bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fusion rules in a Majorana single-charge transistor
Authors: Seoane Souto Rubén , Leijnse Martin
Published: May 2022

A demonstration of the theoretically predicted non-abelian properties of Majorana bound states (MBSs) would constitute a definite proof of a topological superconducting phase. Alongside the nontrivial braiding statistics, the fusion rules are fundamental properties of all non-abelian anyons. In this work, we propose and theoretically analyze a way to demonstrate MBS fusion rules in a Majorana single-charge transistor. Our proposal reduces both the number of operations and the device complexity compared to previous designs. Furthermore, we show that the fusion protocol can be adapted to pump a quantized amount of charge in each cycle, providing a straightforward method to detect fusion rules through a DC current measurement. We analyze the protocol numerically and analytically and show that the required operational timescales and expected measurement signals are within experimental capabilities in various superconductor-semiconductor hybrid platforms.
Duality and form factors in the thermally deformed two-dimensional tricritical Ising model
Authors: Cortes Cubero Axel , Konik Robert , Lencsés Máté , Mussardo Giuseppe , Takacs Gabor
Published: May 2022

The thermal deformation of the critical point action of the 2D
tricritical Ising model gives rise to an exact scattering theory with
seven massive excitations based on the exceptional
E_7E7
Lie algebra. The high and low temperature phases of this model are
related by duality. This duality guarantees that the leading and
sub-leading magnetisation operators, \sigma(x)σ(x)
and \sigma'(x)σ′(x),
in either phase are accompanied by associated disorder operators,
\mu(x)μ(x)
and \mu'(x)μ′(x).
Working specifically in the high temperature phase, we write down the
sets of bootstrap equations for these four operators. For
\sigma(x)σ(x)
and \sigma'(x)σ′(x),
the equations are identical in form and are parameterised by the values
of the one-particle form factors of the two lightest
\mathbb{Z}_2ℤ2
odd particles. Similarly, the equations for
\mu(x)μ(x)
and \mu'(x)μ′(x)
have identical form and are parameterised by two elementary form
factors. Using the clustering property, we show that these four sets of
solutions are eventually not independent; instead, the parameters of the
solutions for \sigma(x)/\sigma'(x)σ(x)/σ′(x)
are fixed in terms of those for \mu(x)/\mu'(x)μ(x)/μ′(x).
We use the truncated conformal space approach to confirm numerically the
derived expressions of the matrix elements as well as the validity of
the \DeltaΔ-sum
rule as applied to the off-critical correlators. We employ the derived
form factors of the order and disorder operators to compute the exact
dynamical structure factors of the theory, a set of quantities with a
rich spectroscopy which may be directly tested in future inelastic
neutron or Raman scattering experiments.
An efficient hardware implementation of Convolutional Neural Network in detect Breast Cancer Histopathology Image
Authors: Vo Phat Tan , Trang Hoang
Published: May 2022

This paper presents our work on evaluating the effectiveness of a novel deep convolutional neural network architecture (CNN) for classifying breast histology images for cancer risk factors as negative or positive. Also, the hardware structure of the proposed model was successfully synthesized and verified. The results indicate that a CNN trained on a small dataset achieved an overall AUC (Area under ROC Curve - ROC is an acronym for receiver operating characteristic) value of 0.922 across a set of 55505 test images. In addition, the time it takes to classify each image is within 3.8 milliseconds instead of a task that even trained pathologists take hours to complete.
Enhancing Security and Robustness for SDN-Enabled Cloud Networks
Authors: Le Long Tan , Thinh Tran Ngoc
Published: May 2022

Software-Defined Networking is an emerging network architecture which promises to solve the limitations associated with current cloud computing systems based on traditional network. The main idea behind SDN is to separate control plane from networking devices, thereby providing a centralized control layer integrable to cloud-based infrastructure. The integration of SDN and Cloud Computing brings an immense benefits to network deployment and management, however, this model still faces many critical challenges with regards to availability, scalability and security. In this study, we present a security and robustness SDN-Enabled Cloud model using OpenStack and OpenDaylight. In particular, we design and implement a security clustering-based SDN Controller for monitoring and managing cloud networking, and a hardware platform to accelerate packet processing in virtual switches. We evaluate our proposed model on a practical cloud testbed consisting of several physical and virtual nodes. The experiment results show that the SDN controller cluster significantly improve robustness for the network even in case of being attacked by abnormal network traffic; while the hardware-accelerated switches can be operated in highperformance and well-adapted to the cloud environment.
Hierarchical dispersion entropy and its application in fault diagnosis of rolling bearing
Authors: Zhang Tao , Chen Yongqi , Chen Yang
Published: May 2022

Aiming at the disadvantage that multi-scale entropy only analyzes the low-frequency components of time series, this paper proposes a rolling bearing fault feature extraction method based on hierarchical dispersion entropy (HDE). Firstly, the HDE is constructed based on the hierarchical operators and dispersion entropy. Secondly, the influence of HDE parameters on entropy stability is studied. Finally, the fault diagnosis method based on HDE, least square support vector machine is applied in rolling bearings. The experiment results show that the proposed method can distinguish different types of the rolling bearing faults. It owns the higher fault diagnosis accuracy than the traditional multi scale entropy methods, such as multi-scale sample entropy (MSE), multi-scale dispersion entropy (MDE).
Sub-daily rainfall extremes in the Nordic–Baltic region
Authors: Olsson Jonas , Dyrrdal Anita Verpe , Médus Erika , Södling Johan , Aņiskeviča Svetlana , Arnbjerg-Nielsen Karsten , Førland Eirik , Mačiulytė Viktorija , Mäkelä Antti , Post Piia , Thorndahl Søren Liedke , Wern Lennart
Published: May 2022

Short-duration rainfall extremes are associated with a range of societal hazards, notably pluvial flooding but in addition, e.g., erosion-driven nutrient transport and point-source contamination. Fundamental for all analysis, modelling and risk assessment related to short-duration rainfall extremes is the access to and analysis of high-resolution observations. In this study, sub-daily rainfall observations from 543 meteorological stations in the Nordic–Baltic region were collected, quality-controlled and consistently analyzed in terms of records, return levels, geographical and climatic dependencies, time of occurrence of maxima and trends. The results reflect the highly heterogeneous rainfall climate in the region, with longitudinal and latitudinal gradients as well as local variability, and overall agree with previous national investigations. Trend analyses in Norway and Denmark indicated predominantly positive trends in the period 1980–2018, in line with previous investigations. Gridded data sets with estimated return levels and dates of occurrence (of annual maxima) are provided open access. We encourage further efforts towards international exchange of sub-daily rainfall observations as well as consistent regional analyses in order to attain the best possible knowledge on which rainfall extremes are to be expected in present as well as future climates.
Dynamics of mangrove forest distribution changes in Iran
Authors: Ghayoumi Razieh , Ebrahimi Elham , Mousavi Seyed Mohsen
Published: May 2022

Mangroves are known for providing multiple ecosystem services and critical habitats for diverse species and are one of the most threatened ecosystems by human activities and climate change. However, little is known about their distributional patterns. In this study, the distribution of the dominant species, Avicennia marina was examined in the context of climate change to identify conservation priority objectives at the spatial and temporal scales on the southern coast of Iran. A maximum entropy model was used to predict the potential distribution of the mangrove forest in the current situation and forecast its future (2070: RCP 8.5, CCSM4). The result revealed that the potential distribution for the mangroves will decrease in the future and probably two habitat patches remain, one patch in the middle of the coasts of the Persian Gulf and another patch in the middle of the coasts of the Oman Sea. Annual mean temperature, temperature annual range, and annual precipitation were the most important determinants of the mangrove distribution. The findings can be used as a theoretical basis to manage and protect the habitat of mangroves in Iran.
Climate change impacts on the shrinkage of Lake Urmia
Authors: Radmanesh Feridon , Esmaeili-Gisavandani Hassan , Lotfirad Morteza
Published: May 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of climate change on the water level and shrinkage of Lake Urmia. To achieve this, the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) algorithm was used to select the top 10 general circulation models (GCMs) among 23 CMIP5 GCMs in the baseline period (1951–2005). Based on the K-nearest neighbors (KNN) method, 10 GCMs were combined and their uncertainties were quantified. Also, the future period (2028–2079) data were generated by using the LARS-WG model. According to the results, the temperature increased in all seasons of the future period. Under the RCP4.5 scenario, the precipitation decreases by 10.4 and 27.8% in spring and autumn, respectively, while it increases by 18.2 and 3.4% in summer and winter, respectively. Moreover, the RCP8.5 scenario lowers the precipitation by 11.4, 22.7, and 4.8% in spring, autumn, and winter, respectively, while it rises by 26.5% in summer. Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) were used to calculate the short-, medium- and long-term meteorological droughts of the baseline and future periods. The occurrence number and peaks of droughts increase, while their durations decrease, in the future period. In general, the SPEI has a robust relationship than the SPI with changes in the water level of Lake Urmia.
Fate and emission of methyl mercaptan in a full-scale MBBR process by TOXCHEM simulation
Authors: Faris Ahmed M. , Nile Basim K. , Mussa Zainab H. , Alesary Hasan F. , Al Juboury Maad F. , Hassan Waqed H. , Al-Bahrani Hussein A. , Barton Stephen
Published: May 2022

The emission and fate of methyl mercaptan from the residential complex treatment plant (RCTP) moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) process in the city of Al-Hur in Karbala governorate in Iraq were studied using the TOXCHEM 4.1 model. The release of odorous sulfur compounds from treatment plants harms workers and the surrounding area. Methyl mercaptan, in particular, is responsible for odors similar to rotten cabbage. The sensitivity analysis for the methyl compounds in the MBBR system was conducted based on the following factors: a large thick biofilm layer, the specific surface area of media, media fill fraction, and aeration flowrate. The model was validated via RMSE and R, which showed the model outputs are representatives of real-world observations. Degradation and emission were shown to be the two most important processes in the system. During the summer (32 °C) and winter (12 °C), about 13 and 10%, 2 and 4%, 0.5 and 1%, and 85 and 85% were emitted into the atmosphere, discharged with effluent, sorbed into sludge, and biodegraded, respectively. The overall concentrations of CH4S emitted in summer and winter were 1.78 and 1.38 ppm, respectively. Operating the MBBR system with a thick biofilm layer, a large specific surface area of media, a greater media fill fraction, and a low aeration rate contributed significantly to the decomposition of methyl mercaptan and thus decreased emission into the atmosphere. Finally, the TOXCHEM simulation accurately predicts the fate of CH4S and the emissions inherent to the MBBR system. The manipulation of the operating factors led to the improvement of the system and the reduction of methyl mercaptan gas emissions without the need to add units and chemical additives.
Grid-quantification study on the effect of rapid urbanization on hydrological processes
Authors: Yang Fan , Zhao Chenchen , Wang Jingyi , Liu Chengshuai , Sun Yue , Soomro Shan-e-hyder , Hu Caihong
Published: May 2022

Hydrological processes such as evaporation, infiltration, and runoff are affected not only by natural climate change but also by land cover and soil conditions. The impact of urbanization on the key elements of the hydrological process is worth studying in the context of rapid urbanization. This paper combines the soil-land use index grid and the GSSHA model to quantitatively study the impact of land use on urban hydrological processes under the background of the changing urbanization stage. The results show that with the increase in land development and utilization activities, the hydrological process will transform. When grassland and woodland are converted to construction land, the changes in runoff, infiltration, and evaporation are the largest. The runoff depth increased by 0.94 × 10−1 ∼ 2.42 × 10−1 mm/km2, infiltration depth decreased by 0.80 × 10−1 ∼ 2.18 × 10−1 mm/km2, and evaporation decreased by 0.14 × 10−1 ∼ 0.28 × 10−1 mm/km2. In the transition from forest land to grassland, from cultivated land to forest land, and from cultivated land to grassland, the increase of infiltration contributed over 80% to the decrease of runoff process. This provides a scientific basis for future urban planning and sponge city construction.
Hydrogeochemical vertical zonation and evolution model of the Kongjiagou coalmine in Sichuan, China
Authors: Heng Yin , Yong Wu , Lili Jiang , Meng Chen , Nisong Pei , Yong Luo , Li Lyu
Published: May 2022

With mine drainage and activities, the hydrogeochemical environments has greatly changed in Kongjiagou coalmine, Sichuan Province, southwest China. This study aimed to summarize an ideal model of coalmine hydrogeochemical zonation and evolution. In total, 24 groundwater samples from different depth were collected to analyze their components, with the combination of methods such as ion sources, normalization index, ions ratios, cation exchange and inverse modeling. The hydrogeochemical formation main factor was water–rock reactions and more weathering by sulfuric acid. Dissolution and pyrite oxidation were the main sources of , whereas carbonate weathering was the dominant source of . The vertical extent could be distinguished to three zones by mean and standard deviation of burial depth. The normalization index, ions ratios, cation exchange and water types exhibited clear vertical zonation. In shallow groundwater, dissolution led to a Ca- type water and overall stable concentrations of ions. Redox reactions in the middle region have caused significant increases in the total dissolved solids (TDS) and and a considerable reduction in pH; hence, Ca + Mg-SO4 + HCO3 became the dominant type. Re-dissolution and cation exchange played important roles at depth and caused the pH and TDS to increase slowly. The , Ca2+, and Mg2+ concentrations increased rapidly, whereas the concentration remained basically unchanged, and the water type was either Ca + Mg-HCO3 + SO4 or Na-HCO3 + SO4. This study will be of great significance to coalmine safety production and water environments protection.
Review on some metal oxide nanoparticles as effective adsorbent in wastewater treatment
Authors: Ghosh Nikita , Das Susmita , Biswas Goutam , Haldar Prabir Kumar
Published: May 2022

Water contamination has turned into one of the most serious issues in the world. Nanomaterials are proficient to carry away heavy metals, organic and inorganic dyes, pesticides, and small molecules from polluted water. In this regard, nanoparticles have gained much attention due to their extraordinary properties compared to bulk materials. Metal oxide nanoparticles and nanocomposites have several advantages such as elevated surface area, low concentration, easily separable after treatment and so on. Among many feasible techniques, the adsorption process is one of the most useful techniques for removing heavy ions and dyes from wastewater and has gained much attention from researchers. Several studies on metal oxide nanoparticles and their use in wastewater treatment have been published in the literature. This chapter gives an outline about five metal oxide based nanomaterials and nanocomposites as well as their applications in water pollution removal where the efficiency, limits and favourable circumstances are compared and explored. This article surely helps to gather information about some metal oxide nanoparticles and nanocomposites in wastewater treatment by the adsorption technique. In this review article, we primarily focused on five metal oxide nanoparticles and some of their recent applications published in the last two years.
Waste eggshell-supported CuO used as heterogeneous catalyst for reactive blue 19 degradation through peroxymonosulfate activation (CuO/eggshell catalysts activate PMS to degrade reactive blue 19)
Authors: Xu Jinghua , Hu Sisi , Min Lingli , Wang Shuhua
Published: May 2022

Advanced oxidation processes play an important role in the removal of organic pollutants from wastewater, in which it is essential to develop an eco-friendly, effective, stable, and inexpensive catalyst. Herein, waste eggshell-supported copper oxide (CuO/eggshell) was synthesized via a facile method and employed as peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator for the elimination of reactive blue 19 (RB19). CuO/eggshell exhibited high degradation efficiency of RB19 (approximately 100%) by activation of PMS under the optimum conditions of 20 mg/L RB19, 0.2 g/L CuO/eggshell, 0.36 mM PMS, and initial pH 7.12 within 20 min. In addition, the effects of catalyst dosage, PMS concentration, initial pH, inorganic ions, and humic acid on RB19 degradation were investigated. Scavenging experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance revealed that multiple reactive oxygen species, including sulfate radicals (SO4·−), hydroxyl radicals (·OH), superoxide radicals (O2·−), and singlet oxygen (1O2), contributed to RB19 degradation, and 1O2 played a dominant role. Finally, a possible PMS activation mechanism was proposed. This study suggests that loading catalytically active components onto waste eggshell is eco-friendly and effective for enhancing the degradation of dyes from wastewater.
Growth and photosynthesis responses of microcystin (MC)- and non-MC-producing Microcystis strains during co-culture with the submerged macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum
Authors: Gao Yunni , Yang Hui , Dong Jing , Zhang Man , Gao Xiaofei , Zhang Jingxiao , Li Mei , Li Xuejun
Published: May 2022

The growth and photosynthetic responses of microcystin (MC)- and non-MC-producing Microcystis to the submerged macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum were investigated under plant-Microcystis co-culture conditions (PMC + , PMC−), in comparison with their corresponding mono-culture controls (SMC + , SMC-). The OJIP chlorophyll a fluorescence transient was recorded and analyzed using JIP-test parameters. In comparison with the corresponding mono-culture controls, the quantum efficiencies of the electron transport chain expressed as parameters Ψo and φEo decreased by more than 25% in the PMC− group, much higher than those in the PMC+ group (p < 0.05). The decreasing extent of the electron transport flux ratio ETo/RC was significantly larger in the PMC− group than in the PMC+ group (p < 0.05). The performance index (PIABS) decreased by 26.98% in the PMC− group and by 16.25% in the PMC+ group. These results indicated that the non-MC-producing Microcystis was more sensitive than the MC-producing strain when co-cultured with M. spicatum, and the efficiency and energy flux of electron transport might be the main targets of Photosystem II. Future research should focus on the intraspecific composition and toxigenic levels of Microcystis populations interacting with submerged macrophytes to guide the use of submerged vegetation restoration.
The Role of Heat Shock Protein 40 in Carcinogenesis and Biology of Colorectal
Cancer
Authors: Asgharzadeh Fereshteh , Moradi-Marjaneh Reyhaneh , Marjaneh Mahdi Moradi
Published: May 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Despite the enormous amount
of effort in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC, the overall survival rate of patients remains low. The precise
molecular and cellular basis underlying CRC has not been completely understood yet. Over time, new genes
and molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of the disease are being identified. The accurate discovery
of these genes and signaling pathways are important and urgent missions for the next generation of anticancer
therapy research. Chaperone DnaJ, also known as Hsp40 (heat shock protein 40), has been of particular interest
in CRC pathogenesis, as it is involved in the fundamental cell activities for maintaining cellular homeostasis.
Evidence shows that protein family members of DnaJ/Hsp40 play both roles, enhancing and reducing the
growth of CRC cells. In the present review, we focus on the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms
responsible for DnaJ/Hsp40 in CRC carcinogenesis and biology.
Syringic Acid Suppressed Proliferation, Invasion, and Migration via
Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinases Expression on Glioblastoma Cells
by Promoting Apoptosis
Authors: Peng Biao , Li Dan , Luo Dongdong , Hu Su , Zhao Hailin
Published: May 2022

Background:

Human brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM) is the most hostile malignancy,
currently lacking a successful cure and good prognosis.

Objective:

To examine the anticancer effects of syringic acid (SA) on human cancer GBM cells.

Methodology:

The different doses of SA were added to GBM cells to study its effect on viability,
invasion, relocation, apoptosis, and mRNA and protein levels. Hence, we explored the antiproliferative,
anti-invasive, and apoptotic activity of SA on GBM human U-251 cells.

Results:

MTT assay and live/dead assay revealed the anti-proliferative activity of SA on U-251
glioma cells. Apoptotic activity of SA was shown by DAPI staining, caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2
mRNA expressions. The cell cycle regulation was also confirmed by reducing the mRNA expression
of cyclinD1, CDK4, and CDK6. Treatment of SA with U-251 cells suppressed MMPs expressions
and enhanced TIMPs protein levels.

Conclusion:

Our findings put forward that SA could prevent GBM cells’ invasion and relocation.
SA is an ideal neuroprotective agent for controlling brain malignancy.
Recent Advances in Biomedical Applications of Biogenic Nanomaterials
Authors: Gurnule Wasudeo B. , Koinkar Pankaj , Bhagat Devidas S. , Bumbrah Gurvinder S. , Chawla Pooja A.
Published: May 2022

The synthesis of biogenic nanoparticles from readily available natural resources may have
large demand in numerous fields including pharmaceuticals and medicine. The biogenic nanoparticles
catch the attention of the scientific community due to their low cytotoxicity and biocompatibility.
Chemical, physical, and greener methods are used for the synthesis of biogenic nanoparticles.
Researchers used eco-friendly and nontoxic approaches in the synthesis of this nanoparticle. This
nanomaterial-based medicine plays a vital role in the management of public health, including earlier
detection of disease, therapeutics candidates in the treatment of cancer. Biogenic nanocomposites are
environmentally benign candidates that include fabrication of various composites, detoxification,
and act as a catalyst in the biodegradation process. In this review article, we emphasize the recently
reported methods used for synthesis, summarizing their biomedical applications and commercial and
environmentally benign applications. Synthetic strategies include greener, chemical, physical, and
biogenic methods and their role in surface modifiers involves various biomedical, commercial, and
environmental-related applications. Moreover, we glimpse existing status, key contests, and future
perspectives.
Recent Studies on the Pharmacological Activities and Structural Modifications
of Compound-K
Authors: Zhang Mingming , Li Yingxia , Wang Xianyang
Published: May 2022

:

Ginsenosides, the essential active ingredients extracted from ginseng, have been well
studied in the past several decades because of their numerous pharmacological properties including
anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic activities, as well as hepatoprotection, skin
protection, and memory improvement, etc. Compound-K (CK) is the major metabolite derived
from the deglycosylation of ginsenosides by intestinal bacteria and has been proved to be the actual
active entity absorbed into the systemic circulation. In this review, we comprehensively elucidate
the pharmacological activities of CK from the molecular mechanism, as well as its structurally
modified derivatives. We hope this review would be helpful to get a systematic summary and
provide constructive insights for the further research of CK.
Verapamil Regulates the Macrophage Immunity to Mycobacterium
tuberculosis through NF-κB Signaling
Authors: Gong Wenping , Cui Ruina , Song Lele , Yang Yourong , Zhang Junxian , Liang Yan , Bai Xuejuan , Wang Jie , Wang Lan , Wu Xueqiong , Zhao Weiguo
Published: May 2022

Background:

Verapamil enhances the sensitivity of Mycobacterium
tuberculosis to anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs, promotes the macrophage anti-TB ability,
and reduces drug resistance, but its mechanism is unclear. Herein, we have investigated
the effect of verapamil on cytokine expression in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Methods:

Macrophages from mice infected with M. tuberculosis or S. aureus were
cultured with verapamil, the cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay, and the RNA was measured with quantitative real-time polymerase chain
reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis. The intracellular calcium signaling was
measured by confocal microscopy.

Results:

Significantly higher levels of NF-κB, IL-12, TNF-α, and IL-1β were observed
after TB infection. The levels of NF-κB and IL-12 increased when verapamil
concentration was less than 50 μg/ml, but decreased when verapamil concentration was
greater than 50μg/ml. With the increase in verapamil concentration, TNF-α and IL-1β
expressed by macrophages decreased. The L-type calcium channel transcription
significantly increased in M. tuberculosis rather than S. aureus-infected macrophages.
Furthermore, during bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) infection, verapamil stimulated a
sharp peak in calcium concentration in macrophages, while calcium concentration
increased mildly and decreased smoothly over time in the absence of verapamil.

Conclusions:

Verapamil enhanced macrophage immunity via the NF-κB pathway, and its
effects on cytokine expression may be achieved by its regulation of intracellular calcium
signaling.
Natural Flavonoid Quercetin Enhances the Anti-inflammatory
Effects of Aspirin in a Preeclampsia-like Rat Model Induced by
Lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Chen Dan , Yang Shuangyan , Ding Jie , Liu Ailing
Published: May 2022

Background:

Preeclampsia is a disorder of hypertension and proteinuria
accompanied by abnormal inflammatory responses. Both aspirin and quercetin possess
anti-inflammatory and anti-hypertensive properties. A low dose of aspirin is
recommended for the prevention of preeclampsia in patients with preeclampsia history.
Whether quercetin can enhance the effect of aspirin on preeclampsia remains elusive.

Methods:

Female Sprague-Dawley pregnant rats were treated with daily administration
of aspirin, quercetin, or a combination of aspirin and quercetin and subsequently
received lipopolysaccharides (LPS) injection to induce preeclampsia-like symptoms. The
systolic blood pressure and proteinuria from all groups of rats were assessed.

Results:

Our results demonstrated that the combination of quercetin and aspirin exerted
significantly stronger effects than aspirin alone on decreasing systolic blood pressure
and proteinuria, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and inhibiting M1-type
decidual macrophages polarization in an LPS-induced rat model of preeclampsia.

Conclusion:

This study suggested that quercetin may serve as an excellent supplement
to aspirin in preventing or treating patients with preeclampsia.
A Review of the Use of Metallic Nanoparticles as a Novel Approach for
Overcoming the Stability Challenges of Blood Products: A Narrative
Review from 2011-2021
Authors: Mehrizi Tahereh Zadeh , Ardestani Mehdi Shafiee , Kafiabad Sedigheh Amini
Published: May 2022

Purpose:

To obtain safe and qualified blood products (e.g., platelets, plasma, and red blood
cells), various limitations such as limited shelf life (especially for platelets) and stability must be addressed.
In this review study, the most commonly used metal nanomaterials (e.g., gold, silver, iron, and
magnetic) reported in the literature from 2011 to 2021 were discussed owing to their unique properties,
which provide exciting approaches to overcome these limitations and improve the stability, safety, and
quality of blood products.

Novelty:

This study reviews for the first time the results of studies (from 2011 to 2021) that consider the
effects of various metallic nanoparticles on the different blood products.

Results:

The results of this review study showed that some metallic nanoparticles are effective in improving
the stability of plasma proteins. For this purpose, modified Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles and
citrate-AuNPs protect albumin products against stressful situations. Also, SiO2 microspheres and silicacoated
magnetite nanoparticles are highly capable of improving IgG stability. ZnO nanoparticles also
reduced thrombin production, and protein-coated GMNP nanoparticles prevented unwanted leakage of
factor VIII through blood vessels. Furthermore, the stability and longevity of erythrocytes can be improved
by AuNP nanoparticles and Zr-based organic nanoparticles. In addition, platelet storage time can
be improved using PEGylated Au and functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles.

Suggestion:

According to the results of this study, it is suggested that further research should be conducted
on metal nanoparticles as the most promising candidates to prepare metal nanoparticles with
improved properties to increase the stability of various blood products.
Netupitant-palonosetron (NEPA) for Preventing Chemotherapy-induced
Nausea and Vomiting: From Clinical Trials to Daily Practice
Authors: Aapro Matti , Jordan Karin , Scotté Florian , Celio Luigi , Karthaus Meinolf , Roeland Eric
Published: May 2022

abstract:

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common adverse event associated
with many anticancer therapies and can negatively impact patients' quality of life and potentially
limit the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Currently, CINV can be prevented in most patients with
guideline-recommended antiemetic regimens. However, clinicians do not always follow guidelines,
and patients often face difficulties adhering to their prescribed treatments. Therefore, approaches to
increase guideline adherence need to be implemented. NEPA is the first and only fixed combination
antiemetic, composed of netupitant (oral)/fosnetupitant (intravenous) and palonosetron, which, together
with dexamethasone, constitute a triple antiemetic combination recommended for the prevention
of CINV for patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy and for certain patients receiving
moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. Thus, NEPA offers a convenient and straightforward antiemetic
treatment that could improve adherence to guidelines. This review provides an overview of
CINV, evaluates the accumulated evidence of NEPA's antiemetic activity and safety from clinical trials
and real-world practice, and examines the preliminary evidence of antiemetic control with NEPA
in daily clinical settings beyond those described in pivotal trials. Moreover, we review the utility of
NEPA in controlling nausea and preserving patients’ quality of life during chemotherapy, two major
concerns in managing patients with cancer.
COVID-19 and Kidney Disease: A Clinical Perspective
Authors: Theofilis Panagiotis , Vordoni Aikaterini , Kalaitzidis Rigas G.
Published: May 2022

:

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-
2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused a global pandemic with high morbidity and mortality. The presence
of several comorbidities has been associated with a worse prognosis, with chronic kidney disease being
a critical risk factor. Regarding COVID-19 complications, other than classical pneumonia and thromboembolism,
acute kidney injury (AKI) is highly prevalent and represents a poor prognostic indicator
linked to increased disease severity and mortality. Its pathophysiology is multifactorial, revolving
around inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and activation of coagulation, while the direct viral insult
of the kidney remains a matter of controversy. Indirectly, COVID-19 AKI may stem from sepsis, volume
depletion, and administration of nephrotoxic agents, among others. Several markers have been
proposed for the early detection of COVID-19 AKI, including blood and urinary inflammatory and kidney
injury biomarkers, while urinary SARS-CoV-2 load may also be an early prognostic sign. Concerning
renal replacement therapy (RRT), general principles apply to COVID-19 AKI, but sudden RRT
surges may mandate adjustments in resources. Following an episode of COVID-19 AKI, there is a gradual
recovery of kidney function, with pre-existing renal impairment and high serum creatinine at discharge
being associated with kidney disease progression and long-term dialysis dependence. Finally,
kidney transplant recipients represent a special patient category with increased susceptibility to COVID-
19 and subsequent high risk of severe disease progression. Rates of mortality, AKI, and graft rejection
are significantly elevated in the presence of COVID-19, highlighting the need for prevention and careful
management of the disease in this subgroup.
Dolutegravir Plus Lamivudine as Initial Therapy for HIV-1 Infected and
ARV-naïve Patients in West China, 24-Weeks Results of a Preliminary
Real-world Study
Authors: Sun Wei , Hui Xia , Gan Xinrong , Li Qian
Published: May 2022

Introduction:

This preliminary real-world study (RWS) was designed to evaluate the antiviral
efficacy, safety, and feasibility of the 2-drug regimen (2DR), dolutegravir plus lamivudine as the initial
antiretroviral therapy (ART) among antiretroviral (ARV)-naïve adults with HIV-1 in West China.

Methods:

This RWS included the treatment of treatment-naïve adults applying 2DR of dolutegravir
50 mg once daily (QD) plus lamivudine 300mg QD with negative HBsAg from one single center of
People’s Hospital of Chongqing Banan District in West China. Viral load (VL), CD4+ T-cell count,
and laboratory indicators were collected at baseline; weeks 4, 12, and 24, and thereafter every 24
weeks up to 144 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with HIV-1 RNA ＜50
copies/mL at week 24.

Results:

A total of 54 ART-naïve patients were treated with the 2-drug regimen of DTG plus 3TC
and were enrolled in this study since April 1st, 2020. Twenty-one patients received 24-week VL
tests at screening as required by inclusion criteria. Median HIV-1 RNA at entry was 95,700 copies/
mL (interquartile range (IQR): 28,300-310,000) and the median baseline CD4+ cell count was
249 per cubic millimetre(IQR: 118-310). At week 24, 15 (71.4%) of 21 participants achieved virological
success, defined as HIV-1 RNA ＜ 50 copies/mL, while 10 (90.9%) of 11 participants with a
baseline HIV-1 RNA ＜ 100,000 copies/mL achieved virological success compared with 5 (50%) of
10 participants with a baseline HIV-1 RNA ≥100,000 copies/mL [Relative Risk (RR) 1.818; 95%
CI 1.018-1.927]. In participants with CD4+ cell counts ≥ 200 cells/mm3, 9 (75%) of 12 participants
achieved virological success compared with 6 (66.7%) of 9 participants with baseline CD4+ cell
count ＜ 200 cells/mm3 achieved it (RR 1.124; 95% CI 0.641-1.970). No major tolerability/toxicity
issues were observed.

Conclusions:

This real-world study suggested that the 2-drug regimen of DTG plus 3TC could be
considered as an alternative for ART-naïve patients in West China, especially with HIV-1 RNA less
than 100,000 copies/mL at baseline, regarding the limits of viral load test frequency and the absence
of HIV genotypic testing of viral resistance.
Methanol and Sorbitol Affect the Molecular Dynamics of Arginine Deiminase:
Insights for Improving its Stability
Authors: Negahdaripour Manica , Zarei Mahboubeh , Sabetian Soudabeh , Rahbar Mohammad Reza
Published: May 2022

Background:

Arginine deiminase enzyme of Mycoplasma arginini (MaADI) is a potential anti-cancer agent for treating arginine-auxotrophic cancers. Investigating the protein stability in the presence of osmolytes can help to increase protein stability under various stressed conditions.

Methods:

In this study, the stability and dynamics of MaADI were investigated in pure water and solutions of 1 M sorbitol, 10% (v/v) methanol, and 50% (v/v) methanol using molecular dynamics simulation.

Results:

Sorbitol was found to stabilize the protein, whereas high-concentrated methanol destabilized it. Sorbitol molecules interacted with the protein through hydrogen bonding and reduced the protein fluctuations as well. At 50% methanol, the flexibility of regions 4-8, 195-201, 314-324, and 332-337 in the MaADI was increased; whereas residues 195-201 showed the highest variations.

Conclusion:

Thus, these regions of MaADI, especially 195-201, are the most sensitive regions in the presence of denaturing agents and can be subjected to protein engineering toward improving the stability of MaADI.
A Study of Ungernia trisphaera Bunge and Thymus transcaspicus Cytotoxicity
in Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Mousavi Seyed Hadi , Rashidi Roghayeh , Afshari Amir R. , Ghasemian Shirin , Soukhtanloo Mohammad , Amiri Mohammad Sadegh
Published: May 2022

Objective:

Thymus transcaspicus (Lamiaceae) is an Iranian species of Thymus, and Ungernia
trisphaera Bunge belongs to the family Amaryllidaceae. Cytotoxic properties of total ethanolic extract
of T. transcaspicus and U. trisphaera were investigated against different cell lines including B16F10,
PC3, U87, and MCF-7.

Methods:

The proliferation, cell cycle, and migration of the cells were determined by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium
bromide (MTT) test, propidium iodide (PI) staining, and scratch assay respectively. The effects
of U. trisphaera extract (UTE) on the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and angiogenesis
were evaluated by the gelatin zymography method and chicken chorioallantoic membrane model, respectively.
The GSH, SOD, and MDA were evaluated by colorimetric method.

Results:

The results showed that UTE could inhibit the development of malignant cells in a concentration-
dependent manner, while the inhibitory effect of T. transcaspicus extract (TTE) was not significant
compared to the control group. The UTE-induced sub-G1 peak apoptosis compared to the control group
indicated that apoptotic cell death is involved in UTE-induced cytotoxicity. MMPs activity was significantly
decreased 48 hours after treatment. Moreover, GSH level and SOD activity were significantly decreased
while MDA and ROS levels were significantly increased after 24 hours treatment. In addition,
combination of UTE (1.5-25 μg/mL) with doxorubicin (6 μg/mL) showed an additive cell growth inhibitory
effect.

Conclusion:

UTE demonstrated cytotoxic and apoptogenic effects in different cancer cell lines, and it
was found that apoptosis plays a crucial role in the cytotoxicity of UTE. Thus, U. trisphaera can be considered
a potential medicinal herb in cancer treatment after comprehensive pharmacological and toxicological
studies.
Phytochemical Characterization and Screening of the Anti-Pneumonia
(Anti-COVID-19, Anti-Fungal, and Anti-Bacterial) Activities of Cuscuta
Campestris Extract
Authors: Nabiabad Haidar Saify , Amini Massoume , Demirdas Serwet
Published: May 2022

Introduction:

Although several vaccines are being approved, no effective antiviral has been developed for Covid-19 infectious. The present investigation was aimed to increase the essential oils of Cuscuta campestris using far-red light treatment and examine the potential of crude extracts of C. campestris against selected pneumonia pathogens and covid-19.

Methods:

Anti-Covid-19 activity was determined in human lung cell lines and Covid-19 positive patients.

Results:

Results demonstrated that the aqueous extract had the highest amount of anti-Covid-19, antibiotic and antioxidant activity. The far-red light treatment increased Scoparone, cineole, Benzofuran, 2, 3-dihydro, Cinnamic acid, and Benzo[h]quinoline, 2, 4-dimethyl, which are mainly effective components against Covid-19 inflammation and pneumonia microbes. CT scan and clinical laboratory tests in a clinical case study, a 30-year-old woman who presented with severe 2019-nCoV, demonstrated that inhalation of 30 mg extract nebulized/day for seven days resulted in an improvement in consolidation and ground-glass opacity in lungs on the seventh day of treatment.

Conclusion:

It is hoped that this study would be led to the introduction of some compounds that could be used to formulate new and more potent anti-Covid-19 antibiotics, or other drugs of natural origin in medicine.
Separation of Heart and Lung-related Signals in Electrical Impedance
Tomography Using Empirical Mode Decomposition
Authors: Ko Yen-Fen , Cheng Kuo-Sheng , Su Po-Lan
Published: May 2022

Background:

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) can be used for continuous monitoring
of pulmonary ventilation. However, no proper method has been developed for the separation
of pulmonary ventilation and perfusion signals and the measurement of the associated ventilation/
perfusion (V/Q) ratio. Previously, various methods have been used to extract these components;
however, these have not been able to effectively separate and validate cardiac- and pulmonary-
related images.

Aims:

This study aims at validating and developing a novel method to separate cardiac- and pulmonary-
related components based on the EIT simulation field of view and to simultaneously reconstruct
the individual images instantly.

Methods:

Our approach combines the advantages of the principal component analysis (PCA) and
processes that originally measure EIT data instead of handling a series of EIT images, thus introducing
the empirical mode decomposition (EMD). The PCA template functions for cardiacrelated
imaging and intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) of EMD for lung-related imaging are then
adapted to input signals.

Results:

The proposed method enables the separation of cardiac- and lung-related components by
adjusting the proportion of the key components related to lung imaging, which are the fourth
component (PC4) and the first component (IMF1) in PCA- and EMD-based methods, respectively.
The preliminary results on the application of the method to real human EIT data revealed the
consistently better performance and optimal computation compared with previous methods.

Conclusion:

This study proposes a novel method for applying EIT to evaluate the best time of
V/Q matching on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems; this aspect can be investigated in
future research.
Eco-friendly Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Assessment of their Activities as Efficient Antioxidant Agents
Authors: Thiripuranathar Gobika , Wijesinghe Udari , Menaa Farid , Almukhlifi Hanadi
Published: May 2022

Background:

The biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) has received
increasing attention in the field of nanotechnology due to their biomedical applications. With this
aim, the present study was performed to synthesize biocompatible ZnO NPs using stems, leaves,
and inflorescences extracts of the Tephrosia purpurea (T. purpurea) and Heliotropium indicum
(H. indicum) medicinal plants.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to synthesize ZnO NPs from T. purpurea and H. indicum
and determine their ability as an alternative for toxic synthetic antioxidants.

Methods:

The preliminary phytochemical screening of T. purpurea and H. indicum and quantitative
determination of phenols and flavonoids were carried out by using spectrophotometric methods.
The antioxidant potential of ZnO NPs was assessed through 2,2–diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl
(DPPH) and phosphomolybdenum assays against butylated hydroxytoluene standard.

Results:

Qualitative phytochemical analysis of plant extracts confirmed the presence of terpenoids,
alkaloids, carbohydrates, tannins, phenols, flavonoids, and proteins. The highest percentage
of phenolics (88.3 ± 1.7 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (727.1 ± 103.5 mg QE/g) was recorded
for H. indicum inflorescences and T. purpurea stems. The T. purpurea stems mediated ZnO NPs
showed the most potent DPPH radical scavenging capacity of 81.53 ± 0.14% with an IC50 value
of 152.38 ± 0.70 μg/mL, while ZnO NPs synthesized using H. indicum inflorescences and T.
purpurea stems indicated the highest total antioxidant capacity of 94.71 ± 2.50 and 91.34 ±
1.07%, respectively.

Conclusion:

The obtained results revealed the significance of T. purpurea and H. indicum as
effective stabilizing agents to develop surface protective ZnO NPs, which can be used as promising
antioxidants in the biological systems.
Transition Metal Oxides as Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalyst: Scientometric Analysis
Authors: Wu Lei , Li Ming , Zhou Yun , Hu Hongyu
Published: May 2022

Background:

The development of cost-effective and high-activity hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts is limiting the implementation of hydrogen production from electrochemical and photoelectrochemical water splitting, which is seen as a potential technology for clean energy production and long-term energy storage. Transition metal oxide catalysts, a large class of functional materials with variable elemental compositions and crystal shapes, have piqued the interest of scientists. Now, a scientific-based appraisal of the progress in this scientific field is required, as well as identification of the most promising materials and technologies, as well as present constraints and future commercialization chances.

Methods:

This article presents a scientometric analysis of transition metal oxides as hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts in the scientific field. 1421 publications from the Web of Science (WoS) database were extracted using a mix of relevant keywords and examined using multiple scientometric indexes utilizing Python and Anaconda Prompt, ScientoPy, and Citespace. It stated that the first point in this subject was in 1992, and that scientific progress has substantially increased since 2015.

Results:

Articles and reviews account for 83.8 percent and 13.4 percent of all items published in this category, respectively.

Conclusion:

The top two contributor countries were identified as China and the United States. The most active journal in this field is Journal of Materials Chemistry A.