bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
UV-A Radiation Stimulates Tolerance against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in Tomato Plants
Authors: González-García Yolanda , Escobar-Hernández Diego Iván , Benavides-Mendoza Adalberto , Morales-Díaz América Berenice , Olivares-Sáenz Emilio , Juárez-Maldonado Antonio
Published: April 2023

UV-A radiation is a tool that has a stimulant action in plants and can be used to induce benefits through the production of bioactive compounds and the synthesis of secondary metabolites, among others. Particularly, its application could stimulate tolerance to the biotic stress caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) in tomato plants; for this reason, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of UV-A radiation to stimulate tolerance against Fol. For this, a tomato crop was established in which two conditions of supplementation with UV-A radiation were tested on plants inoculated with the fungus Fol. The pathogen’s impact on the agronomic parameters, its incidence and severity, and the contents of stress biomarkers, secondary metabolites and photosynthetic pigments were determined. The results show that the impact of the pathogen on severity was about 60%; therefore, the impact on fruit yield was also negative (−31%). Moreover, the pathogen significantly impacted the content of stress biomarkers, and the positive control increased H2O2 (+23.9%), malondialdehyde (+41.7%) and proline (+54.8%). In contrast, UV-A radiation significantly decreased Fol severity (−35.5%), and prevented its negative effect on the tomato plant/fruit yield. In addition, the application of UV-A radiation decreased the contents of stress biomarkers (−10.4% O2•−, −22% H2O2, and −16% MDA), and increased the contents of secondary metabolites (+13.2% flavonoids, +35% anthocyanins) and photosynthetic pigments (+17% β-carotene, +12% yellow pigments, and +19.8% total chlorophyll) in the plants inoculated with the pathogen. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the application of UV-A radiation is a good alternative means to control the attack of pathogens such as Fol on tomato plants, without adverse consequences for the environment or the crop.
The Lack of Race and Ethnicity Data in Australia—A Threat to Achieving Health Equity
Authors: Renzaho Andre M. N.
Published: April 2023

Collecting meaningful race and ethnicity data must be part of the national agenda and must be one of its primary objectives in order to achieve public good and support public interests. Yet, Australia does not collect data on race and ethnicity, and prefers the use of collective cultural groups, whose information is not consistently collected and reported at all levels of government and service delivery. This paper examines the current discrepancies in race and ethnicity data collection in Australia. The paper begins with examining the current practices related to collecting race and ethnicity data and then moves on to examine the various implications and public health significance of not collecting data on race and ethnicity in Australia. The evidence suggests that (1) race and ethnicity data matter, are imperative to ensuring proper advocacy and to reducing inequities in health and social determinant factors; (2) that White privilege is constructed as realized or unrealized personal and systemic racism; and (3) the use of non-committal collective terminologies makes visible minorities invisible, leads to the distorted allocation of governmental support, and legitimises and institutionalises racism and othering, hence perpetuating exclusion and the risk of victimisation. There is an urgent need for the collection of customized, culturally competent racial and ethnicity data that can be consistently integrated into all policy interventions, service delivery and research funding across all levels of governance in Australia. Reducing and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities is not only an ethical, social, and economic imperative, but must also be a critical item on the national agenda. Bridging the racial and ethnic disparities will require concerted whole-of-government efforts to collect consistent and reliable data that depict racial and ethnic characteristics beyond collective cultural groupings.
Oral Health Problems among Canadians Aged 45 to 85: Data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging Baseline Survey (2011–2015)
Authors: De Rubeis Vanessa , Jiang Ying , de Groh Margaret , Dufour Lisette , Bronsard Annie , Morrison Howard , Butt Fahad , Walker Bassim Carol
Published: April 2023

Oral health is a critical component of overall health. The objective of this study was to describe oral health problems among 47,581 adults aged 45 to 85 in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) among those who have at least one natural tooth (92%) and those without natural teeth across various demographic categories. Among the 47,581 participants in the study, 92% reported having at least one natural tooth (dentate). Among those without teeth, 63% reported an income less than CAD 50,000 versus 39% among those with teeth. Whether they had teeth or not, over 30% of people reported two or more oral health problems. Older adults appear to be retaining their natural teeth (28.9%), but still report experiencing oral health problems. As the population ages, loss of all teeth may not be the most useful proxy for poor oral health, and a population-level understanding of oral health problems may help to better define poor oral health.
Effects of Non-Essential “Toxic” Trace Elements on Pregnancy Outcomes: A Narrative Overview of Recent Literature Syntheses
Authors: Dettwiler Maria , Flynn Angela C. , Rigutto-Farebrother Jessica
Published: April 2023

Adverse pregnancy outcomes and their complications cause increased maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality and contribute considerably to the global burden of disease. In the last two decades, numerous narrative and systematic reviews have emerged assessing non-essential, potentially harmful, trace element exposure as a potential risk factor. This narrative review summarizes the recent literature covering associations between exposure to cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury and pregnancy outcomes and highlights common limitations of existing evidence that may hinder decision-making within public health. Several initial scoping searches informed our review, and we searched PubMed (latest date July 2022) for the literature published within the last five years reporting on cadmium, lead, arsenic, or mercury and pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, or prenatal growth. Pre-eclampsia may be associated with cadmium and strongly associated with lead exposure, and exposure to these metals may increase risk of preterm birth. Many reviews have observed cadmium to be negatively associated with birth weight. Additionally, lead and arsenic exposure may be negatively associated with birth weight, with arsenic exposure also adversely affecting birth length and head circumference. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to the limitations of the reviews summarized in this paper, including high heterogeneity due to different exposure assessment methods, study designs, and timing of sampling. Other common limitations were the low quality of the included studies, differences in confounding variables, the low number of studies, and small sample sizes.
Compound Heat Vulnerability in the Record-Breaking Hot Summer of 2022 over the Yangtze River Delta Region
Authors: Jiang Shaojing
Published: April 2023

Hourly meteorological data and multisource socioeconomic data collected in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region were used to analyze its heat vulnerability during the record-breaking hot summer of 2022 in both daytime and nighttime. Over forty consecutive days, daytime temperatures exceeded 40 °C, and 58.4% of the YRD region experienced 400 h with temperatures hotter than 26 °C during the nighttime. Only 7.5% of the YRD region was under low heat risk during both daytime and nighttime. Strong heat risk combined with strong heat sensitivity and weak heat adaptability led to strong heat vulnerability during both daytime and nighttime in most areas (72.6%). Inhomogeneity in heat sensitivity and heat adaptability further aggravated the heterogeneity of heat vulnerability, leading to compound heat vulnerability in most regions. The ratios of heat-vulnerable areas generated by multiple causes were 67.7% and 79.3% during daytime and nighttime, respectively. For Zhejiang and Shanghai, projects designed to decrease the urban heat island effect and lower the local heat sensitivity are most important. For Jiangsu and Anhui, measures aiming to decrease the urban heat island effect and improve heat adaptability are most important. It is urgent to take efficient measures to address heat vulnerability during both daytime and nighttime.
SLBRIN: A Spatial Learned Index Based on BRIN
Authors: Wang Lijun , Hu Linshu , Fu Chenhua , Yu Yuhan , Tang Peng , Zhang Feng , Liu Renyi
Published: April 2023

The spatial learned index constructs a spatial index by learning the spatial distribution, which performs a lower cost of storage and query than the spatial indices. The current update strategies of spatial learned indices can only solve limited updates at the cost of query performance. We propose a novel spatial learned index structure based on a Block Range Index (SLBRIN for short). Its core idea is to cooperate history range and current range to satisfy a fast spatial query and efficient index update simultaneously. SLBRIN deconstructs the update transaction into three parallel operations and optimizes them based on the temporal proximity of spatial distribution. SLBRIN also provides the spatial query strategy with the spatial learned index and spatial location code, including point query, range query and kNN query. Experiments on synthetic and real datasets demonstrate that SLBRIN clearly outperforms traditional spatial indices and state-of-the-art spatial learned indices in the cost of storage and query. Moreover, in the simulated real-time update scenario, SLBRIN has the faster and more stable query performance while satisfying efficient updates.
PTGES Expression Is Associated with Metabolic and Immune Reprogramming in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Murthy Divya , Attri Kuldeep S.
Published: April 2023

Metabolic reprogramming is an established hallmark of multiple cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Dysregulated metabolism is utilized by cancer cells for tumor progression, metastasis, immune microenvironment remodeling, and therapeutic resistance. Prostaglandin metabolites have been shown to be critical for inflammation and tumorigenesis. While the functional role of prostaglandin E2 metabolite has been extensively studied, there is a limited understanding of the PTGES enzyme in pancreatic cancer. Here, we investigated the relationship between expression of prostaglandin E synthase (PTGES) isoforms and the pathogenesis and regulation of pancreatic cancer. Our analysis identified higher expression of PTGES in pancreatic tumors compared to normal pancreatic tissues, suggesting an oncogenic function. Only PTGES1 expression was significantly correlated with worse prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. Further, utilizing cancer genome atlas data, PTGES was found to be positively correlated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metabolic pathways, mucin oncogenic proteins, and immune pathways in cancer cells. PTGES expression was also correlated with higher mutational burden in key driver genes, such as TP53 and KRAS. Furthermore, our analysis indicated that the oncogenic pathway controlled by PTGES1 could be regulated via DNA methylation-dependent epigenetic mechanisms. Notably, the glycolysis pathway was positively correlated with PTGES and may fuel cancer cell growth. PTGES expression was also associated with downregulation of the MHC pathway and negatively correlated with CD8+ T cell activation markers. In summary, our study established an association of PTGES expression with pancreatic cancer metabolism and the immune microenvironment.
Hyperparameter-Optimization-Inspired Long Short-Term Memory Network for Air Quality Grade Prediction
Authors: Wen Dushi , Zheng Sirui , Chen Jiazhen , Zheng Zhouyi , Ding Chen , Zhang Lei
Published: April 2023

In the world, with the continuous development of modern society and the acceleration of urbanization, the problem of air pollution is becoming increasingly salient. Methods for predicting the air quality grade and determining the necessary governance are at present most urgent problems waiting to be solved by human beings. In recent years, more and more machine-learning-based methods have been used to solve the air quality prediction problem. However, the uncertainty of environmental changes and the difficulty of precisely predicting quantitative values seriously influence prediction results. In this paper, the proposed air pollutant quality grade prediction method based on a hyperparameter-optimization-inspired long short-term memory (LSTM) network provides two advantages. Firstly, the definition of air quality grade is introduced in the air quality prediction task, which turns a fitting problem into a classification problem and makes the complex problem simple; secondly, the hunter–prey optimization algorithm is used to optimize the hyperparameters of the LSTM structure to obtain the optimal network structure adaptively determined through the use of input data, which can include more generalization abilities. The experimental results from three real Xi’an air quality datasets display the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Surface Passivation of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskites with Methylhydrazine Iodide for Enhanced Photovoltaic Device Performance
Authors: Hu Chongzhu , Zhang Zhuangzhuang , Chen Jun , Gao Peng
Published: April 2023

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites are highly efficient in photovoltaic applications, making the commercialization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) possible. However, the high density of defects on the surface significantly affects the performance of PSCs. To address this issue, we have demonstrated a facile post-treatment strategy utilizing methylhydrazine iodide (MHyI) to passivate the surface of the perovskite film. MHyI could co-ordinate with the dangling bonds on the surface of perovskite films, effectively passivating defects in the film and suppressing carrier non-radiative recombination. As a result, PSCs with MHyI modification exhibit a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.19% and a high open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.14 V (0.43 V voltage deficit). Moreover, unencapsulated solar cells maintain their initial efficiency of 88% after 30 days of exposure to ambient air with 30% humidity, and the devices with encapsulation retained 57% of their initial efficiency after 200 h of maximum power point (MPP) loading under constant light irradiation in ambient air. Overall, our results provide a facile method for improving the performance and stability of PSCs.
The Role of Biogenic Amines in Social Insects: With a Special Focus on Ants
Authors: Barbero Francesca , Mannino Giuseppe , Casacci Luca Pietro
Published: April 2023

Eusociality represents the higher degree of interaction in insects. This complex social structure is maintained through a multimodal communication system that allows colony members to be flexible in their responses, fulfilling the overall society’s needs. The colony plasticity is supposedly achieved by combining multiple biochemical pathways through the neuromodulation of molecules such as biogenic amines, but the mechanisms through which these regulatory compounds act are far from being fully disentangled. Here, we review the potential function of major bioamines (dopamine, tyramine, serotine, and octopamine) on the behavioral modulation of principal groups of eusocial Hymenoptera, with a special focus on ants. Because functional roles are species- and context-dependent, identifying a direct causal relationship between a biogenic amine variation and behavioral changes is extremely challenging. We also used a quantitative and qualitative synthesis approach to summarize research trends and interests in the literature related to biogenic amines of social insects. Shedding light on the aminergic regulation of behavioral responses will pave the way for an entirely new approach to understanding the evolution of sociality in insects.
Medfly Population Suppression through Augmentative Release of an Introduced Parasitoid in an Irrigated Multi-Fruit Orchard of Central–Western Argentina
Authors: Suárez Lorena , Biancheri María Josefina Buonocore , Murúa Fernando , Ordano Mariano , Wang Xingeng , Cancino Jorge , Garcia Flavio Roberto Mello , Sánchez Guillermo , Beltrachini Sergio , Kulichevsky Luis Ernesto , Ovruski Sergio Marcelo
Published: April 2023

Biological control through the augmentative release of parasitoids is an important complementary tool that may be incorporated into other strategies for the eradication/eco-friendly control of pest fruit flies. However, not much information is available on the effectiveness of fruit fly parasitoids as biocontrol agents in semi-arid and temperate fruit-growing regions. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of augmentative releases of the larval parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) on Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (medfly) populations over two fruit seasons (2013 and 2014) on a 10 ha irrigated fruit farm in San Juan province, central–western Argentina. The parasitoids were mass reared on irradiated medfly larvae of the Vienna-8 temperature-sensitive lethal genetic sexing strain. About 1692 (±108) parasitoids/ha were released per each of the 13 periods throughout each fruit season. Another similar farm was chosen as a control of non-parasitoid release. The numbers of captured adult flies in food-baited traps and of recovered fly puparia from sentinel fruits were considered the main variables to analyze the effect of parasitoid release on fly population suppression using a generalized least squares model. The results showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the medfly population on the parasitoid release farm when compared to the Control farm, demonstrating the effectiveness of augmentative biological control using this exotic parasitoid. Thus, D. longicaudata could be used in combination with other medfly suppression strategies in the fruit production valleys of San Juan.
Detection of Putative Mutation I873S in the Sodium Channel of Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall) Which May Be Associated with Pyrethroid Resistance
Authors: Gao Ruibo , Lu Rongcai , Qiu Xinyao , Wang Likui , Zhang Kun , Wu Shaoying
Published: April 2023

Pyrethroid resistance of thrips has been reported in many countries, and knockdown resistance (kdr) has been identified as a main mechanism against pyrethroids in many insects. To characterize pyrethroid resistance in Megalurothrips usitatus from the Hainan Province of China, we conducted a biological assay and sequenced the voltage-gated sodium channel gene domain II from M. usitatus field populations. It showed high resistance to the pyrethroids for 2019 and 2020, in which LC50 to lambda-cyhalothrin of M. usitatus was 1683.521 mg/L from Sanya in 2020. The LC50 value of deltamethrin was lower in Haikou than in other locations, which mean the south of Hainan has higher resistance than the north of Hainan. Two mutations of I873S and V1015M were detected in the domain II region of the sodium channel in M. usitatus; however, the mutation frequency of V1015M was only 3.33% and that of I873S was 100%. One is homozygous and the other is a heterozygous mutant type. The three thrips-sensitive strains of sodium channel 873 are highly conserved in amino acids (isoleucine), while the M. usitatus pyrethroid-resistant strains are all serine, so I873S may be related to the resistance of M. usitatus to pyrethroids. The present study will contribute to the understanding of the evolution of pyrethroids resistance and contribute to the development of resistance management of M. usitatus in Hainan.
Role of Chemerin and Perivascular Adipose Tissue Characteristics on Cardiovascular Risk Assessment by Arterial Stiffness Markers in Patients with Morbid Obesity
Authors: Onofrei Viviana Aursulesei , Anisie Ecaterina , Zamfir Carmen Lacramioara , Ceasovschih Alexandr , Constantin Mihai , Mitu Florin , Grigorescu Elena-Daniela , Petroaie Antoneta Dacia , Timofte Daniel Vasile
Published: April 2023

Background and objective: The development of arterial stiffness (AS) in obesity is a multifactorial and complex process. The pleomorphic actions of adipokines and their local activity in perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) are potential modulators of AS appearance and progression. We aimed to assess the correlations between two adipokines (chemerin, adiponectin), PVAT morphological changes (adipocyte size, blood vessel wall thickness) and AS parameters in the special subgroup of patients with morbid obesity. Material and methods: We enrolled 25 patients with morbid obesity and 25 non-obese patients, who were age- and gender-matched, untreated for cardiovascular risk factors, and admitted to hospital for laparoscopic surgical procedures (bariatric surgery for morbid obesity and non-inflammatory benign pathology surgery for non-obese patients). Before the surgical procedures, we evaluated demographic and anthropometric data and biochemical parameters including the studied adipokines. Arterial stiffness was evaluated using a Medexpert ArteriographTM TL2 device. In both groups, adipocyte size and vascular wall thickness as well as local adiponectin activity were analyzed in PVAT from intraoperative biopsies. Results: In our study, adiponectin (p = 0.0003), chemerin (p = 0.0001) and their ratio (p = 0.005) had statistically significant higher mean values in patients with morbid obesity compared to normal-weight patients. In patients with morbid obesity there were significant correlations between chemerin and AS parameters such as aortic pulse wave velocity (p = 0.006) and subendocardial viability index (p = 0.009). In the same group adipocyte size was significantly correlated with another AS parameter, namely, aortic systolic blood pressure (p = 0.030). In normal-weight patients, blood vessel wall thickness positively correlated with AS parameters such as brachial (p = 0.023) and aortic augmentation index (p = 0.023). An important finding was the negative adipoR1 and adipoR2 immunoexpression in PVAT adipocytes of patients with morbid obesity. Additionally, we found significant correlations between blood vessel wall thickness and blood fasting glucose (p < 0.05) in both groups. Conclusions: Chemerin and adipocyte size could be predictive biomarkers for AS in patients with morbid obesity. Given the small number of patients included, our results need further validation.
A Real-World Study of Achievement Rate and Predictive Factors of Clinical and Deep Remission to Biologics in Patients with Severe Asthma
Authors: Oishi Keiji , Hamada Kazuki , Murata Yoriyuki , Matsuda Kazuki , Ohata Syuichiro , Yamaji Yoshikazu , Asami-Noyama Maki , Edakuni Nobutaka , Kakugawa Tomoyuki , Hirano Tsunahiko , Matsunaga Kazuto
Published: April 2023

Background: Recent advances in biologics have provided new insights into the clinical course of asthma, including disease modification, clinical remission (CR), and deep remission (DR). However, the extent to which biologics achieve CR and DR in severe asthma patients is poorly understood. Methods: To assess the achievement rate and predictors of CR and DR using long-term biologics, we retrospectively evaluated 54 severe asthma patients recently started on biologics. “CR” denotes the achievement of all three criteria: (1) absence of asthma symptoms, (2) no asthma exacerbations, and (3) no use of oral corticosteroids. DR denoted CR plus (4) normalized pulmonary function and (5) suppressed type 2 inflammation. Results: CR and DR achievement rates were 68.5% and 31.5%, respectively. Compared with the non-deep remission group, the DR group had higher adult-onset asthma rates (94.1% vs. 70.3%, p = 0.078), shorter asthma duration (5 vs. 19 years, p = 0.006), and higher FEV1 (91.5% vs. 71.5%, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the Asthma Control Questionnaire scores, exacerbation frequency, or type 2 inflammation at baseline between groups. Asthma duration combined with FEV1 can stratify the achievement rates of CR and DR. Conclusions: the early introduction of biologics in severe asthma patients may help achieve CR and DR.
Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury
Authors: Mazzaccaro Daniela , Righini Paolo , Fancoli Fabiana , Giannetta Matteo , Modafferi Alfredo , Malacrida Giovanni , Nano Giovanni
Published: April 2023

Blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) is a potentially fatal condition that needs prompt recognition and expedited management. Clinical manifestations of BTAI are not straight forwarding and may be misdiagnosed. The grade of aortic injury is an important determinant of perioperative mortality and morbidity, as well as the indication of treatment, along with the presence of concomitant lesions of other involved organs. The mainstay of treatment nowadays for hemodynamically stable patients who survive the trauma scene is represented by delayed endovascular repair whenever anatomically and clinically feasible. Endovascular repair, in fact, is burdened by lower perioperative mortality and morbidity rates if compared to open surgical repair, but concerns remain about the need for long-term surveillance and radiation exposure in patients who are at a younger age than patients treated for the aneurysmal disease. The aim of the paper is to provide an update on the diagnostic modalities and strategies of treatment for patients affected by BTAI.
RETRACTED: Salame et al. Is Increasing Age Associated with Higher Rates of Intercostal Arteries Vulnerable to Laceration? A Point of Care Ultrasound Study. J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11, 5788
Authors: Salame Gerard , Wittrock Elizabeth , Patel Hardik , Hafen Brant , Levi Ayal , Millard Tyler
Published: April 2023

The journal retracts the article, ‘Is Increasing Age Associated with Higher Rates of Intercostal Arteries Vulnerable to Laceration [...]
Laser-Modified Ti Surface Improves Paracrine Osteogenesis by Modulating the Expression of DKK1 in Osteoblasts
Authors: Teixeira Jorge Felipe Lima , de Souza João Antônio Chaves , Magalhães Fernando Augusto Cintra , de Oliveira Guilherme José Pimentel Lopes , de Santis José Bernardo , de Souza Costa Carlos Alberto , de Souza Pedro Paulo Chaves
Published: April 2023

Titanium surface modifications are widely used to modulate cellular behavior by recognition of topographical cues. However, how those modifications affect the expression of mediators that will influence neighboring cells is still elusive. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of conditioned media from osteoblasts cultured on laser-modified titanium surfaces on the differentiation of bone marrow cells in a paracrine manner and to analyze the expression of Wnt pathway inhibitors. Mice calvarial osteoblasts were seeded on polished (P) and Yb:YAG laser-irradiated (L) Ti surfaces. Osteoblast culture media were collected and filtered on alternate days to stimulate mice BMCs. Resazurin assay was performed every other day for 20 days to check BMC viability and proliferation. After 7 and 14 days of BMCs maintained with osteoblasts P and L-conditioned media, alkaline phosphatase activity, Alizarin Red staining, and RT-qPCR were performed. ELISA of conditioned media was conducted to investigate the expression of Wnt inhibitors Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) and Sclerostin (SOST). BMCs showed increased mineralized nodule formation and alkaline phosphatase activity. The L-conditioned media enhanced the BMC mRNA expression of bone-related markers Bglap, Alpl, and Sp7. L-conditioned media decreased the expression of DKK1 compared with P-conditioned media. The contact of osteoblasts with Yb:YAG laser-modified Ti surfaces induces the regulation of the expression of mediators that affect the osteoblastic differentiation of neighboring cells. DKK1 is among these regulated mediators.
Construction of ZnO/PCL Antibacterial Coating Potentially for Dental Unit Waterlines
Authors: Xing Min , Zhang Haifeng , Zhang Ling , Qian Wenhao
Published: April 2023

The formation of bacterial biofilms and the contamination of treatment water within dental unit waterlines can lead to a risk of secondary bacterial infections in immunocompromised patients. Although chemical disinfectants can reduce the contamination of treatment water, they can also cause corrosion damage to dental unit waterlines. Considering the antibacterial effect of ZnO, a ZnO-containing coating was prepared on the surface of polyurethane waterlines using polycaprolactone (PCL) with a good film-forming capacity. The ZnO-containing PCL coating improved the hydrophobicity of polyurethane waterlines, thus inhibiting the adhesion of bacteria. Moreover, the continuous slow release of Zn ions endowed polyurethane waterlines with antibacterial activity, thus effectively preventing the formation of bacterial biofilms. Meanwhile, the ZnO-containing PCL coating had good biocompatibility. The present study suggests that ZnO-containing PCL coating can realize a long-term antibacterial effect on the polyurethane waterlines by itself, providing a novel strategy for the manufacture of autonomous antibacterial dental unit waterlines.
Visualization of Underwater Radiated Noise in the Near- and Far-Field of a Propeller-Hull Configuration Using CFD Simulation Results
Authors: Kimmerl Julian , Abdel-Maksoud Moustafa
Published: April 2023

Underwater radiated noise is part of the anthropogenic emissions into the environment and as such a pressing problem for the preservation of the marine ecosystem. In order to direct attention to the most relevant noise sources associated with ships it is crucial to precisely determine the local origins of the acoustic emissions. As acoustics are by nature perceived through a very subjective auditory perception, visual post-processing support is required in engineering applications to assess the impact on structures and to create an understanding of the overall noise field geometrically, topologically, and directionally. In the context of CFD simulations, this may be achieved by considering the pressure pulses on domain boundary surfaces or passive surfaces, or by evaluating various volumetric information, such as Proudman acoustic sources or the Lighthill stress tensor, which is the fundamental input for many acoustic analogies including the Ffowcs-Williams-Hawkings method. For a propeller-hull configuration, the acoustic emissions from modeled and scale-resolved turbulence two-phase CFD analyses are evaluated in detail with different visualization methods. It is shown that the spatial distribution information of frequency domain pressure pulses, and the corresponding complex phase angles on specific passive geometries, as well as the Lighthill stress tensor may be utilized to create a better understanding of underwater acoustics. This allows the identification of source types and their respective excitation of the hull and emission characteristics of the hydrodynamic sources into the fluid domain, as well as the effect of the CFD simulation domain geometry extent.
Review of the Decision Support Methods Used in Optimizing Ship Hulls towards Improving Energy Efficiency
Authors: Tadros Mina , Ventura Manuel , Guedes Soares C.
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a review of the different methods and techniques used to optimize ship hulls over the last six years (2017–2022). This review shows the different percentages of reduction in ship resistance, and thus in the fuel consumption, to improve ships’ energy efficiency, towards achieving the goal of maritime decarbonization. Operational research and machine learning are the common decision support methods and techniques used to find the optimal solution. This paper covers four research areas to improve ship hulls, including hull form, hull structure, hull cleaning and hull lubrication. In each area of research, several computer programs are used, depending on the study’s complexity and objective. It has been found that no specific method is considered the optimum, while the combination of several methods can achieve more accurate results. Most of the research work is focused on the concept stage of ship design, while research on operational conditions has recently taken place, achieving an improvement in energy efficiency. The finding of this study contributes to mapping the scientific knowledge of each technology used in ship hulls, identifying relevant topic areas, and recognizing research gaps and opportunities. It also helps to present holistic approaches in future research, supporting more realistic solutions towards sustainability.
Research on Low-Frequency Vibration Monitoring Sensor Based on a Cantilever-Beam-Structured Triboelectric Nanogenerator
Authors: Xiao Xiu , Wang Qunyi , Yao Bohan , Guo Linan , Zhu Chuanqing , Zhao Cong , Liu Ling , Xu Minyi
Published: April 2023

Vibration sensing is of great significance in offshore engineering monitoring and safety detection. This paper presented a low-frequency vibration sensor (LV-TENG) based on a cantilever-beam-structured triboelectric nanogenerator, which can perform high-precision vibration sensing while conducting vibration energy collection effectively. The LV-TENG was composed of two aluminum electrode layers, a spring steel sheet covered with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and a first-order vibration mode structured frame. Under the excitation of external vibration, the spring steel sheet undergoes first-order modal vibrations between the aluminum electrodes and generates a periodically fluctuating electrical signal in the external circuit. The vibration profile of the cantilever beam was first analyzed theoretically to provide guidance for structural design. On this basis, the influence of the main structural parameters, including the structure of the Al electrode, the thickness of the steel plate, and the electronegative materials, on the output performance of LV-TENG was experimentally investigated and the structure was optimized to enhance electrical output. The results showed that the LV-TENG can accurately sense structure vibration with a frequency of 0.1 Hz to 5.0 Hz and an amplitude of 2.0 mm to 10.0 mm. The measured output voltage followed a positive linear relationship with frequency and the fitted correlation coefficient reached 0.994. The demonstration experiment indicated that the LV-TENG is expected to provide a new avenue for low-frequency vibration monitoring and can be used for structural health monitoring analysis in marine engineering.
Reconstruction of the Sound Speed Profile in Typical Sea Areas Based on the Single Empirical Orthogonal Function Regression Method
Authors: Chen Wen , Ren Kaijun , Zhang Yongchui , Liu Yuyao , Chen Yu , Ma Lina , Chen Silin
Published: April 2023

The sound speed profile (SSP) is a necessary prerequisite for acoustic field computation and underwater target localization and monitoring. Due to the dynamic nature of the ocean, the reconstruction of SSPs with surface characteristics is a big challenge. In this study, the Single Empirical Orthogonal Function Regression (sEOF-R) method is employed to establish the regression relationship between the surface parameters and the sound speed anomaly profile (SSAP) in three typical sea areas, namely the equator, Kuroshio Extension (KE), and Northeast Pacific. Based on the established regression relationship and the surface parameters, the underwater SSP is reconstructed. Results show that the reconstruction effects in the three areas show the best performance in the Northeast Pacific, followed by the equator and finally the KE. The quantitative analysis suggests that the local sea level anomaly (SLA) plays the dominant role in influencing the reconstruction effect, followed by the sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA). Further analysis demonstrates that the sEOF-R method is limited in time-varying and space-varying areas. The SSP reconstructed from the sea surface information in this study is useful for the inversion of the underwater structures.
Fungal β-Glucan-Based Nanotherapeutics: From Fabrication to Application
Authors: Yang Fan , Cheung Peter Chi Keung
Published: April 2023

Fungal β-glucans are naturally occurring active macromolecules used in food and medicine due to their wide range of biological activities and positive health benefits. Significant research efforts have been devoted over the past decade to producing fungal β-glucan-based nanomaterials and promoting their uses in numerous fields, including biomedicine. Herein, this review offers an up-to-date report on the synthetic strategies of common fungal β-glucan-based nanomaterials and preparation methods such as nanoprecipitation and emulsification. In addition, we highlight current examples of fungal β-glucan-based theranostic nanosystems and their prospective use for drug delivery and treatment in anti-cancer, vaccination, as well as anti-inflammatory treatments. It is anticipated that future advances in polysaccharide chemistry and nanotechnology will aid in the clinical translation of fungal β-glucan-based nanomaterials for the delivery of drugs and the treatment of illnesses.
Engineering and Implementation of Synthetic Molecular Tools in the Basidiomycete Fungus Ustilago maydis
Authors: Heucken Nicole , Tang Kun , Hüsemann Lisa , Heßler Natascha , Müntjes Kira , Feldbrügge Michael , Göhre Vera , Zurbriggen Matias D.
Published: April 2023

The basidiomycete Ustilago maydis is a well-characterized model organism for studying pathogen–host interactions and of great interest for a broad spectrum of biotechnological applications. To facilitate research and enable applications, in this study, three luminescence-based and one enzymatic quantitative reporter were implemented and characterized. Several dual-reporter constructs were generated for ratiometric normalization that can be used as a fast-screening platform for reporter gene expression, applicable to in vitro and in vivo detection. Furthermore, synthetic bidirectional promoters that enable bicisitronic expression for gene expression studies and engineering strategies were constructed and implemented. These noninvasive, quantitative reporters and expression tools will significantly widen the application range of biotechnology in U. maydis and enable the in planta detection of fungal infection.
Clinical and Demographic Features of Paracoccidioidomycosis in Argentina: A Multicenter Study Analysis of 466 Cases
Authors: Giusiano Gustavo , Tracogna Fernanda , Santiso Gabriela , Rojas Florencia , Messina Fernando , Sosa Vanesa , Chacón Yone , Sosa Maria de los Ángeles , Mussin Javier , Cattana María Emilia , Vazquez Andrea , Formosa Patricia , Fernández Norma , Piedrabuena Milagros , Valdez Ruth , Davalos Florencia , Fernández Mariana , Acuña Alejandra , Aguilera Alejandra , Guelfand Liliana , Afeltra Javier , Garcia Effron Guillermo , Posse Gladys , Amigot Susana , Serrano Julian , Sellares Otilia , Álvarez Christian , Pineda Gloria , Carnovale Susana , Zalazar Laura , Canteros Cristina
Published: April 2023

Information on paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) in Argentina is fragmented and has historically been based on estimates, supported only by a series of a few reported cases. Considering the lack of global information, a national multicentric study in order to carry out a more comprehensive analysis was warranted. We present a data analysis including demographic and clinical aspects of a historical series of 466 cases recorded over 10 years (2012–2021). Patients were aged from 1 to 89 years. The general male: female (M:F) ratio was 9.5:1 with significant variation according to the age group. Interestingly, the age range 21–30 shows an M:F ratio of 2:1. Most of the cases (86%) were registered in northeast Argentina (NEA), showing hyperendemic areas in Chaco province with more than 2 cases per 10,000 inhabitants. The chronic clinical form occurred in 85.6% of cases and the acute/subacute form occurred in 14.4% of cases, but most of these juvenile type cases occurred in northwestern Argentina (NWA). In NEA, the incidence of the chronic form was 90.6%; in NWA, the acute/subacute form exceeded 37%. Diagnosis by microscopy showed 96% positivity but antibody detection displays 17% of false negatives. Tuberculosis was the most frequent comorbidity, but a diverse spectrum of bacterial, fungal, viral, parasitic, and other non-infectious comorbidities was recorded. This national multicenter registry was launched in order to better understand the current status of PCM in Argentina and shows the two endemic zones with a highly diverse epidemiology.
Comparing the 30-Day Mortality for Hip Fractures in Patients with and without COVID-19: An Updated Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hwang Sojune , Ahn Chiwon , Won Moonho
Published: April 2023

We conducted an updated meta-analysis to evaluate the 30-day mortality of hip fractures during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess mortality rates by country. We systematically searched Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library up to November 2022 for studies on the 30-day mortality of hip fractures during the pandemic. Two reviewers used the Newcastle–Ottawa tool to independently assess the methodological quality of the included studies. We conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review including 40 eligible studies with 17,753 patients with hip fractures, including 2280 patients with COVID-19 (12.8%). The overall 30-day mortality rate for hip fractures during the pandemic was 12.6% from published studies. The 30-day mortality of patients with hip fractures who had COVID-19 was significantly higher than those without COVID-19 (OR, 7.10; 95% CI, 5.51–9.15; I2 = 57%). The hip fracture mortality rate increased during the pandemic and varied by country, with the highest rates found in Europe, particularly the United Kingdom (UK) and Spain. COVID-19 may have contributed to the increased 30-day mortality rate in hip fracture patients. The mortality rate of hip fracture in patients without COVID-19 did not change during the pandemic.
Ceftriaxone Administration Associated with Lithiasis in Children: Guilty or Not? A Systematic Review
Authors: Louta Aspasia , Kanellopoulou Aimilia , Alexopoulou Prounia Loukia , Filippas Mathiou , Tsami Faidra Foteini , Vlachodimitropoulos Athanasios , Vezakis Antonios , Polydorou Andreas , Georgopoulos Ioannis , Gkentzi Despoina , Spyridakis Ioannis , Karatza Ageliki , Sinopidis Xenophon
Published: April 2023

Lithiasis is a known side effect of ceftriaxone administration in children. Sex, age, weight, dosage, and duration of intake have been reported as risk factors for the formation of calcification or stones in the bile and urine excretory systems of children who received ceftriaxone. The purpose of this systematic review is to investigate the reported effects of ceftriaxone administration in pediatric patients who were admitted to a hospital due to infection, the likelihood of gallstones, nephroliths, or precipitations in both the biliary and urinary systems, as well as investigate the relationship with their mother’s history during pregnancy. Original studies and literature reviews from the PubMed database were included in the study. No time limit related to research or publication was set for the articles. The results were evaluated, aiming to understand the outcomes and identify any predisposing factors relevant to this side effect. Of the 181 found articles, 33 were appropriate for inclusion in the systematic review. The administered dose of ceftriaxone presented variability. Symptoms, such as abdominal pain and vomiting, were associated with ceftriaxone-related lithiasis in many cases. It was noted that most of the results were the outcomes of retrospective observation and not of prospective randomized research. Definitively, more randomized control studies with long-term outcomes are needed to identify the exact association between ceftriaxone and lithiasis in children.
Familial CCM Genes Might Not Be Main Drivers for Pathogenesis of Sporadic CCMs-Genetic Similarity between Cancers and Vascular Malformations
Authors: Zhang Jun , Croft Jacob , Le Alexander
Published: April 2023

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are abnormally dilated intracranial capillaries that form cerebrovascular lesions with a high risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Recently, several somatic “activating” gain-of-function (GOF) point mutations in PIK3CA (phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit p110α) were discovered as a dominant mutation in the lesions of sporadic forms of cerebral cavernous malformation (sCCM), raising the possibility that CCMs, like other types of vascular malformations, fall in the PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS). However, this possibility has been challenged with different interpretations. In this review, we will continue our efforts to expound the phenomenon of the coexistence of gain-of-function (GOF) point mutations in the PIK3CA gene and loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in CCM genes in the CCM lesions of sCCM and try to delineate the relationship between mutagenic events with CCM lesions in a temporospatial manner. Since GOF PIK3CA point mutations have been well studied in reproductive cancers, especially breast cancer as a driver oncogene, we will perform a comparative meta-analysis for GOF PIK3CA point mutations in an attempt to demonstrate the genetic similarities shared by both cancers and vascular anomalies.
Bank Profitability Analysis in China: Stochastic Frontier Approach
Authors: Shen Bingbing , Perfilev Aleksandr Aleksandrovich , Bufetova Lidiya Pavlovna , Li Xueyan
Published: April 2023

China’s banking system has a relatively high level of state control, while an important task in regulating the banking system is to manage the profitability of banks. Using the stochastic frontier approach to assess the profitability of commercial banks not only allows for the bank’s ability to generate profits relative to the leading banks in the industry to be assessed but also takes into account the specifics of the management technologies used and the influence of the market environment. This article analyzes the profitability of the Chinese banking system for the period 2012–2020 using the stochastic frontier approach from the position of the central bank. The specifics of the analysis from the bank’s perspective imply a focus on the position of most banks regarding the level of best practices and trends in changing the overall level of profitability. Analysis may be of interest to banking regulators and researchers. In general, the Chinese banking system demonstrates a high level of profit efficiency and cost efficiency, although the dynamics of these indicators are negative. The reason for the negative dynamics is a decrease in the economic growth rate of the economy, the instability of the financial market and ongoing reforms. State-owned commercial banks are becoming highly profitable, while national joint-stock commercial banks are facing increasing competition and reducing efficiency of profitability. City and rural commercial banks maintain a high level of profitability due to state support.