bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tıp Fakültesi Öğrencilerinde Kraniofasiyal Antropometrik Ölçümlerin Cinsiyete Bağlı Karşılaştırmalı İncelenmesi
Authors: ULCAY Tufan , KAMAŞAK Burcu
Published: June 2020

Yıllardan beri insan vücudunun anatomik yapısı, normal sınırları ve bunlarla ilgili standart ölçülerin ne olması gerektiği tartışılmış ve birbirleriyle olan ilişkileri incelenerek belirli normlar oluşturulmuştur. Kraniofasiyal antropometri, antropometrinin bir dalı olup canlı, kadavra ve radyolojik örneklerdeki baş ve yüz ölçümlerini kapsamaktadır. Çalışmamızda, Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi 1 ve 2. sınıf öğrencilerinin kraniyal ve fasiyal antropometrik ölçümleri ile ulusal normal değerleri belirlemeyi ve cinsiyetler arasındaki olası farklılıkları araştırmayı amaçladık. Bu doğrultuda çalışmamız, yaşları 18 ile 24 arasında değişmekte olan, kraniofasiyal anomalisi olmayan, toplam 80 tıp fakültesi öğrencisi üzerinde yapılmıştır. Öğrencilerin vücut kitle indeksi (BMI) hesaplanmış ve ölçümler için 19 antropometrik nokta belirlenmiştir. Baş, yüz, burun ve kulak ile ilgili ölçümlerden; maksimum baş genişliği, kraniyal taban genişliği, maksimum baş uzunluğu, maksimum yüz genişliği, burun genişliği, kulak uzunluğu ve kulak genişliği değişkenleri kız ve erkek grupları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulunmuştur (p<0.05). Minimum frontal genişlik, baş yüksekliği, total kraniofasiyal baş yüksekliği, mandibular genişlik ve burun yüksekliği değişkenleri kız ve erkek grupları arasında istatistiksel olarak yüksek derecede anlamlı fark bulunmuştur (p<0.001). Normal dağılım göstermeyen BMI değerleri kızlarda 21,4 (19,7-24,0), erkeklerde ise 23,5 (22,1-24,9) olarak hesaplanmıştır. Çalışmamızın sonucunda baş ve yüze ait verilerimiz cinsiyete bağlı olarak anlamlı farklılıklar göstermektedir. Çalışmamızda farklı uluslara ait verilerle karşılaştırma yapılmasının, toplumumuzun yapısal kraniofasiyal özelliklerinin belirlenmesi açısından önemli olacağı kanaatindeyiz.
Primary Sjogren's syndrome in practice of gastroenterologist: difficult issues of diagnosis and treatment (clinical observation)
Authors: Kononova A. G. , Kolbasnikov S. V. , Вel’diev S. N. , Belova N. O. , Zhirnova O. V.
Published: June 2020

Sjogren's syndrome is a systemic connective tissue disease characterized by pronounced clinical polymorphism, which can be encountered in outpatient practice by doctors of various specialties. The article discusses the problems of the resistant course of gastroesophageal reflux disease, which developed against the background of the primary Sjogren syndrome, on the example of clinical observation. The role of in-depth examination of the patient for the correct clinical diagnosis and the involvement of a team of specialists to achieve remission of Sjogren's syndrome is emphasized.
COVID‑19 coronavirus infection pandemic. Algorithm of actions of medical workers of clinic in identifying patients with suspected coronavirus
Authors: Nikiforov V. V. , Suranova T. G. , Mironov A. Yu.
Published: June 2020

The article provides a brief description of the disease caused by the SARS‑CoV‑2 coronavirus, and considers the leading measures to counteract the spread of infection. The algorithm of the actions of the medical staff of the clinic in identifying a patient with suspected COVID‑19 is presented.
Impaired liver function in first half of pregnancy in practice of obstetrician-gynecologist
Authors: Uspenskaya Yu. B. , Kuznetsova I. V.
Published: June 2020

The article discusses the most common non-infectious liver pathology that complicates the course of the first half of pregnancy. Supraphysiological increase in sex hormone levels and exogenous hormonal effects when using assisted reproductive technologies contribute to the early manifestation of intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnant women and can cause liver damage in the first half of pregnancy. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease during pregnancy is the most common cause of an unexplained increase in hepatic transaminases. An increase in liver transaminases before pregnancy and in its early stages is associated with the development of preeclampsia and perinatal complications. Safe hepatotropic drugs in the first half of pregnancy include ursodeoxycholic acid, essential phospholipids and solutions of low molecular weight sugars.
Determination of cut-off threshold of normalized ratio for determining lupus anticoagulant in normal plasma of donors – healthy volunteers (large network laboratory study results)
Authors: Pimenov M. S. , Vasilyev A. V. , Sadovnikov P. S. , Lyashenko O. V. , Sevruk Z. V. , Kopaeva L. B. , Skibo I. I. , Vavilova T. V.
Published: June 2020

Laboratory tests for lupus anticoagulant (LA) are necessary for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) diagnosis. Due to antibody heterogeneity, there are two test systems recommended to maximize detection rates: one of them is the dilute Russell’s viper venom time (dRVVT) and the second one is the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Current guidelines recommend getting the reference ranges and cut-off of the normalized screen/confirm ratio in dRVVT and APTT in every laboratory. The aim of this work is establishing of reference ranges and cut-off for the normalized ratio in dRVVT and APTT reagents using two type of sample preparation. The cut-off values of LA1/LA2 (37 °C, 30 minutes), LA1/LA2 (22–25 °C, 30 minutes), Actin FSL/Actin FS (37 °C, 30 minutes) and Actin FSL/Actin FS (22–25 °C, 30 minutes) pairs in the normalized ratio were 1.21, 1.18, 1.07 and 1.08, respectively.
Laser and cellular technologies in treatment of patients with focal alopecia
Authors: Buchaeva Z. K. , Alieva P. M.
Published: June 2020

Alopecia areata (OA) is the most common cause of hair loss, occurring in approximately 4.5 million people. The incidence of OA in the structure of dermatological diseases is approximately 2.1 %. Promising in terms of the treatment of alopecia is low-intensity laser therapy and cell technology.

Material and methods.The clinical study involved 98 patients with a verified diagnosis of focal alopecia (OA). Among them, 53 (53.9 %) women and 45 (46.1 %) men aged 18 to 52 years. Patients received combination therapy, including laser plasma therapy for lesions and percutaneous laser irradiation of blood.

Results.The use of combined laser therapy in patients with focal alopecia promotes the relief of inflammation in the foci, the growth of core hair and the restoration of trace elements, according to dermatoscopy, phototrichogram and biochemical studies of hair composition.
Combined method of conservative treatment of trophic venous ulcers
Authors: Strelkovich T. I.
Published: June 2020

This article provides information about the combined method of conservative treatment of venous trophic ulcers, using phototherapy with polychromatic polarized radiation and pulsed induction magnetotherapy in addition to the standard treatment. The article presents a clinical study of the effectiveness of this method in a group of 14 patients with venous trophic ulcers.
Normative data on transcranial magnetic stimulation motor evoked potential from the tongue
Authors: Voitenkov V. B. , Komantsev V. N. , Klimkin A. V. , Bedova M. A. , Ekusheva E. V. , Skripchenko N. V. , Grigoryev S. G.
Published: June 2020

Our aim was to determine parameters of motor evoked potential (MEP) from the tongue in healthy persons.

Methods. 25 healthy individuals (average age 22.4 ± 6.2 years, range 18–41 years, 12 females & 13 males) were enrolled. All underwent diagnostic TMS, single-pulse protocol, 90-sm round coil, Neiro-MS-D device. Coil was placed on Fz point, registration was performed by the surface electrode on the middle line of the tongue.

Results. MEP was registered in all cases, its average latency was 7.14 ± 0.63 ms, average amplitude — 1.79 ± 1.09 μV. There were no gender & age differences.

Conclusion. In healthy people aged 18–41 years MEP from the tongue may be registered in 100% of the cases; its average latency is 7.14 ± 0.63 ms, average amplitude — 1.79 ± 1.09 μV; there are no significant age & gender differences. TMS of the tongue according to this protocol is relatively simple, not time-and efforts-consuming & may be widely implemented in clinical neurophysiology.
Tefsirin Gayesi ve İşlevi: İbn Âşûr'a Göre Kur'ân Lafızlarında Anlam Genişlemesinin İmkân ve Sınırları
Authors: Ayyıldız Mahmut
Published: June 2020

Kur’ân-ı Kerim, insanlığa gönderilen son ilahi mesaj olması hasebiyle nüzul süreci tamamlandığı günden kıyamete dek kendisine tabi olanları dünya ve ahiret saadetine ulaştıracak geniş bir muhtevaya sahiptir. Nitekim Kur’ân’ın hem lafız hem de mana cihetiyle; geçmiş-gelecek, gizli-aşikâr her şeyi bilen, sonsuz ilim sahibi Allah’a (c.c.) ait bir kelam olması bu iddiayı doğrulayan en açık delilidir. Kur’ân, dil ve üslup bakımından bu muhtevayı muhataplarına taşıyacak güçlü bir anlatıma sahiptir. Kur’ân lafızlarını manaya delaleti yönüyle ele alıp inceleyen tefsir ilmi, tarih boyunca Allah’ın (c.c.) muradına karşılık gelen bu zengin muhtevayı muhatapların idrakine sunmayı gaye edinmiştir. Bununla birlikte tefsir literatürü içerisinde ayetlere ilişkin aktarılan her bilgiyi murad-ı ilahinin beyanı kapsamında değerlendirmek de doğru olmayacaktır. Nitekim bu bilgilerden kimisi doğrudan ayette kast olunan manayı açıklamaya yönelik iken kimisi ayetteki kastın muhatabın zihninde iyice yer etmesi için farklı ilimlerin örneklerinden yararlanılarak detaylandırılmasından ibarettir. Bu çerçevede Kur’ân lafızlarından çıkarılan anlamların murad-ı ilahi ile ilişkisine dair yapılacak tespit ve değerlendirmeler tefsir ilminin işlevini belirleyecektir. Son dönemde özellikle Arap dili, tefsir ve fıkıh alanındaki eserleriyle dikkatleri üzerine çeken Muhammed et-Tâhir İbn Âşûr (ö. 1973), kaleme aldığı hacimli tefsiri et-Tahrîr ve’t-tenvîr’in girişinde tefsir ilminin gayesi ve işlevi bağlamında Kur’ân lafızlarında anlam genişlemesinin imkân ve sınırlarına dair önemli tespitlerde bulunmaktadır. Bu makalede İbn Âşûr’un konuyla ilgili ortaya koyduğu ve tefsirde metodoloji arayışlarına öneri olarak sunulabilecek bu tespitler ve değerlendirmeler analiz edilmiştir.
FUNCTIONAL STATE OF THE PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLES IN PATIENTS WITH THE PELVIC PROLAPSE
Authors: Fomenko O. Yu. , Shelygin Yu. A. , Poryadin G. V. , Titov A. Yu. , Ponomarenko A. A. , Mudrov A. A. , Belousova S. V.
Published: June 2020

The article analyzes the functional state (evacuation functions, continence) and innervation of the pelvic floor muscles in patients with rectocele and combination rectocele with internal rectal intussusception, with complaints of obstructive defecation. AIM. The study of the functional state of the pelvic floor muscles in patients with obstructive defecation syndrome (ODS). MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study included 224 women with complaints of obstructive defecation, without pelvic floor surgery. On physical examination, all patients were detected signs of rectocele. The average age - 49,9±15,0 years. 52 (23,2%) patients had complaints to the fecal incontinence of various components. Diagnostic algorithm: physical examination defecography, rectal functional study (high resolution manometry (HRAM), evacuation test, comprehensive sphincterometry, pudendal nerve study). RESULTS. Frequency of functional disorders of defecation (FDD) according to objective methods of study among patients with ODS is high and amounts to 64.7%. In this case, there are no differences in the frequency FDD in patients with a combination of rectocele and internal intussusception compared to patients with only rectocele. There were no correlation between the frequency of anal sphincter failure and FDD. We identified some patients with subclinical incontinence, without complaints but with reduced manometric values and anal sphincter contractility. We have proved the absence of correlation between the presence or absence of pelvic floor muscle innervations violations in the form of neuropathy n. pudendus and the presence or absence of FDD. CONCLUSION. FDD can cause unsatisfactory results of surgical treatment of patients with ODS, even after the restoration of the anatomic relationships due to complaints of evacuation violation. ODS diagnostic algorithm should include not only an assessment of evacuationfunction (HRAM and evacuation test), but also sphincterometry, to assess the content function.
The Legitimation of Planning Processes as a Challenge to Metropolitan Governance
Authors: Growe Anna , Baker Mark , Ziafati Bafarasat Abbas
Published: June 2020

This study identifies three types of legitimation from the literature that can be applied within metropolitan governance in the contested sphere of spatial planning: input legitimation, throughput legitimation, and output legitimation. The reason for discussing different forms of legitimation within metropolitan governance is that, globally, only a relatively few metropolitan regions are governed directly through a single elected tier of government such as a regional council. Thus, governance mechanisms in most metropolitan regions involve some form of joint working or cross border governance initiatives that have to be legitimized in the absence of a single overarching elected council covering the whole metropolitan area. The main question discussed in this paper is, therefore, whether all three types of legitimation identified are utilized to legitimize governance mechanisms at the metropolitan scale with a specific focus—as a core part of metropolitan governance—on spatial planning processes and projects. In conceptual terms, our typology structures fuzzy lines of legitimation across the three (the “how”, “who” and “what”) suggested aspects of metropolitan governance in the literature. From this point, we draw on cross-case reviews of variables involved in the design, application, and outcome of input, throughput, and output legitimation in Germany and England, chosen because neither has a formal tier of metropolitan-wide government despite their differences in terms of their highly regionalised and highly centralised national government contexts respectively. This relational methodology helps us to learn about the contextual dynamics of how the three types of legitimation might reinforce one another in different international settings, leading to the overall conclusion that they will work best in combination, although output legitimation has a distinctive capacity to work in less formal settings.
Characterization of Extremely Drug-Resistant and Hypervirulent Acinetobacter baumannii AB030
Authors: Singh Manu , De Silva P. Malaka , Al-Saadi Yasser , Switala Jacek , Loewen Peter C. , Hausner Georg , Chen Wangxue , Hernandez Ismael , Castillo-Ramirez Santiago , Kumar Ayush
Published: June 2020

Acinetobacter baumannii is an important nosocomial bacterial pathogen. Multidrug-resistant isolates of A. baumannii are reported worldwide. Some A. baumannii isolates display resistance to nearly all antibiotics, making treatment of infections very challenging. As the need for new and effective antibiotics against A. baumannii becomes increasingly urgent, there is a need to understand the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and virulence in this organism. In this work, comparative genomics was used to understand the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and virulence in AB030, an extremely drug-resistant and hypervirulent strain of A. baumannii that is a representative of a recently emerged lineage of A. baumannii International Clone V. In order to characterize AB030, we carried out a genomic and phenotypic comparison with LAC-4, a previously described hyper-resistant and hypervirulent isolate. AB030 contains a number of antibiotic resistance- and virulence-associated genes that are not present in LAC-4. A number of these genes are present on mobile elements. This work shows the importance of characterizing the members of new lineages of A. baumannii in order to determine the development of antibiotic resistance and virulence in this organism.
Optimizing Antibiotic Treatment Strategies for Neonates and Children: Does Implementing Extended or Prolonged Infusion Provide any Advantage?
Authors: Costenaro Paola , Minotti Chiara , Cuppini Elena , Barbieri Elisa , Giaquinto Carlo , Donà Daniele
Published: June 2020

Optimizing the use of antibiotics has become mandatory, particularly for the pediatric population where limited options are currently available. Selecting the dosing strategy may improve overall outcomes and limit the further development of antimicrobial resistance. Time-dependent antibiotics optimize their free concentration above the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) when administered by continuous infusion, however evidences from literature are still insufficient to recommend its widespread adoption. The aim of this review is to assess the state-of-the-art of intermittent versus prolonged intravenous administration of antibiotics in children and neonates with bacterial infections. We identified and reviewed relevant literature by searching PubMed, from 1 January 1 2000 to 15 April 2020. We included studies comparing intermittent versus prolonged/continuous antibiotic infusion, among the pediatric population. Nine relevant articles were selected, including RCTs, prospective and retrospective studies focusing on different infusion strategies of vancomycin, piperacillin/tazobactam, ceftazidime, cefepime and meropenem in the pediatric population. Prolonged and continuous infusions of antibiotics showed a greater probability of target attainment as compared to intermittent infusion regimens, with generally good clinical outcomes and safety profiles, however its impact in terms on efficacy, feasibility and toxicity is still open, with few studies led on children and adult data not being fully extendable.
Multimodal Role of Amino Acids in Microbial Control and Drug Development
Authors: Idrees Muhammad , Mohammad Afzal R. , Karodia Nazira , Rahman Ayesha
Published: June 2020

Amino acids are ubiquitous vital biomolecules found in all kinds of living organisms including those in the microbial world. They are utilised as nutrients and control many biological functions in microorganisms such as cell division, cell wall formation, cell growth and metabolism, intermicrobial communication (quorum sensing), and microbial-host interactions. Amino acids in the form of enzymes also play a key role in enabling microbes to resist antimicrobial drugs. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and microbial biofilms are posing a great threat to the world’s human and animal population and are of prime concern to scientists and medical professionals. Although amino acids play an important role in the development of microbial resistance, they also offer a solution to the very same problem i.e., amino acids have been used to develop antimicrobial peptides as they are highly effective and less prone to microbial resistance. Other important applications of amino acids include their role as anti-biofilm agents, drug excipients, drug solubility enhancers, and drug adjuvants. This review aims to explore the emerging paradigm of amino acids as potential therapeutic moieties.
Andrographis paniculata and Its Bioactive Diterpenoids Against Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Keratinocytes
Authors: Mussard Eugenie , Jousselin Sundy , Cesaro Annabelle , Legrain Brigitte , Lespessailles Eric , Esteve Eric , Berteina-Raboin Sabine , Toumi Hechmi
Published: June 2020

Andrographis paniculata was widely used in traditional herbal medicine to treat various diseases. This study explored the potential anti-aging activity of Andrographis paniculata in cutaneous cells. Human, adult, low calcium, high temperature (HaCaT) cells were treated with methanolic extract (ME), andrographolide (ANDRO), neoandrographolide (NEO), 14-deoxyandrographolide (14DAP) and 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide (14DAP11-12). Oxidative stress and inflammation were induced by hydrogen peroxide and lipopolysaccharide/TNF-α, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured by fluorescence using a 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) probe and cytokines were quantified by ELISA for interleukin-8 (IL-8) or reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Hyaluronic acid (HA) secretion was determined by an ELISA. Our results show a decrease in ROS production and TNF-α expression by ME (5 µg/mL) in HaCaT under pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory conditions, respectively. ME protected HaCaT against oxidative stress and inflammation. Our findings confirm that ME can be used for the development of bioactive compounds against epidermal damage.
Isosamidin from Peucedanum japonicum Roots Prevents Methylglyoxal-Induced Glucotoxicity in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells via Suppression of ROS-Mediated Bax/Bcl-2
Authors: Do Moon Ho , Lee Jae Hyuk , Ahn Jongmin , Hong Min Jee , Kim Jinwoong , Kim Sun Yeou
Published: June 2020

Methylglyoxal (MGO) is a highly reactive metabolite of glucose. Elevated levels of MGO induce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cause cell death in endothelial cells. Vascular endothelial cell damage by ROS has been implicated in the progression of diabetic vascular complications, cardiovascular diseases, and atherosclerosis. In this study, the protective effect of isosamidin, isolated from Peucedanum japonicum roots, on MGO-induced apoptosis was investigated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Among the 20 compounds isolated from P. japonicum, isosamidin showed the highest effectiveness in inhibiting MGO-induced apoptosis of HUVECs. Pretreatment of HUVECs with isosamidin significantly prevented the generation of ROS and cell death induced by MGO. Isosamidin prevented MGO-induced apoptosis in HUVECs by downregulating the expression of Bax and upregulating the expression of Bcl-2. MGO treatment activated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), such as p38, c-Jun N terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). In contrast, pretreatment with isosamidin strongly inhibited the activation of p38 and JNK. Furthermore, isosamidin caused the breakdown of the crosslinks of the MGO-derived advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These findings suggest that isosamidin from P. japonicum may be used as a preventive agent against MGO-mediated endothelial dysfunction in diabetes. However, further study of the therapeutic potential of isosamidin on endothelial dysfunction needs to explored in vivo models.
Application of Thermoeconomics in HVAC Systems
Authors: Picallo-Perez Ana , Sala José María , Hernández Arrate
Published: June 2020

In order to achieve a sustainable society, the energy consumption in buildings must be reduced. The first step toward achieving this goal is to detect their weak points and analyze the energy-saving potential. to detect the units with higher consumption and cost. Exergy is very useful for analyzing pieces of equipment, systems or entire buildings. It measures not only the quantity of energy but also its quality. If the exergy is combined with economic analysis, this gives rise to thermoeconomics, and the system can be checked systematically and optimized from the perspective of economics. In this work, exergy methods and thermoeconomic analysis were applied to a building thermal system. Due to its complexity, it is necessary to adapt some concepts to translate the exergy application from industry to buildings. The purpose of this work is to overcome these shortcomings and to deal with energy-saving actions for buildings. To this end, a thermoeconomic study of a facility that covers the heating and domestic hot water (DHW) demands of 176 dwellings in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country) using two boilers and two cogeneration engines was analyzed. The irreversibility associated with each piece of equipment was quantified, and the costs associated with resources, investment and maintenance were calculated for each flow and, consequently, for the final flows, that is, electricity (11.37 c€/kWh), heating (7.42 c€/kWh) and DHW (7.25 c€/kWh). The results prove that the boilers are the lesser efficient components (with an exergy efficiency of 15%). Moreover, it is demonstrated that micro-cogeneration engines not only save energy because they have higher exergy efficiency (36%), but they are also economically attractive, even if they require a relatively high investment. Additionally, thermoeconomic costs provide very interesting information and underscore the necessity to adapt the energy quality in between the generation and demand.
Effect of the Surface Chemical Composition and of Added Metal Cation Concentration on the Stability of Metal Nanoparticles Synthesized by Pulsed Laser Ablation in Water
Authors: Mateos Helena , Picca Rosaria A. , Mallardi Antonia , Dell’Aglio Marcella , De Giacomo Alessandro , Cioffi Nicola , Palazzo Gerardo
Published: June 2020

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) made of gold, silver, and platinum have been synthesized by means of pulsed laser ablation in liquid aqueous solution. Independently from the metal nature, all NPs have an average diameter of 10 ± 5 nm. The ζ-potential values are: −62 ± 7 mV for gold, −44 ± 2 mV for silver and −58 ± 3 for platinum. XPS analysis demonstrates the absence of metal oxides in the case of gold and silver NPs. In the case of platinum NPs, 22% of the particle surface is ascribed to platinum oxidized species. This points to a marginal role of the metal oxides in building the negative charge that stabilizes these colloidal suspensions. The investigation of the colloidal stability of gold NPs in the presence of metal cations shows these NPs can be destabilized by trace amounts of selected metal ions. The case of Ag+ is paradigmatic since it is able to reduce the NP ζ-potential and to induce coagulation at concentrations as low as 3 μM, while in the case of K+ the critical coagulation concentration is around 8 mM. It is proposed that such a huge difference in destabilization power between monovalent cations can be accounted for by the difference in the reduction potential.
An Experimental Study on the Dynamic Behavior of an Ultra High-Strength Concrete
Authors: Gunay Ahmet Reha , Karadeniz Sami , Kaya Mustafa
Published: June 2020

Ultra-high-strength concrete is a newly developed construction material that has a minimum 120 MPa or higher compressive strength. Recently, the usage of high-strength and ultra-high-strength concretes has become widespread due to the enhancement of the concrete technology. Many civil engineering structures constructed by using concrete materials are usually subjected to, in addition to static loads, dynamic loads due to earthquakes, wind and storm, impact and blast, which take place under high energy and high strain rate values. The effects of such loadings on the structure must be understood thoroughly. In recent years, the withstanding of a structure on these loading conditions has become a crucial issue for its impact on the economy and human safety. One of the approaches to fulfill these requirements is to develop high-strength or ultra high-strength concretes (UHSCs). In this study, an ultra-high-strength concrete with a compressive strength of 135 MPa was designed and developed. In order to determine the dynamic behavior of this UHSC, the specimens at three height/diameter ratios (approximately, 0.6, 1.0 and 1.2) were extracted from the prepared concrete mixtures. These concrete specimens were tested to determine both the quasi-static and dynamic compressive behaviors of the developed concrete. In the quasi-static compression tests, cylindrical specimens and a conventional compressive testing machine were used. In order to study the dynamic compressive behavior, a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) test setup was used. In this test system, the time variations of compressive strength, the strain and strain rates under uniaxial pressure loading were experimentally evaluated and the deformation and fracturing processes of the specimens were recorded using a high-speed camera. The test results, based on the testing of 21 different specimens, have shown that the dynamic compressive strength values of the developed concrete varied in the range of 143 to 253 MPa, while the strain rate values varied in the range of 353 s−1 to 1288 s−1. Using the data generated in the SHPB tests, the parameters present in a Johnson–Holmquist–Cook concrete material model, which is used in numerical studies on the high strain rate behavior of concretes, were evaluated.
Photon Subtraction-Induced Plug-and-Play Scheme for Enhancing Continuous-Variable Quantum Key Distribution with Discrete Modulation
Authors: Yu Chao , Zou Shanhua , Mao Yun , Guo Ying
Published: June 2020

Establishing high-rate secure communications is a potential application of continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) but still challenging for the long-distance transmission technology compatible with modern optical communication systems. Here, we propose a photon subtraction-induced plug-and-play scheme for enhancing CVQKD with discrete-modulation (DM), avoiding the traditional loopholes opened by the transmission of local oscillator. A photon subtraction operation is involved in the plug-and-play scheme for detection while resisting the extra untrusted source noise of the DM-CVQKD system. We analyze the relationship between secret key rate, channel losses, and untrusted source noise. The simulation result shows that the photon-subtracted scheme enhances the performance in terms of the maximal transmission distance and make up for the deficiency of the original system effectively. Furthermore, we demonstrate the influence of finite-size effect on the secret key rate which is close to the practical implementation.
Spectrogram Classification Using Dissimilarity Space
Authors: Nanni Loris , Rigo Andrea , Lumini Alessandra , Brahnam Sheryl
Published: June 2020

In this work, we combine a Siamese neural network and different clustering techniques to generate a dissimilarity space that is then used to train an SVM for automated animal audio classification. The animal audio datasets used are (i) birds and (ii) cat sounds, which are freely available. We exploit different clustering methods to reduce the spectrograms in the dataset to a number of centroids that are used to generate the dissimilarity space through the Siamese network. Once computed, we use the dissimilarity space to generate a vector space representation of each pattern, which is then fed into an support vector machine (SVM) to classify a spectrogram by its dissimilarity vector. Our study shows that the proposed approach based on dissimilarity space performs well on both classification problems without ad-hoc optimization of the clustering methods. Moreover, results show that the fusion of CNN-based approaches applied to the animal audio classification problem works better than the stand-alone CNNs.
Assessment of Gaseous and Particulate Emissions of a Euro 6d-Temp Diesel Vehicle Driven >1300 km Including Six Diesel Particulate Filter Regenerations
Authors: Valverde Victor , Giechaskiel Barouch
Published: June 2020

Diesel-fueled vehicles have classically had high particulate and NOx emissions. The introduction of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) and Selective Catalytic Reduction for NOx (SCR) systems have decreased the Particle Number (PN) and NOx emissions, respectively, to very low levels. However, there are concerns regarding the emissions released during the periodic DPF regenerations, which are necessary to clean the filters. The absolute emission levels and the frequency of the regenerations determine the contribution of regenerations, but where they happen (city or highway) is also important due to different contributions to human exposure. In this study, we measured regulated and non-regulated emissions of a Euro 6d-temp vehicle both in the laboratory and on the road. PN and NOx emissions were similar in the laboratory and on-the road, ranging around 1010 p/km and 50 mg/km, respectively. Six regeneration events took place during the 1300 km driven, with an average distance between regeneration events of only 200 km. During regeneration events, the laboratory limits for PN and NOx, although not applicable, were exceeded in one of the two measured events. However, the on-road emissions were below the applicable not-to-exceed limits when regenerations occurred. The weighted PN and NOx emissions over the regeneration distance were approximately two times below the applicable limits. The N2O emissions were <14 mg/km and NH3 at instrument background level (<1 ppm), reaching 8 ppm only during regeneration. The results of this study indicate that due to the short interval between regenerations, studies of diesel vehicles should report the emissions during regeneration events.
The Structure of Blood Coagulation Factor XIII Is Adapted to Oxidation
Authors: Vasilyeva Alexandra , Yurina Lyubov , Shchegolikhin Alexander , Indeykina Maria , Bugrova Anna , Kononikhin Alexey , Nikolaev Eugene , Rosenfeld Mark
Published: June 2020

The blood coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) plays a critical role in supporting coagulation and fibrinolysis due to both the covalent crosslinking of fibrin polymers, rendering them resistant to plasmin lysis, and the crosslinking of fibrin to proteins of the fibrinolytic system. The hypochlorite-mediated oxidation of the blood coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) at the different stages of its enzymatic activation is studied for the first time in this paper. The consolidated results obtained with the aid of MS/MS, electrophoresis, and colorimetry demonstrate that in the process of FXIII’s conversion into FXIIIa, the vulnerability of FXIII to hypochlorite-induced oxidation increased as follows: native FXIII < FXIII + Ca2+ << FXIII + Ca2+/thrombin. The modification sites were detected among all the structural regions of the catalytic FXIII-A subunit, except for the activation peptide, and embraced several sushi domains of the FXIII-B subunit. Oxidized amino acid residues belonging to FXIII-A are surface-exposed residues and can perform an antioxidant role. The regulatory FXIII-B subunits additionally contribute to the antioxidant defense of the catalytic center of the FXIII-A subunits. Taken together, the present data along with the data from previous studies demonstrate that the FXIII proenzyme structure is adapted to oxidation.
Emerging Roles of RNA 3′-end Cleavage and Polyadenylation in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Therapy of Human Disorders
Authors: Nourse Jamie , Spada Stefano , Danckwardt Sven
Published: June 2020

A crucial feature of gene expression involves RNA processing to produce 3′ ends through a process termed 3′ end cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA). This ensures the nascent RNA molecule can exit the nucleus and be translated to ultimately give rise to a protein which can execute a function. Further, alternative polyadenylation (APA) can produce distinct transcript isoforms, profoundly expanding the complexity of the transcriptome. CPA is carried out by multi-component protein complexes interacting with multiple RNA motifs and is tightly coupled to transcription, other steps of RNA processing, and even epigenetic modifications. CPA and APA contribute to the maintenance of a multitude of diverse physiological processes. It is therefore not surprising that disruptions of CPA and APA can lead to devastating disorders. Here, we review potential CPA and APA mechanisms involving both loss and gain of function that can have tremendous impacts on health and disease. Ultimately we highlight the emerging diagnostic and therapeutic potential CPA and APA offer.
Effects of Biogenic Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Growth and Oxidative Stress Response in Flax Seedlings vs. In Vitro Cultures: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Zaeem Afifa , Drouet Samantha , Anjum Sumaira , Khurshid Razia , Younas Muhammad , Blondeau Jean Philippe , Tungmunnithum Duangjai , Giglioli-Guivarc’h Nathalie , Hano Christophe , Abbasi Bilal Haider
Published: June 2020

Linum usitatissimum biosynthesizes lignans and neolignans that are diet and medicinally valuable metabolites. In recent years, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) have emerged as potential elicitors for the enhanced biosynthesis of commercial secondary metabolites. Herein, we investigated the influence of biogenic ZnONPs on both seedlings and stem-derived callus of L. usitatissimum. Seedlings of L. usitatissimum grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with ZnONPs (1–1000 mg/L) presented the highest antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities at 500 mg/L, while the maximum plantlet length was achieved with 10 mg/L. Likewise, the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed the enhanced production of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, lariciresinol diglucoside, dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol glucoside and guaiacylglycerol-β-coniferyl alcohol ether glucoside in the plantlets grown on the 500 mg/L ZnONPs. On the other hand, the stem explants were cultured on MS media comprising 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (1 mg/L) and ZnONPs (1–50 mg/L). The highest antioxidant and other activities with an enhanced rooting effect were noted in 25 mg/L ZnONP-treated callus. Similarly, the maximum metabolites were also accumulated in 25 mg/L ZnONP-treated callus. In both systems, the dose-dependent production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was recorded, resulting in oxidative damage with a more pronounced toxic effect on in vitro cultures. Altogether, the results from this study constitute a first comprehensive view of the impact of ZnONPs on the oxidative stress and antioxidant responses in seedlings vs. in vitro cultures.
Profiling and Role of Bioactive Molecules from Puntius sophore (Freshwater/Brackish Fish) Skin Mucus with Its Potent Antibacterial, Antiadhesion, and Antibiofilm Activities
Authors: Patel Mitesh , Ashraf Mohammad Saquib , Siddiqui Arif Jamal , Ashraf Syed Amir , Sachidanandan Manojkumar , Snoussi Mejdi , Adnan Mohd , Hadi Sibte
Published: June 2020

Epidermal fish mucus comprises of diverse bioactive metabolites which plays an immense role in defense mechanisms and other important cellular activities. Primarily, this study aims to screen the unexplored mucus extract of Puntius sophore (P. sophore) for its antagonistic potential against common pathogens, which are commonly implicated in foodborne and healthcare associated infections, with effects on their adhesion and biofilm formation. Profiling of the skin mucus was carried out by High Resolution-Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (HR-LCMS), followed by antibacterial activity and assessment of antibiofilm potency and efficacy on the development, formation, and texture of biofilms. Furthermore, bacterial cell damage, viability within the biofilm, checkerboard test, and cytotoxicity were also evaluated. As a result, P. sophore mucus extract was found to be effective against all tested strains. It also impedes the architecture of biofilm matrix by affecting the viability and integrity of bacterial cells within biofilms and reducing the total exopolysaccharide content. A synergy was observed between P. sophore mucus extract and gentamicin for Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), whereas, an additive effect for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Thus, our findings represent the potent bioactivities of P. sophore mucus extract for the first time, which could be explored further as an alternative to antibiotics or chemically synthesized antibiofilm agents.
Plant Part-Derived Carbon Dots for Biosensing
Authors: Zulfajri Muhammad , Abdelhamid Hani Nasser , Sudewi Sri , Dayalan Sandhiya , Rasool Akhtar , Habib Ahsan , Huang Genin Gary
Published: June 2020

Carbon dots (CDs) are a new cluster of carbon atoms with particle size less than 10 nm. CDs also exhibit interesting fluorescence (FL) properties. CDs are attractive because of their fascinating characteristics including low toxicity, good water solubility, and tremendous biocompatibility. Recently, CDs have been investigated as biosensors for numerous target analytes. Meanwhile, the utilization of cheap and renewable natural resources not only fulfills the pressing requirement for the large-scale synthesis of CDs but also encourages the establishment of sustainable applications. The preparation of CDs using natural resources, i.e., plants, offers several advantages as it is inexpensive, eco-friendly, and highly available in the surroundings. Plant parts are readily available natural resources as the starting materials to produce CDs with different characteristics and attractive applications. Several review articles are now available covering the synthesis, properties, and applications of CDs. However, there is no specific and focused review literature discussing plant part-derived CDs for biosensing applications. To handle this gap, we provide a review of the progress of CDs derived from various plant parts with their synthesis methods, optical properties, and biosensing applications in the last five years. We highlight the synthesis methods and then give an overview of their optical properties and applications as biosensors for various biomolecules and molecules in biological samples. Finally, we discuss some future perspectives for plant part-derived CDs for better material development and applications.
Carbonaceous Nanomaterials Employed in the Development of Electrochemical Sensors Based on Screen-Printing Technique—A Review
Authors: Bounegru Alexandra Virginia , Apetrei Constantin
Published: June 2020

This paper aims to revise research on carbonaceous nanomaterials used in developing sensors. In general, nanomaterials are known to be useful in developing high-performance sensors due to their unique physical and chemical properties. Thus, descriptions were made for various structural features, properties, and manner of functionalization of carbon-based nanomaterials used in electrochemical sensors. Of the commonly used technologies in manufacturing electrochemical sensors, the screen-printing technique was described, highlighting the advantages of this type of device. In addition, an analysis was performed in point of the various applications of carbon-based nanomaterial sensors to detect analytes of interest in different sample types.
Preparation and Photochromic Performance of Homogeneous Phase Nitrocellulose Membrane Grafting Spirooxazine Moieties
Authors: Sun Bin-Bin , Yao Bing-Hua , He Yang-Qing , Yang Bo
Published: June 2020

The synthesis of 1,3,3-trimethyl-9′-acryloxyspiro[indoline-2,3′(3H)naphtho[2,1-b][l,4]-oxazine] (AISO) was carried out by catalytic esterification of 1,3,3-trimethyl-9′-hydroxyspiro-[indoline-2,3′(3H)naphtho[2,1-b][l,4]oxazine] (SO–OH) and acrylic acid in the presence of 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and N-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP). Then, the synthesis of the target copolymer (NC-g-AISO) was was carried out by benzoyl peroxide (BPO)-induced graft copolymerization of the AISO monomer onto nitrocellulose (NC) in a homogeneous methyl isobutyl ketone medium. The structure of NC-g-AISO was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy, 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The photochromic properties of NC-g-AISO were investigated by examining UV–Vis spectra in ethyl acetate solution and solid membrane. Compared with the AISO monomer in ethyl acetate solution, the thermal color decay stability of the colored form of NC-g-AISO in ethyl acetate solution and in solid membrane improved significantly. The thermal color decay reaction rate constants in ethyl acetate solution and membrane at 25 °C were 1.77 × 10–2 and 1.36 × 10–3 s–1, respectively, fitted using the first-order reaction equation. After ten photochromic cycles, the relative absorption intensity of the colored form of NC-g-AISO decreased by 0.85%, indicating that the NC-g-AISO membrane has good reversible photochromic behavior.
Simulating the Hysteretic Characteristics of Hard Magnetic Materials Based on Nd2Fe14B and Ce2Fe14B Intermetallics
Authors: Kolchugina Natalia B. , Zheleznyi Mark V. , Savchenko Aleksandr G. , Menushenkov Vladimir P. , Burkhanov Gennadii S. , Koshkid’ko Yurii S. , Ćwik Jacek , Dormidontov Nikolai A. , Skotnicova Katerina , Kursa Miroslav , Prokofev Pavel A.
Published: June 2020

The Ce2Fe14B intermetallic, like Nd2Fe14B, has the tetragonal Nd2Fe14B-type structure (space group P42/mnm), in which Ce ions have a mixed-valence state characterized by the coexistence of trivalent 4f1 and tetravalent 4f0 electron states. Despite the fact that the saturation magnetization, magnetic anisotropy field, and Curie temperature of the Ce2Fe14B intermetallic are substantially lower than those of Nd2Fe14B and Pr2Fe14B, Ce2Fe14B retains the capacity of being able to be used in the manufacturing of rare-earth permanent magnets. Moreover, at low temperatures, the anisotropy field of Се2Fe14B is higher than that of Nd2Fe14B, and Се2Fe14B does not undergo the spin-reorientation transition. In this respect, studies of (Nd, Ce)-Fe-B alloys, which are intended for the improvement of the service characteristics-to-cost ratio, are very relevant. A model and algorithm for calculating the hysteresis loops of uniaxial hard magnetic materials with allowance for the K1 and K2 (K2 > 0 and K1 > 0 and K1 < 0) magnetic anisotropy constants were developed and allowed us to obtain data on their effect on the parameters of hysteresis loops for a wide temperature range (0–300 K). The simulation and analysis of hysteresis loops of the quasi-ternary intermetallics (Nd1−хСех)2Fe14B (х = 0–1) was performed. Results of the simulation indicate that the alloying of the Nd2Fe14B intermetallic with Ce to x = 0.94 (1) does not completely eliminate the negative effect of spin-reorientation phase transition on the residual magnetization of the (Nd1−хCeх)2Fe14B intermetallic and (2) slightly decreases the slope of magnetization reversal curve.
The Application of an Iterative Structure to the Delay-and-Sum and the Delay-Multiply-and-Sum Beamformers in Breast Microwave Imaging
Authors: Reimer Tyson , Solis-Nepote Mario , Pistorius Stephen
Published: June 2020

Breast microwave imaging (BMI) is a potential breast cancer screening method. This manuscript presents a novel iterative delay-and-sum (DAS) based reconstruction algorithm for BMI. This iterative-DAS (itDAS) algorithm uses a forward radar model to iteratively update an image estimate. A variation of the itDAS reconstruction algorithm that uses the delay-multiply-and-sum (DMAS) beamformer was also implemented (the itDMAS algorithm). Both algorithms were used to reconstruct images from experimental scans of an array of 3D-printed MRI-based breast phantoms performed with a clinical BMI system. The signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) and signal-to-mean ratio (SMR) were used to compare the performance of the itDAS and itDMAS methods to the DAS and DMAS beamformers. While no significant difference between the itDAS and itDMAS methods was observed in most images, the itDAS algorithm produced reconstructions that had significantly higher SMR than the non-iterative methods, increasing contrast by as much as 19 dB over DAS and 13 dB over DMAS. The itDAS algorithm also increased the SCR of reconstructions by up to 5 dB over DAS and 4 dB over DMAS, indicating that both high-intensity and background clutter are reduced in images reconstructed by the itDAS algorithm.