bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective Effect and Mechanism of Melatonin on Cisplatin-Induced Ovarian Damage in Mice
Authors: Xing Fen , Wang Mengyao , Ding Zhiming , Zhang Junhui , Ding Simin , Shi Lingge , Xie Qinge , Ahmad Muhammad Jamil , Wei Zhaolian , Tang Liang , Liang Dan , Cao Yunxia , Liu Yajing
Published: December 2022

Chemotherapeutics’ development has enhanced the survival rate of cancer patients; however, adverse effects of chemotherapeutics on ovarian functions cause fertility loss in female cancer patients. Cisplatin (CP), an important chemotherapeutic drug for treating solid tumors, has adversely affected ovarian function. Melatonin (MT) has been shown to have beneficial effects on ovarian function owing to its antioxidative function. In this research, an animal model was established to explore the effect of MT on CP-induced ovarian damage. Immunohistochemical analysis and Western blot were also used to explore its mechanism. This study reported that MT protects mouse ovaries from CP-induced damage. Specifically, MT significantly prevented CP-induced ovarian reserve decline by maintaining AMH and BMP15 levels. We also found that MT ameliorated CP-induced cell cycle disorders by up-regulating CDC2 expression, and inhibited CP-induced ovarian inflammation by decreasing IL-1β and IL-18 levels. Moreover, MT protected the ovary from CP-induced mitochondrial damage, as reflected by restoring mitochondria-related protein expression. Furthermore, CP caused ovarian apoptosis, as indicated by up-regulated BAX expression. MT was also shown to activate the MAPK pathway. Our results showed that MT could ameliorate ovarian damage induced by CP, implying that MT may be a viable alternative to preserve female fertility during CP chemotherapy.
Real-Life Effectiveness of Subcutaneous Immune Therapy with Carbamylated Monomeric Allergoids on Mite, Grass, and Pellitory Respiratory Allergy: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Di Gioacchino Mario , Della Valle Loredana , Mangifesta Rocco , Lumaca Arianna , Cipollone Francesco , Frati Franco , Compalati Enrico , Lekli Eralda , Loloci Etleva Qirco , Santilli Francesca
Published: December 2022

Background: real-life studies are encouraged to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of allergen immunotherapy (AIT). In this context, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess the effectiveness and safety of carbamylated monomeric allergoid subcutaneous immunotherapy (MA-SCIT), along with patient satisfaction. Methods: a total of 291 patients with rhinoconjunctivitis with or without asthma with inhalant (house dust mite, grass, and pellitory) allergies were enrolled in this study. Perceived efficacy and perceived satisfaction with MA-SCIT, symptom score by VAS, ARIA classification of rhinitis, drug consumption, number of asthma worsening episodes, and asthma symptom control were evaluated by questionnaires before, after one year, at the end of treatment, and after one or two years of MA-SCIT. Results: the overall symptom score significantly decreased over the years of MA-SCIT, irrespective of specific sensitization (p < 0.01). There was a substantial amelioration of rhinitis severity, with a significant reduction (p < 0.01) in drug use. A significant reduction was observed in the asthma symptom VAS score and asthma-worsening episodes requiring systemic steroids. None of the patients reported any severe adverse reactions. Finally, 90% of the patients reported full satisfaction with the treatment. Conclusions: the study showed that AIT with carbamylated monomeric allergoids of grass, pellitory, and mites was effective and well tolerated by patients.
The Clinical Course and Outcomes of Patients Hospitalized Due to COVID-19 during Three Pandemic Waves in Poland: A Single Center Observational Study
Authors: Bieńkowski Carlo , Kowalska Justyna D. , Paciorek Marcin , Wasilewski Piotr , Uliczny Paweł , Garbacz-Łagożna Ewelina , Pihowicz Andrzej , Mrozińska Monika , Dyda Tomasz , Makowiecki Michał , Puła Joanna , Horban Andrzej
Published: December 2022

Background: The first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Poland was reported on 4 March 2020. We aim to compare the clinical course and outcomes of patients hospitalized in the Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Warsaw due to COVID-19 during three pandemic waves. Materials and methods: The medical data were collected for all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 hospitalized in our hospital from 6 March 2020 till 30 November 2021. COVID-19 diagnosis was confirmed by nasopharyngeal swabs using real-time polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR) or SARS-CoV-2 antigen test. COVID-19 waves were defined based on the number and dynamics of cases. Results: Altogether, 2138 patient medical records were analyzed. The majority of the cohort was male (1235/2138, 57.8%), and the median age was 65 years [IQR: 50–74 years]. Patients hospitalized during the third wave had lower oxygen saturation on admission (p < 0.001) and were more likely to receive oxygen supplementation (p < 0.001). Serious complications, including pneumothorax (p < 0.001) and thromboembolic complications (p < 0.001), intensive care unit admission (p = 0.034), and death (p = 0.003), occurred more often in patients of the third wave. Conclusions: During the third wave, patients in our cohort experienced a more severe course of the disease and poorer outcomes.
Effects of Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Resistance Training on Muscle Strength and Hypertrophy Compared with Traditional Resistance Training in Healthy Adults Older Than 60 Years: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fabero-Garrido Raúl , Gragera-Vela Miguel , del Corral Tamara , Izquierdo-García Juan , Plaza-Manzano Gustavo , López-de-Uralde-Villanueva Ibai
Published: December 2022

Background: There is clinical interest in determining the effects of low-load blood flow restriction (LL-BFR) resistance training on muscle strength and hypertrophy compared with traditional high- and low-load (HL and LL) resistance training in healthy older adults and the influence of LL-BFR training cuff-pressure on these outcomes. Methods: A search was performed on the MEDLINE, PEDro, CINHAL, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, and CENTRAL databases. Results: The analysis included 14 studies. HL resistance training produces a small increase in muscle strength (eight studies; SMD, −0.23 [−0.41; −0.05]) but not in muscle hypertrophy (six studies; (SMD, 0.08 [−0.22; 0.38]) when compared with LL-BFR resistance training. Compared with traditional LL resistance training, LL-BFR resistance training produces small–moderate increases in muscle strength (seven studies; SMD, 0.44 [0.28; 0.60]) and hypertrophy (two studies; SMD, 0.51 [0.06; 0.96]). There were greater improvements in muscle strength when higher cuff pressures were applied versus traditional LL resistance training but not versus HL resistance training. Conclusions: LL-BFR resistance training results in lower muscle strength gains than HL resistance training and greater than traditional LL resistance training in healthy adults older than 60 years. LL-BFR resistance training promotes a similar muscle hypertrophy to HL resistance training but is greater than that of traditional LL resistance training. Applying cuff pressures above the limb occlusion pressure could enhance the increases in muscle strength compared with traditional LL resistance training.
A Simulation Study of Tolerance of Breathing Amplitude Variations in Radiotherapy of Lung Cancer Using 4DCT and Time-Resolved 4DMRI
Authors: Li Guang , Sehovic Admir , Xu Lee , Shukla Pawas , Zhang Lei , Zhou Ying , Wang Ping , Wu Abraham , Rimner Andreas , Zhang Pengpeng
Published: December 2022

As patient breathing irregularities can introduce a large uncertainty in targeting the internal tumor volume (ITV) of lung cancer patients, and thereby affect treatment quality, this study evaluates dose tolerance of tumor motion amplitude variations in ITV-based volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). A motion-incorporated planning technique was employed to simulate treatment delivery of 10 lung cancer patients’ clinical VMAT plans using original and three scaling-up (by 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 cm) motion waveforms from single-breath four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) and multi-breath time-resolved 4D magnetic resonance imaging (TR-4DMRI). The planning tumor volume (PTV = ITV + 5 mm margin) dose coverage (PTV D95%) was evaluated. The repeated waveforms were used to move the isocenter in sync with the clinical leaf motion and gantry rotation. The continuous VMAT arcs were broken down into many static beam fields at the control points (2°-interval) and the composite plan represented the motion-incorporated VMAT plan. Eight motion-incorporated plans per patient were simulated and the plan with the native 4DCT waveform was used as a control. The first (D95% ≤ 95%) and second (D95% ≤ 90%) plan breaching points due to motion amplitude increase were identified and analyzed. The PTV D95% in the motion-incorporated plans was 99.4 ± 1.0% using 4DCT, closely agreeing with the corresponding ITV-based VMAT plan (PTV D95% = 100%). Tumor motion irregularities were observed in TR-4DMRI and triggered D95% ≤ 95% in one case. For small tumors, 4 mm extra motion triggered D95% ≤ 95%, and 6–8 mm triggered D95% ≤ 90%. For large tumors, 14 mm and 21 mm extra motions triggered the first and second breaching points, respectively. This study has demonstrated that PTV D95% breaching points may occur for small tumors during treatment delivery. Clinically, it is important to monitor and avoid systematic motion increase, including baseline drift, and large random motion spikes through threshold-based beam gating.
Preparation of Ag/C Nanocomposites Based on Silver Maleate and Their Use for the Analysis of Iodine Ions
Authors: Uflyand Igor E. , Gorbunova Marina O. , Zhinzhilo Vladimir A. , Kolesnikova Tatiana S. , Zarubina Anastasiya O. , Baimuratova Rose K. , Dzhardimalieva Gulzhian I.
Published: December 2022

In recent decades, metal-containing nanocomposites have attracted considerable attention from researchers. In the present study, a detailed analysis of the preparation of Ag/C nanocomposites through the thermolysis of silver maleate was carried out. Thermolysis products are nanocomposites containing silver nanoparticles (NPs) uniformly distributed in a stabilizing carbon matrix. The composition, structure, and properties of the obtained nanocomposites were studied using IR-spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). This article reports on the possibility of using Ag/C nanocomposites to create new indicator papers that are sensitive to iodide ions in the concentration range of 0.03–1.6 mg/L (0.24–12.6 μM). The developed papers are used in a technique based on the oxidation of iodides with the formation of molecular iodine, which is extracted in an air stream and transferred to a sensitive paper layer containing silver NPs. The interaction of silver NPs with iodine leads to optical changes that can be tracked using a conventional scanner.
Mechanical Properties of Polylactide Filled with Micronized Chalcedonite
Authors: Fabijanski Mariusz
Published: December 2022

One of the methods of changing the mechanical properties of polymeric materials is by the creation of composites with various substances whose task is to strengthen and fill them. Thanks to the use of fillers, we can obtain new materials with interesting mechanical and chemical properties. Among the materials obtained, some of the features are often improved, while the others deteriorate. In this study, an attempt was made to obtain a polymer composite based on a PLA filled with macaroni chalcedonite in the amount of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% by weight. The properties of the mechanically obtained mixtures were assessed. The tests show that the number of substances in the composite had a significant effect on changing the properties of the obtained material.
Eco-Physiological Adaptations of the Xylotrophic Basidiomycetes Fungi to CO2 and O2 Mode in the Woody Habitat
Authors: Mukhin Victor A. , Diyarova Daria K.
Published: December 2022

The aim of this research is to study of eco-physiological adaptations of xylotrophic fungi (Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes) to hypoxia, anoxia and hypercapnia as the main environmental factors that determine the activity of fungi in woody habitat. The study was carried out on seven species of polypore fungi widespread in the preforest-steppe pine-birch forests of the Central Urals, including both white (D. tricolor, D. septentrionalis, F. fomentarius, H. rutilans, T. biforme) and brown (F. betulina, F. pinicola) rot. Their CO2 and O2 gas exchange were analyzed in natural samples of woody substrates (Betula pendula, Pinus sylvestris) and basidiocarps by the chamber method using a CO2/O2 gas analyzer. It was shown that the intensity of O2 gas exchange is positively related to the oxygen concentration but is not very sensitive to a decrease in its content in the woody habitat. Xylotrophic fungi are able to completely exhaust the O2 in the habitat, and this process is linear, indicating that they do not have threshold values for oxygen content. Oxygen consumption is accompanied by an adequate linear increase in CO2 concentration up to 18–19%. At a concentration of 5–10%, carbon dioxide does not affect the gas exchange of xylotrophic fungi and can even enhance it, but at 20% it significantly reduces its intensity. Xylotrophic fungi are resistant to high CO2 concentrations and remain viable at 100% CO2 concentration and are capable of growth under these conditions. In an oxygen-free habitat, anaerobic CO2 emissions are recorded; when O2 appears, its consumption is restored to the level preceding anoxia. Xylotrophic fungi are the specialized group of saprotrophic microaerophilic and capnophilic facultative anaerobes adapted to develop at low oxygen and high carbon dioxide concentration, anoxia.
Prediction of Hemorrhagic Complication after Thrombolytic Therapy Based on Multimodal Data from Multiple Centers: An Approach to Machine Learning and System Implementation
Authors: Cui Shaoguo , Song Haojie , Ren Huanhuan , Wang Xi , Xie Zheng , Wen Hao , Li Yongmei
Published: December 2022

Hemorrhagic complication (HC) is the most severe complication of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to build a machine learning (ML) prediction model and an application system for a personalized analysis of the risk of HC in patients undergoing IVT therapy. We included patients from Chongqing, Hainan and other centers, including Computed Tomography (CT) images, demographics, and other data, before the occurrence of HC. After feature engineering, a better feature subset was obtained, which was used to build a machine learning (ML) prediction model (Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB)), and then evaluated with relevant indicators. Finally, a prediction model with better performance was obtained. Based on this, an application system was built using the Flask framework. A total of 517 patients were included, of which 332 were in the training cohort, 83 were in the internal validation cohort, and 102 were in the external validation cohort. After evaluation, the performance of the XGB model is better, with an AUC of 0.9454 and ACC of 0.8554 on the internal validation cohort, and 0.9142 and ACC of 0.8431 on the external validation cohort. A total of 18 features were used to construct the model, including hemoglobin and fasting blood sugar. Furthermore, the validity of the model is demonstrated through decision curves. Subsequently, a system prototype is developed to verify the test prediction effect. The clinical decision support system (CDSS) embedded with the XGB model based on clinical data and image features can better carry out personalized analysis of the risk of HC in intravenous injection patients.
Assessment of Remote Sensing Ecological Quality by Introducing Water and Air Quality Indicators: A Case Study of Wuhan, China
Authors: Pan Yue , Gong Jian , Li Jingye
Published: December 2022

In the context of ecological protection and urban expansion, the quality of the ecological environment and ecological security are gravely at risk. A simple, effective, and comprehensive assessment method for regional environmental quality monitoring is urgently required at this time. This study proposes a comprehensive approach for evaluating regional ecological quality. Based on Landsat TM+OLI/TIRS images, indicators representing the ecological quality of land and water were constructed. Land ecological quality consists of land surface moisture (WET), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized building bare soil index (NDBSI), and land surface temperature (LST), which represent humidity, greenness, dryness, and temperature, respectively. At the same time, the remote sensing indices of chlorophyll_a (chl_a) and suspended solids (SS) were constructed to characterize the water quality. Air quality was characterized based on aerosol optical depth (AOD) in MCD19A2. By introducing water and air quality indicators and utilizing principal component analysis, a remote sensing ecological index that improves water area assessment (WIRSEI) was established and applied to Wuhan from 2000 to 2020. The driving force of WIRSEI change was analyzed using the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model. The results revealed that (1) air quality AOD and humidity WET greatly impacted the ecological quality (WIRSEI). WIRSEIs in seven central urban areas were significantly lower than that in six remote urban regions, and the ecological quality of lakes was higher than that of rivers. (2) From 2000 to 2020, Wuhan’s overall WIRSEI showed a “rising–falling–rising–stable” trend. In most regions, the degree of ecological quality change was relatively small; most grades were “no change”, “slightly better”, and “slightly worse”, representing 88–93% of the total area. (3) The change in WIRSEI from 2000 to 2020 was closely related to urban expansion, population change, and economic development. The effects of land use and socioeconomic changes on WIRSEI were significantly different in spatial distribution. Compared to the driving factors, land use dynamics (LUCD) significantly impacted WIRSEI changes, while the effects of gross domestic product (GDP) and population (POP) were very small. This study uses WIRSEI to evaluate the regional ecological quality, providing a vital reference and basis for enhancing regional ecological quality assessment methods, promoting ecological environmental protection and restoration, regional coordination, and sustainable development. The research results show that the proposed approach is simple and effective, strongly supporting regional ecological quality and protection monitoring.
Exploring the Role of Deforestation and Cropland Expansion in Driving a Fire-Transition in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Tavares Paulo Amador , Ferreira Joice , Silva Camila V. J. , Berenguer Erika , Barlow Jos
Published: December 2022

The Brazilian Amazonian Forest is undergoing significant changes in land use and land cover in the last few decades. This land-use transition, besides climate change, may be responsible for the fire regime transition in this territory. Therefore, we aimed at investigating how the fire-transition occurs over time in the Brazilian Amazonia Forest and identifying the key parameters that can help to predict this change. For this, we collected yearly data on fire occurrence, forest cover, deforestation rates, and cropland areas. We used a 0.45° spatial surface grid, and with these annual values, we produced: (i) generalised linear mixed models of fire occurrence against forest cover, using years and grids as random factors; (ii) annual linear models of fire occurrence against forest cover; (iii) linear models of the apex values against the years; and (iv) generalised linear models of these apex values against deforestation and cropland areas. We found that there is a fire-transition process in the Brazilian Amazon Forest since a quadratic model better predicted the fire occurrence behaviour. Moreover, the fire occurrence apex is transitioning to more forested landscapes, from 50.7% in 2003 to 55% in 2019 (R² = 0.3). The deforestation rates and the cropland expansion had important relationships with the fire-transition, the first is related to the fire occurrence in the landscape (R² = 0.62), while the second better predicts the transition to more forested areas (R² = 0.38). Thus, we found that the fire-transition in the Brazilian Amazon Forest is strongly related to the land-use transition stages in this region.
Simulating Spatiotemporal Changes in Land Use and Land Cover of the North-Western Himalayan Region Using Markov Chain Analysis
Authors: Bashir Owais , Bangroo Shabir Ahmad , Guo Wei , Meraj Gowhar , T. Ayele Gebiaw , Naikoo Nasir Bashir , Shafai Shahid , Singh Perminder , Muslim Mohammad , Taddese Habitamu , Gani Irfan , Rahman Shafeeq Ur
Published: December 2022

Spatial variabilities and drivers of land use and land cover (LULC) change over time and are crucial for determining the region’s economic viability and ecological functionality. The North-Western Himalayan (NWH) regions have witnessed drastic changes in LULC over the last 50 years, as a result of which their ecological diversity has been under significant threat. There is a need to understand how LULC change has taken place so that appropriate conservation measures can be taken well in advance to understand the implications of the current trends of changing LULC. This study has been carried out in the Baramulla district of the North-Western Himalayas to assess its current and future LULC changes and determine the drivers responsible for future policy decisions. Using Landsat 2000, 2010, and 2020 satellite imagery, we performed LULC classification of the study area using the maximum likelihood supervised classification. The land-use transition matrix, Markov chain model, and CA-Markov model were used to determine the spatial patterns and temporal variation of LULC for 2030. The CA-Markov model was first used to predict the land cover for 2020, which was then verified by the actual land cover of 2020 (Kappa coefficient of 0.81) for the model’s validation. After calibration and validation of the model, LULC was predicted for the year 2030. Between the years 2000 and 2020, it was found that horticulture, urbanization, and built-up areas increased, while snow cover, forest cover, agricultural land, and water bodies all decreased. The significant drivers of LULC changes were economic compulsions, climate variability, and increased human population. The analysis finding of the study highlighted that technical, financial, policy, or legislative initiatives are required to restore fragile NWH regions experiencing comparable consequences.
Exploring Multiscale Influence of Urban Growth on Landscape Patterns of Two Emerging Urban Centers in the Western Himalaya
Authors: Sharma Sonali , Joshi Pawan Kumar , Fürst Christine
Published: December 2022

The Western Himalaya are experiencing and epitomizing growing urbanization trends due to rapid population and tourism rise across the Indian Himalayan region. The pace and process of urban development in these regions are largely unplanned and unregulated; consequently, the altered landscape composition and configuration are influencing key ecological processes and functions supporting human wellbeing. Existing urbanization research addressing this issue has mainly focused on large urban centers, underrepresenting the potential role of medium-sized cities in sustainable landscape planning. Thus, this study attempted to quantify land use/land cover and landscape pattern dynamics in response to urban growth and expansion in and around two emerging urban centers—Dharamsala and Pithoragarh, Western Himalaya, over the past two decades. The study was split into three temporal periods, and intensity analysis was used to characterize transformational patterns in the city and outer zone of each landscape. The results indicate that, during the T2 and T3 period, the overall LULC dynamics was highest in Dharamsala and Pithoragarh, respectively. The urban development in Dharamsala occurred at the expense of cropland followed by vegetation and forest, while, in Pithoragarh, it occurred at the expense of cropland followed by vegetation loss dominated. Furthermore, the landscape pattern results highlighted the aggregation and homogenization at the city level, with a higher degree of disaggregation, fragmentation, and heterogeneity in outer zone. This paper highlights the importance of transformational patterns based on intensity analysis and landscape patterns to sustainable landscape development and planning. In addition, considering the past to present urban development trajectories, this study purposes a framework for sustainable landscape development in Himalaya for urban planners and policymakers.
Drug Repositioning Applied to Cardiovascular Disease in Mucopolysaccharidosis
Authors: Villalba Silva Gerda Cristal , Steindorff Thiago , Silvestri Schuh Roselena , Cardoso Flores Natalia , Matte Ursula
Published: December 2022

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are genetic metabolic diseases characterized by defects in the activity of lysosomal hydrolases. In MPS, secondary cell disturbance affects pathways related to cardiovascular disorders. Hence, the study aimed to identify MPS-related drugs targeting cardiovascular disease and select a list of drugs for repositioning. We obtained a list of differentially expressed genes and pathways. To identify drug perturbation-driven gene expression and drug pathways interactions, we used the CMAP and LINCS databases. For molecular docking, we used the DockThor web server. Our results suggest that pirfenidone and colchicine are promising drugs to treat cardiovascular disease in MPS patients. We also provide a brief description of good practices for the repositioning analysis. Furthermore, the list of drugs and related MPS-enriched genes could be helpful to new treatments and considered for pathophysiological studies.
Implementation of a Commercial Deep Learning-Based Auto Segmentation Software in Radiotherapy: Evaluation of Effectiveness and Impact on Workflow
Authors: Radici Lorenzo , Ferrario Silvia , Borca Valeria Casanova , Cante Domenico , Paolini Marina , Piva Cristina , Baratto Laura , Franco Pierfrancesco , La Porta Maria Rosa
Published: December 2022

Proper delineation of both target volumes and organs at risk is a crucial step in the radiation therapy workflow. This process is normally carried out manually by medical doctors, hence demanding timewise. To improve efficiency, auto-contouring methods have been proposed. We assessed a specific commercial software to investigate its impact on the radiotherapy workflow on four specific disease sites: head and neck, prostate, breast, and rectum. For the present study, we used a commercial deep learning-based auto-segmentation software, namely Limbus Contour (LC), Version 1.5.0 (Limbus AI Inc., Regina, SK, Canada). The software uses deep convolutional neural network models based on a U-net architecture, specific for each structure. Manual and automatic segmentation were compared on disease-specific organs at risk. Contouring time, geometrical performance (volume variation, Dice Similarity Coefficient—DSC, and center of mass shift), and dosimetric impact (DVH differences) were evaluated. With respect to time savings, the maximum advantage was seen in the setting of head and neck cancer with a 65%-time reduction. The average DSC was 0.72. The best agreement was found for lungs. Good results were highlighted for bladder, heart, and femoral heads. The most relevant dosimetric difference was in the rectal cancer case, where the mean volume covered by the 45 Gy isodose was 10.4 cm3 for manual contouring and 289.4 cm3 for automatic segmentation. Automatic contouring was able to significantly reduce the time required in the procedure, simplifying the workflow, and reducing interobserver variability. Its implementation was able to improve the radiation therapy workflow in our department.
Synergistic Effect of Polysaccharides from Chamomile Tea with Nitazoxanide Increases Treatment Efficacy against Giardia intestinalis
Authors: Sabatke Bruna , Chaves Pedro Felipe P. , Cordeiro Lucimara M. C. , Ramirez Marcel I.
Published: December 2022

Giardia intestinalis (syn. G. lamblia, G. duodenalis) is a protozoa parasite that produces one of the most frequent waterborne causes of diarrhea worldwide. This protozoan infects most mammals, including humans, and colonizes the small intestine, adhering to intestinal cells. The mechanism by which G. intestinalis causes diarrhea is multifactorial, causing intestinal malabsorption. The treatment of giardiasis uses chemotherapeutic drugs such as nitroimidazoles, furazolidone, paromomycin, and benzimidazole compounds. However, they are toxic, refractory, and may generate resistance. To increase efficacy, a current treatment strategy is to combine these drugs with other compounds, such as polysaccharides. Several studies have shown that polysaccharides have gastroprotective effects. Polysaccharides are high-molecular weight polymers, and they differ in structure and functions, being widely extracted from vegetables and fruits. In the present study, we show that polysaccharides found in chamomile tea (called MRW), in contact with antiparasitic agents, potentially inhibit the adhesion of parasites to intestinal cells. Moreover, at 500 µg/mL, they act synergistically with nitazoxanide (NTZ), increasing its effectiveness and decreasing the drug dose needed for giardiasis treatment.
‘In Her I See/All Beauties Frailty’: Mirroring Helen of Troy and Elizabeth I in Thomas Heywood’s The Iron Age and The Second Part of The Iron Age (c.1596/c.1610)
Authors: Renwick Chloe
Published: December 2022

In this article I argue that Helen of Troy in Thomas Heywood’s The Iron Age I & II can be read as a figure for Elizabeth I during her final decade. Heywood appropriates multiple sources to emphasise images of age, decay and death which connect Helen and Elizabeth by evoking concerns that were prevalent as the Queen aged. Whether we date the plays as late Elizabethan or early Jacobean, Heywood was writing at a time when people were thinking (in anticipation or retrospection) about Elizabeth’s death and the end of the Tudor line. In The Iron Age II, Heywood shows Helen lament the loss of her fabled beauty when she gazes into a mirror and sees an aged face that resembles Elizabeth’s. With her despair compounded by her guilt over the Trojan War, Helen turns to suicide and Heywood ends the entire Age pentalogy with a glance to the succession. Ultimately, in his treatment of Helen, Heywood subversively brings to centre stage images that Elizabeth (and her government) had tried to quash and opens up new forums for political commentary at London’s popular theatres.
Effect of Alkali and Sulfate on the Hydration Characteristic of Cement-Based Materials Containing Coal Gasification Slag
Authors: Li Zuzhong , Li Fan , Xie Haiwei , Liu Weidong , He Rui , Cong Peiliang , Zeng Jinhai
Published: December 2022

Coal gasification slag is an inevitable by-product of the coal gasification process. This paper explored the feasibility of using activators (calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, calcium sulfate, sodium sulfate) to promote the pozzolanic activity of milled coal gasification coarse slags (MCS), and analyzed the effect of alkali and sulfate activators on the hydration characteristic of cement-based materials containing MCS. Coal gasification slags with ignition lossses more than 15% were removed and the remaining slags were considered as cementitious material after milling. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and hydration heat tests were employed to analyze the hydration mechanism of the samples. Besides, the compressive strength values of cement mortars with MCS and activators were evaluated. The results showed that calcium hydroxide was conductive to the formation of hydration products and its crystallization could contribute to the strength improvement of the sample. Calcium sulfate mainly participated in the hydration process of cement to form ettringite (AFt) phases. Sodium hydroxide could accelerate the dissolution of active mineral phases of MCS, resulting in the pozzolanic activity being enhanced. Moreover, sodium sulfate could not only increase the formation of AFt phases, but also improved the alkalinity in sample to facilitate the production of gels. Among them, a better promotion effect could be obtained from the combined application of calcium hydroxide and sodium sulfate. In addition, the compressive strength values of cement mortars containing MCS tended to increase when activators were used. The sample activated by calcium hydroxide and sodium sulfate exhibited the highest strength, increasing by 18.55% at 28 days compared with the sample without an activator.
Warm Mix Asphalt Binder Utilizing Water Foaming and Fluxing Using Bio-Derived Agent
Authors: Iwański Marek , Chomicz-Kowalska Anna , Maciejewski Krzysztof , Iwański Mateusz M. , Radziszewski Piotr , Liphardt Adam , Król Jan B. , Sarnowski Michał , Kowalski Karol J. , Pokorski Piotr
Published: December 2022

The present paper investigates the effects of simultaneous mechanical foaming using water and fluxing with a bio-derived agent on the properties of three distinct asphalt binders: 50/70 paving-grade bitumen, 45/80–55 polymer-modified bitumen, and 45/80–80 highly modified asphalt binder. The testing involved classical tests for assessing binder consistency (penetration at 25 °C, ring and ball softening point, Fraass breaking point, and dynamic viscosity) as well as performance tests (high and low Superpave critical temperatures and multiple stress creep recovery). The tests included assessment directly after asphalt binder foaming and were repeated after a 14-day period. It was shown that bitumen foaming had only short-term effects on the asphalt binders, which did not persist in the repeated tests after 14 days. The fluxing agent that was utilized caused significant changes in the consistency of all asphalt binders. The changes in the performance characteristics of the 50/70 and 45/80–55 binders were severe and amounted to a significant decrease in high-temperature performance of these binders. On the other hand, an improvement in all performance characteristics in the case of the 45/80–80 asphalt binder was observed as a result of the applied processes, particularly when measured 14 days after foaming. This study shows that the simultaneous use of foaming and the fluxing additive decreased the dynamic viscosity of the 45/80–80 binder, while improving its properties relating the pavement performance.
Evaluation of the Failure Mechanism in Polyamide Nanofibre Veil Toughened Hybrid Carbon/Glass Fibre Composites
Authors: Blythe Ashley , Fox Bronwyn , Nikzad Mostafa , Eisenbart Boris , Chai Boon Xian , Blanchard Patrick , Dahl Jeffrey
Published: December 2022

The interface of hybrid carbon/E-glass fibres composite is interlayered with Xantu.layr® polyamide 6,6 nanofibre veil to localise cracking to promote a gradual failure. The pseudo-ductile response of these novel stacking sequences examined under quasi-static three-point bending show a change to the failure mechanism. The change in failure mechanism due to the interfacial toughening is examined via SEM micrographs. The incorporation of veil toughening led to a change in the dominant failure mechanism, resulting in fibre yielding by localised kinking and reduced instances of buckling failure. In alternated carbon and glass fibre samples with glass fibre undertaking compression, a pseudo-ductile response with veil interlayering was observed. The localisation of the fibre failure, due to the inclusion of the veil, resulted in kink band formations which were found to be predictable in previous micro buckling models. The localisation of failure by the veil interlayer resulted in a pseudo-ductile response increasing the strain before failure by 24% compared with control samples.
Features of the Macro-, Micro-, and Fine Structure of the Nickel Superalloy Product Material Formed by the Method of Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Fortuna Sergey , Gurianov Denis , Nikonov Sergey , Ivanov Konstantin , Mironov Yury , Vorontsov Andrey
Published: December 2022

In the present work, the products in the form of vertical walls were made of heat-resistant nickel-based superalloy ZhS32 via the method of electron beam additive technology. Unidirectional printing strategy was applied. The effect of heat input and 3D printing strategy on the macrostructure, dimensions, and morphology of microstructure elements was established. It was shown that the additive product material has a directed macrostructure. The only exclusion was the final layer with a thickness of no more than 3.5 mm. The directed macrostructure consisted of dendrites oriented predominantly along the crystallographic direction {001} of the primary dendrite arms. The misorientation of the dendrite axes did not exceed 9 degrees. The angle between the predominant dendrite growth direction and the normal to the substrate was 23 degrees. The average primary dendrite arms’ spacing increased monotonically from 16 µm at 5 mm from the substrate to 23 µm in the final layers of the product material (the overall height was 41 mm). It was found that the average size of γ’ (Ni3Al)-phase precipitations in the form of nanoscale and submicrocrystalline cuboids varied in the range of 76 to 163 nm depending on the distance from the substrate. The size of γ’-phase precipitations reached a maximum at about 30 mm from the substrate, while in the final layers of the product material, the average cuboid size did not exceed 135 nm. Extreme dependence of the size of γ’-phase precipitations on the height of the product followed from a combination of a given monotonic decrease in heat input and heat accumulation in the product material as it formed, as did additional heat removal by means of radiation during formation of the final layer of the product without re-melting. Chemical elements of the austenitic steel substrate material were not detected in the product material more than 8 mm from the substrate. There were no macrodefects, such as voids, in the entire volume of the product material.
Formation Behaviors of Coated Reactive Explosively Formed Projectile
Authors: Zheng Yuanfeng , Bie Haiyuan , Wang Shipeng , Li Peiliang , Zhang Hongyu , Ge Chao
Published: December 2022

The formation behavior of coated reactive explosively formed projectiles (EFP) is studied by the combination of experiments and simulations. The results show that the coated EFP can be obtained by explosively crushing the double-layer liners, and the simulation agrees with the experiment well. Then, the interaction process between the two liners is discussed in detail, and the formation and coating mechanism are revealed. It can be found that there are three phases in the formation process, including the impact, closing and stretching phases. During the impact phase, the velocities of two liners rise in turns with the kinetic energy exchange. In the closing phase, the copper liner is collapsed forward to the axis and completely coats the reactive liner. It is mentioned that the edge of the copper liner begins to form a metal precursor penetrator in this stage. During the stretching phase, the coated reactive EFP is further stretched and fractured, resulting in the separation of the metal precursor penetrator and the following coated reactive projectile. Further studies show both the edge thickness and the curvature radius of the copper liner have significant influences on formation behaviors. By decreasing the edge thickness or the curvature radius, the difficulty of closing decreases, but the tip velocity and the length of precursor penetrator increases. As the thickness and diameter of the reactive liner decrease, the coating velocity increases slightly, but the total length of coated reactive EFP tends to decrease.
Research on Generating Gear Grinding Machining Error Based on Mapping Relationship between Grinding Wheel Surface and Tooth Flank
Authors: Jiang Hong , Han Jiang , Tian Xiaoqing , Lu Yiguo , Li Guanghui , Xia Lian
Published: December 2022

This paper proposes a method to study the machining error when one is generating gear grinding based on the mapping relationship between the grinding wheel surface and the tooth flank. The profile of the grinding wheel after grinding is collected, and the theoretical tooth flank is derived according to a model of generating gear grinding. By comparing the normal deviation of the theoretical tooth flank with the measured tooth flank, the machining error characteristics are identified. Firstly, the mathematical model of generating gear grinding is established according to a multi-body theory and coordinate transformation. Secondly, the experiments of the lead modification for helical gear were performed on a YW7232 CNC gear grinding machine. The tooth flank twist compensation function was turned off in experiments No. 1–No. 3, and it was turned on in experiments No. 4–No. 6, while the other process parameters kept the same. Then, the corresponding theoretical tooth flank data were derived from the grinding wheel surface which were measured using the laser profilometer LJ-V7000. Finally, the machining error characteristics were obtained by analyzing the difference between the theoretical and measured tooth flank deviations. The result of this paper can provide theoretical and practical references for the improvement of the gear grinding accuracy and gear modification design.
Hybrid Feature Selection Framework for Bearing Fault Diagnosis Based on Wrapper-WPT
Authors: Maliuk Andrei S. , Ahmad Zahoor , Kim Jong-Myon
Published: December 2022

A framework aimed to improve the bearing-fault diagnosis accuracy using a hybrid feature-selection method based on Wrapper-WPT is proposed in this paper. In the first step, the envelope vibration signal of the roller bearing is provided to the Wrapper-WPT. There, it is initially decomposed into several sub-bands using Wavelet Packet Transform (WPT), and a set out of nineteen time and frequency domain features are individually extracted from each sub-band of the decomposed vibration signal forming a wide feature pool. In the following step, Wrapper-WPT constructs a final feature vector using the Boruta algorithm, which selects the most discriminant features from the wide feature pool based on the important metric obtained from the Random Forest classifier. Finally, Subspace k-NN is used to identify the health conditions of the bearing, thus forming a hybrid signal processing and machine learning-based model for bearing fault diagnosis. In comparison with other state-of-the-art methods, the proposed method showed higher classification performance on two different bearing-benchmark vibration datasets with variable operating conditions.
A Novel Suppression Method for Low-Order Harmonics Causing Resonance of Induction Motor
Authors: Song Pengyun , Liu Yanghui , Liu Tao , Wang Huazhang , Wang Liwei
Published: December 2022

In the motor drive system of electric vehicles, there are some nonlinear factors, such as the deadtime and the conduction voltage drop of switching devices, which will generate low-order harmonics of the stator current and the torque ripple. The frequency of the harmonic may coincide with the natural frequency of the motor, so resonance may occur on the motor drive system. To reduce the noise caused by motor resonance, the characteristics of harmonic distortion caused by the deadtime, and the conduction voltage drop of the switching device, are analyzed firstly. Then, a motor vector control strategy with specific low order is proposed. The sixth-order harmonic resonance controller in d-q axis is introduced into the control loop, and the parameter designing principle of the controller is also presented. Without affecting the control performance of the current loop, the sixth-order harmonic of the stator current near the natural frequency can be significantly suppressed. Finally, the simulation and the experiment are carried out to certify the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed harmonic suppression method.
Synthesis and Characterization of Composites with Y-Hexaferrites for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Applications
Authors: Khan Sajjad Ahmad , Ali Irshad , Hussain Abid , Javed Hafiz Muhammad Asif , Turchenko Vitalii A. , Trukhanov Alex V. , Trukhanov Sergei V.
Published: December 2022

The current research is focused on the chemical process and characterization of Co-based Y-type hexaferrite, electrochemically active polypyrrole doped with dodecylbenzene sulphonicacid (PPy-DBSA) and their composites. The microemulsion technique was used to produce hexaferrite with the formula Sr2Co2Fe12O22. The resistivity of pure ferrite specimens was 103 ohm-cm, which was lower than the 106 ohm-cm resistivity of the monomer utilized in the polymerization operation. As the temperature increases, the DC resistance decreases, revealing the specimens’ semiconductor nature. The cole-cole plots have been used to assess whether significant grain boundaries were involved in the dielectric relaxation process. By increasing the frequency, the electrochemical performance of all specimens was enhanced. Using the rate equation, ionic conductivity demonstrates that polarons are responsible for conduction. Because of the characteristics of the polymer PPY-conducting DBSA, the composites PPY/DBSA + Sr2Co2Fe12O22 exhibit a higher dielectric loss of 35 at 1 MHz. This specimen is perfect for electrical radiation shielding (EMI).These ferrites are widely used as permanent magnets, in microwave devices, high-density perpendicular media, and rigid disk media without lubricant and protective layers.
Modeling and Analysis of New Hybrid Clustering Technique for Vehicular Ad Hoc Network
Authors: Abdulrazzak Hazem Noori , Hock Goh Chin , Mohamed Radzi Nurul Asyikin , Tan Nadia M. L. , Kwong Chiew Foong
Published: December 2022

Many researchers have proposed algorithms to improve the network performance of vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) clustering techniques for different applications. The effectiveness of the clustering model is the most important challenge. The K-Means clustering algorithm is an effective algorithm for multi-clusters that can be used in VANETs. The problems with the K-Means algorithm concern the selection of a suitable number of clusters, the creation of a highly reliable cluster, and achieving high similarity within a cluster. To address these problems, a novel method combining a covering rough set and a K-Means clustering algorithm (RK-Means) was proposed in this paper. Firstly, RK-Means creates multi-groups of vehicles using a covering rough set based on effective parameters. Secondly, the K-value-calculating algorithm computes the optimal number of clusters. Finally, the classical K-Means algorithm is applied to create the vehicle clusters for each covering rough set group. The datasets used in this work were imported from Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO), representing two highway scenarios, high-density and low-density. Four evaluation indexes, namely, the root mean square error (RMSE), silhouette coefficient (SC), Davies–Bouldin (DB) index, and Dunn index (DI), were used directly to test and evaluate the results of the clustering. The evaluation process was implemented on RK-Means, K-Means++, and OK-Means models. The result of the compression showed that RK-Means had high cluster similarity, greater reliability, and error reductions of 32.5% and 24.2% compared with OK-Means and K-Means++, respectively.