bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Landscape Fragmentation at Arauco Province in the Chilean Forestry Model Context (1976–2016)
Authors: Jaque Castillo Edilia , Ojeda Carolina G. , Fuentes Robles Rodrigo
Published: November 2022

Land Cover–Land Use Changes (LULCC) and landscape fragmentation have been a common research topic for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) scientists since the middle of the 20th century; particularly, they have helped to make accessible the spatial characteristics of land management through time. We researched LULCC and landscape fragmentation in Arauco Province in Chile using satellite image analysis (1976–2016) and FRAGSTAT software. This area is in a constant struggle for land use between agroindustry, urban sprawl, and the expansion of exotic plantations (pine-eucalyptus) subsidized by Chilean government. The main results are: (1) we obtained the surface percentages for each land cover , (2) net changes for each cover by adding and losing surface (ha), (3) the transition map that enlightens the surface transformations of LULCC by its four processes substitution, abandonment, habilitation, regeneration and degradation, (4) the native forest loss in the first half of the period (1976–2001) was 1.85%/year, meanwhile for the second half (2001–2016) it was 6.5%/year, (5) landscape fragmentation processes occurred in patches and deforestation is its main driver, (6) aggregation changed the landscape since fragmentation and deforestation processes started the substitution of native forest, and (7) the habilitation of agricultural lands and degradation of wooded masses with exotic species increased their aggregation to 90%.
Multi-Scale Analysis of the Evolution of Jiangsu’s Ecological Footprint Depth and Its Factor Decomposition
Authors: Wu Decun
Published: November 2022

The ecological footprint (EF), as a set of land-based ecological indicators, plays an important role in land ecology and evaluations of ecological pressure. Multi-scale levels of Jiangsu’s three-dimensional EF were analyzed, and 3D maps were presented to demonstrate the geographical distribution of the ecological footprint depth (EFD) of Jiangsu’s counties in 1995–2015 at the geographic scales of prefecture-level cities and counties. The results show that the overall EFD of Jiangsu gradually increased during the study period. The county-scale results show that the distribution of EFDs was high in the south and low in the north, and EFDs were mainly concentrated in urban areas of prefecture-level cities. The logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) was used to decompose the factors in explaining the change in EFD. The LMDI analysis shows that the changes in factors every year differ among geographical units on different scales. Affluence is the main factor that promotes EFD, and the change in the ratio between EFD and scientific and technological level is the main factor that suppresses EFD. Countermeasures and suggestions for balancing ecological pressure in specific regions and reducing the depth of the EF from various factors with multi-scale heterogeneity are suggested.
Prosodic Transfer in Contact Varieties: Vocative Calls in Metropolitan and Basaá-Cameroonian French
Authors: Hamlaoui Fatima , Żygis Marzena , Engelmann Jonas , Quiroz Sergio I.
Published: November 2022

This paper examines the production of vocative calls in (Northern) Metropolitan French (MF) and Cameroonian French (CF) as it is spoken by native speakers of a tone language, Basaá. While the results of our Discourse Completion Task confirm previous descriptions of MF, they also further our understanding of the relationship between pragmatics and prosody across different groups of French speakers. MF favors the vocative chant in routine contexts and a rising-falling contour in urgent contexts. In contrast, context has little influence on the choice of contour in CF. A melody consisting of the surface realization of lexical tones is produced in both contexts. Regarding acoustic parameters, context only exerts a significant effect on the loudness of vocative calls (RMS amplitude) and has little effect on their F0 height, F0 range and duration. A target-use of vocative calls in CF thus does not amount to target-like use of the original standard target language, MF. Our results provide novel evidence for the transfer of lexical tones onto the contact variety of an intonation language. They also corroborate previous studies involving the pragmatics-prosody interface: the more marked a prosodic pattern is (here, the vocative chant), the more difficult it is to acquire.
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease—Report of a Case and Review of the Literature
Authors: Toplicanin Aleksandar , Toncev Ljubisa , Matovic Zaric Vera , Sokic Milutinovic Aleksandra
Published: November 2022

A wide spectrum of extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) can burden patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). EIMs contribute fairly to morbidity and mortality rates in IBD patients. Moreover, EIMs in IBD patients are so frequent that some suggest that IBD should be approached as a systemic disorder. Anemia is very common in IBD patients. The two most common types of anemia in IBD, iron deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease, are extraintestinal complications. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare extraintestinal manifestation of IBD, more frequent in ulcerative colitis (UC) than in Crohn’s disease (CD). In this case-based review of the literature, we present a 36-year-old female patient diagnosed with Crohn’s disease (CD) and Coombs positive AIHA, complicated by pulmonary thromboembolism and successfully treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy. The underlying pathophysiological mechanism of AIHA in IBD is unclear. Treatment options for AIHA in IBD patients before biologic therapy included corticosteroids alone or in combination with azathioprine (AZA), methotrexate, and surgical treatment (colectomy and/or splenectomy). Currently, biologic therapy is a promising therapeutic option, especially in corticosteroid refractory or corticosteroid-dependent IBD patients with AIHA.
Boron Delivery to Brain Cells via Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Circulation in BNCT of Brain-Tumor-Model Rats—Ex Vivo Imaging of BPA Using MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging
Authors: Kusaka Sachie , Miyake Yumi , Tokumaru Yugo , Morizane Yuri , Tamaki Shingo , Akiyama Yoko , Sato Fuminobu , Murata Isao
Published: November 2022

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is likely to be intact during the early stages of brain metastatic melanoma development, and thereby inhibits sufficient drug delivery into the metastatic lesions. Our laboratory has been developing a system for boron drug delivery to brain cells via cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a viable pathway to circumvent the BBB in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). BNCT is a cell-selective cancer treatment based on the use of boron-containing drugs and neutron irradiation. Selective tumor targeting by boron with minimal normal tissue toxicity is required for effective BNCT. Boronophenylalanine (BPA) is widely used as a boron drug for BNCT. In our previous study, we demonstrated that application of the CSF administration method results in high BPA accumulation in the brain tumor even with a low dose of BPA. In this study, we evaluate BPA biodistribution in the brain following application of the CSF method in brain-tumor-model rats (melanoma) utilizing matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). We observed increased BPA penetration to the tumor tissue, where the color contrast on mass images indicates the border of BPA accumulation between tumor and normal cells. Our approach could be useful as drug delivery to different types of brain tumor, including brain metastases of melanoma.
Komatiites as Complex Adsorption Surfaces for Amino Acids in Prebiotic Environments, a Prebiotic Chemistry Essay
Authors: Cruz-Hernández Abigail E. , Colín-García María , Ortega-Gutiérrez Fernando , Mateo-Martí Eva
Published: November 2022

Komatiites represent the oldest known terrestrial rocks, and their composition has been cataloged as the closest to that of the first terrestrial crust after the cooling of the magma ocean. These rocks could have been present in multiple environments on the early Earth and served as concentrators of organic molecules. In this study, the adsorption of five amino acids (glycine, lysine, histidine, arginine, and aspartic acid) on a natural komatiite, a simulated komatiite, and the minerals olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase were analyzed under three different pH values: acid pH (5.5), natural pH of the aqueous solution of each amino acid and alkaline pH (11). Adsorption experiments were performed in solid–liquid suspensions and organic molecules were analyzed by spectrophotometry. The main objective of this essay was to determine if the complex surfaces could have participated as concentrators of amino acids in scenarios of the primitive Earth and if the adsorption responds to the change of charge of the molecules. The results showed that komatiite is capable of adsorbing amino acids in different amounts depending on the experimental conditions. In total, 75 systems were analyzed that show different adsorptions, which implies that different interactions are involved, particularly in relation to the type of amino acid, the type of solid material and the conditions of the medium.
Helicobacter pylori-Positive Gastric Biopsies—Association with Clinical Predictors
Authors: Negovan Anca , Szőke Andreea-Raluca , Mocan Simona , Bănescu Claudia
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Although Helicobacter pylori’s role in gastric oncogenesis is well-known, only a fraction of infected patients develop cancer. Hence, more factors are supposed to be involved. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the impact of clinicopathological parameters on Helicobacter pylori status. Methods: The study included 1522 patients referred for endoscopy: study group consisted of 557 patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive biopsies confirmed using histochemical stains or immunohistochemistry methods; and the control group consisted of 965 patients with Helicobacter pylori-negative status on histology. Results: Severe endoscopic lesions were more frequent in the Helicobacter pylori group (p < 0.001), with no difference noticed in the distribution of premalignant gastric lesions (p = 0.82). Anemia and dyslipidemia were independent factors associated with Helicobacter pylori-positive biopsies (p < 0.05). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy was more frequently administered in the study group, while proton-pump inhibitors had an anti-Helicobacter pylori activity on histology (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: In the studied population, patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive biopsies had a more frequent history of gastrotoxic medication, severe endoscopic lesions, and anemia. Helicobacter pylori was unpredictable by gastrointestinal symptoms. The frequency of premalignant gastric lesions was similar irrespective of the actual status of infection, underlining the importance of unintentional clearance of bacteria in old infection and the remaining risk for cancer in this population.
Lipid Rafts and Plant Gravisensitivity
Authors: Kordyum Elizabeth L. , Artemenko Olga A. , Hasenstein Karl H.
Published: November 2022

The necessity to include plants as a component of a Bioregenerative Life Support System leads to investigations to optimize plant growth facilities as well as a better understanding of the plant cell membrane and its numerous activities in the signaling, transport, and sensing of gravity, drought, and other stressors. The cell membrane participates in numerous processes, including endo- and exocytosis and cell division, and is involved in the response to external stimuli. Variable but stabilized microdomains form in membranes that include specific lipids and proteins that became known as (detergent-resistant) membrane microdomains, or lipid rafts with various subclassifications. The composition, especially the sterol-dependent recruitment of specific proteins affects endo- and exo-membrane domains as well as plasmodesmata. The enhanced saturated fatty acid content in lipid rafts after clinorotation suggests increased rigidity and reduced membrane permeability as a primary response to abiotic and mechanical stress. These results can also be obtained with lipid-sensitive stains. The linkage of the CM to the cytoskeleton via rafts is part of the complex interactions between lipid microdomains, mechanosensitive ion channels, and the organization of the cytoskeleton. These intricately linked structures and functions provide multiple future research directions to elucidate the role of lipid rafts in physiological processes.
Multiple Functions of MiRNAs in Brassica napus L.
Authors: Li Jian , Li Yangyang , Wang Rongyuan , Fu Jiangyan , Zhou Xinxing , Fang Yujie , Wang Youping , Liu Yaju
Published: November 2022

The worldwide climate changes every year due to global warming, waterlogging, drought, salinity, pests, and pathogens, impedes crop productivity. Brassica napus is one of the most important oil crops in the world, and rapeseed oil is considered one of the most health-beneficial edible vegetable oils. Recently, miRNAs have been found and confirmed to control the expression of targets under disruptive environmental conditions. The mechanism is through the formation of the silencing complex that mediates post-transcriptional gene silencing, which pairs the target mRNA and target cleavage and/or translation inhibition. However, the functional role of miRNAs and targets in B. napus is still not clarified. This review focuses on the current knowledge of miRNAs concerning development regulation and biotic and abiotic stress responses in B. napus. Moreover, more strategies for miRNA manipulation in plants are discussed, along with future perspectives, and the enormous amount of transcriptome data available provides cues for miRNA functions in B. napus. Finally, the construction of the miRNA regulatory network can lead to the significant development of climate change-tolerant B. napus through miRNA manipulation.
Involvement of M1/M2 Macrophage Polarization in Reparative Dentin Formation
Authors: Kadowaki Masataka , Yoshida Shinichiro , Itoyama Tomohiro , Tomokiyo Atsushi , Hamano Sayuri , Hasegawa Daigaku , Sugii Hideki , Kaneko Hiroshi , Sugiura Risa , Maeda Hidefumi
Published: November 2022

In cases in which dental pulp tissue is accidentally exposed, direct pulp capping is often performed to induce reparative dentin formation. Although macrophages are essential for the inflammatory response and tissue repair, the emergence pattern and the role of macrophages in dental pulp tissue have not been clarified. Here, we investigated the emergence of M1/M2 macrophages in dental pulp tissue after a direct pulp capping and the effects of M2 macrophages on odontoblastic differentiation of the dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) clones. The emergence of macrophages in dental pulp tissue was investigated using a rat direct pulp capping model. Alizarin Red S staining and quantitative RT-PCR was performed to examine the effect of M2 macrophages on the mineralization and odontoblastic differentiation of DPSC clones. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that M1 macrophages were detected in dental pulp tissue after treatment and increased in number at three days after treatment. However, M2 macrophages gradually increased in number in dental pulp tissue after treatment, with the highest level recorded at seven days post-operation. Additionally, conditioned medium from M2 macrophages induced odontoblast-like differentiation of DPSC clones. These results suggest that macrophages play a role in the inflammatory response and reparative dentin formation after dental pulp exposure.
Light Microscopy and Proteomic Patterns of Ovulation in Cervical Mucus
Authors: Fernandez-Hermida Yolanda , Vincenzoni Federica , Milardi Domenico , Astorri Anna Laura , Urbani Andrea , Grande Giuseppe , Azagra Rafael
Published: November 2022

There is an increasing number of couples interested in identifying the fertile window for the purpose of conceiving. From what has been published so far, it can be concluded that there are no reliable methods to predict ovulation, and, therefore, to predict the fertile window. Proteins of the cervical mucus (CM) could behave as biomarkers to allow the early and precise identification of ovulation. CM samples were collected from the lumen of the cervical canal from women of reproductive age, on three different days of the same menstrual cycle. Samples were first analyzed and classified by light microscopy. High-resolution mass spectrometry and bioinformatic analysis were performed afterwards to determine the in vivo changes of CM protein composition. CM underwent cyclical changes in its biophysical composition, which were evidenced by changes in the crystallographic patterns observed under the light microscope. The proteomic analysis revealed changes in the protein composition of CM along the cycle. Twenty-five out of the forty-eight total proteins identified could become potential biomarkers of ovulation. The coordinated changes in the composition of the CM around the time of ovulation could be happening to specifically grant access to a foreign body, such as the sperm might be.
8,13-Dimethylicosa-9,11-diyne-8,13-diol
Authors: Tirkasheva Sarvinoz I. , Ziyadullaev Odiljon E. , Muzalevskiy Vasiliy M. , Parmanov Askar B.
Published: November 2022

The protocol, 3-methyldec-1-yn-3-ol (1a) was chosen to perform the dimerization process. The optimal conditions for synthesis of 8,13-dimethylicosa-9,11-diyne-8,13 (2a) with high efficiency when using copper-catalyzed, N,N,N′N′-tetramethylethylenediamine as a ligand and CCl4 and methanol solvents in atmospheric pressure were determined. The structure of the obtained compound was proved by IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy.
4,4-Bis(2-ethylhexyl)-6-(9-(2-ethylhexyl)-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-carbazol-6-yl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene-2-carbaldehyde
Authors: Mikhailov Maxim S. , Ustimenko Olga O. , Knyazeva Ekaterina A. , Rakitin Oleg A.
Published: November 2022

Dyes with a donor–π–spacer–acceptor (D-π-A) structure containing a dicyanovinyl group as an acceptor have recently been of interest for the production of single-component organic solar cells. The most convenient precursors for their synthesis are the corresponding aldehydes. In this communication, 4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-6-(9-(2-ethylhexyl)-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-carbazol-6-yl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene-2-carbaldehyde was synthesized by the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction between 4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene-2,6-dicarbaldehyde and 9-(2-ethylhexyl)-6-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-carbazole in the presence of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0). The structure of the newly synthesized compound was established by means of high-resolution mass spectrometry, 1H, 13C NMR, IR, and UV spectroscopy.
A Single-Joint Worm-like Robot Inspired by Geomagnetic Navigation
Authors: Mei Dong , Zhao Xin , Tang Gangqiang , Wang Jianfeng , Zhao Chun , Li Chunxu , Wang Yanjie
Published: November 2022

Inspired by identifying directions through the geomagnetic field for migrating birds, in this work, we proposed and fabricated a single-joint worm-like robot with a centimeter scale, the motion of which could be easily guided by a magnet. The robot consists of a pneumatic deformable bellow and a permanent magnet fixed in the bellow’s head that will generate magnetic force and friction. Firstly, in order to clarify the actuating mechanism, we derived the relationship between the elongation of the bellows and the air pressure through the Yeoh constitutive model, which was utilized to optimize the structural parameters of the bellow. Then the casting method is introduced to fabricate the silicone bellow with a size of 20 mm in diameter and 28 mm in length. The manufacturing error of the bellow was evaluated by 3D laser scanning technology. Thereafter, the robot’s moving posture was analyzed by considering the force and corresponding motion state, and the analysis model was established by mechanics theory. The experimental results show that the worm-like robot’s maximum speed can reach 9.6 mm/s on the cardboard. Meanwhile, it exhibits excellent environmental adaptability that can move in pipelines with a diameter of 21 mm, 32 mm, 40 mm, and 50 mm, and surfaces with different roughness. Moreover, the robot’s motion was successfully guided under the presence of the magnetic field, which shows great potential for pipeline detection applications.
Structural Topology Optimization of Reflective Mirror Based on Objective of Wavefront Aberration
Authors: Li Wenli , Shi Yincheng , Wang Chong , Tang Yufeng , Yu Yi , Liu Zhenyu
Published: November 2022

Due to the increasing requirements for the imaging quality of optical systems, the design method for optical–mechanical structures has become a research hotspot in recent decades. To improve the imaging performance of the reflective system, it is often necessary to increase the aperture of the mirror. To meet the imaging quality and lightweightedness requirements of the mirror, the topology optimization method aiming at the minimization of wavefront aberration is proposed. The optical–mechanical coupling relationship is established by ray tracing of the deformed mirror surface fitted by orthogonal bases. The topology optimization model is established by the solid isotropic material with penalization model (SIMP). Additionally, the adjoint method is used to analyze the sensitivity of the objective and the constraints. To illustrate the rationality and effectiveness of the method, the mirrors of the Cassegrain system have been optimized under the action of gravity with the objective of the weighted sum of squares of wavefront aberration coefficients under the constraints of the mass of the design domain, the rigid body displacement of the mirror surface, and the residual of deformation fitting. The results show that the proposed method can effectively improve imaging performance under the condition of satisfying the constraints. In addition, the optimization method with wavefront aberration as the objective is a concrete application of the idea of opto-mechanical integration, which can improve optical performance more directly and effectively.
Influence of Na/Mg Co-Doping in Tuning Microstructure, Transport, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of TiO2 Compounds for Spintronics Applications
Authors: Narzary Radha , Dey Bikash , Sen Santanu , Parida Bichitra Nanda , Mondal Arunendu , Ravi Seenipandian , Srivastava Sandeep Kumar
Published: November 2022

In recent years, researchers have been making a persistent effort to discover innovative and appropriate oxide materials that can be exploited in optoelectronics devices. The primary objective of this research is to study the effect of Na/Mg co-doping on microstructure, transport (dielectric and Hall Effect), optical and magnetic properties of Ti0.94-yNa0.06MgyO2 (y = 0–0.08) compounds that were synthesized using a solid-state route method. All the compounds have been crystallized to a single rutile phase, as reported by the XRD study. The elemental color mapping reveals that there is a consistent distribution of all of the elements across the compound. The XPS study suggests that Ti mostly resided in the Ti4+ oxidation state. The enhancement of the Mg co-doping concentration led to a decrease in the dielectric value as well as the AC conductivity of the material. In addition to this, it has been noted that these compounds have a low dielectric loss. The analyses of Nyquist plots reveal that the increase of Mg co-doping concentration led to a rise in the amount of relaxation that is non-Debye sort. This, in turn, caused a reduction in the amount of resistance exhibited by grains and grain boundaries. The Maxwell–Wagner model was used to conduct an analysis of the dielectric data, and the results indicated that the hopping of charge carriers is most likely to be responsible for the transport of electrical charges. From the optical properties’ measurement and analyses, it was noticed that the band gap had been slightly changed, but the transmittance value had increased from 81% for Ti0.94Na0.06O2 to 84% with an increase in Mg co-doping concentration. The Hall Effect analysis unequivocally pointed to the presence of p-type conductivity as well as an increased carrier density concentration. The room temperature magnetization versus field measurement indicates the ferromagnetic nature of the samples. Thus, the co-doping of Mg with Na in TiO2 leads to a narrowing of the band gap of TiO2 while tweaking the optical and transport properties. The studied materials can be utilized for spintronics and optoelectronics applications.
Enhanced Marine Predators Algorithm for Solving Global Optimization and Feature Selection Problems
Authors: Ewees Ahmed A. , Ismail Fatma H. , Ghoniem Rania M. , Gaheen Marwa A.
Published: November 2022

Feature selection (FS) is applied to reduce data dimensions while retaining much information. Many optimization methods have been applied to enhance the efficiency of FS algorithms. These approaches reduce the processing time and improve the accuracy of the learning models. In this paper, a developed method called MPAO based on the marine predators algorithm (MPA) and the “narrowed exploration” strategy of the Aquila optimizer (AO) is proposed to handle FS, global optimization, and engineering problems. This modification enhances the exploration behavior of the MPA to update and explore the search space. Therefore, the narrowed exploration of the AO increases the searchability of the MPA, thereby improving its ability to obtain optimal or near-optimal results, which effectively helps the original MPA overcome the local optima issues in the problem domain. The performance of the proposed MPAO method is evaluated on solving FS and global optimization problems using some evaluation criteria, including the maximum value (Max), minimum value (Min), and standard deviation (Std) of the fitness function. Furthermore, the results are compared to some meta-heuristic methods over four engineering problems. Experimental results confirm the efficiency of the proposed MPAO method in solving FS, global optimization, and engineering problems.
Thin Right Triangle Convexity
Authors: Nie Xiangxiang , Yuan Liping , Zamfirescu Tudor
Published: November 2022

Let F be a family of sets in Rd (always d≥2). A set M⊂Rd is called F-convex, if for any pair of distinct points x,y∈M, there is a set F∈F, such that x,y∈F and F⊂M. A thin right triangle is the boundary of a non-degenerate right triangle in R2. The aim of this paper is to introduce and begin investigating the thin right triangle convexity for short trt-convexity, which is obtained when F is the family of all thin right triangles. We investigate the trt-convexity of unbounded sets, convex surfaces and planar geometric graphs.
The Association of Peripheral T Lymphocyte Subsets Disseminated Infection by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in HIV-Negative Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Li Qiao , Liu Shengsheng , Li Xiaomeng , Yang Ruifang , Liang Chen , Yu Jiajia , Lin Wenhong , Liu Yi , Yao Cong , Pang Yu , Dai Xiaowei , Li Chuanyou , Tang Shenjie
Published: November 2022

Background and Objective: This study was performed to investigate the association of peripheral T lymphocyte subsets with disseminated infection (DI) by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in HIV-negative patients. Methods and Materials: The study included 587 HIV-negative tuberculosis (TB) patients. Results: In TB patients with DI, the proportion of CD4+ T cells decreased, the proportion of CD8+ T cells increased, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells decreased. According to univariate analysis, smoking, alcohol consumption, rifampicin-resistance, retreatment, and high sputum bacterial load were linked to lower likelihood of developing MTB dissemination. Multivariate analysis indicated that after adjustment for alcohol use, smoking, retreatment, smear, culture, rifampicin-resistance, and CD4+/CD8+, the proportion of CD8+ T cells (but not CD4+ T cells) was independently and positively associated with the prevalence of DI in HIV-negative pulmonary TB (PTB) patients. Conclusions: Examining T lymphocyte subsets is of great value for evaluating the immune function of HIV-negative TB patients, and an increase in the CD8+ T cell proportion may be a critical clue regarding the cause of DI in such patients.
Knowledge on the Use of Isotretinoin and Its Side Effects and Awareness towards Saudi FDA-Pregnancy Prevention Program among the Female Acne Patients: A Northern Saudi Study
Authors: Alshaalan Ziad Mansour
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives: Acne vulgaris is one of the most common dermatological disorders among adolescents and adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Isotretinoin is a cost-effective way of treating severe acne patients compared to other methods used for severe forms of acne management. The present study investigated the knowledge of the use of isotretinoin and its side effects among female acne patients of the reproductive age group who were on isotretinoin. This study also assessed participants’ awareness of the Saudi FDA-Pregnancy Prevention Program (SFDA-PPP). Materials and Methods: The present population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 768 participants using a standard and validated Arabic version questionnaire. We have applied logistic regression analysis to determine the predictors for awareness of SFDA-PPP. A Chi-square test was applied to identify the factors associated with knowledge related to isotretinoin. Results: Regarding the side effects of isotretinoin, participated female acne patients were most commonly aware of dry mouth and lips (84.5%), teratogenicity (68.2%), and headache (44.8%). Nearly 60% of the participants belonged to the low knowledge category. The present study participants’ knowledge was significantly associated with education status (p = 0.007), occupation (p = 0.01), and those participants who were aware of SFDA-PPP (p = 0.001). Furthermore, we explored that only 37.5% were aware of the SFDA-PPP program implemented in Saudi Arabia. The awareness of SFDA-PPP was significantly higher among those participants belonging to health sectors (Adjusted OR (95% CI) = 1.39 (1.01–1.92), p = 0.049). Conclusion: The present survey explored inadequate knowledge among reproductive age group female acne patients regarding isotretinoin uses, precautions to be followed, and side effects, especially teratogenic effects. This survey findings suggest that improving female acne patients’ knowledge of isotretinoin through health promotion activities is crucial, especially by giving them precise instructions about the teratogenic effects.
Minimally Invasive Facetectomy and Fusion for Resection of Extensive Dumbbell Tumors in the Lumbar Spine
Authors: Schwake Michael , Maragno Emanuele , Gallus Marco , Schipmann Stephanie , Spille Dorothee , Al Barim Bilal , Stummer Walter , Müther Michael
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives: Resection of dumbbell tumors can be challenging, and facet joint sparing approaches carry the risk of incomplete resection. In contrast, additional facetectomy may allow better surgical exposure at the cost of spinal stability. The aim of this study is to compare facet-sparing and facetectomy approaches for the treatment of lumbar spine dumbbell tumors. Materials and Methods: In a cohort study setting, we analyzed Eden type 2 and 3 tumors operated in our department. Conventional facet-sparing microsurgical or facetectomy approaches with minimally invasive fusions were performed according to individual surgeons’ preference. Primary outcomes were extent of resection and tumor progression over time. Secondary outcomes were perioperative adverse events. Results: Nineteen patients were included. Nine patients were operated on using a facet-sparing technique. Ten patients underwent facetectomy and fusion. While only one patient (11%) in the facet-sparing group experienced gross total resection (GTR), this was achieved for all patients in the facetectomy group (100%). The relative risk (RR) for incomplete resection in the facet-sparing cohort was 18.7 (95% CI 1.23–284.047; p = 0.035). In addition, time to progression was shorter in the facet-sparing cohort (p = 0.022) and all patients with a residual tumor underwent a second resection after a median follow-up time of 42 months (IQR 25–66). Conclusions: Minimally invasive resection of lumbar Eden type 2 and 3 dumbbell tumors including facetectomy in combination with instrumentation appears to be safe and superior to the facet-sparing approach in terms of local tumor control.
Sevoflurane Does Not Promote the Colony-Forming Ability of Human Mesenchymal Glioblastoma Stem Cells In Vitro
Authors: Shoji Tomohiro , Hayashi Mikio , Sumi Chisato , Kusunoki Munenori , Uba Takeo , Matsuo Yoshiyuki , Hirota Kiichi
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives: Clinically used concentrations of sevoflurane, an inhaled anesthetic, have been reported to significantly inhibit tumor growth. We investigated the effects of sevoflurane on sphere formation and the proliferation of human glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) to determine whether sevoflurane exerts short- and long-term effects on human tumor cells. Materials and Methods: High-grade patient-derived GSCs (MD13 and Me83) were exposed to 2% sevoflurane. To evaluate the effect of sevoflurane on viability, proliferation, and stemness, we performed a caspase-3/7 essay, cell proliferation assay, and limiting dilution sphere formation assays. The expression of CD44, a cell surface marker of cancer stem-like cells in epithelial tumors, was evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Differences between groups were evaluated with a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Sevoflurane exposure for 4 days did not significantly promote caspase 3/7 activity in MD13 and Me83, and cell proliferation was not observed after 5 days of exposure. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to sevoflurane for 6 days did not promote the sphere-forming and proliferative potential of MD13 and Me83 cells. These results suggest that sevoflurane does not promote either apoptosis, proliferative capacity, or the colony-forming ability of human mesenchymal glioblastoma stem cells in vitro. Conclusions: Sevoflurane at clinically used concentrations does not promote the colony-forming ability of human mesenchymal glioblastoma stem cells in vitro. It is very important for neurosurgeons and anesthesiologists to know that sevoflurane, a volatile anesthetic used in surgical anesthesia, would not exacerbate the disease course of GSCs.
Pore-Level Multiphase Simulations of Realistic Distillation Membranes for Water Desalination
Authors: Jäger Tobias , Mokos Athanasios , Prasianakis Nikolaos I. , Leyer Stephan
Published: November 2022

Membrane distillation (MD) is a thermally driven separation process that is operated below boiling point. Since the performance of MD modules is still comparatively low, current research aims to improve the understanding of the membrane structure and its underlying mechanisms at the pore level. Based on existing realistic 3D membrane geometries (up to 0.5 billion voxels with 39nm resolution) obtained from ptychographic X-ray computed tomography, the D3Q27 lattice Boltzmann (LB) method was used to investigate the interaction of the liquid and gaseous phase with the porous membrane material. In particular, the Shan and Chen multi-phase model was used to simulate multi-phase flow at the pore level. We investigated the liquid entry pressure of different membrane samples and analysed the influence of different micropillar structures on the Wenzel and Cassie–Baxter state of water droplets on rough hydrophobic surfaces. Moreover, we calculated the liquid entry pressure required for entering the membrane pores and extracted realistic water contact surfaces for different membrane samples. The influence of the micropillars and flow on the water-membrane contact surface was investigated. Finally, we determined the air–water interface within a partially saturated membrane, finding that the droplet size and distribution correlated with the porosity of the membrane.
Influence of Si Content on the Microstructure and Tensile Properties of Weathering Bridge Steel Produced via Thermal Mechanical Control Process
Authors: Chen Zhenye , Shi Genhao , Qi Jianjun , Zhao Liyang , Liu Yanli , Wang Qingfeng , Wang Guodong
Published: November 2022

In this study, the effects of Si on the microstructure and tensile properties of weathering bridge steel were elucidated. The thermal mechanical control process (TMCP), containing two stages of controlled rolling and accelerated cooling process, was simulated using a thermo-mechanical simulator for four experimental steels with varying Si contents (0.15–0.77 wt.%). Micro-tensile tests were performed, and the microstructures were observed via optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD). Furthermore, the tensile properties and microstructures of these steels were analyzed. The results show that a mixed microstructure comprising granular bainitic ferrite (GBF), quasi-polygonal ferrite (QF), and martensite/austenite (M/A) constituent was formed in each sample. With an increase in Si content, the GBF content decreased, QF content increased, mean equivalent diameter (MED) of the QF+GBF matrix increased, and the fraction and average size of the M/A constituent increased. With a rise in Si content from 0.15 to 0.77 wt.%, the contributions of dislocation strengthening, grain boundary strengthening, and precipitation strengthening decreased from 149, 220, and 21 MPa to 126, 179, and 19 MPa, respectively. However, the combined contribution of solution strengthening, lattice strengthening, and M/A strengthening increased from 41 to 175 MPa, which augmented the final yield strength from 431 to 499 MPa. The decreasing yield ratio shows that strain hardening capacity is enhanced due to an increase in the fraction of the M/A constituent as well as in the MED of the QF+GBF matrix. Furthermore, the mechanisms by which Si content controls the microstructure and mechanical properties of weathering bridge steel were also discussed.
Relationship between Microstructure and Corrodibility of Local Dry Underwater Laser Welded 304 Stainless Steel
Authors: Song Danbi , Choi Jungsoo , Shin Dongsig , Lee Su-Jin
Published: November 2022

To understand the relationship between microstructure and corrosion, in this study, underwater bead-on-plate laser welding was compared with the in-air laser welding of 10-mm-thick 304 stainless steel plates at different laser powers (2, 4, and 6 kW). Welding was performed via local dry underwater laser welding (UWLW) using a custom-designed nozzle and a fiber laser at a water depth of 70 mm. The best weld quality was obtained in both underwater and in-air environments using 2 kW of laser power. To understand the relationship between the microstructure and corrosion resistance of 304ss in underwater laser welding (UWLW), this study was conducted using a custom-designed nozzle. The grain boundary analysis revealed that the specimen prepared by UWLW had high-angle grain boundaries content approximately 1.5 times higher than that of the specimen produced by in-air laser welding, and the fraction of the coincidence site lattice (CSL) boundaries was increased remarkably. High residual stress and microchromium precipitation were observed in the UWLW specimen, and the corrosion rate of the same at 2 kW laser power was considerably similar to that of the in-air laser weld specimen.
Modification of Natural Minerals with Technogenic Raw Materials
Authors: Kenzhaliyev Bagdaulet , Surkova Tatiana , Berkinbayeva Ainur , Amanzholova Leila , Mishra Brajendra , Abdikerim Bekzat , Yessimova Dinara
Published: November 2022

The presence of uranium-containing wastes from large provinces in the Republic of Kazakhstan significantly complicates the ecological situation, causing damage to the soil and hydrosphere due to the uncontrolled spread of large volumes of natural waters contaminated with radionuclides. They are usually utilized by the sorption method; however, the use of synthesized sorption materials is limited by their high price, and natural minerals are limited by low sorption characteristics. Many modification options are used in order to improve the sorption characteristics, but only a few methods have been found applied in industry. The main disadvantages include the complexity in the application and modification of reagents rarely used in industrial practice, which increases their cost, and is an obstacle to their widespread use. The authors of this research have studied the possibility of using technogenic raw materials—slags of phosphorus production—as a modifier of natural minerals. The methods of slag activation are investigated, the optimal conditions for the modification of the natural minerals zeolite and shungite by activated slag are determined, and the sorption properties of modified sorbents are studied.
Achieving a Combination of Higher Strength and Higher Ductility for Enhanced Wear Resistance of AlCrFeNiTi0.5 High-Entropy Alloy by Mo Addition
Authors: Wu Mingyu , Yuan Junfeng , Diao Guijiang , Li Dongyang
Published: November 2022

AlCrFeNiTi0.5Mox (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) were prepared by arc melting and investigated in terms of microstructure, mechanical properties, and wear resistance. All the as-cast HEAs are composed of one disordered BCC phase (BCC) and one ordered BCC (B2) phase. The added Mo acted as a solid solute in the BCC phase. When Mo molar ratio was more than 0.3, a new type or modified BCC phase formed at the grain boundary, which was enriched with both Mo and Ti. Strength, hardness, and ductility of AlCrFeNiTi0.5 were markedly increased with the Mo addition. The increase in hardness was caused by Mo-solute strengthened disordered BCC phase and precipitation-strengthening by precipitation of hard (Mo, Ti)-rich BCC phase at grain boundaries. The improved ductility was largely attributed to reduced interfacial lattice mismatch between the BCC and B2 phase. The Mo-free AlCrFeNiTi0.5 showed the highest wear loss, about 2.5 times as large as that of AlCrFeNiTi0.5Mo0.4 alloy, which possessed the highest hardness, yield strength, maximum strength, and ductility.
Multi-Omics Investigation into Acute Myocardial Infarction: An Integrative Method Revealing Interconnections amongst the Metabolome, Lipidome, Glycome, and Metallome
Authors: Lim Si Ying , Lim Felicia Li Shea , Criado-Navarro Inmaculada , Yeo Xin Hao , Dayal Hiranya , Vemulapalli Sri Dhruti , Seah Song Jie , Laserna Anna Karen Carrasco , Yang Xiaoxun , Tan Sock Hwee , Chan Mark Y. , Li Sam Fong Yau
Published: November 2022

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. This work aims to investigate the translational potential of a multi-omics study (comprising metabolomics, lipidomics, glycomics, and metallomics) in revealing biomechanistic insights into AMI. Following the N-glycomics and metallomics studies performed by our group previously, untargeted metabolomic and lipidomic profiles were generated and analysed in this work via the use of a simultaneous metabolite/lipid extraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis workflow. The workflow was applied to blood plasma samples from AMI cases (n = 101) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 66). The annotated metabolomic (number of features, n = 27) and lipidomic (n = 48) profiles, along with the glycomic (n = 37) and metallomic (n = 30) profiles of the same set of AMI and healthy samples were integrated and analysed. The integration method used here works by identifying a linear combination of maximally correlated features across the four omics datasets, via utilising both block-partial least squares-discriminant analysis (block-PLS-DA) based on sparse generalised canonical correlation analysis. Based on the multi-omics mapping of biomolecular interconnections, several postulations were derived. These include the potential roles of glycerophospholipids in N-glycan-modulated immunoregulatory effects, as well as the augmentation of the importance of Ca–ATPases in cardiovascular conditions, while also suggesting contributions of phosphatidylethanolamine in their functions. Moreover, it was shown that combining the four omics datasets synergistically enhanced the classifier performance in discriminating between AMI and healthy subjects. Fresh and intriguing insights into AMI, otherwise undetected via single-omics analysis, were revealed in this multi-omics study. Taken together, we provide evidence that a multi-omics strategy may synergistically reinforce and enhance our understanding of diseases.
Plasma Metabolomic and Lipidomic Profiling of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease in Humans Using an Untargeted Multiplatform Approach
Authors: Lin Xiangping , Liu Xinyu , Triba Mohamed N. , Bouchemal Nadia , Liu Zhicheng , Walker Douglas I. , Palama Tony , Le Moyec Laurence , Ziol Marianne , Helmy Nada , Vons Corinne , Xu Guowang , Prip-Buus Carina , Savarin Philippe
Published: November 2022

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a complex disorder that is implicated in dysregulations in multiple biological pathways, orchestrated by interactions between genetic predisposition, metabolic syndromes and environmental factors. The limited knowledge of its pathogenesis is one of the bottlenecks in the development of prognostic and therapeutic options for MAFLD. Moreover, the extent to which metabolic pathways are altered due to ongoing hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis and subsequent liver damage remains unclear. To uncover potential MAFLD pathogenesis in humans, we employed an untargeted nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy- and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)-based multiplatform approach combined with a computational multiblock omics framework to characterize the plasma metabolomes and lipidomes of obese patients without (n = 19) or with liver biopsy confirmed MAFLD (n = 63). Metabolite features associated with MAFLD were identified using a metabolome-wide association study pipeline that tested for the relationships between feature responses and MAFLD. A metabolic pathway enrichment analysis revealed 16 pathways associated with MAFLD and highlighted pathway changes, including amino acid metabolism, bile acid metabolism, carnitine shuttle, fatty acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism and steroid metabolism. These results suggested that there were alterations in energy metabolism, specifically amino acid and lipid metabolism, and pointed to the pathways being implicated in alerted liver function, mitochondrial dysfunctions and immune system disorders, which have previously been linked to MAFLD in human and animal studies. Together, this study revealed specific metabolic alterations associated with MAFLD and supported the idea that MAFLD is fundamentally a metabolism-related disorder, thereby providing new perspectives for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.