bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gatifloxacin Loaded Nano Lipid Carriers for the Management of Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Authors: Joshi Poorva H. , Youssef Ahmed Adel Ali , Ghonge Mihir , Varner Corinne , Tripathi Siddharth , Dudhipala Narendar , Majumdar Soumyajit
Published: August 2023

Bacterial conjunctivitis (BC) entails inflammation of the ocular mucous membrane. Early effective treatment of BC can prevent the spread of the infection to the intraocular tissues, which could lead to bacterial endophthalmitis or serious visual disability. In 2003, gatifloxacin (GTX) eyedrops were introduced as a new broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone to treat BC. Subsequently, GTX use was extended to other ocular bacterial infections. However, due to precorneal loss and poor ocular bioavailability, frequent administration of the commercial eyedrops is necessary, leading to poor patient compliance. Thus, the goal of the current investigation was to formulate GTX in a lipid-based drug delivery system to overcome the challenges with the existing marketed eyedrops and, thus, improve the management of bacterial conjunctivitis. GTX-NLCs and SLNs were formulated with a hot homogenization–probe sonication method. The lead GTX-NLC formulation was characterized and assessed for in vitro drug release, antimicrobial efficacy (against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and ex vivo permeation. The lead formulation exhibited desired physicochemical characteristics, an extended release of GTX over a 12 h period, and was stable over three months at the three storage conditions (refrigerated, room temperature, and accelerated). The transcorneal flux and permeability of GTX from the GTX-NLC formulation were 5.5- and 6.0-fold higher in comparison to the commercial eyedrops and exhibited a similar in vitro antibacterial activity. Therefore, GTX-NLCs could serve as an alternative drug delivery platform to improve treatment outcomes in BC.
L-Aminoguanidine Induces Imbalance of ROS/RNS Homeostasis and Polyamine Catabolism of Tomato Roots after Short-Term Salt Exposure
Authors: Szepesi Ágnes , Bakacsy László , Fehér Attila , Kovács Henrietta , Pálfi Péter , Poór Péter , Szőllősi Réka , Gondor Orsolya Kinga , Janda Tibor , Szalai Gabriella , Lindermayr Christian , Szabados László , Zsigmond Laura
Published: August 2023

Polyamine (PA) catabolism mediated by amine oxidases is an important process involved in fine-tuning PA homeostasis and related mechanisms during salt stress. The significance of these amine oxidases in short-term responses to salt stress is, however, not well understood. In the present study, the effects of L-aminoguanidine (AG) on tomato roots treated with short-term salt stress induced by NaCl were studied. AG is usually used as a copper amine oxidase (CuAO or DAO) inhibitor. In our study, other alterations of PA catabolism, such as reduced polyamine oxidase (PAO), were also observed in AG-treated plants. Salt stress led to an increase in the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in tomato root apices, evidenced by in situ fluorescent staining and an increase in free PA levels. Such alterations were alleviated by AG treatment, showing the possible antioxidant effect of AG in tomato roots exposed to salt stress. PA catabolic enzyme activities decreased, while the imbalance of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentrations displayed a dependence on stress intensity. These changes suggest that AG-mediated inhibition could dramatically rearrange PA catabolism and related reactive species backgrounds, especially the NO-related mechanisms. More studies are, however, needed to decipher the precise mode of action of AG in plants exposed to stress treatments.
Mechanical Characteristics Analysis of Composite Rubber Elements in Elastic Cam of Large Coal Cake Tamper
Authors: Huang Lin , Zhang Shengfang , Liu Yu , Sha Zhihua
Published: August 2023

The phenomenon of coal cake collapse is often caused by the unstable operation of the elastic cam in a large coal cake tamper. Aiming at this problem, the mechanical characteristics of the composite rubber elements during cam rotation are studied. A rubber piecewise-function constitutive model is established based on phenomenological theory, and different rubber constitutive model coefficients are obtained according to rubber test data. A contact simulation model between the elastic cam and the tamping hammer friction plate is established to obtain the stress–strain law of the composite rubber elements and the pressure-displacement curve of the elastic cam. The stiffness test platform of the elastic cam is designed, and the differences in results between the test and the simulation are discussed. The results show that the stress–strain curve of rubber has a nonlinear increasing trend and the error between the proposed piecewise function and the test value is less than 2%. As the cam displacement increases from 1 mm to 10 mm, the cam pressure increases from 7715 N to 40,000 N. The simulation results of the rubber stress–strain relationship using the piecewise-function constitutive model are closer to the test data than the simulation results using the elastic modulus as a constant, and the error is less than 6.18%.
An Improved GAN-Based Image Restoration Method for Imaging Logging Images
Authors: Cao Maojun , Feng Hao , Xiao Hong
Published: August 2023

An improved GAN-based imaging logging image restoration method is presented in this paper for solving the problem of partially missing micro-resistivity imaging logging images. The method uses FCN as the generative network infrastructure and adds a depth-separable convolutional residual block to learn and retain more effective pixel and semantic information; an Inception module is added to increase the multi-scale perceptual field of the network and reduce the number of parameters in the network; and a multi-scale feature extraction module and a spatial attention residual block are added to combine the channel attention. The multi-scale module adds a multi-scale feature extraction module and a spatial attention residual block, which combine the channel attention mechanism and the residual block to achieve multi-scale feature extraction. The global discriminative network and the local discriminative network are designed to gradually improve the content and semantic structure coherence between the restored parts and the whole image by playing off each other and the generative network. According to the experimental results, the average structural similarity measure of the five sets of imaged logging images with different sizes of missing regions in the test set is 0.903, which is an improvement of about 0.3 compared with other similar methods. It is shown that the method in this thesis can be used for the restoration of micro-resistivity imaging log images with good improvement in semantic structural coherence and texture details, thus providing a new deep learning method to ensure the smooth advancement of the subsequent interpretation of micro-resistivity imaging log images.
Numerical Simulation of Acoustic Wave Generated by DC Corona Discharge Based on the Shock Wave Theory
Authors: Yang Fan , Li Liugang , Li Zhimin , Wang Pengbo
Published: August 2023

The audible noise generated by corona discharge has the N-type characteristic at the initial generation stage, and it is a typical shock wave. This shock wave usually only exists around the corona source with a tiny range, making it difficult to obtain its characteristics through experimental measurements. An electrosound-combined simulation of the corona discharge based on the shock wave theory was conducted, and the development process involving the corona discharge, shock wave, and sound wave was simulated. First, the corona was numerically simulated based on the 2D pin–plate axisymmetric hydrodynamic model. It was found that the plasma was mainly distributed near the axis of the corona field where the electric field changed violently, and the maximum value of the electric field appeared at the head of the discharge channel. Then, the plasma energy was equivalent to the explosive energy, and a plasma explosion shock model was established. It was found that the shock wave pressure had obvious positive and negative pressure zones, and the propagation velocity decays to the sound velocity gradually. Finally, the shock wave pressure derived by the explosion model was used as the acoustic source, and the acoustic wave propagation process was simulated. The simulated sound pressure waveform had the same characteristics as the relevant experimental measurement results, proving that the developed method possessed strong applicability and gave rise to a new angle for the simulation of corona-generated audible noise.
Actuation Mechanisms and Applications for Soft Robots: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Li Weidong , Hu Diangang , Yang Lei
Published: August 2023

Soft robots, which exhibit distinguishing features in terms of compliance, adaptability, and safety, have been expansively adopted in various niche applications. For soft robots, innovative actuators have been designed based on smart materials enabling the robots to perform flexible and versatile functions, whereas extra spaces and accessories to accommodate motors and power devices have been eliminated to achieve structural optimisation. Herein, different types of actuation mechanisms for soft robots are summarised to reflect the state-of-the-art research and applications. Major characteristics of the actuation mechanisms are updated. Design methodologies of the actuation mechanisms are discussed in detail. Furthermore, their advantages, disadvantages, and application potential are compared and summarised. In the end, based on our knowledge and understanding, new thoughts and recommendations to further develop the actuation mechanisms are put forward. This review is useful to support the conclusion that, through incorporating actuation mechanisms and advanced intelligent technologies, soft robots tend to create disruptive innovations in applications.
Improved Genetic Algorithm for Solving Green Path Models of Concrete Trucks
Authors: Yang Jie , Zhu Haotian , Ma Junxu , Yue Bin , Guan Yang , Shi Jinfa , Shangguan Linjian
Published: August 2023

In this paper, for the problem of high total fuel consumption of distribution trucks when multiple concrete-mixing plants distribute concrete together, we established a green fuel consumption model for distribution trucks and solved the model with an improved genetic algorithm to obtain a green distribution scheme for trucks. Firstly, the fuel consumption model is established for the characteristics of commercial concrete tankers; secondly, the adaptive elite retention strategy, adaptive crossover, mutation operator, and immune operation are added to the genetic algorithm to improve it; and finally, the model is solved to obtain the green distribution scheme. The total fuel consumption in this experiment was 189.6 L when the green distribution scheme was used; compared to the total fuel consumption under the original scheme (240 L), the total fuel consumption was reduced by 21.25%. The experimental results show that the total fuel consumption of delivery trucks can be significantly reduced based on the established green fuel consumption model, and the improved genetic algorithm can effectively solve the model.
Nerve Injury and Photobiomodulation, a Promising Opportunity: A Scoping Review on Laser Assisted Protocols for Lesions in the Oral Region
Authors: Scribante Andrea , Pellegrini Matteo , Pulicari Federica , Porrini Massimo , Bosotti Moreno , Spadari Francesco
Published: August 2023

The currently available therapeutic options for restoring function and sensitivity in long-term nervous injuries pose challenges. Microsurgery interventions for direct nerve repair often lead to serious complications and limited success. Non-surgical methods, although somewhat effective, have limited benefits. These methods involve drug administration, such as with analgesics or corticosteroids. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has emerged as a promising approach based on clinical and laboratory studies. PBMT stimulates the migration and proliferation of neuronal fiber cellular aggregates, as reported in the literature. Experimental studies on animal models with peripheral nerve compression injuries have shown that PBMT can enhance the functionality of damaged nerves, preserving their activity and preventing scar tissue formation. The mechanism of action depends on the wavelength, which can positively or negatively affect photo acceptor resonances, influencing their conformation and activities. These findings suggest that photobiomodulation may accelerate and improve nerve regeneration. This review explores various methodologies used in photobiomodulation for regenerating nerve sensitivity after surgical trauma involving nerve structures, in the oral and peri-oral region. Research was conducted to evaluate which laser-assisted therapeutic protocols are used to improve the recovery of nervous sensitivity, using the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and following the PRISMA methodology.
Effect of Performance by Excessive Advanced Fuel Injection Timing on Marine Diesel Engine
Authors: Baek Hyun-Min , Jung Gyun-Sik , Vuong Quang Dao , Lee Jae-Ung , Lee Ji-Woong
Published: August 2023

The injection timing of fuel in a diesel engine affects the combustion condition. Advanced fuel injection prolongs the ignition delay, positively impacting the increase in maximum combustion pressure and improving output. However, excessively advanced fuel injection can cause knocking. Moreover, premature ignition results in increased compression work when the maximum combustion pressure occurs before top dead center (TDC). This study aimed to diagnose and rectify starting failures, noise, and vibrations in a commercially operated ship engine by measuring the combustion pressure during low load operation. The target engine was a 4-stroke diesel, and the fuel injection system was mechanically controlled by a camshaft. The measured engine exhibited a 4.5 °CA error between the TDC, determined by the flywheel mark and the actual TDC. This discrepancy was influenced by excessively advanced fuel injection timing. It was confirmed that fuel injection and ignition were excessively advanced in all cylinders. After readjusting the engine by delaying the fuel injection timing by approximately 10 °CA, the combustion pressure was remeasured. The ignition was delayed by approximately 6.5 °CA at the same load, and the ignition intervals were uniformly adjusted. As the ignition timing was retarded, the compression work decreased and the expansion work increased in each cylinder, resulting in improved output across all cylinders. The amplitude of crankshaft angular velocity variation significantly decreased, improving uneven rotational force.
α-Glucosidase Inhibitors Based on Oleanolic Acid for the Treatment of Immunometabolic Disorders
Authors: Petrova Anastasiya V. , Babkov Denis A. , Khusnutdinova Elmira F. , Baikova Irina P. , Kazakova Oxana B. , Sokolova Elena V. , Spasov Alexander A.
Published: August 2023

Using oleanolic acid as a starting compound, a series of new oleanane-type triterpenic derivatives were synthesized via O-acylation (with nicotinic, isonicotinic, and methoxycinnamic acid acyl chlorides), N-amidation (with cyclic- or polyamines), the Mannich reaction (with secondary cyclic amines), and Claisen–Schmidt condensation (with aromatic aldehydes), and their potencies as treatments for immunometabolic disorders were investigated. The compounds were evaluated against α-glucosidase and PTP1B enzymes and LPS-stimulated murine macrophages. It was found that the target compounds are highly effective α-glucosidase inhibitors but lack activity against PTP1B. A leading compound, N-methylpiperazine methylated 2,3-indolo-oleanolic propargyl amide 15, is also a micromolar inhibitor of NO synthesis in LPS-stimulated macrophages and suppresses oxidative bursts in neutrophils with similar efficiency. These results, in addition to its ability to stimulate glucose uptake in rat fibroblasts and improve maltose tolerance in rats, allow us to consider compound 15 a promising prototype drug for the treatment of immunometabolic defects in type 2 diabetes.
A Path Recommendation Method Considering Individual Driving Preferences
Authors: Li Yetao , Huang Min
Published: August 2023

The issue of congestion on urban roads stems from an imbalance between transport demand and supply. It has become imperative to address the problem from the traffic demand side. While managing effective traffic demand relies on understanding the individual preferences of drivers, the current method for gathering preferences (i.e., through questionnaires) is both expensive and may not accurately capture the characteristics of respondents due to their varying interpretations of the options. To overcome these challenges, we proposed a path recommendation method that takes individual travel preferences into consideration by employing automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) data for the extraction of individual travel preferences. We initially identified key factors influencing the path selection behaviors of drivers, including path attributes, travel attributes, and individual attributes. Subsequently, we constructed a path satisfaction model based on individual preferences, employing an improved analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Furthermore, we utilized the pth percentile approach, rather than expert scores, in order to determine the relative importance of each indicator in the improved AHP. By applying the proposed model to the ALPR data from Xuancheng City, we successfully extracted the path selection preferences of drivers. We designed various scenarios to verify the reliability of the model, and the experimental results demonstrated that the proposed path satisfaction model can effectively capture the influence of underlying indicators on the path selection behavior of individuals with diverse travel preferences, considering different driver types and path attributes. Moreover, compared to the real trajectory, the recommended paths yielded an overall satisfaction improvement of over 10%, confirming the reliability and practicality of our proposed model.
Optical Analysis of the Impact Transmission in Steel Sheet Arrays with Bolted-Type Joints
Authors: Martínez-Calzada Víctor , Tapia-Pérez Felipe de Jesús , Rodríguez-Torres Adriana , Saldaña-Heredia Alonso
Published: August 2023

This research leads with the analysis of a structural joint. Different arrays of steel sheets were joined using bolts. The structures were built in a metallic box filled with Granitic 0/3 sand. This box was used as a rigid body to transmit impacts and the sand as a medium to interact between the body and the structure. Then, an optical set-up was placed to measure the interaction of the impact along the different arrays. Measurements were made 5 cm before and 5 cm after the bolt. Results were analyzed by performing signal filtering and approaching a mathematical solution revealing that impact interaction can be harmonic or damped oscillations with more than 98% accuracy.
Fault Detection Method for Wind Turbine Generators Based on Attention-Based Modeling
Authors: Zhang Yu , Huang Runcai , Li Zhiwei
Published: August 2023

Aiming at the problem that existing wind turbine gearbox fault prediction models often find it difficult to distinguish the importance of different data frames and are easily interfered with by non-important and irrelevant signals, thus causing a reduction in fault diagnosis accuracy, a wind turbine gearbox fault prediction model based on the attention-weighted long short-term memory network (AW-LSTM) is proposed. Specifically, the gearbox vibration signal is decomposed by empirical modal decomposition (EMD), to contain seven different frequency components and one residual component. The decomposed signal is passed through a four-layer LSTM network, to extract the fault features. The attention mechanism is introduced, to reweight the hidden states, in order to strengthen the attention to the important features. The proposed method captures the intrinsic long-term temporal correlation of timing gearbox signals through a long short-term memory network, and resorts to recursive attentional weighting, to efficiently distinguish the contribution of different frames and to exclude the influence of irrelevant or interfering data on the model. The results show that the proposed AW-LSTM wind turbine gearbox fault prediction model has an inference time of 36 s on two publicly available wind turbine fault detection datasets, with a root mean square error of 1.384, an average absolute error of 0.983, and an average absolute percentage error of 9.638, and that the AW-LSTM prediction model is able to efficiently extract the characteristics of wind turbine gearbox faults, with a shorter inference time and better fault prediction.
Saint Mamas at Exeles: An Unusual Case of Ritual Piety on Karpathos
Authors: Katsioti Angeliki , Mastrochristos Nikolaos
Published: August 2023

The church of Saint Mamas is a small, domed structure that lies close to Menetes village in Karpathos. It preserves most of its painted decoration, consisting of the scene of the Ascension of Christ on the dome and saintly figures on the rest of the surfaces. A dedicatory inscription, read here for the first time, dates the frescoes to 1312/3 and places them in the broader context of precisely dated monuments. Certain features of the iconographic program, such as the presence of healer saints (Panteleemon and Kyprianos) but mostly of the officiating Pope Sylvester and the passage used in the codex of Christ Pantocrator on the apse of the altar, lead us to interesting conclusions concerning, among other things, the perception of anti-Latin propaganda in the islands of the South Aegean. Also, the stylistic affinities between the art of Karpathos and Crete corroborate the diachronic interrelations between the two islands. The church of Saint Mamas is an exceptional example and one of the few Byzantine-decorated monuments that survive on the island.
Mapping the Anthropocene: Atelier NL, a Case Study of Place-Based Material Craft Practices
Authors: Panneels Inge
Published: August 2023

This paper argues that mapping as a methodology can support localised production, as exemplified in the case study of the design studio Atelier NL which marries contemporary design sensibilities with traditional glass and ceramics craft-making techniques. The paper puts forward the argument that by paying attention to local ecosystem services through mapping, place-based design solutions can be developed. Furthermore, the paper argues that the methodologies deployed by Atelier NL borrow from contemporary art creative mapping practices. This case study uses the framework of the Anthropocene to situate these mapping practices identified within the case study and contextualises these within 20th-century environmental arts practices, and those of the environmental art pioneers the Harrisons in particular. Finally, the paper argues that these mapping practices are responding to the conditions of the Anthropocene which increasingly makes clear that culture and nature are enmeshed, an insight that 19th-century town planner Patrick Geddes argued for more than a century ago.
Flexible and Stable N-Isopropylacrylamide/Sodium Alginate Gel Electrolytes for Aqueous Zn-MNO2 Batteries
Authors: Wang Kehuang , Shangguan Mingliang , Zhao Yibo , Tian Haoran , Wang Fu , Yuan Jinliang , Xia Lan
Published: August 2023

Rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their high theoretical capacity of 820 mA h g−1, low cost and intrinsic safety. However, the electrolyte leakage and the instability issues of Zn negative electrodes originating from side reactions between the aqueous electrolyte and Zn negative electrode not only restrict the battery stability, but also result in the short circuit of aqueous ZIBs. Herein, we report a flexible and stable N-isopropylacrylamide/sodium alginate (N-SA) gel electrolyte, which possesses high mechanical strength and high ionic conductivity of 2.96 × 10−2 S cm−1, and enables the Zn metal negative electrode and MnO2 positive electrode to reversibly and stably cycle. Compared to the liquid electrolyte, the N-SA hydrogel electrolyte can effectively form a uniform Zn deposition and suppress the generation of irreversible by-products. The assembled symmetric Zn/Zn cells at a current density of 1 mA cm−2 (capacity: 1 mAh cm−2) show a stable voltage profile, which maintains a low level of about 100 mV over 2600 h without an obvious short circuit or any overpotential increasing. Specially, the assembled Zn/N-SA/MnO2 batteries can deliver a high specific capacity of 182 mAh g−1 and maintain 98% capacity retention after 650 cycles at 0.5 A g−1. This work provides a simple method to fabricate high-performance SA-based hydrogel electrolytes, which illustrates their potential for flexible batteries for wearable electronics.
Deep Learning-Based Automated Magnetic Resonance Image Segmentation of the Lumbar Structure and Its Adjacent Structures at the L4/5 Level
Authors: Wang Min , Su Zhihai , Liu Zheng , Chen Tao , Cui Zhifei , Li Shaolin , Pang Shumao , Lu Hai
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: This study aims to develop a deep learning model based on a 3D Deeplab V3+ network to automatically segment multiple structures from magnetic resonance (MR) images at the L4/5 level. (2) Methods: After data preprocessing, the modified 3D Deeplab V3+ network of the deep learning model was used for the automatic segmentation of multiple structures from MR images at the L4/5 level. We performed five-fold cross-validation to evaluate the performance of the deep learning model. Subsequently, the Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC), precision, and recall were also used to assess the deep learning model’s performance. Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were employed to compare the morphometric measurements of 3D reconstruction models generated by manual and automatic segmentation. (3) Results: The deep learning model obtained an overall average DSC of 0.886, an average precision of 0.899, and an average recall of 0.881 on the test sets. Furthermore, all morphometry-related measurements of 3D reconstruction models revealed no significant difference between ground truth and automatic segmentation. Strong linear relationships and correlations were also obtained in the morphometry-related measurements of 3D reconstruction models between ground truth and automated segmentation. (4) Conclusions: We found it feasible to perform automated segmentation of multiple structures from MR images, which would facilitate lumbar surgical evaluation by establishing 3D reconstruction models at the L4/5 level.
PPChain: A Blockchain for Pandemic Prevention and Control Assisted by Federated Learning
Authors: Cao Tianruo , Pan Yongqi , Chen Honghui , Zheng Jianming , Hu Tao
Published: August 2023

Taking COVID-19 as an example, we know that a pandemic can have a huge impact on normal human life and the economy. Meanwhile, the population flow between countries and regions is the main factor affecting the changes in a pandemic, which is determined by the airline network. Therefore, realizing the overall control of airports is an effective way to control a pandemic. However, this is restricted by the differences in prevention and control policies in different areas and privacy issues, such as how a patient’s personal data from a medical center cannot be effectively combined with their passenger personal data. This prevents more precise airport control decisions from being made. To address this, this paper designed a novel data-sharing framework (i.e., PPChain) based on blockchain and federated learning. The experiment uses a CPU i7-12800HX and uses Docker to simulate multiple virtual nodes. The model is deployed to run on an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 3090Ti GPU. The experiment shows that the relationship between a pandemic and aircraft transport can be effectively explored by PPChain without sharing raw data. This approach does not require centralized trust and improves the security of the sharing process. The scheme can help formulate more scientific and rational prevention and control policies for the control of airports. Additionally, it can use aerial data to predict pandemics more accurately.
Mesonephric-like Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Corpus: Genomic and Immunohistochemical Profiling with Comprehensive Clinicopathological Analysis of 17 Consecutive Cases from a Single Institution
Authors: Koh Hyun-Hee , Park Eunhyang , Kim Hyun-Soo
Published: August 2023

Data on genetic and immunophenotypical characteristics of uterine mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma (MLA) remain limited. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the clinicopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of uterine MLA. We performed targeted sequencing, array comparative genomic hybridization, and immunostaining in 17, 13, and 17 uterine MLA cases, respectively. Nine patients developed lung metastases. Eleven patients experienced disease recurrences. The most frequently mutated gene was Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS; 13/17). Both the primary and matched metastatic tumors harbored identical KRAS (3/4) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (1/4) mutations, and did not harbor any additional mutations. A total of 2 of the 17 cases harbored tumor protein 53 (TP53) frameshift insertion and deletion, respectively. Chromosomal gains were detected in 1q (13/13), 10 (13/13), 20 (10/13), 2 (9/13), and 12 (6/13). Programmed cell death-ligand 1 overexpression or mismatch repair deficiency was not observed in any of the cases. Initial serosal extension and lung metastasis independently predicted recurrence-free survival with hazard ratios of 6.30 and 7.31, respectively. Our observations consolidated the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of uterine MLA. Both clinicians and pathologists should consider these features to make an accurate diagnosis of uterine MLA and to ensure appropriate therapeutic management of this rare entity.
Microparticle-Based Detection of Viruses
Authors: Khanthaphixay Bradley , Wu Lillian , Yoon Jeong-Yeol
Published: August 2023

Surveillance of viral pathogens in both point-of-care and clinical settings is imperative to preventing the widespread propagation of disease—undetected viral outbreaks can pose dire health risks on a large scale. Thus, portable, accessible, and reliable biosensors are necessary for proactive measures. Polymeric microparticles have recently gained popularity for their size, surface area, and versatility, which make them ideal biosensing tools. This review cataloged recent investigations on polymeric microparticle-based detection platforms across eight virus families. These microparticles were used as labels for detection (often with fluorescent microparticles) and for capturing viruses for isolation or purification (often with magnetic microparticles). We also categorized all methods by the characteristics, materials, conjugated receptors, and size of microparticles. Current approaches were compared, addressing strengths and weaknesses in the context of virus detection. In-depth analyses were conducted for each virus family, categorizing whether the polymeric microparticles were used as labels, for capturing, or both. We also summarized the types of receptors conjugated to polymeric microparticles for each virus family.
Electrochemical Wearable Biosensors and Bioelectronic Devices Based on Hydrogels: Mechanical Properties and Electrochemical Behavior
Authors: Saeidi Mohsen , Chenani Hossein , Orouji Mina , Adel Rastkhiz MahsaSadat , Bolghanabadi Nafiseh , Vakili Shaghayegh , Mohamadnia Zahra , Hatamie Amir , Simchi Abdolreza (Arash)
Published: August 2023

Hydrogel-based wearable electrochemical biosensors (HWEBs) are emerging biomedical devices that have recently received immense interest. The exceptional properties of HWEBs include excellent biocompatibility with hydrophilic nature, high porosity, tailorable permeability, the capability of reliable and accurate detection of disease biomarkers, suitable device–human interface, facile adjustability, and stimuli responsive to the nanofiller materials. Although the biomimetic three-dimensional hydrogels can immobilize bioreceptors, such as enzymes and aptamers, without any loss in their activities. However, most HWEBs suffer from low mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. Many studies have been performed on emerging electroactive nanofillers, including biomacromolecules, carbon-based materials, and inorganic and organic nanomaterials, to tackle these issues. Non-conductive hydrogels and even conductive hydrogels may be modified by nanofillers, as well as redox species. All these modifications have led to the design and development of efficient nanocomposites as electrochemical biosensors. In this review, both conductive-based and non-conductive-based hydrogels derived from natural and synthetic polymers are systematically reviewed. The main synthesis methods and characterization techniques are addressed. The mechanical properties and electrochemical behavior of HWEBs are discussed in detail. Finally, the prospects and potential applications of HWEBs in biosensing, healthcare monitoring, and clinical diagnostics are highlighted.
Long-Term Survival Analysis and Prognostic Factors of Arabic Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: A 20-Year Observational Study at the King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) Involving 528 Patients
Authors: Al-Ibraheem Akram , Al-Rasheed Ula , Mashhadani Noor , Abdlkadir Ahmed Saad , Al-Adhami Dhuha Ali , Ruzzeh Saad , Istatieh Feras , Mansour Areen , Hamdan Basem , Kheetan Reem , Al-Shatti Marwa , Mohamad Issa , Juweid Malik E. , Abu Sheikha Areej , Al-Rabi Kamal , Sykiotis Gerasimos P. , Kreissl Michael C. , Ismael Taleb , Sultan Iyad , Abdel-Razeq Hikmat
Published: August 2023

DTC accounts for the majority of endocrine tumors. While the incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing globally over the past few decades, papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) generally shows an excellent prognosis, except in cases with aggressive clinicopathological features. This study aimed to assess the 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of 528 Arabic patients diagnosed with primary DTC from 1998 to 2021. Additionally, the study aimed to analyze the impact of various factors on both OS and PFS. An univariable survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan–Meier curves. The 5- and 10-year OS for patients with DTC have exceeded 95%. Additionally, PFS showed very good rates (ranging between 96.5 and 85% at 5 and 10 years, respectively). Age, male gender, risk of recurrence, and distant metastasis were identified as the main negative prognostic factors for both OS and PFS, while RAI treatment was found to be a significant factor in improving OS. Moreover, adherence to the King Hussein Cancer Center’s (KHCC) CPG demonstrated significant improvement in PFS. These findings highlight common prognostic factors and favorable outcomes in Arabic patients with DTC treated at a tertiary cancer center using standard of care approaches.
Overexpression of MRP1/ABCC1, Survivin and BCRP/ABCC2 Predicts the Resistance of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma to R-CHOP Treatment
Authors: Mandić Danijela , Nežić Lana , Amdžić Ljiljana , Vojinović Nataša , Gajanin Radoslav , Popović Miroslav , Đeri Jugoslav , Balint Milena Todorović , Dumanović Jelena , Milovanović Zoran , Grujić-Milanović Jelica , Škrbić Ranko , Jaćević Vesna
Published: August 2023

Background: Approximately 40% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) experience treatment resistance to the first-line R-CHOP regimen. ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters and survivin might play a role in multidrug resistance (MDR) in various tumors. The aim was to investigate if the coexpression of ABC transporters and survivin was associated with R-CHOP treatment response. Methods: The expression of Bcl-2, survivin, P-glycoprotein/ABCB1, MRP1/ABCC1, and BCRP/ABCC2 was analyzed using immunohistochemistry in tumor specimens obtained from patients with DLBCL, and classified according to the treatment response as Remission, Relapsed, and (primary) Refractory groups. All patients received R-CHOP or equivalent treatment. Results: Bcl-2 was in strong positive correlation with clinical parameters and all biomarkers except P-gp/ABCB1. The overexpression of MRP1/ABCC1, survivin, and BCRP/ABCC2 presented as high immunoreactive scores (IRSs) was detected in the Refractory and Relapsed groups (p < 0.05 vs. Remission), respectively, whereas the IRS of P-gp/ABCB1 was low. Significant correlations were found among either MRP1/ABCC1 and survivin or BCRP/ABCC2 in the Refractory and Relapsed groups, respectively. In multiple linear regression analysis, ECOG status along with MRP1/ABCC1 or survivin and BRCP/ABCG2 was significantly associated with the prediction of the R-CHOP treatment response. Conclusions: DLBCL might harbor certain molecular signatures such as MRP1/ABCC1, survivin, and BCRP/ABCC2 overexpression that can predict resistance to R-CHOP.
Eco-Friendly, High-Performance Humidity Sensor Using Purple Sweet-Potato Peel for Multipurpose Applications
Authors: Rahman Sheik Abdur , Khan Shenawar Ali , Iqbal Shahzad , Rehman Muhammad Muqeet , Kim Woo Young
Published: August 2023

Biomaterials offer great potential for enhancing the performance of humidity sensors, which play a critical role in controlling moisture levels across different applications. By utilizing environmentally friendly, sustainable, and cost-effective biomaterials, we can improve the manufacturing process of these sensors while reducing our environmental impact. In this study, we present a high-performance humidity sensor that utilizes purple sweet potato peel (PSPP) as both the substrate and sensing layer. The PSPP is chosen for its polar hydrophilic functional groups, as well as its environmentally friendly nature, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. Remarkably, this humidity sensor does not require an external substrate. It exhibits a wide detection range of 0 to 85% relative humidity at various operating frequencies (100 Hz, 1 kHz, and 10 kHz) in ambient temperature, demonstrating its effectiveness in responding to different humidity levels. The sensor achieves a high sensitivity value of 183.23 pF/%RH and minimal hysteresis of only 5% at 10 kHz under ambient conditions. It also boasts rapid response and recovery times of 1 and 2 s, respectively, making it suitable for use in high-end electronic devices. Moreover, the sensor’s applications extend beyond environmental monitoring. It has proven effective in monitoring mouth and nasal breathing, indicating its potential for respiratory monitoring and noncontact proximity response. These findings suggest that sweet potato peel material holds great promise as a highly stable, non-toxic, biodegradable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly option for various domains, including healthcare monitoring.
Development and Application of an Electrochemical Sensor with 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione-Modified Electrode for the Detection of Escherichia coli in Water
Authors: Fan Yining , Liu Yanran , Gao Guanyue , Zhang Hanxin , Zhi Jinfang
Published: August 2023

The routine monitoring of bacterial populations is crucial for ensuring water quality and safeguarding public health. Thus, an electrochemical sensor based on a 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione-modified electrode was developed and explored for the detection of E. coli. The modified electrode exhibited enhanced NADH oxidation ability at a low potential of 0.1 V, which effectively eliminated the interference from other redox compounds in bacteria. The sensitivity for NADH was 0.222 μA/μM, and the limit of detection was 0.0357 μM. Upon cell lysis, the intracellular NADH was released, and the concentration of E. coli was determined through establishing the relationship between the oxidation current signal and NADH concentration. The performance of the electrochemical sensor in the detection of NADH and E. coli suspensions was validated using the WST-8 colorimetric method. The blank recovery experiment in real water samples exhibited good accuracy, with recovery rates ranging from 89.12% to 93.26% and relative standard deviations of less than 10%. The proposed electrochemical sensor realized the detection of E. coli without the usage of biomarkers, which provides a promising approach for the broad-spectrum detection of microbial contents in complex water environments.
Parental Anxiety, Practices, and Parent–Child Relationships among Families with Young Children in China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Yu Wenya , Guo Zhichao , Tian Jiahe , Li Panpan , Wang Peng , Chen Hong , Zcm Dan , Li Meina , Ge Yang , Liu Xiang
Published: August 2023

This study explored the ambiguous characteristics and influencing factors of parental anxiety, practices, and parent–child relationships among families with young children during a sudden COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai, China. An online survey was conducted from 1 June to 10 November 2022, with 477 valid responses. Parental anxiety, practices, and parent–child relationships were evaluated. During this lockdown, 72.6% caregivers felt anxious about parenting to different degrees, with only a small proportion experiencing extreme anxiety. Parental anxiety was mainly influenced by whether the caregivers faced parenting issues and external parenting difficulties. The frequency of two-parent–child activities of reading books or looking at picture books with their children and telling stories to them significantly increased. Caregivers’ occupations of either professional or technical personnel and working from home were the most significant influencing factors. Mother–child relationships were relatively good. In conclusion, parental anxiety, practices, and parent–child relationships were relatively good and stable among families with young children during this lockdown. In the context of public health emergencies like COVID-19, more parenting support and knowledge should be provided to caregivers from professionals in CHCs or hospitals to decrease parental anxiety and improve parent–child relationships. Full advantage should be taken of working from home to promote parent–child activities.
The Influence of Emotional Regulation and Cognitive Flexibility on Sleep Habits in Spanish Children and Adolescents through the Lens of Parents
Authors: Costa-López Borja , Lavigne-Cerván Rocío , Collado-Valero Joshua A. , Juárez-Ruiz de Mier Rocío , Navarro-Soria Ignasi
Published: August 2023

Background: Previous research studies have suggested the importance of studying the relationship between emotional regulation and sleep habits. Some investigations have especially focused on how emotional regulation could impact sleep habits in children and adolescents. Therefore, these researchers have stated there exists a two-way direction in this relationship. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the influence of emotional regulation on sleep habits in Spanish children and adolescents and the mediating role of anxiety in this relationship. Method: Participants were 953 Spanish parents who completed the assessment protocol according to their children and adolescents’ information. Results: The results revealed moderate–strong correlations between emotional regulation problems and sleep habit disturbances (r = 0.375, p < 0.001), trait (r = 0.488, p < 0.001) anxiety, and state (r = 0.589, p < 0.001) anxiety. Additionally, emotional regulation showed a direct impact on sleep habits (β = 0.011, p = 0.005). Trait and state anxiety demonstrated a significant mediating role in the relationship between emotional regulation and sleep habits. Conclusions: Emotional regulation may have an impact on sleep habits during childhood and adolescence, suggesting the importance of early intervention focused on the emotions management and the prevention of sleep habit disturbances.
Indicators of Eating Disorders in Sexually Abused Brazilian Adolescents: Family and School Contexts
Authors: Andrade Julia Altoé , Salaroli Luciane Bresciani , Noll Priscilla Rayanne e Silva , Noll Matias , Feitosa Sheila Oliveira , Raimundo Rodrigo Daminello , Oliveira Adriana Gonçalves de , Mendonça Carolina Rodrigues , Abreu Luiz Carlos de
Published: August 2023

Eating disorders, characterized by abnormal eating behaviors, are among a wide variety of psychiatric conditions that mainly affect children and adolescents. These disorders have a multifactorial origin and can be associated with restrictive diets, negative feelings, harmful family relationships, and post-traumatic stress. Thus, this study’s objective was to evaluate the association between indicators of eating disorders and family and school contexts in Brazilian adolescents who previously experienced sexual abuse and examine the findings based on sex. National School Health Survey data were utilized. Among 102,301 students between 11 and 19 years of age, 4124 reported having experienced sexual abuse and were included in this study. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess participants’ health status and the presence of risk behaviors, which were examined through multivariate analysis using a Poisson regression model. The results indicated positive relationships between self-induced vomiting, laxative misuse, and other purgative methods and infrequent meals with family, hunger, and the presence of violence in students’ daily lives, regardless of sex (p < 0.05). In addition, body dissatisfaction and negative feelings about one’s body were associated with having been bullied or teased by schoolmates for both sexes (p < 0.05). Distant relationships with parents were associated with purgative methods and body dissatisfaction among female students (p < 0.05). In conclusion, body dissatisfaction, negative feelings about one’s body, laxative misuse, self-induced vomiting, and purgative methods were found to be associated with factors in family and school contexts such as hunger, infrequent meals with family, family violence, distant relationships with parents, and bullying at school in adolescents who have previously experienced sexual abuse.
The Diagnostic Process for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Preliminary Study of Jordanian Parents’ Perspectives
Authors: Hyassat Mizyed , Al-Makahleh Ahmad , Rahahleh Zahraa , Al-Zyoud Nawaf
Published: August 2023

Although extensive research has been conducted worldwide to investigate the diagnostic process of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Jordanian parents’ experiences have been overlooked. This study explored parents’ journeys toward receiving diagnoses for their children with ASD. In particular, it aimed to provide a clear picture of the process for obtaining these diagnoses for children in Jordan. Methods: Eighteen semi-structured interviews were carried out with 12 mothers and six fathers of children with ASD aged 5 to 11 years old. Results: The coding process was based on a thematic analysis method and resulted in the identification of three overlapping themes: dissatisfaction with professionals’ abilities to approach parents, an unstructured diagnostic process, and perspectives on diagnosis tools. Conclusions: Our data upheld the idea that parental satisfaction with the diagnostic process is influenced by the duration of the process, the information provided, the support offered, and the communication approach used by professionals. Within the local cultural context, parents were significantly impacted by the societal stigma associated with disability when they sought diagnoses for their children with ASD.