bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opicapone Improves Global Non-Motor Symptoms Burden in Parkinson’s Disease: An Open-Label Prospective Study
Authors: Santos García Diego , Fernández Pajarín Gustavo , Oropesa-Ruiz Juan Manuel , Escamilla Sevilla Francisco , Rahim López Raúl Rashid Abdul , Muñoz Enríquez José Guillermo
Published: March 2022

Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) can improve some non-motor symptoms (NMS) after starting treatment with opicapone. The aim of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of opicapone on global NMS burden in PD. OPEN-PD (Opicapone Effectiveness on Non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease) is a prospective open-label single-arm study conducted in 5 centers from Spain. The primary efficacy outcome was the change from baseline (V0) to the end of the observational period (6 months ± 30 days) (V2) in the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) total score. Different scales were used for analyzing the change in motor, NMS, quality of life (QoL), and disability. Thirty-three patients were included between JUL/2019 and JUN/2021 (age 63.3 ± 7.91; 60.6% males; 7.48 ± 4.22 years from symptoms onset). At 6 months, 30 patients completed the follow-up (90.9%). The NMSS total score was reduced by 27.3% (from 71.67 ± 37.12 at V0 to 52.1 ± 34.76 at V2; Cohen’s effect size = −0.97; p = 0.002). By domains, improvement was observed in sleep/fatigue (−40.1%; p < 0.0001), mood/apathy (−46.6%; p = 0.001), gastrointestinal symptoms (−20.7%; p = 0.029), and miscellaneous (−44.94%; p = 0.021). QoL also improved with a 18.4% reduction in the 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire Summary Index (from 26.67 ± 17.61 at V0 to 21.75 ± 14.9 at V2; p = 0.001). A total of 13 adverse events in 11 patients (33.3%) were reported, 1 of which was severe (not related to opicapone). Dyskinesias and nausea were the most frequent (6.1%). Opicapone is well tolerated and improves global NMS burden and QoL in PD patients at 6 months.
Pragmatic Profiles of Adults with Fragile X Syndrome and Williams Syndrome
Authors: Diez-Itza Eliseo , Viejo Aitana , Fernández-Urquiza Maite
Published: March 2022

Linguistic phenotypes of individuals with Fragile X (FXS) and Williams (WS) syndromes exhibit various degrees of pragmatic impairment, involving difficulties in social communication and in adapting to conversational principles. The goal of the present study was to explore syndrome-specific pragmatic profiles of adults with FXS and WS based on the assessment of the observance of Gricean maxims of conversation. The participants were 12 Spanish-speaking adults (6 FXS/6 WS), without a diagnosis of ASD, whose extensive naturalistic conversations (71,859 words) were transcribed and coded with the CHILDES/TALKBANK tools and the PREP-CORP pragmatic protocol. Violations of the maxims of conversation were analyzed, and indexes of cooperation and conversational response were obtained. Both groups showed reduced verbal production and repetitive dysfluencies; prominent features in the FXS profile were higher proportion of non-contingent language, perseverations of topic and form, and impulsive conversational responses; in the WS profile, salient characteristics were higher proportion of tangential utterances, reformulations, and conversational responses reflecting overly literal interpretation. Pragmatic profiles of violation of conversational maxims reflect specific communication skills impaired in adults with FXS and WS and raise the need for assessment and intervention methods that specifically address their social communication abilities.
Gypsum Mortars with Acacia dealbata Biomass Waste Additions: Effect of Different Fractions and Contents
Authors: Ranesi Alessandra , Faria Paulina , Correia Ricardo , Freire Maria Teresa , Veiga Rosário , Gonçalves Margarida
Published: March 2022

In recent decades, interest in the eco-efficiency of building materials has led to numerous research projects focused on the replacement of raw materials with mineral and biomass wastes, and on the production of mortars with low-energy-consuming binders, such as gypsum. In this context, five different fractions (bark, wood, branchlets, leaves, and flowers) of Acacia dealbata—an invasive species—were evaluated as fillers for premixed gypsum mortars, at 5% and 10% (vol.) addition levels and fixed water content. Although these biomass fractions had different bulk densities (>50% of variation), all the mortars were workable, although presenting different consistencies. As expected, dry density decreased with biomass addition, but, while mortars with addition at 5% presented a slight shrinkage, a slight expansion occurred with those with 10% addition. Generally, the mechanical properties decreased with the biomass additions even if this was not always proportional to the added content. The wood fraction showed the most positive mechanical results but flexural and compressive strengths of all the tested mortars were found to be higher than the lower standard limit, justifying further studies.
Key Elements of Attentions for Enhancing Urban Resilience: A Comparison of Singapore, Hong Kong and Hangzhou
Authors: Chen Min , Lu Yujie , Peng Yi , Chen Tingting , Zhang Yiye
Published: March 2022

Urban resilience is an attractive concept among academies and governments with the increasing severity of climate change and relevant disasters in cities. Few studies have been conducted to compare the key elements of attentions for enhancing urban resilience among Asian cities, although resilience is context-dependent. This study aims to compare the key elements of attentions for enhancing urban resilience among Singapore, Hong Kong and Hangzhou. A comprehensive literature review and expert interview validation were used to solicit the preliminary elements of attentions for enhancing urban resilience. Planners and researchers in the field of urban planning were surveyed to assess the significance level of the preliminary elements in the three case cities, as professional knowledge is required in the survey. Statistics were used to identify the key elements of attentions in the three case cities. Results demonstrate that the three cities have various elements of attentions for enhancing urban resilience despite sharing many similarities, which also demonstrate the guidance limitation of the general urban resilience framework. It also provides a reference for other international comparisons.
Review of the Application of Wearable Devices in Construction Safety: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2005 to 2021
Authors: Gao Ran , Mu Bowen , Lyu Sainan , Wang Hao , Yi Chengdong
Published: March 2022

Wearable devices as an emerging technology to collect safety data on construction site is gaining increasing attention from researchers and practitioners. Given the rapid development of wearable devices research and the high application prospects of wearable devices in construction safety, a state-of-the-art review of research and implementations in this field is needed. The aim of this study is to provide an objective and extensive bibliometric analysis of the published articles on wearable applications in construction safety for the period of 2005–2021. CiteSpace software was used to conduct co-citation analysis, co-occurrence analysis, and cluster identification on 169 identified articles. The results show that 10 research clusters (e.g., attentional failure, brain-computer interface) were extremely important in the development of wearable devices for construction safety. The results highlight the evolution of wearable devices in construction-safety-related research, revealing the underlying structure of this cross-cutting research area. The analysis also summarizes the status quo of wearable devices in the construction safety field and provides a dynamic platform for integrating future applications.
Functionalization of Graphene by π–π Stacking with C60/C70/Sc3N@C80 Fullerene Derivatives for Supercapacitor Electrode Materials
Authors: Piotrowski Piotr , Fedorczyk Agata , Grebowski Jacek , Krogul-Sobczak Agnieszka
Published: March 2022

Non-covalent modification of graphene is one of the strategies used for enhancing its energy storage properties. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a series of fullerene derivatives that are capable of assembly on graphene sheets by π–π stacking interactions. Newly synthesized graphene-fullerene hybrid nanomaterials were characterized using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. In order to determine the specific capacitance of obtained electrode materials galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements were performed. The obtained results allowed the determination of which fullerene core and type of substituent introduced on its surface can increase the capacitance of resulting electrode. Benefiting from introduced fullerene derivative molecules, graphene with naphthalene functionalized C70 fullerene showed specific capacitance enhanced by as much as 15% compared to the starting material.
Correction: Hamilton et al. Therapeutics Targeting the Core Apoptotic Machinery. Cancers 2021, 13, 2618
Authors: Hamilton Claudia , Fox Jennifer P. , Longley Daniel B. , Higgins Catherine A.
Published: March 2022

There was an error in the original publication [...]
In Silico Analysis of Ion Channels and Their Correlation with Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer
Authors: Parthasarathi K. T. Shreya , Mandal Susmita , Singh Smrita , Gundimeda Seetaramanjaneyulu , Jolly Mohit Kumar , Pandey Akhilesh , Sharma Jyoti
Published: March 2022

Uncontrolled growth of breast cells due to altered gene expression is a key feature of breast cancer. Alterations in the expression of ion channels lead to variations in cellular activities, thus contributing to attributes of cancer hallmarks. Changes in the expression levels of ion channels were observed as a consequence of EMT. Additionally, ion channels were reported in the activation of EMT and maintenance of a mesenchymal phenotype. Here, to identify altered ion channels in breast cancer patients, differential gene expression and weighted gene co-expression network analyses were performed using transcriptomic data. Protein–protein interactions network analysis was carried out to determine the ion channels interacting with hub EMT-related genes in breast cancer. Thirty-two ion channels were found interacting with twenty-six hub EMT-related genes. The identified ion channels were further correlated with EMT scores, indicating mesenchymal phenotype. Further, the pathway map was generated to represent a snapshot of deregulated cellular processes by altered ion channels and EMT-related genes. Kaplan–Meier five-year survival analysis and Cox regressions indicated the expression of CACNA1B, ANO6, TRPV3, VDAC1 and VDAC2 to be potentially associated with poor survival. Deregulated ion channels correlate with EMT-related genes and have a crucial role in breast cancer-associated tumorigenesis. Most likely, they are potential candidates for the determination of prognosis in patients with breast cancer.
Prospective Study of Proton Therapy for Lung Cancer Patients with Poor Lung Function or Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Noh Jae Myoung , Yoo Hongseok , Lee Woojin , Park Hye Yun , Shin Sun Hye , Pyo Hongryull
Published: March 2022

PBT has a unique depth–dose curve with a Bragg peak that enables one to reduce the dose to normal lung tissue. We prospectively enrolled 54 patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with definitive PBT. The inclusion criteria were forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) ≤ 1.0 L or FEV1 ≤ 50% of predicted or diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLco) ≤ 50%, or pulmonary fibrosis. The primary endpoint was grade ≥ 3 pulmonary toxicity, and secondary endpoints were changes in pulmonary function and quality of life. The median age was 71.5 years (range, 57–87). Fifteen (27.8%) and fourteen (25.9%) patients had IPF and combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema, respectively. The median predicted forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1, and DLco were 77% (range, 42–104%), 66% (range, 31–117%), and 46% (range, 23–94%), respectively. During the follow-up (median, 14.7 months), seven (13.0%) patients experienced grade ≥ 3 pulmonary toxicity. Seven months after the completion of PBT, patients with IPF or non-IPF interstitial lung disease (ILD) experienced a decrease in the FVC but the decrease in DLco was not significant. Under careful monitoring by pulmonologists, PBT could be a useful treatment modality for lung cancer patients with poor lung function or pulmonary fibrosis.
Hidden in Plants—A Review of the Anticancer Potential of the Solanaceae Family in In Vitro and In Vivo Studies
Authors: Kowalczyk Tomasz , Merecz-Sadowska Anna , Rijo Patricia , Mori Mattia , Hatziantoniou Sophia , Górski Karol , Szemraj Janusz , Piekarski Janusz , Śliwiński Tomasz , Bijak Michał , Sitarek Przemysław
Published: March 2022

Many of the anticancer agents that are currently in use demonstrate severe side effects and encounter increasing resistance from the target cancer cells. Thus, despite significant advances in cancer therapy in recent decades, there is still a need to discover and develop new, alternative anticancer agents. The plant kingdom contains a range of phytochemicals that play important roles in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. The Solanaceae family is widely used in the treatment of various diseases, including cancer, due to its bioactive ingredient content. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight the antitumour activity of Solanaceae extracts—single isolated compounds and nanoparticles with extracts—and their synergistic effect with chemotherapeutic agents in various in vitro and in vivo cancer models. In addition, the biological properties of many plants of the Solanaceae family have not yet been investigated, which represents a challenge and an opportunity for future anticancer therapy.
Selective Oxofunctionalization of Cyclohexane and Benzyl Alcohol over BiOI/TiO2 Heterojunction
Authors: Henríquez Adolfo , Romero Romina , Cornejo-Ponce Lorena , Salazar Claudio , Díaz Juan , Melín Victoria , Mansilla Héctor D. , Pecchi Gina , Contreras David
Published: March 2022

Heterogeneous photocatalysis under visible light irradiation allows performing of selective oxofunctionalization of hydrocarbons at ambient temperature and pressure, using molecular oxygen as a sacrificial reagent and potential use of sunlight as a sustainable and low-cost energy source. In the present work, a photocatalytic material based on heterojunction of titanium dioxide and bismuth oxyiodide was used as photocatalyst on selective oxofunctionalization of cyclohexane and benzyl alcohol. The selective oxidation reactions were performed in a homemade photoreactor equipped with a metal halide lamp and injected air as a source of molecular oxygen. The identified oxidized products obtained from oxofunctionalization of cyclohexane were cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. On the other hand, the product obtained from oxofunctionalization of benzyl alcohol was benzaldehyde. The yield obtained with BiOI/TiO2 photocatalysts was higher than that obtained with pure bismuth oxyiodide. The higher performance of this material with respect to pure BiOI was attributed to its higher specific area.
Catalysts for Sustainable Hydrogen Production: Preparation, Applications and Process Integration
Authors: Ruocco Concetta , Martino Marco
Published: March 2022

The earth is experiencing a series of epochal emergencies, directly related to the overexploitation of natural resources [...]
Preparation Strategy Using Pre-Nucleation Coupled with In Situ Reduction for a High-Performance Catalyst towards Selective Hydrogen Production from Formic Acid
Authors: Meng Qinglei , Yang Xiaolong , Wang Xian , Xiao Meiling , Li Kui , Jin Zhao , Ge Junjie , Liu Changpeng , Xing Wei
Published: March 2022

Formic acid decomposition (FAD) is one of the most promising routes for rapid hydrogen (H2) production. Extensive efforts have been taken to develop efficient catalysts, which calls for the simultaneous regulation of the electronic structure and particle size of the catalyst. The former factor determines the intrinsic performance, while the latter corresponds to the active site utilization. Here, an effective preparation strategy, pre-nucleation coupled with in situ reduction, is developed to realize and well-tune both surface electronic states and particle size of the pallidum (Pd) catalyst. Benefiting from the structural merits, the as-prepared catalyst exhibits high mass-specific activity of 8.94 molH2/(gPd·h) with few carbon monoxide (CO) molecules, and the activation energy could reach a value as small as 33.1 kJ/mol. The work not only affords a highly competitive FAD catalyst but also paves a new avenue to the synthesis of ultra-fine metal nanoparticles with tailorable electronic structures.
Facile Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of Hydrothermally Grown Cu2+-Doped ZnO–SnS Nanocomposites for MB Dye Degradation
Authors: Dharmana Govinda , Gurugubelli Thirumala Rao , Masabattula Prabhakara Srinivasa Rao , Babu Bathula , Yoo Kisoo
Published: March 2022

The morphology, chemical composition, and doping process of metal oxides and sulfides play a significant role in their photocatalytic performance under solar light illumination. We synthesized Cu2+-doped ZnO–SnS nanocomposites at 220 °C for 10 h, using hydrothermal methods. These nanocomposites were structurally, morphologically, and optically characterized using various techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Their photocatalytic activity (PCA) on methylene blue (MB) pollutant dye was examined under 150 W solar light illumination. Mixed-phase abundances with hexagonal ZnO and orthorhombic SnS structures were observed. TEM micrographs showed changes in morphology from spherical to nano-flake structures with an increasing doping concentration. XPS indicated the chemical states of the constituent elements in the nanocomposites. UV-visible absorption spectroscopy showed a decrease in the bandgap with an increasing doping concentration. Strong PCA was observed due to the separation of charge carriers, a change in bandgap, and a high light absorption ability under solar light irradiation. The measured photodegradation efficiency of the MB dye was approximately 97% after 2 h. The movement of the charge carriers and the bandgap alignment of the synthesized composites are briefly discussed.
Osmotic Stress Interferes with DNA Damage Response and H2AX Phosphorylation in Human Keratinocytes
Authors: Hoen Laura , Rudisch Christoph , Wick Michael , Indenbirken Daniela , Grundhoff Adam , Wegwitz Florian , Kalkhof Stefan , Hildebrand Janosch
Published: March 2022

The human skin and in particular its outermost layer, the epidermis, protects the body from potentially harmful substances, radiation as well as excessive water loss. However, the interference between the various stress responses of the epidermal keratinocytes, which often occur simultaneously, is largely unknown. The focus of this study was to investigate the interference between osmotic stress and DNA damage response. In addition to revealing the already well-described regulation of diverse gene sets, for example, cellular processes such as transcription, translation, and metabolic pathways (e.g., the KEGG citrate cycle and Reactome G2/M checkpoints), gene expression analysis of osmotically stressed keratinocytes revealed an influence on the transcription of genes also related to UV-induced DNA damage response. A gene network regulating the H2AX phosphorylation was identified to be regulated by osmotic stress. To analyze and test the interference between osmotic stress and DNA damage response, which can be triggered by UV stress on the one hand and oxidative stress on the other, in more detail, primary human keratinocytes were cultured under osmotic stress conditions and subsequently exposed to UV light and H2O2, respectively. γH2AX measurements revealed lower γH2AX levels in cells previously cultured under osmotic stress conditions.
Primary Cilia and Their Role in Acquired Heart Disease
Authors: Hale Zachariah E. , Sadoshima Junichi
Published: March 2022

Primary cilia are non-motile plasma membrane extrusions that display a variety of receptors and mechanosensors. Loss of function results in ciliopathies, which have been strongly linked with congenital heart disease, as well as abnormal development and function of most organ systems. Adults with congenital heart disease have high rates of acquired heart failure, and usually die from a cardiac cause. Here we explore primary cilia’s role in acquired heart disease. Intraflagellar Transport 88 knockout results in reduced primary cilia, and knockout from cardiac endothelium produces myxomatous degeneration similar to mitral valve prolapse seen in adult humans. Induced primary cilia inactivation by other mechanisms also produces excess myocardial hypertrophy and altered scar architecture after ischemic injury, as well as hypertension due to a lack of vascular endothelial nitric oxide synthase activation and the resultant left ventricular dysfunction. Finally, primary cilia have cell-to-cell transmission capacity which, when blocked, leads to progressive left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure, though this mechanism has not been fully established. Further research is still needed to understand primary cilia’s role in adult cardiac pathology, especially heart failure.
Early Endosomal Vps34-Derived Phosphatidylinositol-3-Phosphate Is Indispensable for the Biogenesis of the Endosomal Recycling Compartment
Authors: Marcelić Marina , Mahmutefendić Lučin Hana , Jurak Begonja Antonija , Blagojević Zagorac Gordana , Lučin Pero
Published: March 2022

Phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI3P), a major identity tag of early endosomes (EEs), provides a platform for the recruitment of numerous cellular proteins containing an FYVE or PX domain that is required for PI3P-dependent maturation of EEs. Most of the PI3P in EEs is generated by the activity of Vps34, a catalytic component of class III phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate kinase (PI3Ks) complex. In this study, we analyzed the role of Vps34-derived PI3P in the EE recycling circuit of unperturbed cells using VPS34-IN1 (IN1), a highly specific inhibitor of Vps34. IN1-mediated PI3P depletion resulted in the rapid dissociation of recombinant FYVE- and PX-containing PI3P-binding modules and endogenous PI3P-binding proteins, including EEA1 and EE sorting nexins. IN1 treatment triggered the rapid restructuring of EEs into a PI3P-independent functional configuration, and after IN1 washout, EEs were rapidly restored to a PI3P-dependent functional configuration. Analysis of the PI3P-independent configuration showed that the Vps34-derived PI3P is not essential for the pre-EE-associated functions and the fast recycling loop of the EE recycling circuit but contributes to EE maturation toward the degradation circuit, as previously shown in Vps34 knockout and knockdown studies. However, our study shows that Vps34-derived PI3P is also essential for the establishment of the Rab11a-dependent pathway, including recycling cargo sorting in this pathway and membrane flux from EEs to the pericentriolar endosomal recycling compartment (ERC). Rab11a endosomes of PI3P-depleted cells expanded and vacuolized outside the pericentriolar area without the acquisition of internalized transferrin (Tf). These endosomes had high levels of FIP5 and low levels of FIP3, suggesting that their maturation was arrested before the acquisition of FIP3. Consequently, Tf-loaded-, Rab11a/FIP5-, and Rab8a-positive endosomes disappeared from the pericentriolar area, implying that PI3P-associated functions are essential for ERC biogenesis. ERC loss was rapidly reversed after IN1 washout, which coincided with the restoration of FIP3 recruitment to Rab11a-positive endosomes and their dynein-dependent migration to the cell center. Thus, our study shows that Vps34-derived PI3P is indispensable in the recycling circuit to maintain the slow recycling pathway and biogenesis of the ERC.
Chromatin Reorganization during Myoblast Differentiation Involves the Caspase-Dependent Removal of SATB2
Authors: Bell Ryan A. V. , Al-Khalaf Mohammad H. , Brunette Steve , Alsowaida Dalal , Chu Alphonse , Bandukwala Hina , Dechant Georg , Apostolova Galina , Dilworth F. Jeffrey , Megeney Lynn A.
Published: March 2022

The induction of lineage-specific gene programs are strongly influenced by alterations in local chromatin architecture. However, key players that impact this genome reorganization remain largely unknown. Here, we report that the removal of the special AT-rich binding protein 2 (SATB2), a nuclear protein known to bind matrix attachment regions, is a key event in initiating myogenic differentiation. The deletion of myoblast SATB2 in vitro initiates chromatin remodeling and accelerates differentiation, which is dependent on the caspase 7-mediated cleavage of SATB2. A genome-wide analysis indicates that SATB2 binding within chromatin loops and near anchor points influences both loop and sub-TAD domain formation. Consequently, the chromatin changes that occur with the removal of SATB2 lead to the derepression of differentiation-inducing factors while also limiting the expression of genes that inhibit this cell fate change. Taken together, this study demonstrates that the temporal control of the SATB2 protein is critical in shaping the chromatin environment and coordinating the myogenic differentiation program.
Novel Insights into the Therapeutic Potential of Lung-Targeted Gene Transfer in the Most Common Respiratory Diseases
Authors: Bisserier Malik , Sun Xiao-Qing , Fazal Shahood , Turnbull Irene C. , Bonnet Sébastien , Hadri Lahouaria
Published: March 2022

Over the past decades, a better understanding of the genetic and molecular alterations underlying several respiratory diseases has encouraged the development of new therapeutic strategies. Gene therapy offers new therapeutic alternatives for inherited and acquired diseases by delivering exogenous genetic materials into cells or tissues to restore physiological protein expression and/or activity. In this review, we review (1) different types of viral and non-viral vectors as well as gene-editing techniques; and (2) the application of gene therapy for the treatment of respiratory diseases and disorders, including pulmonary arterial hypertension, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, asthma, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, non-small-cell lung cancer, and COVID-19. Further, we also provide specific examples of lung-targeted therapies and discuss the major limitations of gene therapy.
Study on the Effects of Biologically Active Amino Acids on the Micellization of Anionic Surfactant Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) at Different Temperatures
Authors: Elarbi Fatima M. , Ettarhouni Zaineb O. , Abdussalam-Mohammed Wanisa , Mezoughi Aysha B.
Published: March 2022

The micellar properties of the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) are modified by the biologically active amino acids. Amino acids (AAs) have experienced a variety of interactions and are proposed to influence SDS micelles due to their nominated hydrophobic interactions. The present study determines the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of SDS in aqueous solutions as well as in amino aqueous solutions. Three amino acids (glutamic acid, histidine, and tryptophan) are considered here. The conductometric measurements were carried out using a wide range of SDS concentrations at different temperatures. Surface tension experiments have also been applied to estimate many surface parameters including surface excess concentration (Γmax), surface occupied area per surfactant molecule (Amin), surface tension at CMC (γcmc), surface pressure at CMC (Πcmc) and Gibbs free energy of adsorption (∆Gads°), enthalpy ∆Hm° and the critical packing parameter (CPP). Interestingly, CMC values of SDS in water and in aqueous amino acids estimated by the surface tension method are comparable with the corresponding values obtained by the conductance method. The thermodynamic parameters of SDS micellization were also evaluated in both presence and absence of AAs. The additives of AAs work to reduce the CMC values, as well as the SDS thermodynamic parameters. This reduction is highly dependent on the hydrophobicity of the AA side chain. Negative values of ∆Gm°, ∆Hm° elucidate that micellization of SDS in the presence of amino acids is thermodynamically spontaneous and exothermic. The outcomes here might be utilized for pharmaceutical applications to stabilize proteins and inhibit protein aggregation.
Femtosecond Direct Laser Writing of Silver Clusters in Phosphate Glasses for X-ray Spatially-Resolved Dosimetry
Authors: Harb Joelle , Guérineau Théo , Morana Adriana , Meyer Arnaud , Raffy Guillaume , Guerzo André Del , Ouerdane Youcef , Boukenter Aziz , Girard Sylvain , Cardinal Thierry , Petit Yannick , Canioni Lionel
Published: March 2022

Radio-photoluminescence in silver-doped phosphate glasses has been extensively used for X-ray dosimetry. In this paper, we present the potential of silver clusters for X-ray spatially resolved dosimetry. Those clusters are generated in phosphate glasses containing a high concentration of silver oxide by femtosecond direct laser writing technique. Two phosphate glasses of different compositions were investigated. First, the spectroscopic properties of the pristine glasses were studied after X-ray irradiation at different doses to assess their dosimetry potential. Second, the impact of X-rays on the three-dimensional inscribed silver clusters has been analyzed using several spectroscopies methods. Our analysis highlights the resilience of embedded silver clusters acting as local probes of the deposited doses. We demonstrate that these inscribed glasses can define the range and sensitivity of X-ray doses and consider the realization of spatially-resolved dosimeters.
Outcome Analysis of Surgical Timing in Pediatric Orbital Trapdoor Fracture with Different Entrapment Contents: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Hsieh Pei-Ju , Liao Han-Tsung
Published: March 2022

Orbital trapdoor fracture occurs more commonly in pediatric patients, and previous studies suggested early intervention for a better outcome. However, there is no consensus on the appropriate timing of emergent intervention due to the insufficient cases reported. In the current retrospective study, we compared the outcomes of patient groups with different time intervals from injury to surgical intervention and entrapment content. Twenty-three patients who underwent surgery for trapdoor fracture between January 2001 and September 2018 at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital were enrolled. There was no significant difference in diplopia and extraocular muscle (EOM) movement recovery rate in patients who underwent surgery within three days and those over three days. However, among the patients with an interval to surgery of over three days, those with muscle entrapment required a longer period of time to recover from EOM movement restriction (p = 0.03) and diplopia (p = 0.03) than those with soft tissue entrapment. Regardless of time interval to surgery, patients with muscle entrapment took longer time to recover from EOM movement restriction (p = 0.036) and diplopia (p = 0.042) and had the trend of a worse EOM recovery rate compared to patients with soft tissue entrapment. Hence, we suggested that orbital trapdoor fractures with rectus muscle entrapment should be promptly managed for faster recovery.
DIAS: A Data-Informed Active Subspace Regularization Framework for Inverse Problems
Authors: Nguyen Hai , Wittmer Jonathan , Bui-Thanh Tan
Published: March 2022

This paper presents a regularization framework that aims to improve the fidelity of Tikhonov inverse solutions. At the heart of the framework is the data-informed regularization idea that only data-uninformed parameters need to be regularized, while the data-informed parameters, on which data and forward model are integrated, should remain untouched. We propose to employ the active subspace method to determine the data-informativeness of a parameter. The resulting framework is thus called a data-informed (DI) active subspace (DIAS) regularization. Four proposed DIAS variants are rigorously analyzed, shown to be robust with the regularization parameter and capable of avoiding polluting solution features informed by the data. They are thus well suited for problems with small or reasonably small noise corruptions in the data. Furthermore, the DIAS approaches can effectively reuse any Tikhonov regularization codes/libraries. Though they are readily applicable for nonlinear inverse problems, we focus on linear problems in this paper in order to gain insights into the framework. Various numerical results for linear inverse problems are presented to verify theoretical findings and to demonstrate advantages of the DIAS framework over the Tikhonov, truncated SVD, and the TSVD-based DI approaches.
Preparation of Niobium Aluminium Alloy Based on Shock Compression Method
Authors: Tao Ya-Le , Jiao Zhen , Liu Zheng-Tang , Jiang Cheng-Lu , Liu Qi-Jun
Published: March 2022

A new method based on a light-gas gun has been proposed to synthesize Nb-Al alloys, and a recovery capsule has been investigated. The copper-coated sample is accessible after shock wave loading. In this paper, we successfully synthesize Nb-Al alloys, which are high-temperature structural materials. X-ray diffraction is employed to clarify the structural characteristics of compounds after impact, and the simulation of X-ray diffractions is employed to clarify the structure. In detail, tetragonal NbAl3 alloys certainly appeared in the recovery capsule; this alloy is considered to be best candidate.
Unraveling Techniques for Plant Microbiome Structure Analysis
Authors: Sraphet Supajit , Javadi Bagher
Published: March 2022

Microbiome plays vital role in the life. Study the microbiome of plants with great impact in the planet can provide significant information to solve many problems. Therefore, finding structural population of plant microbiome needs scientific approach. Revealing the specific biochemical and genetical approaches towards identification of specific population provided the growing bodies of methods and procedures to study and analysis the plant microbiomes. Thus, this mini-review paper presents the summarized of scientific methods for study, identify and structural population analysis of plant microbiome.
Effects of Landscape and Local Factors on the Diversity of Flower-Visitor Groups under an Urbanization Gradient, a Case Study in Wuhan, China
Authors: He Mengyu , Ran Nan , Jiang Huiqian , Han Zemin , Dian Yuanyong , Li Xiaoxia , Xie Dong , Bowler Peter A. , Wang Hui
Published: March 2022

Urbanization is one of the primary forces driving worldwide pollinator decline. Moderate urban expansion with appropriate green space planning can help in maintaining pollinator diversity and pollination service. We investigated the relative effects of landscape and local factors on the diversity of flower-visitor functional groups in a moderately urbanized city, Wuhan, located in central China. We found that the proportion of impervious surface had no significant effect on the number of visitations, but it was negatively associated with the diversity of flower-visitor groups. The number of visitations by Halictidae and Lepidoptera correlated positively with local flower density and flowering plant species richness, respectively. Flowering plant species richness was also positively correlated with the diversity of flower-visitor groups. The proportion of green space was negatively associated with the visitation number of Muscidae and the overall diversity of flower-visitor groups, revealing the potential influence of green space quality on pollinator assemblage. The pollination networks under three urbanization levels (with a total of 11 flower visitor groups and 43 plant species) were asymmetric, highly nested, and generalized. The suburb sites contained the highest diversity of interactions. Core flowering plants (Oenothera speciosa, Coreopsis grandiflora and Cyanus segetum) are exotic species with attractive flowers. Improving green space quality (high flower density and flowering plant species richness) and using attractive native flowering plants (Nandina domestica, Rosa chinensis, Astragalus sinicus, Cirsium arvense var. integrifolium, and Zabelia biflora) would enhance the function of urban green space to maintain pollinator diversity and ecosystem stability.
Balance Remains Impaired after Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Best Evidence Synthesis
Authors: Di Laura Frattura Giorgio , Bordoni Vittorio , Feltri Pietro , Fusco Augusto , Candrian Christian , Filardo Giuseppe
Published: March 2022

Background: Hip arthroplasty (HA) is the most common intervention for joint replacement, but there is no consensus in the literature on the real influence of this procedure on balance, or on what factors in the pre-operative, surgical, and post-operative stages may affect it. Purpose: To synthesize the evidence on how Hip Arthroplasty (HA) affects balance, identifying pre-operative, surgical, and postoperative risk factors that may impair balance in HA patients, with the aim to improve patients’ management strategies. Methods: A literature search was performed on PubMed, PeDRO, and Cochrane Collaboration on 25 May 2021. Inclusion criteria: clinical report of any level of evidence; written in English; with no time limitation; about balance changes in hip osteoarthritis (OA) patients undergoing HA and related factors. Results: 27 papers (391 patients) were included. Overall, the evidence suggested that balance is impaired immediately after surgery and, 4–12 months after surgery, it becomes better than preoperatively, although without reaching the level of healthy subjects. A strong level of evidence was found for hip resurfacing resulting in better balance restoration than total HA (THA), and for strength and ROM exercises after surgery positively influencing balance. Conclusion: Both the surgical technique and the post-operative protocols are key factors influencing balance; thus, they should be carefully evaluated when managing hip OA in patients undergoing HA. Moreover, balance at 4–12 months after surgery is better than preoperatively, although without reaching the level of the healthy population. Attention should be paid in the early post-operative phase, when balance may be impaired in patients undergoing HA.
Fast, Accurate, and Robust T2 Mapping of Articular Cartilage by Neural Networks
Authors: Müller-Franzes Gustav , Nolte Teresa , Ciba Malin , Schock Justus , Khader Firas , Prescher Andreas , Wilms Lena Marie , Kuhl Christiane , Nebelung Sven , Truhn Daniel
Published: March 2022

For T2 mapping, the underlying mono-exponential signal decay is traditionally quantified by non-linear Least-Squares Estimation (LSE) curve fitting, which is prone to outliers and computationally expensive. This study aimed to validate a fully connected neural network (NN) to estimate T2 relaxation times and to assess its performance versus LSE fitting methods. To this end, the NN was trained and tested in silico on a synthetic dataset of 75 million signal decays. Its quantification error was comparatively evaluated against three LSE methods, i.e., traditional methods without any modification, with an offset, and one with noise correction. Following in-situ acquisition of T2 maps in seven human cadaveric knee joint specimens at high and low signal-to-noise ratios, the NN and LSE methods were used to estimate the T2 relaxation times of the manually segmented patellofemoral cartilage. In-silico modeling at low signal-to-noise ratio indicated significantly lower quantification error for the NN (by medians of 6–33%) than for the LSE methods (p < 0.001). These results were confirmed by the in-situ measurements (medians of 10–35%). T2 quantification by the NN took only 4 s, which was faster than the LSE methods (28–43 s). In conclusion, NNs provide fast, accurate, and robust quantification of T2 relaxation times.
Quantitative Blood Flow Measurements in the Common Carotid Artery: A Comparative Study of High-Frame-Rate Ultrasound Vector Flow Imaging, Pulsed Wave Doppler, and Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Du Yigang , Ding Haiyan , He Le , Yiu Billy Y. S. , Deng Linsong , Yu Alfred C. H. , Zhu Lei
Published: March 2022

V Flow is commercially developed by high-frame-rate ultrasound vector flow imaging. Compared to conventional color Doppler, V Flow is angle-independent and is capable of measuring both the magnitude and the direction of blood flow velocities. This paper aims to investigate the differences between V Flow and pulsed wave Doppler (PW) relative to phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI), for the quantitative measurements of blood flow in common carotid arteries (CCA) and, consequently, to evaluate the accuracy of the new technique, V Flow. Sixty-four CCAs were measured using V Flow, PW, and PC-MRI. The maximum velocities, time-averaged mean (TAMEAN) velocities, and volume flow were measured using different imaging technologies. The mean error with standard deviation (Std), the median of absolute errors, and the r-values between V Flow and PC-MRI results for the maximum velocity, the TAMEAN velocity, and the volume flow measurements are {9.40% ± 14.91%; 11.84%; 0.84}, {21.52% ± 14.46%; 19.28%; 0.86}, and {−2.80% ± 14.01%; 10.38%; 0.7}, respectively, and are {53.44% ± 29.68%; 49.79%; 0.74}, {27.83% ± 31.60%; 23.83; 0.71}, and {21.01% ± 29.64%; 25.48%; 0.34}, respectively, for those between PW and PC-MRI. The boxplot, linear regression and Bland–Altman plots were performed for each comparison, which illustrated that the results measured via V Flow rather than via PW agreed more closely with those measured via PC-MRI.
Diffusion Weighted Imaging in the Assessment of Tumor Grade in Endometrial Cancer Based on Intravoxel Incoherent Motion MRI
Authors: Chryssou Evangelia G. , Manikis Georgios C. , Ioannidis Georgios S. , Chaniotis Vrettos , Vrekoussis Thomas , Maris Thomas G. , Marias Kostas , Karantanas Apostolos H.
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of predicting histological grade in patients with endometrial cancer on the basis of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM)-related histogram analysis parameters. This prospective study included 52 women with endometrial cancer (EC) who underwent MR imaging as initial staging in our hospital, allocated into low-grade (G1 and G2) and high-grade (G3) tumors according to the pathology reports. Regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn on the diffusion weighted images and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), true diffusivity (D), and perfusion fraction (f) using diffusion models were computed. Mean, median, skewness, kurtosis, and interquartile range (IQR) were calculated from the whole-tumor histogram. The IQR of the diffusion coefficient (D) was significantly lower in the low-grade tumors from that of the high-grade group with an adjusted p-value of less than 5% (0.048). The ROC curve analysis results of the statistically significant IQR of the D yielded an accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 74.5%, 70.1%, and 76.5% respectively, for discriminating low from high-grade tumors, with an optimal cutoff of 0.206 (×10−3 mm2/s) and an AUC of 75.4% (95% CI: 62.1 to 88.8). The IVIM modeling coupled with histogram analysis techniques is promising for preoperative differentiation between low- and high-grade EC tumors.
Working Algorithms and Detection Methods of Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Liver Disease: A Nationwide Study
Authors: Muñoz-Sánchez Guillermo , Pérez-Isidro Albert , Ortiz de Landazuri Iñaki , López-Gómez Antonio , Bravo-Gallego Luz Yadira , Garcia-Ormaechea Milagros , Julià Maria Rosa , Viñas Odette , Ruiz-Ortiz Estíbaliz ,   on behalf of the 2020 GEAI-SEI Workshop Participants
Published: March 2022

Autoantibody detection is the cornerstone of autoimmune liver diseases (AILD) diagnosis. Standardisation of working algorithms among autoimmunity laboratories, as well as being aware of the sensitivity and specificity of various commercial techniques in daily practice, are still necessary. The aim of this nationwide study is to report the results of the 2020 Autoimmunity Workshop organised by the Autoimmunity Group of the Spanish Society of Immunology and to provide useful information to clinicians and laboratory specialists to improve the management of autoantibody detection in AILD diagnoses. Serum samples from 17 patients with liver diseases were provided by the organisers of the 2020 Autoimmunity Workshop and were subsequently analysed by the 40 participating laboratories. Each laboratory used different techniques for the detection of autoantibodies in each patients’ serum sample, according to their working algorithm. Thus, almost 680 total complete patient reports were obtained, and the number of results from different autoantibody detection techniques was >3000. Up to eight different working algorithms were employed, including indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA) and antigen-specific techniques (AgST). The IFA of HEp-2 cells was more sensitive than IFA of rat triple tissue for the study of anti-nuclear autoantibodies (ANA) associated with AILD. The IFA of a human neutrophil study for the analysis of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies was not carried out systemically in all patients, or by all laboratories. AgSTs were the most sensitive methods for the detection of anti-smooth muscle/F-actin, soluble liver antigen, liver cytosol-1, M2-mitochondrial autoantibodies, and ANA associated with primary biliary cholangitis. The main differences in AMA detection were due to patients with autoantibodies against the non-dominant epitope of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Given that they are complementary, IFA and AgST should be performed in parallel. If there is high suspicion of AILD, AgST should always be performed.
Gender, Perception of Audits, Access to Finance, and Self-Assessed Corporate Tax Compliance
Authors: Sunardi Sunardi , Damayanti Theresia Woro , Supramono Supramono , Hermanto Yustinus Budi
Published: March 2022

This study explores the influence of financial statement audits on tax compliance directly and indirectly through access to finance, and it examines gender roles to improve tax compliance through access to finance and financial statement audits. The sample for this study consisted of 45,504 businesses located in developing countries, as determined by The World Bank Enterprise Survey 2006–2018. The primary findings of this study demonstrate that the audit of financial statements has a positive impact on tax compliance through access to finance. Another result is that firms with female top managers are more likely to comply with their tax obligations than those with male top managers. The key to improving tax compliance is that policymakers should encourage financial institutions to provide more significant opportunities for companies that audit financial statements to access larger amounts of capital and faster disbursement of funds. Firms should provide greater opportunities for women to occupy positions as top managers. It is the company’s responsibility to promote gender sharing programs, particularly for the human resources department. Our study integrates the concepts of financial statement audits, access to finance, and the gender of firm managers into a model to predict how firms comply with their tax obligations.
Parameter Estimation for Hindmarsh–Rose Neurons
Authors: Fradkov Alexander L. , Kovalchukov Aleksandr , Andrievsky Boris
Published: March 2022

In the paper, a new adaptive model of a neuron based on the Hindmarsh–Rose third-order model of a single neuron is proposed. The learning algorithm for adaptive identification of the neuron parameters is proposed and analyzed both theoretically and by computer simulation. The proposed algorithm is based on the Lyapunov functions approach and reduced adaptive observer. It allows one to estimate parameters of the population of the neurons if they are synchronized. The rigorous stability conditions for synchronization and identification are presented.