bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Major Bleeding Predictors in Patients with Left Atrial Appendage Closure: The Iberian Registry II
Authors: López-Mínguez José Ramón , Nogales-Asensio Juan Manuel , Infante De Oliveira Eduardo , Santos Lino , Ruiz-Salmerón Rafael , Arzamendi-Aizpurua Dabit , Costa Marco , Gutiérrez-García Hipólito , Fernández-Díaz Jose Antonio , Freixa Xavier , Cruz-González Ignacio , Moreno Raúl , Íñiguez-Romo Andrés , Alfonso-Manterola Fernando
Published: July 2020

Introduction and objective: Major bleeding events in patients undergoing left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) range from 2.2 to 10.3 per 100 patient-years in different series. This study aimed to clarify the bleeding predictive factors that could influence these differences. Methods: LAAC was performed in 598 patients from the Iberian Registry II (1093 patient-years; median, 75.4 years). We conducted a multivariate analysis to identify predictive risk factors for major bleeding events. The occurrence of thromboembolic and bleeding events was compared to rates expected from CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes, stroke history, vascular disease, sex) and HAS-BLED (hypertension, abnormal renal and liver function, stroke, bleeding, labile INR, elderly, drugs or alcohol) scores. Results: Cox regression analysis revealed that age ≥75 years (HR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3 to 4.8; p = 0.004) and a history of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) (HR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1 to 3.9; p = 0.020) were two factors independently associated with major bleeding during follow-up. Patients aged <75 or ≥75 years had median CHA2DS2-VASc scores of 4 (IQR: 2) and 5 (IQR: 2), respectively (p < 0.001) and HAS-BLED scores were 3 (IQR: 1) and 3 (IQR: 1) for each group (p = 0.007). Events presented as follow-up adjusted rates according to age groups were stroke (1.2% vs. 2.9%; HR: 2.4, p = 0.12) and major bleeding (3.7 vs. 9.0 per 100 patient-years; HR: 2.4, p = 0.002). Expected major bleedings according to HAS-BLED scores were 6.2% vs. 6.6%, respectively. In patients with GIB history, major bleeding events were 6.1% patient-years (HAS-BLED score was 3.8 ± 1.1) compared to 2.7% patients-year in patients with no previous GIB history (HAS-BLED score was 3.4 ± 1.2; p = 0.029). Conclusions: In this high-risk population, GIB history and age ≥75 years are the main predictors of major bleeding events after LAAC, especially during the first year. Age seems to have a greater influence on major bleeding events than on thromboembolic risk in these patients.
Identification of Prognostic Markers in Patients with Primary Vitreoretinal Lymphoma by Clustering Analysis Using Clinical Data
Authors: Tsubota Kinya , Usui Yoshihiko , Goto Hiroshi
Published: July 2020

(1) Purpose: Primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) is associated with poor prognosis because most of the patients with PVRL develop central nerve system lymphoma. The prognostic biomarker of PVRL is largely unknown. Cluster analysis has been used to identify phenotypic groups within various diseases. In this study, we aimed to describe clinical features of patients with PVRL grouped by clustering analysis and to identify biomarkers for predicting survival prognosis in patients with PVRL. (2) Materials and Methods: Forty patients with PVRL were divided into two groups by clustering analysis using clinical data. Clinical features of the two groups were compared. (3) Result: Clustering analysis classified patients into groups A and B. The survival rate during the follow-up period was significantly lower in group B than in group A (p = 0.03). Serum IgG, serum IgA, vitreous IL-10 and vitreous IL-10 to IL-6 ratio were significantly different between groups A and B (p = 0.03, 0.005, 0.008 and 0.03, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves generated for the four variables indicated that serum IgA was most suitable for the prediction of prognosis. Patients with serum IgA below 184 mg/dL obtained from the ROC curve had a lower three-year survival rate (p = 0.03) and more episodes of recurrence of lymphoma (3.2 times versus 1.8 times, p = 0.02) compared with patients with serum IgA above 184 mg/dL. (4) Conclusion: The survival rate was significantly different in PVRL patients classified into two groups by clustering analysis. Patients with lower serum IgA had more recurrences and poorer survival than patients with higher IgA.
Sleep Impairment and Psychological Distress among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease—beyond the Obvious
Authors: Gîlc-Blanariu Georgiana-Emmanuela , Ștefnescu Gabriela , Trifan Anca Victorița , Moscalu Mihaela , Dimofte Mihail-Gabriel , Ștefnescu Cristinel , Drug Vasile Liviu , Afrsnie Vlad-Adrian , Ciocoiu Manuela
Published: July 2020

Background: A healthy sleep–wake cycle is fundamental for regulating immune function. Sleepiness and fatigue are often manifestations of chronic inflammatory disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), potentially influencing the course of the disease. Our aim was to characterize sleep impairment in patients with IBD and to identify potential associated factors. Methods: We conducted a single-center prospective case control study including IBD patients and healthy controls. We evaluated clinical and biochemical parameters, sleep impairment through Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and anxiety and depression through Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires. Results: In total, 110 patients with IBD and 66 healthy controls were included. Patients with IBD had a significantly altered sleep quality compared to the control group (p < 0.001), with sleep impairment also occurring for patients in remission (median PSQI = 7), but without significant differences between ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. However, PSQI was correlated with disease activity scores only for ulcerative colitis and not for Crohn’s disease. Among patients with increased PSQI, only 30.19% used sleep medication. Sleep impairment was significantly correlated with altered psychological status (p < 0.01) and the presence of extraintestinal manifestations (p = 0.0172). Conclusions: Sleep impairment is frequent among patients with IBD, is associated with psychological distress and several disease-related parameters and should be routinely evaluated, at least in several IBD patient subgroups, to improve disease management.
New Clue: Prediction from Cell-Free DNA
Authors: Sanders Yan
Published: July 2020

The main challenge for a positive long-term outcome in lung transplantation is the lack of early detection for chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). With advancements in technology, an increasing number of studies demonstrate that cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in body fluids could be used as a marker for disease diagnosis, prognosis or monitoring response to treatment. A previous report from this journal found the joint assessment of cfDNA and CXCL10 from brochoalveolar lavage (BAL) could determine the subphenotypes of CLAD and predict lung transplant survival. This is an exciting attempt in monitoring the progress for lung transplant recipients. More studies and better understanding of cfDNA are needed to develop an accessible and reliable biomarker to monitor the progress of CLAD to improve the long-term survival for lung transplant recipients.
The Plasmatic Aldosterone and C-Reactive Protein Levels, and the Severity of Covid-19: The Dyhor-19 Study
Authors: Villard Orianne , Morquin David , Molinari Nicolas , Raingeard Isabelle , Nagot Nicolas , Cristol Jean-Paul , Jung Boris , Roubille Camille , Foulongne Vincent , Fesler Pierre , Lamure Sylvain , Taourel Patrice , Konate Amadou , Maria Alexandre Thibault Jacques , Makinson Alain , Bertchansky Ivan , Larcher Romaric , Klouche Kada , Le Moing Vincent , Renard Eric , Guilpain Philippe
Published: July 2020

Background. The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic, uses the angiotensin converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2), a physiological inhibitor of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS), as a cellular receptor to infect cells. Since the RAAS can induce and modulate pro-inflammatory responses, it could play a key role in the pathophysiology of Covid-19. Thus, we aimed to determine the levels of plasma renin and aldosterone as indicators of RAAS activation in a series of consecutively admitted patients for Covid-19 in our clinic. Methods. Plasma renin and aldosterone levels were measured, among the miscellaneous investigations needed for Covid-19 management, early after admission in our clinic. Disease severity was assessed using a seven-category ordinal scale. Primary outcome of interest was the severity of patients’ clinical courses. Results. Forty-four patients were included. At inclusion, 12 patients had mild clinical status, 25 moderate clinical status and 7 severe clinical status. In univariate analyses, aldosterone and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at inclusion were significantly higher in patients with severe clinical course as compared to those with mild or moderate course (p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). In multivariate analyses, only aldosterone and CRP levels remained positively associated with severity. We also observed a positive significant correlation between aldosterone and CRP levels among patients with an aldosterone level greater than 102.5 pmol/L. Conclusions. Both plasmatic aldosterone and CRP levels at inclusion are associated with the clinical course of Covid-19. Our findings may open new perspectives in the understanding of the possible role of RAAS for Covid-19 outcome.
Genotype and Phenotype Analyses in Pediatric Patients with HNF1B Mutations
Authors: Lim Seon Hee , Kim Ji Hyun , Han Kyoung Hee , Ahn Yo Han , Kang Hee Gyung , Ha Il-Soo , Cheong Hae Il
Published: July 2020

HNF1B mutations, one of the most common causes of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract, manifest as various renal and extrarenal phenotypes. We analyzed the genotype-phenotype correlations in 14 pediatric patients with HNF1B mutations. Genetic studies revealed total gene deletion in six patients (43%). All patients had bilateral renal abnormalities, primarily multiple renal cysts. Twelve patients exhibited progressive renal functional deterioration, and six of them progressed to kidney failure. The annual reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate was−2.1 mL/min/1.73 m2. Diabetes developed in five patients (36%), including one patient with new-onset diabetes after transplantation. Neurological deficits were noted in three patients (21%), one with total gene deletion and two with missense mutations. Pancreatic abnormalities were more frequent in patients with missense mutations than in patients with other types of mutations. Genotype showed no significant correlation with renal outcomes or other extrarenal manifestations. The HNF1B scores at the times of onset and genetic diagnosis were <8 in two patients and one patient, respectively. Diagnosis of HNF1B mutations is clinically difficult because of extreme phenotypic variability and incomplete penetrance. Furthermore, some phenotypes develop with age. Therefore, patient age should be taken into consideration to increase the diagnostic rate, because some phenotypes develop with age.
CFD Simulation on Workability of a Seaweed Harvesting Boat Due to Wake-Wash
Authors: Haro Marco Polo Espinoza , Park Jong-Chun , Kim Dong-Hyun , Lee Sung-Bum
Published: July 2020

In the present study, a 2-ton class seaweed harvesting boat was optimized by employing a W-shape hull form to reduce roll motion due to wake-wash from passing boats. A series of numerical simulations were conducted using Star-CCM+, a commercial CFD (computational fluid dynamics) software, to improve workability by optimizing the hull form from the conventional design (original hull form). The 2-dimensional roll decay motion of various hull forms with W-shape midsection were simulated and the hull form with the best performance in free roll decay test was selected. To evaluate stability of each hull in wake-wash, the original or optimized hull was alternately located at the middle of a computational domain as a target ship while an advancing ship (original hull) moved forward generating Kelvin waves which impact the original or optimized boat. Two kinds of working conditions, i.e., ballast and full loading conditions, of the target ship were considered with and without initial roll angle. It was observed through the comparison of motion between the original and optimized hulls a decrement of roll motion for the optimized ship demonstrating the effectiveness of the W-shape hull. Decrement of roll motion was observed for both working conditions. Additionally, the optimized W-shape hull showed an extraordinary performance under the ballast condition without initial roll angle.
Transformation of Local People’s Property Rights Induced by New Town Development (Case Studies in Peri-Urban Areas in Indonesia)
Authors: Pratomo Rahmat Aris , Samsura D. Ary A. , van der Krabben Erwin
Published: July 2020

New town development as a form of large-scale development is not a new phenomenon, particularly in developing countries. This development mainly takes place in peri-urban areas due to the high pressure caused by the growing population and the lack of facilities and infrastructure in city centres. As an effect, local communities who originally occupied the land often lose their rights over the property their livelihood might have relied on. Property rights can be grouped differently, classified according to different bundles: appropriation, ownership, and formality of rights. This paper investigates to what extent new town development in Indonesia has affected the property rights of local communities, in terms of the transformation of rights and security level. Moreover, it examines to what extent this transformation has been affected by urbanisation pressure. Ample attention is paid to the transformation of various bundles of rights concerning different usage of property, both residential and cultivated land. A total of 252 questionnaires were distributed to three different locations of new towns in Indonesia. A before-after analysis was employed to identify the transformation of the property rights and their security level, followed by multiple linear regression analysis to observe the influence of the urbanisation pressure to the security level. The research reveals that the transformation of property rights of local residents mainly concerns the appropriation rights. The analysis also indicates that there is a tendency that the security level decreases. Statistically, this appears to be affected by urbanisation pressure variables: type of land, land use, and occupation. With this study, we offer on the one hand a conceptual framework for assessing property rights, while on the other hand, we provide empirical evidence regarding the effects of new town development on property rights transformation and its security level.
Language Processing at Its Trickiest: Grammatical Illusions and Heuristics of Judgment
Authors: Leivada Evelina
Published: July 2020

Humans are intuitively good at providing judgments about what forms part of their native language and what does not. Although such judgments are robust, consistent, and reliable, human cognition is demonstrably fallible to illusions of various types. Language is no exception. In the linguistic domain, several types of sentences have been shown to trick the parser into giving them a high acceptability judgment despite their ill-formedness. One example is the so-called comparative illusion (‘More people have been to Tromsø than I have’). To this day, comparative illusions have been tested mainly with monolingual, neurotypical speakers of English. The present research aims to broaden our understanding of this phenomenon by putting it to test in two populations that differ in one crucial factor: the number of languages they speak. A timed acceptability judgment task was administered to monolingual speakers of Standard Greek and bi(dia)lectal speakers of Standard and Cypriot Greek. The results are not fully in line with any of the semantic re-analyses proposed for the illusion so far, hence a new proposal is offered about what interpretation induces the illusion, appreciating the influence of both grammatical processing and cognitive heuristics. Second, the results reveal an effect of developmental trajectory. This effect may be linked to an enhanced ability to spot the illusion in bi(dia)lectals, but several factors can be identified as possible culprits behind this result. After discussing each of them, it is argued that having two grammars may facilitate the setting of a higher processing threshold, something that would entail decreased fallibility to grammatical illusions.
Ethyl 11a,12-Dihydrobenzo[b]benzo[5,6][1,4]oxazino[2,3-e][1,4]oxazine-5a(6H)-carboxylate
Authors: Konstantinova Lidia S. , Tolmachev Mikhail A. , Popov Vadim V. , Rakitin Oleg A.
Published: July 2020

The 11a,12-dihydrobenzo[b]benzo[5,6][1,4]oxazino[2,3-e][1,4]oxazine heterocyclic system has been used in the construction of heteropropellanes, which attracted much attention not only on the possible modification of drugs, but also for novel materials with unusual and important physical properties. In this communication, the reaction of ethyl 2-(hydroxyimino)propanoate 1 with disulfur dichloride and o-aminophenol, which gave ethyl 11a,12-dihydrobenzo[b]benzo[5,6][1,4]oxazino[2,3-e][1,4]oxazine-5a(6H)-carboxylate in moderate yield, was described. The structure of the newly synthesized compound was established by means of elemental analysis, high resolution mass-spectrometry, 1H, 13C NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass-spectrometry and X-ray analysis.
Decomposed Collaborative Modeling Approach for Probabilistic Fatigue Life Evaluation of Turbine Rotor
Authors: Huang Ying , Bai Guang-Chen , Song Lu-Kai , Wang Bo-Wei
Published: July 2020

To improve simulation accuracy and efficiency of probabilistic fatigue life evaluation for turbine rotor, a decomposed collaborative modeling approach is presented. In this approach, the intelligent Kriging modeling (IKM) is firstly proposed by combining the Kriging model (KM) and an intelligent algorithm (named as dynamic multi-island genetic algorithm), to tackle the multi-modality issues for obtaining optimal Kriging parameters. Then, the decomposed collaborative IKM (DCIKM) comes up by fusing the IKM into decomposed collaborative (DC) strategy, to address the high-nonlinearity problems for accelerating simulation efficiency. Moreover, the DCIKM-based probabilistic fatigue life evaluation theory is introduced. The probabilistic fatigue life evaluation of turbine rotor is regarded as case study to verify the presented approach; the evaluation results reveal that the probabilistic fatigue life of turbine rotor is 3296 cycles. The plastic strain range ∆εp and fatigue strength coefficient σf′ are the main affecting factors to fatigue life, whose effect probability are 28% and 22%, respectively. By comparing with direct Monte Carlo method, KM method, IKM method and DC response surface method, the presented DCIKM is validated to hold high efficiency and accuracy in probabilistic fatigue life evaluation.
Copper-Alloy Surfaces and Cleaning Regimens against the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Dentistry and Orthopedics. From Fomites to Anti-Infective Nanocoatings
Authors: Poggio Claudio , Colombo Marco , Arciola Carla Renata , Greggi Tiziana , Scribante Andrea , Dagna Alberto
Published: July 2020

The latest diffusion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has involved the whole world population. Even if huge efforts to control the pandemic have been done, the viral spread is still continuing. COVID-19 is reported as a zoonosis jumped from bats and pangolins to humans. After infection in humans, SARS-CoV-2 is found in the nasopharyngeal and salivary secretions. The virus has also been detected in the blood plasma of infected patients. The viral spread occurs through droplets exhaled from the nose and mouth of the infected people when they breath or talk, or through droplets propelled as a dense cloud by chough or sneeze. The virus can also be delivered as an aerosol from blood plasma, through surgical procedures. Following these ways, the virus can disperse in the air, then reaching and settling on the exposed surfaces. How long the virus will survive on a surface depends on the material the surface is made from. Infection via high-touch surfaces should be prevented. Copper alloy coatings, combined with efficient hygienic/disinfectant procedures and careful surgical practice, could be helpful to health protection in dental practice and can also be adopted in orthopedic traumatology.
Rigid Polyurethane Foams Based on Bio-Polyol and Additionally Reinforced with Silanized and Acetylated Walnut Shells for the Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Insulating Materials
Authors: Członka Sylwia , Strąkowska Anna
Published: July 2020

Rigid polyurethane (PUR) foams produced from walnut shells-derived polyol (20 wt.%) were successfully reinforced with 2 wt.% of non-treated, acetylated, and silanized walnut shells (WS). The impact of non-treated and chemically-treated WS on the morphology, mechanical, and thermal characteristics of PUR composites was determined. The morphological analysis confirmed that the addition of WS fillers promoted a reduction in cell size, compared to pure PUR foams. Among all the modified PUR foams, the greatest improvement of mechanical characteristics was observed for PUR foams with the addition of silanized WS—the compressive, flexural, and impact strength were enhanced by 21, 16, and 13%, respectively. The addition of non-treated and chemically-treated WS improved the thermomechanical stability of PUR foams. The results of the dynamic mechanical analysis confirmed an increase in glass transition temperature and storage modulus of PUR foams after the incorporation of chemically-treated WS. The addition of non-treated and chemically-treated WS did not affect the insulating properties of PUR foams, and the thermal conductivity value did not show any significant improvement and deterioration due to the addition of WS fillers.
Fabrication of Micro Ultrasonic Powder Molding Polypropylene Part with Hydrophobic Patterned Surface
Authors: Liang Xiong , Liu Yongjing , Ma Jiang , Gong Feng , Lou Yan , Fu Lianyu , Xu Bin
Published: July 2020

Constructing regular micro-structures with certain geometric characteristics on the surface of the polymer part can obtain some specific functions. Micro ultrasonic powder molding (micro-UPM) is an efficient processing technique for the fabrication of well-filled micro-structured Polypropylene (PP) parts. The micro-structure array on the surface of the core insert was obtained by low speed wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM-LS). PP polymer surfaces with micro-structured patterns were successfully replicated from the core insert surface after micro-UPM. By studying the detailed topography characterizations of micro-structured PP parts, the effects of processing parameters (ultrasonic energy, welding pressure and holding time) on the micro-structured filling show that when PP polymer was formed under the conditions of 1000 J, 115 kPa and 8 s during micro-UPM, well-filled micro-structured parts can be obtained. Besides, without low surface energy coating modification, the water contact angles (WCAs) of micro-structured PP parts increased from 85.3° to 146.8°, indicating that the wettability of the surface can be changed by replicating the micro-structure on PP parts after micro-UPM.
Why Polyurethanes Have Been Used in the Manufacture and Design of Cardiovascular Devices: A Systematic Review
Authors: Navas-Gómez Kelly , Valero Manuel F.
Published: July 2020

We conducted a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement to ascertain why polyurethanes (PUs) have been used in the manufacture and design of cardiovascular devices. A complete database search was performed with PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science as the information sources. The search period ranged from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2019. We recovered 1552 articles in the first stage. After the duplicate selection and extraction procedures, a total of 21 papers were included in the analysis. We concluded that polyurethanes are being applied in medical devices because they have the capability to tolerate contractile forces that originate during the cardiac cycle without undergoing plastic deformation or failure, and the capability to imitate the behaviors of different tissues. Studies have reported that polyurethanes cause severe problems when applied in blood-contacting devices that are implanted for long periods. However, the chemical compositions and surface characteristics of polyurethanes can be modified to improve their mechanical properties, blood compatibility, and endothelial cell adhesion, and to reduce their protein adhesion. These modifications enable the use of polyurethanes in the manufacture and design of cardiovascular devices.
On the Connection Problem for Painlevé Differential Equation in View of Geometric Function Theory
Authors: Ibrahim Rabha W. , Elobaid Rafida M. , Obaiys Suzan J.
Published: July 2020

Asymptotic analysis is a branch of mathematical analysis that describes the limiting behavior of the function. This behavior appears when we study the solution of differential equations analytically. The recent work deals with a special class of third type of Painlevé differential equation (PV). Our aim is to find asymptotic, symmetric univalent solution of this class in a symmetric domain with respect to the real axis. As a result that the most important problem in the asymptotic expansion is the connections bound (coefficients bound), we introduce a study of this problem.
Analysis of the Past Lifetime in a Replacement Model through Stochastic Comparisons and Differential Entropy
Authors: Di Crescenzo Antonio , Di Gironimo Patrizia , Kayal Suchandan
Published: July 2020

A suitable replacement model for random lifetimes is extended to the context of past lifetimes. At a fixed time u an item is planned to be replaced by another one having the same age but a different lifetime distribution. We investigate the past lifetime of this system, given that at a larger time t the system is found to be failed. Subsequently, we perform some stochastic comparisons between the random lifetimes of the single items and the doubly truncated random variable that describes the system lifetime. Moreover, we consider the relative ratio of improvement evaluated at x ∈ ( u , t ) , which is finalized to measure the goodness of the replacement procedure. The characterization and the properties of the differential entropy of the system lifetime are also discussed. Finally, an example of application to the firing activity of a stochastic neuronal model is provided.
Study on an AHP-Entropy-ANFIS Model for the Prediction of the Unfrozen Water Content of Sodium-Bicarbonate-Type Salinization Frozen Soil
Authors: Wang Qing , Liu Yufeng , Zhang Xudong , Fu Huicheng , Lin Sen , Song Shengyuan , Niu Cencen
Published: July 2020

The development of agriculture and ecology, and the construction of water conservancy facilities are seriously hindered by the salinization of seasonal frozen soil. Unfrozen water exists in the freezing and thawing of frozen soil. This unfrozen water is the core and foundation for studying the process of seasonal frozen soil salinization. However, it is difficult to obtain the unfrozen water content (UW) in routine experiments, and it shows nonlinear characteristics under the action of the main factors contained: salt content, water content, and temperature. In this paper, a new model is proposed to predict the UW of saline soil based on the combined weighting method and the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). Firstly, the distance function was used to combine the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with the entropy weight method (the combined weighting method) to determine the importance of the influencing factors (temperature, initial water content, and salt content) on UW. On this basis, the AHP, entropy weight method, and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (AHP-entropy-ANFIS) ensemble model was established. Secondly, the five-fold cross-validation method and statistical factors (coefficient of determination, mean squared error, mean absolute percent error, and mean absolute error) were applied to evaluate and compare the AHP-entropy-ANFIS ensemble model, the ANFIS model, the support vector machine (SVM) model, and the AHP, entropy weight method, and support vector machine (AHP-entropy-SVM) ensemble model. In addition, the prediction values of the four models and the experimental values were also compared. The results show that the AHP-entropy-ANFIS model had the strongest prediction capability and the best stability, and so is more suitable for predicting the UW of saline soil. This study provides useful guidance for preventing and mitigating salinization hazards in seasonally frozen areas.
Molecular Targets and Related Biologic Activities of Fucoidan: A Review
Authors: Lin Zhen , Tan Xiaohui , Zhang Yu , Li Fangping , Luo Ping , Liu Huazhong
Published: July 2020

Fucoidan—a marine natural active polysaccharide derived from brown algae with a variety of medicinal activities and low toxicity—has been used as clinical drug for renal diseases for nearly 20 years. The pharmacological mechanism of fucoidan has been well-investigated, based on target molecules and downstream signaling pathways. This review summarizes some important molecular targets of fucoidan and its related biologic activities, including scavenger receptor (SR), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), C-type lectin (CLEC) and some newly found target molecules, which may be beneficial for further understanding the pharmacological mechanism of fucoidan and discovering its new functions, as well as developing related clinical or adjuvant drugs and functional preparations.
An On-Board Pure H2 Supply System Based on A Membrane Reactor for A Fuel Cell Vehicle: A Theoretical Study
Authors: Parvasi Payam , Mohammad Jokar Seyyed , Basile Angelo , Iulianelli Adolfo
Published: July 2020

In this novel conceptual fuel cell vehicle (FCV), an on-board CH4 steam reforming (MSR) membrane reformer (MR) is considered to generate pure H2 for supplying a Fuel Cell (FC) system, as an alternative to the conventional automobile engines. Two on-board tanks are forecast to store CH4 and water, useful for feeding both a combustion chamber (designed to provide the heat required by the system) and a multi tubes Pd-Ag MR useful to generate pure H2 via methane steam reforming (MSR) reaction. The pure H2 stream is hence supplied to the FC. The flue gas stream coming out from the combustion chamber is used to preheat the MR feed stream by two heat exchangers and one evaporator. Then, this theoretical work demonstrates by a 1-D model the feasibility of the MR based system in order to generate 5 kg/day of pure H2 required by the FC system for cruising a vehicle for around 500 km. The calculated CH4 and water consumptions were 50 and 70 kg, respectively, per 1 kg of pure H2. The on-board MR based FCV presents lower CO2 emission rates than a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle, also resulting in a more environmentally friendly solution.
On the Surface Quality of CFRTP/Steel Hybrid Structures Machined by AWJM
Authors: Bañon Fermin , Simonet Bartolome , Sambruno Alejandro , Batista Moises , Salguero Jorge
Published: July 2020

The joining of dissimilar materials in a hybrid structure is a line of research of great interest at present. Nevertheless, the machining of materials with different machinability requires specific processes capable of minimizing defectology in both materials and achieving a correct surface finish in terms of functional performance. In this article, abrasive water jet machining of a hybrid carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP)/Steel structure and the generated surface finish are studied. A parametric study in two stacking configurations (CFRTP/Steel and Steel/CFRTP) has been established in order to determine the range of cutting parameters that generates the lowest values in terms of arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) and maximum profile height (Rz). The percentage contribution of each cutting parameter has been identified through an ANOVA analysis for each material and stacking configuration. A combination of 420 MPa hydraulic pressure with an abrasive mass flow of 385 g/min and a travel speed of 50 mm/min offers the lowest Ra and Rz values in the CFRTP/Steel configuration. The stacking order is a determining factor, obtaining a better surface quality in a CFRTP/Steel stack. Finally, a series of contour diagrams relating surface quality to machining conditions have been obtained.
Extracellular Vesicles in Human Preterm Colostrum Inhibit Infection by Human Cytomegalovirus In Vitro
Authors: Donalisio Manuela , Cirrincione Simona , Rittà Massimo , Lamberti Cristina , Civra Andrea , Francese Rachele , Tonetto Paola , Sottemano Stefano , Manfredi Marcello , Lorenzato Annalisa , Moro Guido E. , Giribaldi Marzia , Cavallarin Laura , Giuffrida Maria Gabriella , Bertino Enrico , Coscia Alessandra , Lembo David
Published: July 2020

Breast milk is a complex biofluid that nourishes infants, supports their growth and protects them from diseases. However, at the same time, breastfeeding is a transmission route for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), with preterm infants being at a great risk of congenital disease. The discrepancy between high HCMV transmission rates and the few reported cases of infants with severe clinical illness is likely due to the protective effect of breast milk. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-HCMV activity of human preterm colostrum and clarify the role of colostrum-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). Preterm colostrum samples were collected and the EVs were purified and characterized. The in vitro anti-HCMV activity of both colostrum and EVs was tested against HCMV, and the viral replication step inhibited by colostrum-purified EVs was examined. We investigated the putative role EV surface proteins play in impairing HCMV infection using shaving experiments and proteomic analysis. The obtained results confirmed the antiviral action of colostrum against HCMV and demonstrated a remarkable antiviral activity of colostrum-derived EVs. Furthermore, we demonstrated that EVs impair the attachment of HCMV to cells, with EV surface proteins playing a role in mediating this action. These findings contribute to clarifying the mechanisms that underlie the protective role of human colostrum against HCMV infection.
Study on Lavender Essential Oil Chemical Compositions by GC-MS and Improved pGC
Authors: Dong Guangyao , Bai Xiaohui , Aimila Aoken , Aisa Haji , Maiwulanjiang Maitinuer
Published: July 2020

Lavender essential oil from the aerial parts of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. was analyzed by GC-MS equipped with three capillary columns of different polarities, which were HP-1, HP-5 ms and HP-INNOWax. A total of 40 compounds were identified by GC-MS, accounting for 92.03% of the total essential oil compositions. Nineteen monomers were separated by column chromatography and improved preparative gas chromatography (pGC), six of which could not be retrieved from the NIST 14 (National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA; 14th edition) library database. Fifteen compounds were identified for the first time in lavender essential oil. The improved pGC not only doubled the efficiency but also greatly reduced the cost.
Application Research of Biochar for the Remediation of Soil Heavy Metals Contamination: A Review
Authors: Cheng Sheng , Chen Tao , Xu Wenbin , Huang Jian , Jiang Shaojun , Yan Bo
Published: July 2020

Soil contamination by heavy metals threatens the quality of agricultural products and human health, so it is necessary to choose certain economic and effective remediation techniques to control the continuous deterioration of land quality. This paper is intended to present an overview on the application of biochar as an addition to the remediation of heavy-metal-contaminated soil, in terms of its preparation technologies and performance characteristics, remediation mechanisms and effects, and impacts on heavy metal bioavailability. Biochar is a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative product produced by the thermochemical transformation of plant- and animal-based biomass. Biochar shows numerous advantages in increasing soil pH value and organic carbon content, improving soil water-holding capacity, reducing the available fraction of heavy metals, increasing agricultural crop yield and inhibiting the uptake and accumulation of heavy metals. Different conditions, such as biomass type, pyrolysis temperature, heating rate and residence time are the pivotal factors governing the performance characteristics of biochar. Affected by the pH value and dissolved organic carbon and ash content of biochar, the interaction mechanisms between biochar and heavy metals mainly includes complexation, reduction, cation exchange, electrostatic attraction and precipitation. Finally, the potential risks of in-situ remediation strategy of biochar are expounded upon, which provides the directions for future research to ensure the safe production and sustainable utilization of biochar.
Photoluminescent Detection of Human T-Lymphoblastic Cells by ZnO Nanorods
Authors: Tamashevski Alexander , Harmaza Yuliya , Slobozhanina Ekaterina , Viter Roman , Iatsunskyi Igor
Published: July 2020

The precise detection of cancer cells currently remains a global challenge. One-dimensional (1D) semiconductor nanostructures (e.g., ZnO nanorods) have attracted attention due to their potential use in cancer biosensors. In the current study, it was demonstrated that the possibility of a photoluminescent detection of human leukemic T-cells by using a zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) platform. Monoclonal antibodies (MABs) anti-CD5 against a cluster of differentiation (CD) proteins on the pathologic cell surface have been used as a bioselective layer on the ZnO surface. The optimal concentration of the protein anti-CD5 to form an effective bioselective layer on the ZnO NRs surface was selected. The novel biosensing platforms based on glass/ZnO NRs/anti-CD5 were tested towards the human T-lymphoblast cell line MOLT-4 derived from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The control tests towards MOLT-4 cells were performed by using the glass/ZnO NRs/anti-IgG2a system as a negative control. It was shown that the photoluminescence signal of the glass/ZnO NRs/anti-CD5 system increased after adsorption of T-lymphoblast MOLT-4 cells on the biosensor surface. The increase in the ZnO NRs photoluminescence intensity correlated with the number of CD5-positive MOLT-4 cells in the investigated population (controlled by using flow cytometry). Perspectives of the developed ZnO platforms as an efficient cancer cell biosensor were discussed.
5-(4H)-Oxazolones and Their Benzamides as Potential Bioactive Small Molecules
Authors: Mavridis Evangelos , Bermperoglou Eleftherios , Pontiki Eleni , Hadjipavlou-Litina Dimitra
Published: July 2020

The five membered heterocyclic oxazole group plays an important role in drug discovery. Oxazolones present a wide range of biological activities. In this article the synthesis of 4-substituted-2-phenyloxazol-5(4H)-ones from the appropriate substituted aldehydes via an Erlenmeyer–Plochl reaction is reported. Subsequently, the corresponding benzamides were produced via a nucleophilic attack of a secondary amine on the oxazolone ring applying microwave irradiation. The compounds are obtained in good yields up to 94% and their structures were confirmed using IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and LC/MS data. The in vitro anti-lipid peroxidation activity and inhibitory activity against lipoxygenase and trypsin induced proteolysis of the novel derivatives were studied. Inhibition of carrageenin-induced paw edema (CPE) and nociception was also determined for compounds 4a and 4c. Oxazolones 2a and 2c strongly inhibit lipid peroxidation, followed by oxazolones 2b and 2d with an average inhibition of 86.5%. The most potent lipoxygenase inhibitor was the bisbenzamide derivative 4c, with IC50 41 μM. The benzamides 3c, 4a–4e and 5c were strong inhibitors of proteolysis. The replacement of the thienyl moiety by a phenyl group does not favor the protection. Compound 4c inhibited nociception higher than 4a. The replacement of thienyl groups by phenyl ring led to reduced biological activity. Docking studies of the most potent LOX inhibitor highlight interactions through allosteric mechanism. All the potent derivatives present good oral bioavailability.
The Effect of Nitrogen Fertigation and Harvesting Time on Plant Growth and Chemical Composition of Centaurea raphanina subsp. mixta (DC.) Runemark
Authors: Petropoulos Spyridon A. , Fernandes Ângela , Dias Maria Inês , Pereira Carla , Calhelha Ricardo C. , Ivanov Marija , Sokovic Marina D. , Ferreira Isabel C.F.R. , Barros Lillian
Published: July 2020

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertigation (0, 200, 400, and 600 ppm of total nitrogen) and harvesting time (9 March 2018 and 19 April 2018) on the plant growth, chemical composition, and bioactive properties of Centaurea raphanina subsp. mixta plants. The highest yield of fresh leaves was observed for the treatment of 200 ppm of N without compromising nutritional value. The increasing nitrogen levels resulted in an increase of α- and total tocopherols and sugars content, especially in the second harvest for tocopherols and in the first harvest for sugars. Similarly, total organic acids and oxalic acid content increased with increasing nitrogen levels in both harvests, while fatty acids composition had a varied response to the tested factors. Pinocembrin neohesperidoside and pinocembrin acetyl neohesperidoside isomer II were the most abundant phenolic compounds with the highest content being observed in the control treatment of the first and second harvest, respectively. The highest antioxidant activity was observed for the control and the 600 ppm treatments of the second harvest for the OxHLIA and TBARS assays, respectively, probably due to the high content of pinocembrin acetyl neohesperidoside isomer II and α-tocopherol, respectively. Finally, cytotoxic effects and antimicrobial properties showed a varied response depending on the treatment. In conclusion, C. raphanina subsp. mixta has low requirements of nitrogen to achieve the highest yield, while a varied response to the tested fertigation treatments and harvesting time was observed in terms of the chemical composition and the bioactive properties.
LC-MS and Spectrophotometric Approaches for Evaluation of Bioactive Compounds from Peru Cocoa By-Products for Commercial Applications
Authors: Cádiz-Gurrea María de la Luz , Fernández-Ochoa Álvaro , Leyva-Jiménez Francisco Javier , Guerrero-Muñoz Noelia , Villegas-Aguilar María del Carmen , Pimentel-Moral Sandra , Ramos-Escudero Fernando , Segura-Carretero Antonio
Published: July 2020

Peru is one of the main areas where there are large cocoa crops with special relevance to the economy of this country. In fact, cocoa is a major, economically important, international crop which has been linked to several benefits, such as anti-allergenic, anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-thrombotic, cardioprotective and vasodilatory properties, relating to its bioactive compound content. However, in cocoa industrial processing, several residues or wastes, which are commonly discarded generating a negative impact on the environment, are produced in large amounts. Some of the cocoa by-products, which go underutilized, could be a good source of bioactive compounds with high utility for the development of innovative products in nutraceutical, medical or pharmaceutical industries. For this reason, the aim of this study is to qualitatively determine the phytochemical composition of husk and bean extracts from different cocoa-growing areas and processes from Peru by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Furthermore, we aim to evaluate their phenolic and flavan-3-ol contents and antioxidant capacities for the purpose of highlighting the potential of cocoa by-products from these cultivars as functional ingredients. In total, 49 chemical compounds were detected in the analyzed extracts. Comparing both husks and beans, bean extracts were characterized by high content in flavonoids whereas husk extracts had a higher content of phenolic acids. The presence of these compounds together with the bioactivity results suggest that these matrices may be further studied for their revaluation in the development of high added-value products in nutraceutical, medical, and pharmaceutical industries.
Alkyl and Aryl Derivatives Based on p-Coumaric Acid Modification and Inhibitory Action against Leishmania braziliensis and Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Lopes Susiany P. , Yepes Lina M. , Pérez-Castillo Yunierkis , Robledo Sara M. , de Sousa Damião P.
Published: July 2020

In low-income populations, neglected diseases are the principal cause of mortality. Of these, leishmaniasis and malaria, being parasitic, protozoan infections, affect millions of people worldwide and are creating a public health problem. The present work evaluates the leishmanicidal and antiplasmodial action of a series of twelve p-coumaric acid derivatives. Of the tested derivatives, eight presented antiparasitic activities 1–3, 8–12. The hexyl p-coumarate derivative (9) (4.14 ± 0.55 μg/mL; selectivity index (SI) = 2.72) showed the highest leishmanicidal potency against the Leishmania braziliensis amastigote form. The results of the molecular docking study suggest that this compound inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), mitogen-activated kinase protein (MPK4), and DNA topoisomerase 2 (TOP2), all of which are key enzymes in the development of Leishmania braziliensis. The data indicate that these enzymes interact via Van der Waals bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and hydrogen bonds with phenolic and aliphatic parts of this same compound. Of the other compounds analyzed, methyl p-coumarate (64.59 ± 2.89 μg/mL; IS = 0.1) demonstrated bioactivity against Plasmodium falciparum. The study reveals that esters presenting a p-coumarate substructure are promising for use in synthesis of derivatives with good antiparasitic profiles.
Syntheses and Reactivity of New Zwitterionic Imidazolium Trihydridoborate and Triphenylborate Species
Authors: Pellei Maura , Vallesi Riccardo , Bagnarelli Luca , Dias H. V. Rasika , Santini Carlo
Published: July 2020

In this study, four new N-(alkyl/aryl)imidazolium-borates were prepared, and their deprotonation reactions were investigated. Addition of BH3•THF to N-benzylimidazoles and N-mesitylimidazoles leads to imidazolium-trihydridoborate adducts. Ammonium tetraphenylborate reacts with benzyl- or mesityl-imidazoles with the loss of one of the phenyl groups yielding the corresponding imidazolium-triphenylborates. Their authenticity was confirmed by CHN analysis, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 11B-NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). 3-Benzyl-imidazolium-1-yl)trihydridoborate, (HImBn)BH3, and (3-mesityl-imidazolium-1-yl)trihydridoborate, (HImMes)BH3, were also characterized by X-ray crystallography. The reactivity of these new compounds as carbene precursors in an effort to obtain borate-NHC complexes was investigated and a new carbene-borate adduct (which dimerizes) was obtained via a microwave-assisted procedure.