bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics and Predictors of Alzheimer’s Disease Resilience Phenotype
Authors: Sin Mo-Kyung , Cheng Yan , Roseman Jeffrey M. , Latimer Caitlin , Ahmed Ali , Zamrini Edward
Published: March 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive impairment in the presence of cerebral amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Less is known about the characteristics and predictors of resilience to cognitive impairment in the presence of neuropathological evidence of AD, the focus of this study. Of 3170 adults age ≥65 years in the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) brain autopsy cohort, 1373 had evidence of CERAD level moderate to frequent neuritic plaque density and Braak stage V–VI neurofibrillary tangles. Resilience was defined by CDR-SOB and CDR-Global scores of 0–2.5 and 0–0.5, respectively, and non-resilience, CDR-SOB and CDR-Global scores >2.5 and >0.5, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the independent associations of patient characteristics with resilience. There were 62 participants (4.8%) with resilience. Those with resilience were older (mean age, 88.3 vs. 82.4 years), more likely to be women (61.3% vs. 47.3%) and had a lower prevalence of the APOE-e4 carrier (41.9% vs. 56.2%). They also had a higher prevalence of hypertension, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, diuretic use, beta-blocker use, and APOE-e2 carrier status. Greater age at death, diuretic use, and APOE-e2 were the only characteristics independently associated with higher odds of the AD resilience phenotype (adjusted OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.05–1.13; p < 0.01; 2.00 (1.04–3.87), p = 0.04, 2.71 (1.31–5.64), p < 0.01, respectively). The phenotype of resilience to cognitive impairment is uncommon in older adults who have neuropathological evidence of AD.
Different Factors Associated with Morning Blood Pressure Surge in Antihypertensive-Naïve Dipper and Non-Dipper Subjects
Authors: Chu Yi-Hsin , Sun Zih-Jie , Chang Yin-Fan , Yang Yi-Ching , Chang Chih-Jen , Chou Yu-Tsung , Wu Jin-Shang
Published: March 2023

The relationship between the morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) and cardiovascular risk is inconclusive. Previous studies have not taken into consideration dipping status in examining the MBPS and its associated factors. The aim was to examine factors associated with the MBPS in dippers and non-dippers. The MBPS was calculated by data obtained from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, using the definition of sleep-trough morning surge. Dipping systolic blood pressure (DipSBP) was defined as [1 − (SBPsleeping/SBPawake)] × 100%. The value in milliseconds of standard deviation of normal-to-normal RR interval after waking up (SDNNaw) was calculated during the 2 h period after waking up. A total of 140 eligible subjects were divided into dippers (n = 62) and non-dippers (n = 78). Multiple regression analysis on data for all subjects revealed different correlations with the MBPS: positive in age, body mass index (BMI), and DipSBP, and inverse in cholesterol/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, fasting blood glucose, and 2 h SDNNaw. When dippers were examined separately, age, female gender, and BMI correlated positively with MBPS, while cholesterol/HDL-C ratio and 2 h SDNNaw correlated negatively. For non-dippers, only age was associated with the MBPS. The factors associated with the MBPS were different for dippers and non-dippers. The MBPS seems to be a physiological response in this dipper group because age and BMI correlated positively with the MBPS, while parasympathetic neural activity after waking up and cholesterol/HDL-C ratio showed inverse correlations.
Emergency Colectomies in the Elderly Population—Perioperative Mortality Risk-Factors and Long-Term Outcomes
Authors: Kent Ilan , Ghuman Amandeep , Sadran Luna , Rov Adi , Lifschitz Guy , Rudnicki Yaron , White Ian , Goldberg Nitzan , Avital Shmuel
Published: March 2023

Background: As the population ages emergency surgeries among the elderly population, including colonic resections, is also increasing. Data regarding the short- and long-term outcomes in this population is scarce. Methods: A retrospective study was performed to investigate mortality and mortality risk factors associated with emergent colectomies in older compared to younger patients in a single university affiliated tertiary hospital. Patients with metastatic disease, colectomy due to trauma or index colectomy within 30 days prior to emergent surgery were excluded. Results: Operative outcomes compared among age groups, included 30-day mortality, mortality risk-factors and long-term survival. 613 eligible patients were included in the cohort. Mean age was 69.4 years, 45.1% were female. Patients were divided into four age groups: 18–59, 60–69, 70–79 and ≥80-years. Thirty-day mortality rates were 3.2%, 11%, 29.3% and 37.8%, respectively and 22% for the entire cohort. Risk-factors for perioperative death in the younger group were related to severity of ASA score and WBC count. In groups 60–69, 70–79, main risk-factors were ADL dependency and ASA score. In the ≥80 group, risk-factors affecting perioperative mortality, included ASA score, pre-operative albumin, creatinine, WBC levels, cancer etiology, ADL dependency, and dementia. Long-term survival differed significantly between age groups. Conclusion: Perioperative mortality with emergency colectomy increases with patients’ age. Patients older than eighty-years undergoing urgent colectomies have extremely high mortality rates, leading to a huge burden on medical services. Evaluating risk-factors for mortality and pre-operative discussion with patients and families is important. Screening the elderly population for colonic pathologies can result in early diagnosis potentially leading to elective surgeries with decreased mortality.
Tricuspid Regurgitation in Patients with Tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: DeZorzi Christopher , Marenco Anais , Valente Anne Marie
Published: March 2023

Tricuspid regurgitation in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot is an important finding with a wide spectrum of primary and secondary etiologies. Moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation is associated with a greater incidence of atrial tachyarrhythmias in these patients. It remains uncertain which patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot may benefit from a tricuspid valve intervention at the time of pulmonary valve replacement.
Evaluation of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Macular Ganglion Cell Layer Thickness in Relation to Optic Disc Size
Authors: Storp Jens Julian , Storp Nils Hendrik , Danzer Moritz Fabian , Eter Nicole , Biermann Julia
Published: March 2023

To investigate whether optic nerve ganglion cell amount is dependent on optic disc size, this trial analyzes the correlation between Bruch’s membrane opening area (BMOA) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness as well as macular ganglion cell layer thickness (mGCLT). Additionally, differences in RNFL and mGCLT regarding various optic disc cohorts are evaluated. This retrospective, monocentric study included 501 healthy eyes of 287 patients from the University Hospital Münster, Germany, who received macular and optic disc optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans. Rank correlation coefficients for clustered data were calculated to investigate the relationship between BMOA and thickness values of respective retinal layers. Furthermore, these values were compared between different optic disc groups based on BMOA. Statistical analysis did not reveal a significant correlation between BMOA and RNFL thickness, nor between BMOA and mGCLT. However, groupwise analysis showed global RNFL to be significantly decreased in small and large discs in comparison to medium discs. This was not observed for global mGCLT. This study extends existing normative data for mGCLT taking optic disc size into account. While the ganglion cell amount represented by the RNFL and mGCLT seemed independent of BMOA, mGCLT was superior to global RNFL in displaying optic nerve integrity in very small and very large optic discs.
Topical Application of Peptide Nucleic Acid Antisense Oligonucleotide for MMP-1 and Its Potential Anti-Aging Properties
Authors: Lee Young In , Lee Sang Gyu , Jung Inhee , Suk Jangmi , Baeg Chaemin , Han Seon-Young , Seo Jeong Yeon , Jung Daram , Jeon Yeasel , Lee Ju Hee
Published: March 2023

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) is a zinc-containing endopeptidase that degrades dermal collagen and other extracellular matrix molecules. It is recognized as one of the most important indicators of cellular senescence and age-related skin changes. Here, we introduced a novel MMP-1 peptide nucleic acid (PNA) derivative—PNA-20 carboxyethyl fluorene (CEF)—which can interact with and consequently silence the MMP-1 gene sequence. The investigation on the efficacy of PNA-20 CEF in MMP-1 silencing in human dermal fibroblasts revealed significantly decreased expression of MMP-1 at both gene and protein levels. Treatment with PNA-20 CEF showed significantly increased expression of collagen I protein, indicating its potential role in preventing the degradation of collagen I and consequently combating the skin aging process. Its topical application on 3D human skin tissue showed successful absorption into the epidermis and the upper dermis. Furthermore, the additional 4-week single-arm prospective study on 21 Asian women revealed improvements in facial wrinkles, skin moisture, elasticity, and density after the use of the topical PNA-20 CEF cosmeceutical formulation. Additional in-vitro and ex-vivo studies are needed for a comprehensive understanding of the skin anti-aging effects of MMP-1 PNA.
Effect of Minimum Bronchial Cuff Volume of Left-Sided Double-Lumen Tube for One-Lung Ventilation on the Change in Bronchial Cuff Pressure during Lateral Positioning in Thoracic Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Do Young-Woo , Kim Jong-Hae , Kim Kyungmin , Oh Jinyoung , Kwak Kyung-Hwa , Jeon Younghoon , Byun Sung-Hye
Published: March 2023

The minimum bronchial cuff volume (BCVmin) of a double-lumen tube (DLT) without air leaks during lung isolation may vary among individuals, and lateral positioning could increase the bronchial cuff pressure (BCP). We investigated the effect of initially established BCVmin (BCVi) on the change in BCP by lateral positioning. Seventy patients who underwent elective lung surgery were recruited and divided into two groups according to the BCVi obtained during anesthetic induction in each patient. Outcome analysis was conducted using data from 39 patients with a BCVi greater than 0 (BCVi > 0 group) and 27 with a BCVi of 0 (BCVi = 0 group). The primary outcome was a change in the value measured in the supine and lateral positions of the initially established BCP (BCPi; BCP at the time of BCVi injection), which was significantly larger in the BCVi > 0 group than in the BCVi = 0 group (1.5 (0.5–6.0) cmH2O vs. 0.0 (0.0–1.0) cmH2O; p < 0.001). BCVi was related to the left main bronchus (LMB) diameter (Spearman’s rho = 0.676, p < 0.001) and the gap between the LMB diameter and the outer diameter of the bronchial cuff (Spearman’s rho = 0.553, p < 0.001). Therefore, selecting a DLT size with a bronchial cuff that fits each patient’s LMB may be useful in minimizing the change in BCP when performing lateral positioning during thoracic surgery. If the bronchial cuff requires unavoidable initial inflation, it is necessary to be aware that BCP may increase during lateral positioning and to monitor the BCP regularly if possible.
Endogenous Opioid Imbalance as a Potential Factor Involved in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus in Dialysis Patients
Authors: Wala-Zielińska Kamila , Świerczyńska-Mróz Karolina , Krajewski Piotr K. , Nowicka-Suszko Danuta , Krajewska Magdalena , Szepietowski Jacek C.
Published: March 2023

Chronic pruritus is one of the most common symptoms of dermatological diseases. It may occur in the course of other disorders, such as kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) most often affects people with end-stage renal disease. The etiology of this condition is still not fully understood, but researchers are currently focusing on a thorough analysis of the association between disturbed opioid balance and increased neuronal signaling leading to pruritus. The aim of this study is to assess the concentration of endogenous opioids in dialysis patients with and without pruritus and in the control group, and to determine the correlation between the concentration of these substances and the occurrence and severity of itching. The study involved 126 dialysis patients and 50 healthy controls. Patients were divided into groups with pruritus (n = 62) and without pruritus (n = 64). The severity of pruritus was assessed using the NRS scale. The concentration of endogenous opioids was determined using the ELISA. The concentration of met-enkephalin was higher in the group of patients with pruritus compared to the control group. Moreover, significantly lower levels of β-endorphin and dynorphin A were observed in the group of dialysis patients compared to the control group. In addition, a statistically significant difference was seen between the β-endorphin concentration in the group of dialysis patients with pruritus compared to the group without pruritus. The ratio of β-endorphin/dynorphin A concentrations was significantly lower in the group of patients with pruritus compared to patients without pruritus and the control group. No correlations were found between serum level of studied opioids and the severity of pruritus. The concentrations of the studied opioids did not correlate with the severity of pruritus. Observed opioid imbalance may affect the occurrence of CKD-aP in dialysis patients, but a thorough understanding of the mechanism of action of these substances in the sensation of pruritus is necessary to assess the possibility of finding a new therapeutic target.
Effects of Amnioreduction before Physical Examination-Indicated Cerclage on Pregnancy Outcomes: A Propensity Score Matched Study
Authors: Hong Subeen , Ko Hyun Sun , Kim Seonok , Jo Yun Sung , Park In Yang
Published: March 2023

This study investigated the effects of amnioreduction before physical examination-indicated cerclage on pregnancy outcomes using a propensity score matching analysis. This multicenter retrospective cohort study included women who underwent cerclage operations due to painless cervical dilation in the second trimester (14–28 weeks). The primary outcome was the time from operation until delivery. Secondary outcomes included preterm birth rate and neonatal outcomes. Primary and secondary outcomes were compared between those with amnioreduction and those without amnioreduction. Of 103 women, 31 received preoperative amnioreduction (amnioreduction group) and 72 women did not (no-amnioreduction group). Since there were differences in baseline characteristics and preoperative ultrasound findings between the two groups, we matched 25 women with amnioreduction and 25 women without amnioreduction using a propensity score. In the matched cohort, the amnioreduction group showed a shorter time from operation to delivery than the group without amnioreduction and the hazard ratio of amnioreduction was 2.5 (95% confidence interval; 1.4–4.7). In addition, the preterm birth rate before 28 weeks of gestation and the neonatal composite outcome were higher in the amnioreduction group than that in the group without amnioreduction. Amnioreduction before physical examination-indicated cerclage was associated with poor pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Therefore, careful consideration is required when performing amnioreduction before cerclage operation.
Consensus Statement on Animals’ Relationship with Pediatric Oncohematological Patients, on Behalf of Infectious Diseases and Nurse Working Groups of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
Authors: Fiumana Giulia , Botta Debora , Dalla Porta Maria Francesca , Macchi Simone , Soncini Elena , Santaniello Antonio , Paciello Orlando , Amicucci Matteo , Cellini Monica , Cesaro Simone
Published: March 2023

Contact with animals in pediatric oncohematologic patients is associated with many benefits, but the risk of contracting zoonoses, even if low, must be considered by clinicians. In order to assess the awareness about this topic, we surveyed the Italian pediatric oncohematology centers, which resulted in heterogeneous responses. The Infectious Diseases Working Group and the Nurse Working Group of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, together with veterinarians from the National Federation of Italian Veterinarians, drew up a consensus document to unify the indications to be given to families with the aim of guaranteeing a safe interaction between patients and animals and improving the collaboration of clinicians with veterinarians and families.
Glycemic Challenge Is Associated with the Rapid Cellular Activation of the Locus Ceruleus and Nucleus of Solitary Tract: Circumscribed Spatial Analysis of Phosphorylated MAP Kinase Immunoreactivity
Authors: Tapia Geronimo P. , Agostinelli Lindsay J. , Chenausky Sarah D. , Padilla Jessica V. Salcido , Navarro Vanessa I. , Alagh Amy , Si Gabriel , Thompson Richard H. , Balivada Sivasai , Khan Arshad M.
Published: March 2023

Rodent studies indicate that impaired glucose utilization or hypoglycemia is associated with the cellular activation of neurons in the medulla (Winslow, 1733) (MY), believed to control feeding behavior and glucose counterregulation. However, such activation has been tracked primarily within hours of the challenge, rather than sooner, and has been poorly mapped within standardized brain atlases. Here, we report that, within 15 min of receiving 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG; 250 mg/kg, i.v.), which can trigger glucoprivic feeding behavior, marked elevations were observed in the numbers of rhombic brain (His, 1893) (RB) neuronal cell profiles immunoreactive for the cellular activation marker(s), phosphorylated p44/42 MAP kinases (phospho-ERK1/2), and that some of these profiles were also catecholaminergic. We mapped their distributions within an open-access rat brain atlas and found that 2-DG-treated rats (compared to their saline-treated controls) displayed greater numbers of phospho-ERK1/2+ neurons in the locus ceruleus (Wenzel and Wenzel, 1812) (LC) and the nucleus of solitary tract (>1840) (NTS). Thus, the 2-DG-activation of certain RB neurons is more rapid than perhaps previously realized, engaging neurons that serve multiple functional systems and which are of varying cellular phenotypes. Mapping these populations within standardized brain atlas maps streamlines their targeting and/or comparable mapping in preclinical rodent models of disease.
Compression Stockings Improve Lower Legs Symptom in Patients with Pulmonary Artery Hypertension Treated by Pulmonary Vasodilators—A Pilot Study
Authors: Nakashima Naoko , Tahara Nobuhiro , Sugiyama Yoichi , Bekki Munehisa , Maeda-Ogata Shoko , Honda Akihiro , Goto Chidu , Tanaka Setsuko , Fukumoto Yoshihiro
Published: March 2023

Pulmonary vasodilators have improved pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) symptoms and prognosis; however, the drugs cause some side effects, including lower legs pain, which impair quality of life (QOL). The present study examined if compression stockings improved lower extremity symptoms and QOL caused by pulmonary vasodilators in PAH patients. We retrospectively enrolled consecutively ten patients with PAH treated by pulmonary vasodilators, who were regularly followed in Kurume University Hospital from January 2022 to June 2022. Oral questionnaire surveys, the Numeric Rating Scale for Pain (NRS) and the Pain Disability Assessment Scale (PDAS), were conducted regarding lower extremity symptoms before wearing elastic stockings and one month later, to evaluate how the lower extremity symptoms affected daily life. All ten patients were female, with a mean age of 50.2 ± 11.5 years, out of whom intravenous prostacyclin analogue (PGI2) was administered in five patients. In no intravenous PGI2 group, NRS score was significantly improved from 4.6 ± 2.3 to 2.8 ± 1.2 (p = 0.037), while from 9.4 ± 1.2 to 5.4 ± 1.6 (p = 0.002) in intravenous PGI2 group. PDAS score was also significantly improved [no intravenous PGI2 group; 18.0 (15.0–24.0) to 15.0 (10.0–19.0), intravenous PGI2 group; 25.0 (17.0–37.0) to 17.0 (5.0–27.0)]. Lower extremity symptoms in patients using pulmonary vasodilators were improved by wearing compression stockings.
A New Mass Spectroscopy-Based Method for Assessing the Periodontal–Endodontic Interface after Intracanal Placement of Biomaterials In Vitro
Authors: Braun Andreas , Berthold Michael , Buttler Patricia , Glock Joanna , Wenzler Johannes-Simon
Published: March 2023

Optimizing the interface between biomaterials and dental hard tissues can prevent leakage of bacteria or inflammatory mediators into periapical tissues and thus avoid alveolar bone inflammation. In this study, an analysis system for testing the periodontal–endodontic interface using gas leakage and subsequent mass spectrometry was developed and validated using the roots of 15 single-rooted teeth in four groups: (I) roots without root canal filling, (II) roots with an inserted gutta-percha post without sealer, (III) roots with gutta-percha post and sealer, (IV) roots filled with sealer only, and (V) adhesively covered roots. Helium was used as the test gas, and its leakage rate was found by measuring the rising ion current using mass spectrometry. This system made it possible to differentiate between the leakage rates of tooth specimens with different fillings. Roots without filling showed the highest leakage values (p < 0.05). Specimens with a gutta-percha post without sealer showed statistically significantly higher leakage values than groups with a filling of gutta-percha and sealer or sealer alone (p < 0.05). This study shows that a standardized analysis system can be developed for periodontal–endodontic interfaces to prevent biomaterials and tissue degradation products from affecting the surrounding alveolar bone tissue.
Wear of Titanium Implant Platforms with Different Abutment Connections and Abutment Materials: A Pilot Study
Authors: Mendes Teresa A. , Vilhena Luis , Portugal Jaime , Caramês João , Ramalho Amilcar L. , Lopes Luis P.
Published: March 2023

The most commonly used material in dental implants and their abutments is titanium. Zirconia is a more aesthetic alternative to titanium abutments; however, it is much harder. There are concerns that zirconia could damage the surface of the implant over time, especially in less stable connections. The aim was to evaluate the wear of implants with different platforms connected to titanium and zirconia abutments. A total of six implants were evaluated, two of each connection type: external hexagon, tri-channel, and conical connections (n = 2). Half of the implants were connected to zirconia abutments, and the other half to titanium abutments (n = 3). The implants were then cyclically loaded. The implant platforms were evaluated by digital superimposing micro CT files and calculating the area of the loss surface (wear). In all the implants, a statistically significant loss of the surface area (p = 0.028) was observed when comparing the area before and after cyclic loading. The average lost surface area was 0.38 mm2 with titanium abutments and 0.41 mm2 with zirconia abutments. The average lost surface area was 0.41 mm2 with the external hexagon, 0.38 mm2 with the tri-channel, and 0.40 mm2 with the conical connection. In conclusion, the cyclic loads induced implant wear. However, neither the type of abutment (p = 0.700) nor the connection (p = 0.718) influenced the amount of surface area lost.
The Effects of Static Stretching Intensity on Range of Motion and Strength: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bryant Joseph , Cooper Darren J. , Peters Derek M. , Cook Matthew David
Published: March 2023

The aim of this study was to systematically review the evidence on the outcomes of using different intensities of static stretching on range of motion (ROM) and strength. PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane controlled trials databases were searched between October 2021 and February 2022 for studies that examined the effects of different static stretching intensities on range of motion and strength. Out of 6285 identified records, 18 studies were included in the review. Sixteen studies examined outcomes on ROM and four on strength (two studies included outcomes on both ROM and strength). All studies demonstrated that static stretching increased ROM; however, eight studies demonstrated that higher static stretching intensities led to larger increases in ROM. Two of the four studies demonstrated that strength decreased more following higher intensity stretching versus lower intensity stretching. It appears that higher intensity static stretching above the point of discomfort and pain may lead to greater increases in ROM, but further research is needed to confirm this. It is unclear if high-intensity static stretching leads to a larger acute decrease in strength than lower intensity static stretching.
Childhood Maltreatment and Creativity among Chinese College Students: A Serial Mediation Model
Authors: Li Wenfu , Zhang Shuai , Lin Hao , Zhang Keke , Zhang Xiaolong , Chen Jingting , Xu Fangfang , Liu Chuanxin
Published: March 2023

Creativity plays a very crucial impact on our cultural life and has also been important to the improvement of human civilization. Numerous studies have indicated that family circumstance plays an important role in the development of individual creativity. However, little is known about the mediating mechanisms underlying the association between childhood maltreatment and creativity. This study intended to explore the serial multiple mediation model in which undergraduates’ cognitive flexibility and self-efficacy were proposed to mediate the potential influence of childhood maltreatment on their creativity. Participants were 1069 undergraduates (573 males and 496 females, mean age was 20.57 ± 1.24 years ranging from 17 to 24) from a university in Shandong Province, China. Participants were required to complete an internet survey including the Short Form of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and Williams Creativity Aptitude Test (WCAT). Serial multiple mediation analysis and the bootstrap method were used to investigate the mediation effects of cognitive flexibility and self-efficacy. The results showed that childhood maltreatment indirectly influenced undergraduates’ creativity through three indirect paths: childhood maltreatment→cognitive flexibility→creativity, childhood maltreatment→self-efficacy→creativity, and childhood maltreatment→cognitive flexibility→self-efficacy→creativity. The ratios of the total indirect effects and branch-indirect effects to the total effects were 92.73%, 34.61%, 35.68%, and 22.44%, respectively. These results indicated that cognitive flexibility and self-efficacy could completely mediate the potential impact of childhood maltreatment on individuals creativity.
A Ka-Band SiGe BiCMOS Quasi-F−1 Power Amplifier Using a Parasitic Capacitance Cancellation Technique †
Authors: Manouras Vasileios , Papananos Ioannis
Published: March 2023

This paper deals with the design, analysis, and implementation of a Ka-band, single-stage, quasi-inverse class F power amplifier (PA). A detailed methodology for the evaluation of the active device’s output capacitance is described, enabling the designing of a second-harmonically tuned load and resulting in enhanced performance. A simplified model for the extraction of time-domain intrinsic voltage and current waveforms at the output of the main active core is introduced, enforcing the implementation process of the proposed quasi-inverse class F technique. The PA is fabricated in a 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS technology with fT/fmax=250/370 GHz and it is suitable for 5G applications. It achieves 33% peak power-added efficiency (PAE), 18.8 dBm saturation output power Psat, and 14.7 dB maximum large-signal power gain G at the operating frequency of 38 GHz. The PA’s response is also tested under a modulated-signal excitation and simulation results are denoted in this paper. The chip size is 0.605×0.712 mm2 including all pads.
Improved Fatigue Reliability Analysis of Deepwater Risers Based on RSM and DBN
Authors: Xu Liangbin , Hu Pengji , Li Yanwei , Qiu Na , Chen Guoming , Liu Xiuquan
Published: March 2023

The fatigue reliability assessment of deepwater risers plays an important role in the safety of oil and gas development. Physical-based models are widely used in riser fatigue reliability analyses. However, these models present some disadvantages in riser fatigue reliability analyses, such as low computational efficiency and the inability to introduce inspection data. An improved fatigue reliability analysis method was proposed to conduct the fatigue reliability assessment of deepwater risers. The data-driven models were established based on response surface methods to replace the original physical-based models. They are more efficient than the physics-based model, because a large number of complex numerical and iterative solutions are avoided in fatigue reliability analysis. The annual crack growth model of the riser based on fracture mechanics was established by considering the crack inspection data as a factor, and the crack growth dynamic Bayesian network was established to evaluate and update the fatigue reliability of the riser. The performance of the proposed method was demonstrated by applying the method to a case. Results showed that the data-driven models could be used to analyze riser fatigue accurately, and the crack growth model could be performed to analyze riser fatigue reliability efficiently. The crack inspection results update the random parameters distribution and the fatigue reliability of deepwater risers by Bayesian inference. The accuracy and efficiency of fatigue analysis of deepwater risers can be improved using the proposed method.
A Semantic Segmentation Method Based on Image Entropy Weighted Spatio-Temporal Fusion for Blade Attachment Recognition of Marine Current Turbines
Authors: Qi Fei , Wang Tianzhen
Published: March 2023

Marine current turbines (MCTs) may exhibit reduced energy production and structural instability due to attachments, such as biofouling and plankton. Semantic segmentation (SS) is utilized to recognize these attachments, enabling on-demand maintenance towards optimizing power generation efficiency and minimizing maintenance costs. However, the degree of motion blur might vary according to the MCT rotational speed. The SS methods are not robust against such variations, and the recognition accuracy could be significantly reduced. In order to alleviate this problem, the SS method is proposed based on image entropy weighted spatio-temporal fusion (IEWSTF). The method has two features: (1) A spatio-temporal fusion (STF) mechanism is proposed to learn spatio-temporal (ST) features in adjacent frames while conducting feature fusion, thus reducing the impact of motion blur on feature extraction. (2) An image entropy weighting (IEW) mechanism is proposed to adjust the fusion weights adaptively for better fusion effects. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves superior recognition performance with MCT datasets with various rotational speeds and is more robust to rotational speed variations than other methods.
A Methodological Proposal for the Management of Submerged Cultural Heritage: Study Cases from Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
Authors: Quintana-Saavedra Diana María , Torres-Parra Rafael Ricardo , Guzmán-Martínez Richard , Anfuso Giorgio , Muñoz-Pérez Juan Jose , Vallejo Saul , Jigena-Antelo Bismarck
Published: March 2023

This paper proposes a comprehensive methodology for the management of submerged cultural heritage sites despite their worldwide location. The methodology is applied to four colonial shipwrecks located in Cartagena de Indias Bay (Colombia), two of them in the Inner Bay and two in the Bocachica sector. Five criteria are used and scored from 1 (indicating a low risk for the wreck) to 5 (high risk). The sum of the scores obtained at each criterion ranges from 5 to 25, and when the value obtained is higher than 15, management action is required. Five criteria were analyzed; (i) The historical criterion is based on the antiquity of the wreck. The ones investigated in this paper are associated with the Battle of Cartagena de Indias (A.D. 1741), having been submerged for ~280 years (all wrecks obtained a score of 3); (ii) The geographical criterion concerns the depth at which the wreck is located, which determines its accessibility. In Cartagena Bay, wrecks are situated at a water depth between 15.6 and 29.7 m (all wrecks were scored 4); (iii) The shipwreck condition criterion indicates the level of preservation, including organic and inorganic material, distinguishing among wooden hulls, ballast stones, and cannons. Obtained scores were 4 and 3 for the wrecks, respectively, located in the Inner Bay and in the Bocachica sector. (iv) The oceanographic criterion, linked to chemical and biological conditions of the water column, influences wreck conservation. All wrecks investigated scored 5. (v) The socioeconomic criterion indicates the multiple maritime and cultural activities presently taking place that might affect the wreck. In Cartagena Bay, all wrecks were scored 4. According to the total score obtained (20—Inner Bay and 19—Bocachica sector), guidelines for shipwreck conservation of cultural heritage in Cartagena Bay are proposed.
S-DETR: A Transformer Model for Real-Time Detection of Marine Ships
Authors: Xing Zijian , Ren Jia , Fan Xiaozhong , Zhang Yu
Published: March 2023

Due to the ever-changing shape and scale of ships, as well as the complex sea background, accurately detecting multi-scale ships on the sea while considering real-time requirements remains a challenge. To address this problem, we propose a model called S-DETR based on the DETR framework for end-to-end detection of ships on the sea. A scale attention module is designed to effectively learn the weights of different scale information by utilizing the global information brought by global average pooling. We analyzed the potential reasons for the performance degradation of the end-to-end detector and proposed a decoder based on Dense Query. Although the computational complexity and convergence of the entire S-DETR model have not been rigorously proven mathematically, Dense Query can reduce the computational complexity of multi-head self-attention from O(Nq2) into O(Nq). To evaluate the performance of S-DETR, we conducted experiments on the Singapore Maritime Dataset and Marine Image Dataset. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively solve the problem of multi-scale ship detection in complex marine environments and achieve state-of-the-art performance. The model inference speed of S-DETR is comparable to that of single-stage target detection models and meets the real-time requirements of shoreside ship detection.
Interaction of a Flexural-Gravity Wave with a Vertical Rigid Plate Built in a Floating Elastic Plate
Authors: Wu Qiyuan , Khabakhpasheva Tatyana , Ni Baoyu , Korobkin Alexander
Published: March 2023

The linear two-dimensional problem of interaction between an hydroelastic wave propagating along an elastic floating ice plate with built-in vertical rigid plate is studied. The fluid under the ice is inviscid and incompressible. The fluid depth is finite. The deflection of the ice plate is described by the linear theory of thin elastic plates. The flow under the ice is potential. The total velocity potential is decomposed into the potential of the incident wave, even potential caused by the vertical motion of the rigid plate, and an odd potential caused by the rotation of the rigid plate. The vertical mode method is used. The third potential is obtained by solving a mixed boundary-value problem numerically using Chebyshev polynomials. The solution is validated by analysis of its convergence. The first and second potentials, and the corresponding deflections and strains of the ice plate, are obtained analytically. The motions of the rigid plate, as well as deflection and strains in the floating plate, are numerically analyzed. It is shown that the rotation of the rigid plate due to the incident wave is the main factor of increasing strains in the ice plate.
Numerical Study on the Breaking Process of the Seafloor Massive Sulfide Based on the FEM-SPH Adaptive Coupling Algorithm
Authors: Zhang Bei , Lu Haining , Yang Jianmin , Zhang Daiyu , Sun Pengfei , Liu Shihang
Published: March 2023

The research on seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) started relatively late, and the results on its breaking process are few. However, the breaking process contains evaluation indexes of safe, efficient and low-disturbance mining, so it is necessary to study the breaking process of seafloor massive sulfide. At the same time, the finite element method is used in most existing researches, and the system will automatically delete the failure element from the system during the simulation of rock-breaking, resulting in the inability to accurately obtain the chip state in the breaking process. In addition, SPH meshless method has unique advantages in dealing with large deformations of rock-breaking, but it has the problems of difficultly in boundary processing and serious computational time. In view of this, a hybrid discretization method of finite element method and smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is proposed in this paper. On this basis, numerical simulation of a single-pick cutting seafloor massive sulfide based on the FEM-SPH adaptive coupling algorithm is carried out. Through the research in this paper, the regularity of the fragmentation process of polymetallic sulfides is obtained: firstly, the breaking process of seafloor massive sulfide experiences four stages: cutting-in of the pick, evolution of the high-stress zone, formation of the dense core, and the chips’ splash. Secondly, the three-dimensional forces on the pick change in fluctuation in the cutting process. Thirdly, the stress wave propagation is unbalanced and biased in the cutting process. Fourthly, the chips’ splash mainly has three directions: jet flow towards the opposite direction of the cutter cutting, spluttering perpendicular to the cutting surface of the pick, and sliding along the cutting surface. Finally, the chip mass is positively correlated with the cutting time. In this paper, a simulation framework for rock-breaking is proposed, and its advantages have been effectively verified.
New Guaiane-Type Sesquiterpenoids Biscogniauxiaols A–G with Anti-Fungal and Anti-Inflammatory Activities from the Endophytic Fungus Biscogniauxia Petrensis
Authors: Han Long , Zheng Wen , Qian Sheng-Yan , Yang Ming-Fei , Lu Yong-Zhong , He Zhang-Jiang , Kang Ji-Chuan
Published: March 2023

Seven undescribed guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids named biscogniauxiaols A–G (1–7) were isolated from the endophytic fungus Biscogniauxia petrensis on Dendrobium orchids. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, electronic circular dichroism (EC) and specific rotation (SR) calculations. Compound 1 represented a new family of guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids featuring an unprecedented [5/6/6/7] tetracyclic system. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for compounds 1–7 was proposed. The anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and multidrug resistance reversal activities of the isolates were evaluated. Compounds 1, 2 and 7 exhibited potent inhibitory activities against Candida albicans with MIC values ranging from 1.60 to 6.30 μM, and suppressed nitric oxide (NO) production with IC50 ranging from 4.60 to 20.00 μM. Additionally, all compounds (100 μg/mL) enhanced the cytotoxicity of cisplatin in cisplatin-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells (A549/DDP). This study opened up a new source for obtaining bioactive guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids and compounds 1, 2, and 7 were promising for further optimization as multifunctional inhibitors for anti-fungal (C. albicans) and anti-inflammatory purposes.
Assessing the Effect of Slope Position on the Community Assemblage of Soil Diazotrophs and Root Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
Authors: Xiao Dan , Hong Tao , Chen Meifeng , He Xunyang , Wang Kelin
Published: March 2023

Considering the crucial role of soil diazotrophs and root arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soil nutrient cycling during ecosystem restoration, diazotroph and AMF communities may be determined by slope position. However, the effect of slope position on diazotroph and AMF abundance, diversity, and community composition of karst ecosystems remains unknown. In this study, soil diazotrophs and root AMF characteristics on varying slope positions were assessed in a karst shrub ecosystem. The results displayed that the abundance of soil diazotrophs and root AMF diversity were significantly affected by slope position. Diazotroph abundance accompanied by soil nutrient and plant richness was higher on the lower slopes than the upper slopes, whereas root AMF diversity displayed the opposite trend. The soil diazotroph and root AMF community composition differed among the upper, middle, and lower slopes. The dominant taxa of soil diazotrophs and root AMF at the order level were Rhizobiales and Glomerales, respectively. Moreover, the diazotroph order of Nostocales and the AMF order of Paraglomerales were richer on the upper slopes than on the lower slopes. The slope position directly affected the plant diversity and soil nutrient distribution, indirectly affecting the diazotroph and AMF communities. Increased available nitrogen on the lower slope caused great diazotroph abundance by stimulating plant growth with sufficient carbohydrates. However, low soil nutrients and plant diversity but high plant root biomass induced more root AMF diversity on the upper slope than on the lower slope. Therefore, this study expands the knowledge of soil diazotroph and root AMF ecological functions along different slope positions during vegetation recovery for the successive stages of grass and shrub in the karst region.
Soil Mercury Pollution Changes Soil Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community Composition
Authors: Mi Yidong , Bai Xue , Li Xinru , Zhou Min , Liu Xuesong , Wang Fanfan , Su Hailei , Chen Haiyan , Wei Yuan
Published: March 2023

Remediation of mercury (Hg)-contaminated soil by mycorrhizal technology has drawn increasing attention because of its environmental friendliness. However, the lack of systematic investigations on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community composition in Hg-polluted soil is an obstacle for AMF biotechnological applications. In this study, the AMF communities within rhizosphere soils from seven sites from three typical Hg mining areas were sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq platform. A total of 297 AMF operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected in the Hg mining area, of which Glomeraceae was the dominant family (66.96%, 175 OTUs). AMF diversity was significantly associated with soil total Hg content and water content in the Hg mining area. Soil total Hg showed a negative correlation with AMF richness and diversity. In addition, the soil properties including total nitrogen, available nitrogen, total potassium, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, and pH also affected AMF diversity. Paraglomeraceae was found to be negatively correlated to Hg stress. The wide distribution of Glomeraceae in Hg-contaminated soil makes it a potential candidate for mycorrhizal remediation.
Relationship of Sporotrichosis and Infected Patients with HIV-AIDS: An Actual Systematic Review
Authors: Pinto-Almazán Rodolfo , Sandoval-Navarro Karla A. , Damián-Magaña Erika J. , Arenas Roberto , Fuentes-Venado Claudia Erika , Zárate-Segura Paola Berenice , Martínez-Herrera Erick , Rodríguez-Cerdeira Carmen
Published: March 2023

Background: Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection that can affect both humans and animals, caused by a species of thermo-dimorphic fungi of the genus Sporothrix. This pathology can be acquired by subcutaneous traumatic inoculation through contact with contaminated plants, soil or decomposing organic matter, and/or by inhalation of conidia. The infection can progress to chronic skin infection, or it can even spread to blood vessels, lymph, muscles, bones, and other organs, such as the lungs and nervous system. Those disseminated types are usually associated with cellular immunodeficiency and infection by inhalation, which explains why people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) get infected in such a manner. This virus changes the natural history of sporotrichosis, producing a greater fungal load. Methods: The search was carried out in three databases: Pubmed, Scopus, and Scielo. Eligible articles were considered as those that described sporotrichosis in patients infected with HIV-AIDS, as well as case series. Results: A total of 24 articles were selected, with a sum of 37 patients with sporotrichosis and HIV infection. Of these patients, 31 came from Brazil, two from the United States, one from South Africa, one from Bangladesh, and two from an unspecified region. Regarding epidemiology, a predominance of the male sex was found in 28 of the 37 cases (75.6%), while nine were female (24.3%). Conclusions: Sporotrichosis infection continues to present in a more severe and disseminated way among HIV-positive subjects with lower CD4+ counts.
Fungemia in Hospitalized Adult Patients with Hematological Malignancies: Epidemiology and Risk Factors
Authors: Vargas-Espíndola Luz Alejandra , Cuervo-Maldonado Sonia I. , Enciso-Olivera José L. , Gómez-Rincón Julio C. , Jiménez-Cetina Leydy , Sánchez-Pedraza Ricardo , García-Guzmán Katherine , López-Mora María José , Álvarez-Moreno Carlos A. , Cortés Jorge Alberto , Garzón-Herazo Javier R. , Martínez-Vernaza Samuel , Sierra-Parada Claudia R. , Murillo-Sarmiento Bryan A.
Published: March 2023

Fungemia in hematologic malignancies (HM) has high mortality. This is a retrospective cohort of adult patients with HM and fungemia between 2012 and 2019 in institutions of Bogotá, Colombia. The epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics are described, and risk factors related to mortality are analyzed. One hundred five patients with a mean age of 48 years (SD 19.0) were identified, 45% with acute leukemia and 37% with lymphomas. In 42%, the HM was relapsed/refractory, 82% ECOG > 3, and 35% received antifungal prophylaxis; 57% were in neutropenia, with an average duration of 21.8 days. In 86 (82%) patients, Candida spp. was identified, and other yeasts in 18%. The most frequent of the isolates were non-albicans Candida (61%), C. tropicalis (28%), C. parapsilosis (17%), and C. krusei (12%). The overall 30-day mortality was 50%. The survival probability at day 30 in patients with leukemia vs. lymphoma/multiple myeloma (MM0 group was 59% (95% CI 46–76) and 41% (95% CI 29–58), p = 0.03, respectively. Patients with lymphoma or MM (HR 1.72; 95% CI 0.58–2.03) and ICU admission (HR 3.08; 95% CI 1.12–3.74) were associated with mortality. In conclusion, in patients with HM, non-albicans Candida species are the most frequent, and high mortality was identified; moreover, lymphoma or MM and ICU admission were predictors of mortality.