Osteocalcin, Collagen type I, and Runx2) were higher on NiFe2O4/ZnO-coated PLLA scaffold than on PLLA scaffold and TCP.

Conclusion: Based on our results, the osteogenic differentiation of hAMSCs on the improved biological scaffold (PLLA coated with NiFe2O4/ZnO) could accelerate due to the stimulating effect of this nanocomposite.
RETRACTED: Targeted delivery of 5-fluorouracil, miR-532-3p, and si-KRAS to the colorectal tumor using layer-by-layer liposomes
Authors: Shahidi Maryamsadat , Abazari Omid , Dayati Parisa , Haghiralsadat Bibi Fatemeh , Oroojalian Fatemeh , Tofighi Davood
Published: October 2022

Co-delivery of siRNA or miRNA with chemotherapeutic drugs into tumor sites is an attractive synergetic strategy for treating colorectal cancer (CRC) due to their complementary mechanisms. In the current work, a liposome nanoparticle (Huang et al., Cancer Metastasis Rev., 2018, 37, 173–187) coated by cationic chitosan (CS) using a controlled layer-by-layer (LbL) process was designed to deliver simultaneous si-KRAS, miRNA-532-3p, and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) into CRC cells. The LbL NPs exhibited a spherical structure with an average size of 165.9 nm and effectively protected si-KRAS and miRNA-532-3p against degradation by serum and nucleases. Interestingly, the LbL NPs were successfully entered into cells and efficiently promoted cytotoxicity and suppressed cancer cell migration and invasion. In vivo, the LbL NPs reduced tumor growth in SW480-tumor-bearing mice models. In conclusion, these results suggested that the LbL NPs co-loaded with 5-FU and miR-532-3p/si-KRAS might provide a promising potential strategy for inhibiting the malignant phenotypes of CRC cells.
Validity and reliability of the Output sport device for assessing drop jump performance
Authors: Montoro-Bombú Raynier , Field Adam , Santos Amândio Cúpido , Rama Luis
Published: October 2022

The devices for measuring plyometric exercise in field conditions are becoming increasingly prevalent in applied research and practice. However, before the use of a device in an applied setting, the validity and reliability of such an instrument must be determined. The study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Output Sport, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), through comparisons with a force plate for research purposes. A repeated measure test-retest study was performed. Reliability was assessed during single-session trials (i.e., intrasession reliability). A total of 34 national/university level athletes (13 females, 21 males) performed three drop jumps with a fall from 30 cm while both devices recorded ground contact time (GCT), flight time (FT), jump height (HJ), and reactive strength index (RSI). T-tests demonstrated that data collected from the IMU device were significantly different to the force platform for all reported variables (all p < 0.01). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) demonstrated good-to-excellent reliability, but with a large range of confidence intervals (CI 95%) for GCT (0.825, 0.291–0.930), FT (0.928, 0.756–0.958), HJ (0.921, 0.773–0.964), and RSI (0.772, 0.151–0.907). The Bland-Altman test showed that the device overestimated contact times and underestimated the other variables. Upon landing, greater ground contact times (i.e., ≥0.355ms) were associated with higher reliability. These results suggest that a single IMU can be used to track changes somewhat accurately and reliably in jump metrics, especially when the GCT is greater than 0.355ms. It is recommended that before practitioners and trainers use the device as a cost-effective solution in the field, further research should be carried out to evaluate a range of data on the type of exercise to be performed.
KARGAMobile: Android app for portable, real-time, easily interpretable analysis of antibiotic resistance genes via nanopore sequencing
Authors: Barquero Alexander , Marini Simone , Boucher Christina , Ruiz Jaime , Prosperi Mattia
Published: October 2022

Nanopore technology enables portable, real-time sequencing of microbial populations from clinical and ecological samples. An emerging healthcare application for Nanopore includes point-of-care, timely identification of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to help developing targeted treatments of bacterial infections, and monitoring resistant outbreaks in the environment. While several computational tools exist for classifying ARGs from sequencing data, to date (2022) none have been developed for mobile devices. We present here KARGAMobile, a mobile app for portable, real-time, easily interpretable analysis of ARGs from Nanopore sequencing. KARGAMobile is the porting of an existing ARG identification tool named KARGA; it retains the same algorithmic structure, but it is optimized for mobile devices. Specifically, KARGAMobile employs a compressed ARG reference database and different internal data structures to save RAM usage. The KARGAMobile app features a friendly graphical user interface that guides through file browsing, loading, parameter setup, and process execution. More importantly, the output files are post-processed to create visual, printable and shareable reports, aiding users to interpret the ARG findings. The difference in classification performance between KARGAMobile and KARGA is minimal (96.2% vs. 96.9% f-measure on semi-synthetic datasets of 1 million reads with known resistance ground truth). Using real Nanopore experiments, KARGAMobile processes on average 1 GB data every 23–48 min (targeted sequencing - metagenomics), with peak RAM usage below 500MB, independently from input file sizes, and an average temperature of 49°C after 1 h of continuous data processing. KARGAMobile is written in Java and is available at https://github.com/Ruiz-HCI-Lab/KargaMobile under the MIT license.
Urokinase-loaded cyclic RGD-decorated liposome targeted therapy for in-situ thrombus of pulmonary arteriole of pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Li Jingtao , Zhang Xiaofeng , Mo Yingying , Huang Tongtong , Rao Huaqing , Tan Zhenyuan , Huang Liuliu , Zeng Decai , Jiang Chunlan , Zhong Yanfen , Cai Yongzhi , Liang Binbin , Wu Ji
Published: October 2022

Backgroud:In-situ thrombosis is a significant pathophysiological basis for the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, thrombolytic therapy for in-situ thrombus in PH was often hampered by the apparent side effects and the low bioavailability of common thrombolytic medications. Nanoscale cyclic RGD (cRGD)-decorated liposomes have received much attention thanks to their thrombus-targeting and biodegradability properties. As a result, we synthesized urokinase-loaded cRGD-decorated liposome (UK-cRGD-Liposome) for therapy of in-situ thrombosis as an exploration of pulmonary hypertensive novel therapeutic approaches.

Purpose: To evaluate the utilize of UK-cRGD-Liposome for targeted thrombolysis of in-situ thrombus in PH and to explore the potential mechanisms of in-situ thrombus involved in the development of PH.

Methods: UK-cRGD-Liposome nanoscale drug delivery system was prepared using combined methods of thin-film hydration and sonication. Induced PH via subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline (MCT). Fibrin staining (modified MSB method) was applied to detect the number of vessels within-situ thrombi in PH. Echocardiography, hematoxylin-eosin (H & E) staining, and Masson’s trichrome staining were used to analyze right ventricular (RV) function, pulmonary vascular remodeling, as well as RV remodeling.

Results: The number of vessels with in-situ thrombi revealed that UK-cRGD-Liposome could actively target urokinase to in-situ thrombi and release its payload in a controlled manner in the in vivo environment, thereby enhancing the thrombolytic effect of urokinase. Pulmonary artery hemodynamics and echocardiography indicated a dramatical decrease in pulmonary artery pressure and a significant improvement in RV function post targeted thrombolytic therapy. Moreover, pulmonary vascular remodeling and RV remodeling were significantly restricted post targeted thrombolytic therapy.

Conclusion: UK-cRGD-Liposome can restrict the progression of PH and improve RV function by targeting the dissolution of pulmonary hypertensive in-situ thrombi, which may provide promising therapeutic approaches for PH.
Application of the transgenic pig model in biomedical research: A review
Authors: Wei Jialin , Zhang Wen , Li Jie , Jin Ye , Qiu Zhidong
Published: October 2022

The large animal model has gradually become an essential part of preclinical research studies, relating to exploring the disease pathological mechanism, genic function, pharmacy, and other subjects. Although the mouse model has already been widely accepted in clinical experiments, the need for finding an animal model with high similarity compared with a human model is urgent due to the different body functions and systems between mice and humans. The pig is an optimal choice for replacement. Therefore, enhancing the production of pigs used for models is an important part of the large animal model as well. Transgenic pigs show superiority in pig model creation because of the progress in genetic engineering. Successful cases of transgenic pig models occur in the clinical field of metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and genetic diseases. In addition, the choice of pig breed influences the effort and efficiency of reproduction, and the mini pig has relative obvious advantages in pig model production. Indeed, pig models in these diseases provide great value in studies of their causes and treatments, especially at the genetic level. This review briefly outlines the method used to create transgenic pigs and species of producing transgenic pigs and provides an overview of their applications on different diseases and limitations for present pig model developments.
Human visceral and subcutaneous adipose stem and progenitor cells retain depot-specific adipogenic properties during obesity
Authors: Mathur Neha , Severinsen Mai C. K. , Jensen Mette E. , Naver Lars , Schrölkamp Maren , Laye Matthew J. , Watt Matthew J. , Nielsen Søren , Krogh-Madsen Rikke , Pedersen Bente Klarlund , Scheele Camilla
Published: October 2022

Abdominal obesity associates with cardiometabolic disease and an accumulation of lipids in the visceral adipose depot, whereas lipid accumulation in the subcutaneous depot is more benign. We aimed to further investigate whether the adipogenic properties where cell-intrinsic, or dependent on a depot-specific or obesity-produced microenvironment. We obtained visceral and subcutaneous biopsies from non-obese women (n = 14) or women living with morbid obesity (n = 14) and isolated adipose stem and progenitor cells (ASPCs) from the stromal vascular fraction of non-obese (n = 13) and obese (n = 13). Following in vitro differentiation into mature adipocytes, we observed a contrasting pattern with a lower gene expression of adipogenic markers and a higher gene expression of immunogenic markers in the visceral compared to the subcutaneous adipocytes. We identified the immunogenic factor BST2 as a marker for visceral ASPCs. The effect of obesity and insulin resistance on adipogenic and immunogenic markers in the in vitro differentiated cells was minor. In contrast, differentiation with exogenous Tumor necrosis factor resulted in increased immunogenic signatures, including increased expression of BST2, and decreased adipogenic signatures in cells from both depots. Our data, from 26 women, underscore the intrinsic differences between human visceral and subcutaneous adipose stem and progenitor cells, suggest that dysregulation of adipocytes in obesity mainly occurs at a post-progenitor stage, and highlight an inflammatory microenvironment as a major constraint of human adipogenesis.
Defective nanomaterials for electrocatalysis oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Mao Zhanxin , Tang Xianyi , An Xuguang , Jiang Jinxia
Published: October 2022

The difficulties in O2 molecule adsorption/activation, the cleavage of the O–O bond, and the desorption of the reaction intermediates at the surface of the electrodes make the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for fuel cells show extremely sluggish kinetics. Thus, it is important to the exploitation of highly active and stable electrocatalysts for the ORR to promote the performance and commercialization of fuel cells. Many studies have found that the defects affect the electron and the geometrical structure of the catalyst. The catalytic performance is enhanced by constructing defects to optimize the adsorption energy of substrates or intermediates. Unfortunately, still many issues are poorly recognized, such as the effect of defects (types, contents, and locations) in catalytic performance is unclear, and the catalytic mechanism of defective nanomaterials is lacking. In this review, the defective electrocatalysts divided into noble and non-noble metals for the ORR are highlighted and summarized. With the assistance of experimental results and theoretical calculations, the structure–activity relationships between defect engineering and catalytic performance have been clarified. Finally, after a deeper understanding of defect engineering, a rational design for efficient and robust ORR catalysts for PEMFCs is further guided.
Recent progress in performance optimization of Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst for selective catalytic reduction of NOx
Authors: Li Pan , Xin Ying , Zhang Hanxue , Yang Fuzhen , Tang Ahui , Han Dongxu , Jia Junxiu , Wang Jin , Li Zhenguo , Zhang Zhaoliang
Published: October 2022

Nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are the major gaseous pollutants emitted by mobile sources, especially diesel engines, contribute to many environmental issues and harm human health. Selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3 (NH3-SCR) is proved to be one of the most efficient techniques for reducing NOx emission. Recently, Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst has been recognized as a promising candidate for NH3-SCR catalyst for reducing diesel engine NOx emissions due to its wide active temperature window and excellent hydrothermal stability. Despite being commercialized as an advanced selective catalytic reduction catalyst, Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst still confronts the challenges of low-temperature activity and hydrothermal aging to meet the increasing demands on catalytic performance and lifetime. Therefore, numerous studies have been dedicated to the improvement of NH3-SCR performance for Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst. In this review, the recent progress in NH3-SCR performance optimization of Cu-SSZ-13 catalysts is summarized following three aspects: 1) modifying the Cu active sites; 2) introducing the heteroatoms or metal oxides; 3) regulating the morphology. Meanwhile, future perspectives and opportunities of Cu-SSZ-13 catalysts in reducing diesel engine NOx emissions are discussed.
Time course of estazolam in single-strand hair based on micro-segmental analysis after controlled oral administration
Authors: Xu Duoqi , Ji Jiaojiao , Xiang Ping , Yan Hui , Duan Gengli , Shen Min
Published: October 2022

The mechanism of estazolam incorporation into hair was investigated by studying the time course of estazolam along single-strand hair after two oral administration of estazolam at 28 days interval. Estazolam in single hair segments 0.4 mm in length was verified and quantified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The distributions of estazolam within a strand of hair (collected at 12 h, 28 days, and 56 days post-administration) were visualized by micro-segmental analysis. The highest estazolam concentration (1.5–9.9 pg/mm) was detected in the hair bulb region (S1), and it then decreased through the hair shaft to the distal end, with a small fluctuation (0.3–3 pg/mm) near the junction of the hair roots and shafts (S4–S7) 12 h after drug intake. These findings suggested that the incorporation of estazolam occurred in two regions, mainly in the hair bulb and to a lesser extent in the upper dermis zone. Models using internal temporal markers (TIMs) and temporal intervals (TIs) were constructed to estimate the day of estazolam ingestion. The estimation accuracy was within an average error of 1.7 mm and 3.0 mm between the calculated and actual positions, based on the TIMs and TIs 56 days after estazolam intake. These findings can help in further elucidation of the drug incorporation mechanism, which is crucial for interpreting hair analysis results used to reveal individual drug-use history.
Identification of Shewanella putrefaciens as a novel pathogen of the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and histopathological analysis of diseased fish
Authors: Jiang Xinyu , Wang Xiaoyu , Li Lei , Niu Chen , Pei Chao , Zhu Lei , Kong Xianghui
Published: October 2022

The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is an economically important aquaculture species in China, and its production has increased rapidly in recent years. Although Shewanella putrefaciens is known to infect several fish species, its role in infecting M. salmoides is relatively unknown. Here, we isolated a gram-negative bacterial strain (termed XX2021) from farmed largemouth bass. Based on the results of 16S rRNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses, the isolate was identified as S. putrefaciens. The virulence of XX2021 was dependent on water temperature, such as the LD50 values were 4.21×104, 7.26×105, and 2.47×106 CFU/g fish weight at 10°C, 18°C, and 25°C, respectively. Four virulent genes—including dksA, hem, lonR, and fur—were screened through a PCR assay. The results of an antibiotic resistance test showed that XX2021 was sensitive to kanamycin, cefotaxime, doxycycline, sulfamethoxazole, florfenicol, tetracycline, and gentamicin; showed intermediate susceptibility to streptomycin, ampicillin, and norfloxacin; and was resistant to nalidixic acid and penicillin. XX2021-infected fish showed clinical symptoms typical of S. putrefaciens infection. In addition, we re-isolated XX2021 from infected fish and confirmed its identity using 16S rRNA sequencing. Histopathological changes were observed in the intestine, head kidney, spleen, and liver of diseased fish. This study presents the first report of the pathogenic effects of S. putrefaciens in farmed largemouth bass. Our findings may help develop effective disease control strategies for aquaculture fish and prevent disease outbreaks under low water temperatures.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19
Authors: Zhang Jing , Sheng Hongguang , Tang Xiaoyi , Xia Panpan , Li Zhangwang , Xu Minxuan , Ma Jianyong , Shen Yunfeng , Yu Peng , Liu Xiao
Published: October 2022

The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has raised great concerns. The effect of NSAIDs on the clinical status of COVID-19 remains in question. Therefore, we performed a post-hoc analysis from the ORCHID trial. Patients with COVID-19 from the ORCHID trial were categorized into two groups according to NSAID use. The 28-day mortality, hospitalized discharge, and safety outcomes with NSAIDs for patients with COVID-19 were analyzed. A total of 476 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were included; 412 patients (86.5%) did not receive NSAIDs, while 64 patients (13.5%) took NSAIDs as regular home medication. Patients who took NSAIDs did not have a significant increase in the risk of 28-day mortality (fully adjusted: hazard ratio [HR]: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.52–2.42) in the Cox multivariate analysis. Moreover, NSAIDs did not decrease hospital discharge through 28 days (fully adjusted: HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.75–1.37). The results of a meta-analysis including 14 studies involving 48,788 patients with COVID-19 showed that the use of NSAIDs had a survival benefit (summary risk ratio [RR]: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.54–0.91) and decreased the risk of severe COVID-19 (summary: RR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.71–0.88). In conclusion, the use of NSAIDs is not associated with worse clinical outcomes, including 28-day mortality or hospital discharge in American adult hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Based on current evidence, the use of NSAIDs is safe and should not be cautioned against during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing trials should further assess in-hospital treatment with NSAIDs for patients with COVID-19.
One-stage resection of intravascular leiomyomatosis involving the right heart chamber through a single laparotomy
Authors: Wang Chaonan , Shao Jiang , Ma Xiao , Zhou Yan , Ma Guotao , Cheng Ninghai , Cao Dongyan , Lai Zhichao , Song Xitao , Li Kang , Liu Bao
Published: October 2022

Objectives

This retrospective study aimed to summarize the feasibility and experience of utilizing a one-stage operation via single laparotomy to treat intracardiac leiomyomatosis (ICL).

Materials and methods

A retrospective study of 13 patients with ICL who underwent one-stage resections was conducted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2015 to December 2021. All patients had their tumors removed by single laparotomy and were divided into a short venotomy group (6 cases) and an extensive venotomy group (7 cases). We reviewed the patient characteristics, surgical procedures, postoperative pathology, and perioperative and follow-up outcomes of all patients.

Results

All patients underwent surgery for ICL resection using single laparotomy with a 100% success rate. Two patients had tumors distal to the right ventricle (RV), 2 patients had tumors that protruded into the RV in diastole and were confined to the right atrium (RA) in systole, and the other 9 patients had tumors confined to the RA that did not involve the tricuspid valve. The tumor was completely resected in 10 patients, yet 3 patients had a residual tumor. Six patients completed the surgery with short venotomy, 7 completed the surgery with extensive venotomy, and 9 underwent simultaneous total hysterectomy and bilateral adnexal resection. The mean operative time was 370.8 ± 111.0 min, and the mean blood loss was 992.3 ± 994.5 mL. Intraoperative blood loss was lower (483.3 ± 213.7 ml vs. 1429.2 ± 1208.0 ml; P = 0.020) and operative time was shorter (286.5 ± 71.9 min vs. 443.1 ± 84.4 min; P=0.004) in the short venotomy group than in the extensive venotomy group. At a mean follow-up of 26.3 ± 18.8 months, 1 patient had a local recurrence in the pelvis, and 1 patient died of pancreatic cancer, while the remaining patients had no recurrence during follow-up.

Conclusion

One-stage resection of ICL patients by means of a single laparotomy is feasible and effective.
Beyond the “3 Ps”: A critical appraisal of the non-endocrine manifestations of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
Authors: Waguespack Steven G.
Published: October 2022

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), an autosomal-dominantly inherited tumor syndrome, is classically defined by tumors arising from the “3 Ps”: Parathyroids, Pituitary, and the endocrine Pancreas. From its earliest descriptions, MEN1 has been associated with other endocrine and non-endocrine neoplastic manifestations. High quality evidence supports a direct association between pathogenic MEN1 variants and neoplasms of the skin (angiofibromas and collagenomas), adipose tissue (lipomas and hibernomas), and smooth muscle (leiomyomas). Although CNS tumors, melanoma, and, most recently, breast cancer have been reported as MEN1 clinical manifestations, the published evidence to date is not yet sufficient to establish causality. Well-designed, multicenter prospective studies will help us to understand better the relationship of these tumors to MEN1, in addition to verifying the true prevalence and penetrance of the well-documented neoplastic associations. Nevertheless, patients affected by MEN1 should be aware of these non-endocrine manifestations, and providers should be encouraged always to think beyond the “3 Ps” when treating an MEN1 patient.
Growth differentiation factor-15 as a modulator of bone and muscle metabolism
Authors: Hong Seok Woo , Kang Jeong-Hyun
Published: October 2022

This study aims to clarify the potential role of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) as a myokine in bone metabolism and muscle function in females with osteoporosis. In total, 45 female participants (71.0 ± 8.5 years) with distal radius fractures were recruited. Participants were classified as healthy/osteopenic (n = 28) (CON) or osteoporotic (n = 17) (OP) according to their T-score from the areal bone mineral density (aBMD) of the femoral neck. Body mass index, upper arm and calf circumferences, and handgrip strength were assessed. Total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine aBMD was measured via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The focal bone quality of the distal radius was evaluated via 3D reconstructed computed tomographic images. Serum levels of GDF-15, insulin-like growth factor-1, and inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), as well as the corresponding mRNA levels in the pronator quadratus muscle were determined. Participants in the OP group had higher serum GDF-15 levels than those in the CON group. The mRNA levels of GDF-15, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the pronator quadratus muscle were significantly higher in the OP group than in the CON one. Levels of both serum GDF-15 and GDF-15 mRNA in muscle were positively correlated with age and negatively associated with the aBMD of the total hip and focal bone quality of the distal radius. Handgrip power was not correlated with circulating GDF-15 levels but was correlated with circumferences of the upper arm and calf, and levels of GDF-15 mRNA in muscle specimens. The mRNA levels of GDF-15 were correlated with those of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β. The mRNA levels of TNF-α were associated with circumferences of the upper arm and calf and with the aBMD of the total hip. The mRNA levels of GDF-15 in muscle were correlated with serum levels of GDF-15 and TNF-α. GDF-15 may have associations with bone metabolism in humans via paracrinological and endocrinological mechanisms. Maintenance of muscle mass and function would be influenced more by GDF-15 in muscle than by circulating GDF-15. The role of GDF-15 in bone metabolism and muscle homeostasis could be related to inflammatory responses.
Reduction in risk of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus by enhanced external counterpulsation
Authors: Zeng Chun-Mei , Zhao Yan-Mei , Zhong Xin-Jing , Wu Zi-Jia , Bai Jing , Qiu Shi-Yu , Li Yi-Yi
Published: October 2022

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) in the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with combined chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) by comparing the changes in renal function-related indicators in patients before and after coronary angiography (CAG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

There were 230 subjects consecutively included in the study. Of these, 30 cases with DM underwent rehydration therapy, and 200 cases underwent EECP therapy in addition to rehydration therapy, comprising 53 patients with DM and 147 patients without. All the patients were tested to measure the renal function indicators before and after CAG/PCI.

Results

The postoperative results of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), B2 microglobulin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in the three groups showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). After EECP therapy, patients with DM showed a significant decrease in BUN (9.1 ± 4.2 vs. 7.2 ± 3.0, t = 3.899, P < 0.001) and a significant increase in eGFR (41.5 ± 12.7 vs. 44.0 ± 15.6, t = −2.031, P = 0.047), while the patients without DM showed a more significant difference (P < 0.001). Patients with DM showed a lower percentage of elevated Scr (66.7% vs. 43.4%, P = 0.042), a higher percentage of elevated eGFR (30.0% vs. 52.8%, P = 0.044), and a lower incidence of CIN (16.7% vs. 3.8%, P = 0.042) after EECP therapy.

Conclusion

Treatment with EECP can reduce Scr in patients with combined CKD and DM post CAG/PCI, increase eGFR, and decrease the incidence of CIN.
Application of electrostatic separation and differential scanning calorimetry for microplastic analysis in river sediments
Authors: Kurzweg Lucas , Schirrmeister Sven , Hauffe Maurice , Adomat Yasmin , Socher Martin , Harre Kathrin
Published: October 2022

A method with the potential for comprehensive microplastic monitoring in river sediments is presented in this study. We introduce a novel combination of electrostatic separation, density separation, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Currently, microplastic analysis in sediments is limited in terms of sample masses, processing time, and analytical robustness. This work evaluated a method to process large sample masses efficiently and still obtain robust results. Four particulate matrices, including commercial sands and river sediments, were spiked with PCL, LD-PE, and PET microplastic particles (63–200 µm). Samples with a mass of 100 g and 1,000 g (sand only) contained 75 mg of each microplastic. After electrostatic separation, the mass of sand samples was reduced by 98%. Sediment samples showed a mass reduction of 70–78%. After density separation, the total mass reduction of sediment samples was above 99%. The increased concentration of total organic carbon seems to have the highest impact on mass reduction by electrostatic separation. Nevertheless, the recovery of microplastic was independent of the particulate matrix and was polymer-specific. In 100 g samples, the average recovery rates for PCL, LD-PE, and PET were 74 ± 9%, 93 ± 9%, and 120 ± 18%, respectively. The recoveries of microplastic from 1,000 g samples were 50 ± 8%, 114 ± 9%, and 82 ± 11%, respectively. In scale up experiments, high recoveries of all microplastics were observed with a decrease in standard deviation. Moreover, the biodegradable polymer PCL could be used as an internal standard to provide quality assurance of the process. This method can overcome the current limitations of routine microplastic analysis in particulate matrices. We conclude that this method can be applied for comprehensive microplastic monitoring in highly polluted sediments. More studies on electrostatic separation and polymer-specific recovery rates in complex matrices are proposed.