bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined effects of biochar and recycled plastic aggregates on mechanical behavior of concrete
Authors: Sirico Alice , Bernardi Patrizia , Sciancalepore Corrado , Belletti Beatrice , Milanese Daniel , Malcevschi Alessio
Published: May 2023

Only in Europe, every year around 29 million tons of plastic waste are generated and only about 35% of such waste is collected for recycling. This results in huge amounts of plastic waste threatening the environment. One of the possible solutions for disposal can be represented by the concrete industry. Several research works have already studied the use of plastic waste in concrete mix as partial replacement for aggregates, showing that this use of plastics can contribute to reducing the environmental impact of concrete production by saving non‐renewable resources. At the same time, lightweight concrete can be produced but at a non‐negligible cost of a mechanical strength reduction. This work aims at investigating the effects on concrete physical and mechanical performances resulting from the introduction of recycled plastic aggregates in combination with another kind of waste used as filler, namely biochar. Biochar, which is the solid carbonaceous by‐product resulting from wood‐waste pyro‐gasification, can have the role of carbon sequestrating additive in concrete, being able to fix carbon in a stable form in buildings for decades. The experimental findings obtained in this work show that the combination of biochar and recycled plastic waste, which was never investigated before, can help to obtain concretes with satisfactory mechanical performance, which promote circular economy principles. Thanks to biochar addition, the reduction in mechanical properties due to the presence of plastics is extremely limited with respect to control; moreover, these concretes demonstrate better behavior in terms of fracture energy and ductility.
Morphological and Coordination Modulations in Iridium Electrocatalyst for Robust and Stable Acidic OER Catalysis
Authors: Xie Yuhua , Yang Zehui
Published: May 2023

Proton exchange membrane water splitting (PEMWS) technology has high‐level current density, high operating pressure, small electrolyzer‐size, integrity, flexibility, and has good adaptability to the volatility of wind power and photovoltaics, but the development of both active and high stability of the anode electrocatalyst in acidic environment is still a huge challenge, which seriously hinders the promotion and application of PEMWS. In recent years, researchers have made tremendous attempts in the development of high‐quality active anode electrocatalyst, and we summarize some of the research progress made by our group in the design and synthesis of PEMWS anode electrocatalysts with different nanostructures, and makes full use of electrocatalytic activity points to increase the inherent activity of Iridium (Ir) sites, and provides optimization strategies for the long‐term non‐decay of catalysts under high anode potential in acidic environments. At this stage, these research advances are expected to facilitate the research and technological progress of PEMWS, and providing some research ideas and references for future research on efficient and inexpensive PEMWS anode electrocatalysts.
Selective Synthesis of Monofluorinated Compounds Applying Amine/HF Reagents
Authors: Haufe Günter
Published: May 2023

For nucleophilic monofluorination, amine/HF reagents such as Et3N⋅3HF, Pyr⋅9HF (Olah's reagent) and similar combinations belong to the most frequently used fluoride sources, whereupon the selectivity of these reagents can be very different depending of its acidity, the nucleophilicity of the fluoride equivalent, and the structure of the particular substrate. These reagents can be used safely in ordinary chemistry laboratories for nucleophilic substitution reactions by fluoride at sp3‐hybridized carbon centers. For ring opening reactions of epoxides, the regio‐ and stereoselectivity is very much depending of the nature of the epoxide and the acidity of the HF reagent favoring either SN1 or SN2 type reactions. Similarly, the outcome of halofluorination and similar reactions with sulfur or seleno electrophiles can be controlled by the particular combination of the electrophile and the fluoride source. Examples for the application of these reaction types for the synthesis of fluorine‐containing analogues of natural products or biologically relevant compounds are in the focus of this personal account.
Human embryonic stem cell‐derived mesenchymal stem cell secretome reverts silica‐induced airway epithelial cell injury by regulating Bmi1 signaling
Authors: Yang Jiali , Xue Jing , Hu Wenfeng , Zhang Lifan , Xu Ranran , Wu Shuang , Wang Jing , Ma Jia , Wei Jun , Wang Yujiong , Wang Shuyan , Liu Xiaoming
Published: May 2023

Silicosis is an irreversible chronic pulmonary disease caused by long‐term inhalation and deposition of silica particles, which is currently incurable. The exhaustion of airway epithelial stem cells plays a pathogenetic role in silicosis. In present study, we investigated therapeutic effects and potential mechanism of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)‐derived MSC‐likes immune and matrix regulatory cells (IMRCs) (hESC‐MSC‐IMRCs), a type of manufacturable MSCs for clinical application in silicosis mice. Our results showed that the transplantation of hESC‐MSC‐IMRCs led the alleviation of silica‐induced silicosis in mice, accompanied by inhibiting epithelia‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), activating B‐cell‐specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1 (Bmi1) signaling and airway epithelial cell regeneration. In consistence, the secretome of hESC‐MSC‐IMRC exhibited abilities to restore the potency and plasticity of primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) proliferation and differentiation following the SiO2‐induced HBECs injury. Mechanistically, the secretome resolved the SiO2‐induced HBECs injury through the activation of BMI1 signaling and restoration of airway basal cell proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, the activation of BMI1 significantly enhanced the capacity of HBEC proliferation and differentiation to multiple airway epithelial cell types in organoids. Cytokine array revealed that DKK1, VEGF, uPAR, IL‐8, Serpin E1, MCP‐1 and Tsp‐1 were the main factors in the hESC‐MSC‐IMRC secretome. These results demonstrated a potential therapeutic effect of hESC‐MSC‐IMRCs and their secretome for silicosis, in part through a mechanism by activating Bmi1 signaling to revert the exhaustion of airway epithelial stem cells, subsequentially enhance the potency and plasticity of lung epithelial stem cells.
Determining a cut‐off point for intervention analgesia in rabbits using the Bristol Rabbit Pain Scale
Authors: Benato Livia , Murrell Joanna , Rooney Nicola
Published: May 2023

Background

The objective of this study was to determine the threshold of the Bristol Rabbit Pain Scale (BRPS) indicating the need for intervention analgesia.

Methods

Fourteen members of veterinary staff were recruited to rate rabbits (n = 71) in acute pain. Observers in group A (n = 7) were asked to score each rabbit using the BRPS, while observers in group B (n = 7) independently answered the question ‘In your clinical capacity, do you think this animal requires analgesia?’ with either 'Yes' or 'No'. The answers from the two groups were then compared.

Results

Rabbits for which group B answered ‘No’ (n = 36) had a median BRPS score (range) of 4 (0–10), while those for which group B answered ‘Yes’ (n = 42) had a median BRPS score of 9 (1–18; Z = –7.48; p < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.85 (95% confidence interval: 0.77–0.93; p < 0.001), indicating excellent discrimination of the BRPS with a cut‐off score of 5.5 (sensitivity 88.1% and specificity 69.4%). However, for practicality, a score of 5 was deemed a feasible cut‐off.

Limitations

The main limitations of this study are the small rabbit sample size and the subjective nature of pain scoring in animals.

Conclusions

Analgesic intervention should be considered in rabbits with a pain score equal to or greater than 5 on the BRPS.
Sustainability policies and practices at veterinary centres in the UK and Republic of Ireland
Authors: Higham Laura E. , Halfacree Zoe J. , Stonehewer Jo , Black David H. , Ravetz Gudrun , Moran Dominic , Boden Lisa , Oxtoby Catherine
Published: May 2023

Background

Veterinary professionals operate at the human–animal–environment interface and are concerned about sustainability issues. This study examined the extent to which sustainability is represented in policy and enacted in veterinary practice settings, as reported by practice representatives.

Methods

An online survey was completed by 392 veterinary centre representatives in the UK and Republic of Ireland to identify existing policies and practices around the environmental impacts of veterinary services and animal husbandry, responsible medicine use, animal welfare and social wellbeing.

Results

A minority of respondents were aware of an environmental policy at their practice (17%, 68/392). Many others were undertaking waste reduction initiatives, but wider environmental interventions were infrequently reported. The majority were aware of medicine stewardship and animal welfare policies or guidelines, but a minority reported social wellbeing policies (40%, 117/289) and the provision of advice to clients on the environmental impacts of animal husbandry (31%, 92/300).

Limitations

The bias arising from the small convenience sample of practice representatives and potential discrepancies between the claims of survey respondents and their practices’ policies and activities are acknowledged.

Conclusion

Results depict a value–action gap between the concern of veterinary professionals towards sustainability and the policies and practices at their workplaces. Building on progress in the sector, wider adoption of comprehensive policies and practices, with guidance, could enhance veterinary contributions to the sustainability agenda, in particular to mitigate the environmental externalities of veterinary services and animal care and ensure safe, fair and inclusive workplaces.
Supplementation of 5‐deoxystrigol for higher pollutant removal and biogas quality improvement by different microalgae‐based technologies
Authors: Shu Lixing , Wang Zhengfang , Li Yaguang , Zheng Zheng
Published: May 2023

The treatment of biogas slurry by microalgae technology has the characteristics of low cost, environmental protection, and high efficiency. In this paper, the effects of four microalgae technologies, namely, monoculture of Scenedesmus obliquus (S. obliquus), co‐culture of S. obliquus–activated sludge, co‐culture of S. obliquus–Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum), and co‐culture of S. obliquus–G. lucidum–activated sludge, on the treatment of biogas slurry were investigated. In addition, the effects of 5‐deoxystrigol (5‐DS) concentration and mixed light wavelengths (red–blue light intensity ratio) on nutrient removal and biogas upgrading were also investigated. The results showed that 5‐DS significantly promoted the growth and photosynthetic performance of the microalgal system. The best purification performance could be achieved by co‐cultivation of S. obliquus–G. lucidum–activated sludge when the 5‐DS concentration was 10−11 M, and the red–blue light intensity ratio was 5:5 (225:225 μmol m−2 s−1). The maximum average removal efficiencies for chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and carbon dioxide (CO2) were 83.25 ± 7.87%, 83.62 ± 7.78%, 84.19 ± 8.25%, and 71.68 ± 6.73%, respectively. The co‐culture technology of S. obliquus–G. lucidum–activated sludge had great potential and superiority in removing nutrients from biogas slurry and upgrading biogas at the same time. The results of this study will provide a reference for the simultaneous purification of wastewater and upgrading of biogas using microalgae technology.

Practitioner Points

S. obliquus–G. lucidum–activated sludge consortium showed the best removal performance.

10−11 M 5‐DS greatly promoted the purification performance.

Removal efficiencies of COD, TN, and TP were more than 83%.
Biodegradable tamarind kernel powder/kappa‐carrageenan hydrogel for efficient removal of cationic dyes from effluents
Authors: Vaid Vasudha , Jindal Rajeev
Published: May 2023

As an adsorbent for wastewater treatment, an eco‐friendly biodegradable hydrogel was utilized in an effort to reduce the hydrogel production costs and decrease its negative impact on the environment. The biodegradable hydrogel of natural polysaccharides, tamarind kernel powder (tkp) with kappa‐carrageenan (kcg), was employed as an adsorbent to remove cationic dyes from an aqueous environment. The impact of factors such as initial adsorbate concentration, pH, contact time, temperature, and adsorbent dosage on maximum adsorption were investigated. The tkp–kcg hydrogel has a remarkable swelling percentage of 1840%. The high water penetration of the tkp–kcg hydrogel made the internal adsorption sites for safranin (SF) and auramine‐O (AO) dye adsorption accessible. The correlation coefficient supported the Langmuir isotherm model's applicability, with maximum adsorption efficiency of 9.372 mg g−1 for SF and 9.225 mg g−1 for AO. The kinetics of adsorption revealed a pseudo‐second order process. Adsorption was an exothermic and spontaneous, according to thermodynamic analyses. Furthermore, the adsorbent was effectively used for five consecutive cycles of SF and AO dye adsorption–desorption. The biodegradation of tkp–kcg hydrogel was characterized by percentage of weight loss, Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The composting technique of biodegradation was used in the biodegradation studies. Using the composting process, 92.6% of the synthesized hydrogel was degraded after 70 days. The results demonstrated that the hydrogel has a high microbiological biodegradability. It is believed that the tkp–kcg hydrogel could have excellent wastewater and agricultural applications due to its high water absorption, excellent retention capacities, cost‐effective and ecofriendly synthesis.

Practitioner Points

Microwave assisted tkp‐kcg hydrogel was synthesized with the swelling percentage of 1840%.

Synthesized hydrogel showed excellent cationic dyes (SF and AO) adsorption capacity with a good recyclability.

The synthesized hydrogel showed very good biodegradability of 92.6 % in 70 days by using composite method.
Boosting transformation of dissolved oxygen to superoxide radical: Function of P25
Authors: Ren Qiang , Liu Juming , Yang Zhilin , Yang Qi
Published: May 2023

TiO2(P25) could significantly accelerate the degradation of carbon tetrachloride (CT) in the UV/K2S2O8 system by about 4 times, and 88.5% of the CT was dechlorinated. The presence of dissolved oxygen (DO) could delay the degradation process. The addition of P25 produced •O2− through the transformation of DO, so as to prevent the inhibitory effect. In this work, it was proved that P25 could not enhance the persulfate (PS) activation. The presence of P25 delayed the CT degradation in the absence of DO. Furthermore, the results of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and quenching experiments demonstrated that the presence of P25 could produce •O2−, which could remove CT. Therefore, this work highlights the function of •O2− during the reaction and excludes the possibility that the presence of P25 could activate PS under the UV illumination. Then, the pathway of the CT degradation is discussed. Heterogeneous photocatalysis could provide a new method to deal with the problems caused by DO.

Practitioner Points

The main reason of the improvement in P25‐PS‐UV‐EtOH system is transformation of dissolved oxygen into superoxide radical in presence of P25.

The addition of P25 could not accelerate PS activation in P25‐PS‐UV‐EtOH system.

Photo‐induced electron, superoxide radical, alcohol radical and •SO4− could all contribute to CT degradation, and the pathway is discussed.
Heat transfer analysis in a curvilinear flow of hybrid nanoliquid across a curved oscillatory stretched surface with nonlinear thermal radiation
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Naveed Muhammad , Iftikhar Babar , Abbas Zaheer
Published: May 2023

The primary objective of the study is to examine the influence of the nonlinear thermal radiation on the flow of the hydromagnetic hybrid nanoliquid across an oscillating stretched curved surface. In addition, the impacts of velocity and thermal slip conditions are also considered. Curvilinear coordinate scheme is adopted to construct the mathematical form of the flow model in terms of nonlinear partial differential equations. Analytical solution of the formulated flow equations in the form of convergent series solution is accomplished by employing the Homotopy analysis technique (HAM). A comprehensive inspection of the consequences of different flow parameters, such as the hybrid nanoparticles parameter, magnetic parameter, non‐dimensional velocity slip parameter, dimensionless radius of curvature, dimensionless thermal slip parameter, Prandtl number, dimensionless temperature parameter on the flow, pressure, surface drag force, temperature and on the local Nusselt number is conducted out through graphs and tables and discussed in detail. It is noticed that the amplitude of the liquid velocity is a reducing function of the solid volume fraction parameter for copper and the velocity slip parameter, whereas it is enhanced with increasing solid volume fraction parameter for alumina.
Non‐Darcy‐Forchheimer flow of Casson‐Williamson nanofluid on melting curved stretching sheet influenced by magnetic dipole
Authors: B Nagaraja , AR Ajaykumar , A Felicita , Kumar Pradeep , NG Rudraswamy
Published: May 2023

Using a non‐Darcy‐Forchheimer model with nonlinear thermal radiation, homo‐heterogenic reactions, Joule heating, exponential heat propagation, suction/injection, and melting heat peripheral conditions, the mathematical possibility of Casson‐Williamson nanofluid flow carried over a magnetic dipole‐enabled curved stretching sheet has been considered. Using similarity catalysts, the complex partial differential equations needed to display the given flow are transformed into more manageable ordinary differential equations. The Runge‐Kutta‐Fehlberg (RKF) 4–5th order tool has been used to draw solution graphs. Each graph has been analyzed in depth and commented on. The research shows that the inverse Darcy parameter and the suction/injection parameter have a detrimental effect on velocity distribution. In addition, the investigation showed that the nonlinear radiation parameter and the melting parameter had contradictory effects on the thermal profile. As a value addition, the flow and temperature distribution have been shown graphically using streamlines and isotherms. Therefore, considered flow over curved geometry is very new with cutting‐edge results which are useful in further research in the field.
From locality to irregularity: introducing local quenches in massive scalar field theory
Authors: Ageev Dmitry S. , Belokon Aleksandr I. , Pushkarev Vasilii V.
Published: May 2023

Abstract

In this paper, we initiate the study of operator local quenches in non-conformal field theories. We consider the dynamics of excited local states in massive scalar field theory in an arbitrary spacetime dimension and generalize the well-known two-dimensional CFT results. We derive the energy density, U(1)-charge density and ϕ2(x)-condensate post-quench dynamics, and identify different regimes of their evolution depending on the values of the field mass and the quench regularization parameter. For local quenches in higher-dimensional free massless scalar theories, we reproduce the structure of the available holographic results. We also investigate the local quenches in massive scalar field theory on a cylinder and show that they cause an erratic and chaotic-like evolution of observables with a complicated localization/delocalization pattern.
Cuticular hydrocarbon profiles in velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) are highly complex and do not chemically mimic their hosts
Authors: Ronchetti Federico , Schmitt Thomas , Romano Marcello , Polidori Carlo
Published: May 2023

Although recognition using cuticular chemistry is important for host–parasite interactions within aculeate Hymenoptera, cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of only a few host–parasite pairs were characterized and compared. One largely neglected family in this context is the Mutillidae (velvet ants), whose species are ectoparasitoids of bees and wasps. In our study, we characterized and compared the CHC profiles of five species of Mutillidae and seven host species. The CHC profile of velvet ants differed among species and included large proportions of n-alkanes and methyl-branched alkanes. Alkenes were much less abundant in the CHC profiles of three species of velvet ants compared with their hosts, while the other two species possess a much lower abundance of methyl-branched alkanes than their hosts. Both the number of peaks and compound diversity were generally higher in velvet ants compared with their hosts. Thus, CHC profiles of parasitoids did not show signs of mimicry when compared with their hosts. In dyadic encounters between one species of velvet ant and its host bee species, the parasitoid mainly avoided interacting, while aggression by the host was rare. Our results suggest that velvet ants did not evolve chemical mimicry, perhaps in accordance with their wide host spectrum which would limit chemical specialization. However, the reduction of alkenes in social bee-attacking species and the reduction of methyl-branched alkanes in social wasp-attacking species may favour host nest invasion, since these two CHC classes are known to be important in nestmate recognition for social bees and wasps, respectively. A larger, phylogeny-corrected comparison of Mutillidae and hosts may help clarifying the evolution of the CHC profile of these parasitoids.
„Polypill“ in der kardiovaskulären Prävention – erfolgreich durch Vereinfachung?
Authors: Despang Patrick , Schikora Martin , Doehner Wolfram
Published: May 2023

Hintergrund

Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen sind nach wie vor die häufigste Todesursache weltweit. Neben einem erhöhten Blutdruck ist ein weiterer modifizierbarer Risikofaktor ein erhöhtes Low-density-Lipoprotein-Cholesterin. Obwohl beides gut medikamentös kontrollierbar ist, bleibt die Kontrolle bisher mangelhaft. Eine wesentliche Ursache ist eine unzureichende Adhärenz zur Medikation. Eine Lösung hierfür ist das Konzept der „Polypill“, also die Kombination mehrerer Wirkstoffe in einer einzelnen Tablette. Hierdurch wird nicht nur die Therapieadhärenz verbessert, sondern auch eine Verringerung kardiovaskulärer Ereignisse und eine Verbesserung der Prognose der Patienten erreicht.

Ziel der Übersicht

Diese Übersichtsarbeit fasst die aktuellen Evidenzen aus randomisierten klinischen Studien in der Primär- und Sekundärprävention zusammen. Ein wesentlicher Fokus liegt auf der aktuell publizierten SECURE-Studie, die die Wirksamkeit der „Polypill“ in der Sekundärprävention untersucht.

Datenlage

Viele Studien zur „Polypill“ beschäftigen sich mit der Kontrolle der Risikofaktoren und der Verbesserung der Therapieadhärenz, ohne jedoch einen prognostischen Vorteil zu adressieren. Neuere Studien wie HOPE‑3, PolyIran und TIPS‑3 konnten in der Primärprävention einen prognostischen Vorteil aufzeigen. In der Sekundärprävention war dies bis jetzt noch nicht geschehen. Diese Lücke wurde nun durch die SECURE-Studie geschlossen. Hier wurde bei Patienten nach Infarkt nicht nur eine signifikante Reduktion schwerwiegender kardiovaskulärer Ereignisse, sondern auch eine Reduktion kardiovaskulärer Todesfälle durch die „Polypill“ nachgewiesen.

Schlussfolgerung

Das Konzept der „Polypill“ hat sich von einer Komfortmaßnahme – einer Erleichterung der Medikamenteneinnahme für die Patienten – weiterentwickelt hin zu einem innovativen Therapiekonzept mit nachgewiesenem prognostischem Vorteil in Form einer Reduktion schwerwiegender Ereignisse und Todesfälle. Es ist an der Zeit, das Konzept der „Polypill“ breit einzusetzen, um die Bürde der Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen weltweit zur verringern.
Effect of eggshell powder on the microstructural and thermal behavior of Al7075/waste eggshell surface composites produced by solid-state friction stir processing developed for potential thermal applications
Authors: Srivastava Ashish Kumar , Nag Akash , Dwivedi Suryank , Dixit Amit Rai , Hloch Sergej
Published: May 2023

Lightweight composite materials for potential thermal applications are the contemporary demand for manufacturing and aircraft industries where the possibility to improve and tailor the desired properties is based on the application. Carbonized eggshell powder is a solid lubricant with absorbent capability and has proven as a reinforcement for metallic base composites. In the present work, an attempt is made to investigate the effect of carbonized chicken eggshell powder (3 to 9% by weight) on the microstructural and thermal properties of Al7075 alloy processed by solid-state friction stir processing. An infrared thermography and three K-type thermocouples equipped with the base plate at three equal distances are used to measure the temperature with respect to time. The comparative study of microstructure and grain structure analysis has been done by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron backscattered diffraction methods. The findings explored the dynamic recrystallization and grain recovery with a reduced grain size of 6.2 to 10.3 µm at a varying percentage of eggshell powder (3 to 9%) in the stir zone. The thermal conductivity and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) were measured for the temperature range of 50 to 400 °C. In addition to it, differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and derivative thermo-gravimetric analysis (DTG) are conducted for the temperature range of 25 to 900 °C to discuss the endothermic, exothermic nature, and degradation characteristics. The result revealed the decreasing trend of thermal conductivity, and CTE values were found in the range of 97 to 53 W/mK and 26.6 to 24 × 10−6 K−1 (heating cycle), 27.2 to 23.8 × 10−6 K−1(cooling cycle), respectively. Furthermore, the higher and lower thermal conductivity of 108 W/mK and 62 W/mK is observed at higher and lower terminal voltages, 250 V and 100 V, respectively. The DTA, TGA, and DTG curves explored the maximum weight loss, which varies up to 5.25% with exothermic peaks and decomposition steps for each surface composite.
A systematic review of the effect of structured exercise on inflammation and body composition in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Mc Gettigan Neasa , Allen Kathryn , Saeidi Reza , O’ Toole Aoibhlinn , Boland Karen
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Given the substantial risk of treatment failure in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), adjuvant therapies may play a role in disease management. We aim to carry out a systematic review to examine the effects of structured exercise on the inflammatory response in patients with IBD. Our secondary aim is to examine the effect of structured exercise programmes on body composition given both an increase in visceral obesity and the presence of sarcopenia have deleterious effects on outcomes in IBD.

Methods

A systematic review was carried out following the Methodological Expectations of Cochrane Intervention Reviews (MECIR) manual and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Title/Abstract and MeSH Terms were used to search for relevant studies.

Results

In total, 1516 records were screened for eligibility, and 148 records were reviewed for eligibility, of which 16 were included and a further 7 studies were identified from hand searching references. Four studies included body composition outcomes, and 14 studies reviewed the inflammatory response to exercise.

Conclusion

Further studies of adequate duration are required to include patients with more active disease to demonstrate an inflammatory response to exercise. Body composition measurements including muscle mass and visceral adiposity may play a key role in response to medical therapy in IBD and should be included as exploratory outcomes in future studies. A meta-analysis was not carried out due to the significant heterogeneity amongst studies.
Ocular manifestations of obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bulloch Gabriella , Seth Ishith , Zhu Zhuoting , Sukumar Sharanya , McNab Alan
Published: May 2023

Background

The association of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with development of eye diseases is unclear. This current systematic review and meta-analysis attempts to summarize and analyze associations between OSA and ocular disorders in the literature.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Web Of Science, and Scopus databases were searched from 1901 to July 2022 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting in Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Our primary outcome assessed the association between OSA and the odds of developing floppy eyelid syndrome (FES), glaucoma, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), keratoconus (KC), idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and central serous chorioretinopathy (CSR) through odds ratio calculated at the 95% confidence interval.

Results

Forty-nine studies were included for systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled OR estimate was highest for NAION [3.98 (95% CI 2.38, 6.66)], followed by FES [3.68 (95% CI 2.18, 6.20)], RVO [2.71(95% CI 1.83, 4.00)], CSR [2.28 (95% CI 0.65, 7.97)], KC [1.87 (95% CI 1.16, 2.99)], glaucoma [1.49 (95% CI 1.16, 1.91)], IIH [1.29 (95% CI 0.33, 5.01)], and AMD [0.92 [95% CI 0.24, 3.58] All observed associations were significant (p < 0.001) aside from IIH and AMD.

Conclusion

OSA is significantly associated with NAION, FES, RVO, CSR, KC, and glaucoma. Clinicians should be informed of these associations so early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of eye disorders can be addressed in at-risk groups, and early referral to ophthalmic services is made to prevent vision disturbances. Similarly, ophthalmologists seeing patients with any of these conditions should consider screening and referring patients for assessment of possible OSA.
Factors associated with severe corneal endothelial damage following acute primary angle closure in Chinese subjects
Authors: Li Zhi , Fan Ning , Cheng Yanyan , Xiang Fei , Pan Xiaohua , Cao Kai , Zhang Ye , Zhang Qing , Li Shuning
Published: May 2023

Purpose

To investigate the corneal endothelial damage caused by acute primary angle closure (APAC) and related risk factors for severe corneal endothelial cell damage in Chinese subjects.

Methods

In this multicentre retrospective study, 160 Chinese patients (171 eyes) diagnosed with APAC were recruited. Endothelial cell density (ECD) and morphological changes short after APAC were studied. Univariate regression and multivariate regression were used to identify risk factors associated with the extent of ECD reduction, including age, gender, education level, patients’ location, systemic diseases, APAC duration (hours), highest recorded intraocular pressure (IOP), and presenting IOP. Factors associated with the probability of severe corneal damage (ECD lower than 1000/mm2) were analysed based on a linear function.

Results

After one APAC episode, 12.28% eyes had ECD lower than 1000/mm2, 30.41% had ECD between 1000 and 2000/mm2, and 57.31% had ECD more than 2000/mm2. Attack duration was the only factor associated with severe endothelial damage (p < 0.0001). If the attack were to be subsided within 15.0 h, possibility of ECD lower than 1000/mm2 could be controlled under 1%.

Conclusion

Shortly after the abortion of APAC, 12.28% patients experienced severe endothelial cell damage with ECD less than 1000/mm2. The only factor associated with severe ECD decrease was attack duration. Immediate and effective treatment is pivotal for preserving corneal endothelial function in APAC patients.
Effects of water flossing on gingival inflammation and supragingival plaque microbiota: a 12-week randomized controlled trial
Authors: Xu Xin , Zhou Yishan , Liu Chengcheng , Zhao Lei , Zhang Ling , Li Haolai , Li Yi , Cheng Xingqun
Published: May 2023

Objectives

The effects of water flossing on dental plaque removal have been suggested, but its ecological impact on dental plaque microbiota needs further investigation. In addition, whether this plaque control measure by water flossing promotes the control of halitosis still needs clinical validation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of water flossing on gingival inflammation and supragingival plaque microbiota.

Materials and methods

Seventy participants with gingivitis were randomly assigned to control (toothbrushing) and experimental (toothbrushing + water flossing) groups (n = 35). Participants were recalled at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and their gingival index, sulcus bleeding index, bleeding on probing, dental plaque index, and oral malodor values were measured. The microbiota of supragingival plaque was further investigated using 16S rRNA sequencing and qPCR.

Results

Sixty-three participants completed all revisits (control: n = 33; experimental: n = 30). The experimental and control groups exhibited similar clinical characteristics and dental plaque microbiota at baseline. Adjunctive water flossing effectively reduced the gingival index and sulcus bleeding index as compared to the toothbrushing control group. The water-flossing group showed reduced oral malodor at week 12 as compared to the baseline. Consistently, the water-flossing group exhibited altered dental plaque microbiota at week 12, characterized by a depletion of Prevotella at genus level and Prevotella intermedia at species level as compared to the toothbrushing control. In addition, the plaque microbiota of water-flossing group exhibited a more aerobic phenotype, while the control group was more anaerobic.

Conclusions

Daily water flossing can effectively alleviate gingival inflammation and reduce oral malodor, possibly by depleting oral anaerobes and altering the oral microbiota to a more aerobic phenotype.

Clinical relevance

Water flossing adjunctive to toothbrushing effectively alleviated gingival inflammation, representing a promising oral hygiene practice to promote oral health.

Clinical trial registration

The trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=61797, #ChiCTR2000038508) on September 23, 2020.
The patient journeys of children and adolescents with depression: a study of electronic health records
Authors: Wickersham Alice , Westbrook Juliette , Colling Craig , Downs Johnny , Govind Risha , Kornblum Daisy , Lewis Jonathan , Smith Patrick , Ford Tamsin
Published: May 2023

In England, children and adolescents with depression can seek treatment from specialist mental health services. We know little about how they journey through these services, or whether healthcare providers collect sufficient data to accurately appraise this. We aimed to summarise the child and adolescent depression pathway for two healthcare providers. This cohort study used de-identified electronic health records extracted from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM). We identified referrals between 2015 and 2019 during which the referred patient received their first depression diagnosis aged < 18 years. We described patient demographic and clinical characteristics, and features of the referral. In total, n = 296 (CPFT) and n = 2502 (SLaM) patients had a referral which met eligibility criteria. In both sites, patients were more frequently female (CPFT 79.3%; SLaM 69.3%) and White ethnicity (CPFT 88.9%; SLaM 57.9%) as compared to respective population estimates for the Trusts’ catchment areas. Patients typically received their first depression diagnosis during adolescence (median ages 16 in CPFT and 15 in SLaM). The most common comorbidity was anxiety disorder. Referrals were usually routine, to community teams specialising in the child age group. Commonly mentioned interventions included antidepressant medication, cognitive behavioural therapy, and dialectical behaviour therapy. However, pathways varied within and between sites, and the quality and consistency of some data was poor. These findings provide an overview of service pathways experienced by children and adolescents with depression, but also highlight that pathways can vary according to individual need and healthcare provider. More systematic collection of some data, and standardisation in record systems used by different providers, would be beneficial.
Teens online: how perceived social support influences the use of the Internet during adolescence
Authors: Benvenuti Martina , Panesi Sabrina , Giovagnoli Sara , Selleri Patrizia , Mazzoni Elvis
Published: May 2023

This study analyses the role of social support in Internet use, focusing on when it leads to problematic or functional use in male and female adolescents. Three research hypotheses state: (1) when offline social support is low, online social support leads to a problematic Internet use; (2) when offline social support is high, online social support leads to a functional Internet use; (3) significant differences between male and female adolescents in both the online and offline dimensions considered. Results showed that the positive social interaction factor of online social support positively predicts problematic Internet use and that the latter is negatively affected by offline social support (affectionate dimension). Furthermore, online social support predicts functional Internet use (positive social interaction factor), while offline social support has no such effect. Finally, gender differences occur: males show higher problematic Internet use, and a higher number of friends and acquaintances than females, while females show higher online and offline social support than males. Implications of this research are particularly relevant for schools (e.g., teachers), families (parents, caregivers, etc.), and policy maker, so that they can support adolescents in the construction and development of offline friendly relationships and promote a functional use of the Internet for preventing its negative effects with active educational policies.
Understanding the impact of bioactive coating materials for human mesenchymal stromal cells and implications for manufacturing
Authors: Silva Couto Pedro , Molina Samuel A. , O’Sullivan Denis , O’Neill Liam , Lyness Alexander M. , Rafiq Qasim A.
Published: May 2023

Bioactive materials interact with cells and modulate their characteristics which enable the generation of cell-based products with desired specifications. However, their evaluation and impact are often overlooked when establishing a cell therapy manufacturing process. In this study, we investigated the role of different surfaces for tissue culture including, untreated polystyrene surface, uncoated Cyclic Olefin Polymer (COP) and COP coated with collagen and recombinant fibronectin. It was observed that human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) expanded on COP-coated plates with different bioactive materials resulted in improved cell growth kinetics compared to traditional polystyrene plates and non-coated COP plates. The doubling time obtained was 2.78 and 3.02 days for hMSC seeded in COP plates coated with collagen type I and recombinant fibronectin respectively, and 4.64 days for cells plated in standard polystyrene treated plates. Metabolite analysis reinforced the findings of the growth kinetic studies, specifically that cells cultured on COP plates coated with collagen I and fibronectin exhibited improved growth as evidenced by a higher lactate production rate (9.38 × 105 and 9.67 × 105 pmol/cell/day, respectively) compared to cells from the polystyrene group (5.86 × 105 pmol/cell/day). This study demonstrated that COP is an effective alternative to polystyrene-treated plates when coated with bioactive materials such as collagen and fibronectin, however COP-treated plates without additional coatings were found not to be sufficient to support cell growth. These findings demonstrate the key role biomaterials play in the cell manufacturing process and the importance of optimising this selection.
Determining the linear correlation between dielectric spectroscopy and viable biomass concentration in filamentous fungal fermentations
Authors: Magnússon Atli , Pajander Jari , Sin Gürkan , Stocks Stuart
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Dielectric spectroscopy is commonly used for online monitoring of biomass growth. It is however not utilized for biomass concentration measurements due to poor correlation with Cell Dry Weight (CDW). A calibration methodology is developed that can directly measure viable biomass concentration in a commercial filamentous process using dielectric values, without recourse to independent and challenging viability determinations.

Results

The methodology is applied to samples from the industrial scale fermentation of a filamentous fungus, Acremonium fusidioides. By mixing fresh and heat-killed samples, linear responses were verified and sample viability could be fitted with the dielectric $$\Delta C$$

Δ
C

values and total solids concentration. The study included a total of 26 samples across 21 different cultivations, with a legacy at-line viable cell analyzer requiring 2 ml samples, and a modern on-line probe operated at-line with 2 different sample presentation volumes, one compatible with the legacy analyzer, a larger sample volume of 100 ml being compatible with calibration for on-line operation. The linear model provided an $${R}^{2}$$

R

2

value of 0.99 between $$\Delta C$$

Δ
C

and viable biomass across the sample set using either instrument. The difference in ∆C when analyzing 100 mL and 2 mL samples with an in-line probe can be adjusted by a scalar factor of 1.33 within the microbial system used in this study, preserving the linear relation with $${R}^{2}$$

R

2

of 0.97.

Conclusions

It is possible to directly estimate viable biomass concentrations utilizing dielectric spectroscopy without recourse to extensive and difficult to execute independent viability studies. The same method can be applied to calibrate different instruments to measure viable biomass concentration. Small sample volumes are appropriate as long as the sample volumes are kept consistent.
The Impacts of a Clown Doctor Program on an Adolescent Psychiatric Unit: A Mixed Methods Investigation
Authors: Melvin Glenn , Hofmann Jovell Ling , Pavlou Christine , Lu Sinh , Verstandig Stephanie , Taylor Ashleigh , Desilva Deandra , Cameron Lauren , Evans Subhadra
Published: May 2023

Inpatient psychiatric care may be required to manage adolescents with severe mental health problems. As the ward can be a challenging environment, this study explored the influence of clown doctors on adolescents. Seventy-seven adolescents (13–18 years) and 22 staff from the Monash Health Stepping Stones Adolescent Unit, and 11 clown doctors from The Humour Foundation participated in the study. Bespoke surveys were developed by the research team to collect quantitative self-report data and qualitative responses. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis suggested that adolescents experienced high levels of fun as well as positive mood during a clown doctor session. Clown doctor programs show promise within an inpatient unit with opportunities for further development being identified. With considerations of the findings, future clown doctor training could include tailoring sessions to the developmental needs of adolescents and developing strategies on how to interact with adolescents who have a mental health disorder.
A systematic review of social classroom climate in online and technology-enhanced learning environments in primary and secondary school
Authors: Goagoses Naska , Suovuo Tomi “bgt” , Winschiers-Theophilus Heike , Suero Montero Calkin , Pope Nicolas , Rötkönen Erkki , Sutinen Erkki
Published: May 2023

Although the significance of a positive social classroom climate in face-to-face learning has been established, its role within online and technology-enhanced learning environments is unclear. The central aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the findings of empirical studies which have examined any aspect of the social classroom climate in online and technology-enhanced learning environments in primary and secondary schools. Appropriate search terms were entered into ACM Digital Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and ERIC in November 2021. Articles were included if they were relevant for the aim, reported primary data, sampled primary/secondary school students and/or teachers, and were published in journals, conference proceedings, or book chapters in English. Furthermore, articles were excluded if they focused on the development/testing of measurement tools. The thematic narrative synthesis includes 29 articles, comprising of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies. A quality assessment checklist was completed for all. The findings encompass examinations of the social classroom climate in online learning before and during the Covid-19 pandemic, in blended learning environments and a comparison between them. Furthermore, associations between the online social classroom climate and academic variables is explored, as is the fostering thereof through synchronous/asynchronous discussion groups and social media. We discuss the theoretical framing of the studies, the impact of a positive classroom climate in online and technology-enhanced learning environments on students, as well as practical approaches and new opportunities in leveraging technologies. Based on the findings and the studies’ limitations we outline implications and future research, such as the need to consider students’ voices and diversity, technology perspectives, a transdiciplinary approach and the reconceptualization of boundaries.
Combining Higher-Order Logic with Set Theory Formalizations
Authors: Kaliszyk Cezary , Pąk Karol
Published: May 2023

The Isabelle Higher-order Tarski–Grothendieck object logic includes in its foundations both higher-order logic and set theory, which allows importing the libraries of Isabelle/HOL and Isabelle/Mizar. The two libraries, however, define all the basic concepts independently, which means that the results in the two are disconnected. In this paper, we align significant parts of these two libraries, by defining isomorphisms between their concepts, including the real numbers and algebraic structures. The isomorphisms allow us to transport theorems between the foundations and use the results from the libraries simultaneously.