bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Definitive Radiotherapy-Based Treatment and Surgical-Based Treatment for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Authors: Wu Qiuji , Wang Juan , Li Shaojie , Liu Jia , Cheng Yanshuang , Jin Jieying , Zhong Yahua
Published: April 2023

Background: Head and neck soft-tissue sarcomas are rare but aggressive malignancies. Definitive radiotherapy might be an alternative treatment choice in patients unfit for surgery with preservation of organ function and facial morphology. Whether definitive radiotherapy is comparable with surgery has not been fully demonstrated. In this study, we compared the prognosis of patients with radiotherapy-based treatment and with surgery-based treatment. Methods: From May 2014 to February 2021, patients with locally advanced head and neck soft-tissue sarcoma treated with either definitive radiotherapy-based treatment or radical surgery-based treatment were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical outcomes including tumor response, patients’ survival and acute treatment-related toxicities were evaluated. Kaplan–Meier curves with log-rank test were used to compare survival data. Cox regression analysis was used to explore prognostic factors. Results: A total of 24 patients (12 males and 12 females, 3 to 61 years old) were eligible for analysis. The median follow-up time was 49 (range: 6–96) months. In 16 patients receiving definitive radiotherapy-based treatment, 6 reached complete response. The survival curve showed that there was no statistically significant difference in overall survival (OS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), loco-regional relapse-free survival (LRRFS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between the two groups of patients (p = 0.35, p = 0.24, p = 0.48, p = 0.1, respectively). COX regression analysis showed that older age was associated with poor DMFS. There was no significant difference in grade 3–4 toxicities between the two groups. Conclusions: In cases of contradictions to surgery, refusal to surgery or failure to complete resection, chemoradiotherapy might be an alternative treatment option.
Relationships among Postprandial Plasma Active GLP-1 and GIP Excursions, Skeletal Muscle Mass, and Body Fat Mass in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Treated with Either Miglitol, Sitagliptin, or Their Combination: A Secondary Analysis of the MASTER Study
Authors: Sato Masahiro , Fujita Hiroki , Yokoyama Hiroki , Mikada Atsushi , Horikawa Yohei , Takahashi Yuya , Yamada Yuichiro , Waki Hironori , Narita Takuma
Published: April 2023

Background: We previously conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial “the MASTER study” and demonstrated that alpha-glucosidase inhibitor miglitol and a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin modified postprandial plasma excursions of active glucagon-like peptide-1 (aGLP-1) and active gastric inhibitory polypeptide (aGIP), and miglitol treatment decreased body fat mass in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the details regarding the relationships among postprandial plasma aGLP-1 and aGIP excursions, skeletal muscle mass, and body fat mass are unclear. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of the relationships among skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), total body fat mass index (TBFMI), and the incremental area under the curves (iAUC) of plasma aGLP-1 and aGIP excursions following mixed meal ingestion at baseline and after 24-week add-on treatment with either miglitol alone, sitagliptin alone, or their combination in T2D patients. Results: SMI was not changed after the 24-week treatment with miglitol and/or sitagliptin. TBFMI was reduced and the rates of aGIP-iAUC change were lowered in the two groups treated with miglitol, although their correlations did not reach statistical significance. We observed a positive correlation between the rates of aGIP-iAUC and TBFMI changes and a negative correlation between the rates of TBFMI and SMI changes in T2D patients treated with sitagliptin alone whose rates of aGIP-iAUC change were elevated. Conclusions: Collectively, although T2D patients treated with miglitol and/or sitagliptin did not show altered SMI after 24-week treatment, the current study suggests that there are possible interrelationships among postprandial plasma aGIP excursion modified by sitagliptin, skeletal muscle mass, and body fat mass.
Supine MDS-UPDRS-III Assessment: An Explorative Study
Authors: Kremer Naomi I. , Smid Annemarie , Lange Stèfan F. , Mateus Marçal Iara , Tamasi Katalin , van Dijk J. Marc C. , van Laar Teus , Drost Gea
Published: April 2023

The Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale—part III (MDS-UPDRS-III) is designed to be applied in the sitting position. However, to evaluate the clinical effect during stereotactic neurosurgery or to assess bedridden patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), the MDS-UPDRS-III is often used in a supine position. This explorative study evaluates the agreement of the MDS-UPDRS-III in the sitting and the supine positions. In 23 PD patients, the MDS-UPDRS-III was applied in both positions while accelerometric measurements were performed. Video recordings of the assessments were evaluated by two certified raters. Agreement between the sitting and supine MDS-UPDRS-III was studied using Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Relationships between the MDS-UPDRS-III tremor scores and accelerometric amplitudes were calculated for both positions with linear regression. A fair to substantial agreement was found for MDS-UPDRS-III scores of individual items in the sitting and supine positions, while combining all tests resulted in a substantial agreement. The inter-rater reliability was fair to moderate for both positions. A logarithmic relationship between tremor scores and accelerometric amplitude was revealed for both the sitting and supine positions. Nevertheless, these data are insufficient to fully support the supine application of the MDS-UPDRS-III. Several recommendations are made to address the sensitivity of the scale to inter-rater variability. In conclusion, although an overall substantial agreement between sitting and supine MDS-UPDRS-III is confirmed, its application in the supine position is not endorsed for the whole range of its individual items. Caution is warranted in interpreting the supine MDS-UPDRS-III, pending additional research.
Expectations for the Dual Therapy with Vonoprazan and Amoxicillin for the Eradication of H. pylori
Authors: Furuta Takahisa , Yamade Mihoko , Higuchi Tomohiro , Takahashi Satoru , Ishida Natsuki , Tani Shinya , Tamura Satoshi , Iwaizumi Moriya , Hamaya Yasushi , Osawa Satoshi , Sugimoto Ken
Published: April 2023

Vonoprazan (VPZ) inhibits gastric acid secretion more potently than proton pump inhibitors. Recently, attention has been focused on the dual therapy with VPZ and amoxicillin (AMOX) for the eradication of H. pylori. The dual VPZ/AMOX therapy attains the sufficient eradication rate with lowering the risk of adverse events in comparison with the triple therapy and quadruple therapy. Therefore, the dual VPZ/AMOX therapy is considered a useful eradication regimen for H. pylori infection.
The Risk of Malignant Degeneration of Müllerian Derivatives in PMDS: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Gagliardi Federica , Lauro Augusto , De Anna Livia , Tripodi Domenico , Esposito Anna , Forte Flavio , Pironi Daniele , Lori Eleonora , Gentile Patrizia Alba , Marino Ignazio R. , Figueroa Ernesto T. , D’Andrea Vito
Published: April 2023

Persistent Müllerian Duct Syndrome (PMDS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of sex development characterized by the presence of fallopian tubes, uterus and upper one-third of the vagina in individuals with XY genotype and normal male phenotype. The main complications of PMDS are infertility and the rare risk of malignant degeneration of both testicular and Müllerian derivatives. We report the case of a 49-year-old man who, during repair of an incisional hernia, was incidentally found to have a uterine-like structure posterior to the bladder. In the past at the age of 18 months, he had undergone bilateral orchidopexies for bilateral cryptorchidism. The intraoperative decision was to preserve the uterine-like structure and make a more accurate diagnosis postoperatively. Evaluation revealed an XY chromosome and imaging consistent with PMDS. The patient was informed about the risk of neoplastic transformation of the residual Müller ducts and was offered surgical treatment, which he declined. Subsequent follow-up imaging studies, including testicular and pelvic ultrasound, were negative for findings suggestive of malignant testicular and Mullerian derivative degeneration. A review of the international literature showed that, when a decision is taken to remove the Mullerian derivatives, laparoscopy and especially robotic surgery allow for the successful removal of Müllerian derivatives. Whenever the removal of these structures is not possible or the patient refuses to undergo surgery, it is necessary to inform the patient of the need for adequate follow-up. Patients should undergo regular pelvic imaging examination and MRI might be a better method for that purpose.
Meso-Scale Finite Element Model for Rib-Stiffened Composites with Biaxial Weft-Knitted Reinforcements
Authors: Pham Minh Quang , Bollengier Quentin , Rabe David , Lang Tobias Georg , Häntzsche Eric , Trümper Wolfgang , Cherif Chokri , Gereke Thomas
Published: April 2023

Shell-rib structures made of textile-reinforced composites are used in a wide range of applications to increase bending, buckling and torsional stiffness. Such composites are usually manufactured in differential construction at the preform level by assembling several textile structures or at the component level by the subsequent joining of separately manufactured shells and stiffening structures. Integral preform production is one way to overcome the disadvantages of the forenamed methods, such as high manual effort, failure during assembling or fiber distortion. Weft-knitting technology is excellent for achieving integral preforms for shell-rib components with a strong connection between the shell and the rib, especially while producing biaxial weft-knitted fabrics (BWKF) with reinforcing yarns in the warp and weft direction to improve its mechanical behavior. In this work, the possibilities of the knitting technique are investigated, and a finite element model for comparing different variants is developed and validated. A meso-scale Finite-Element-Method (FEM) model of the BWKF is used. The simulation results with the meso-scale model show a good correlation with experimental data by a description of bending strength and stiffness of different FRP configuration variations. The model can be used in further investigation of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) made from BWKF.
A Simplified Mathematical Model of Pumped Hydrofoils
Authors: Rozhdestvensky Kirill
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a simplified mathematical model of a pumped hydrofoil (PH)—a surfboard elevated above water surface and connected to a tandem of hydrofoils by a strut. The PH is operated by a rider who stands on the surfboard and produces swinging up-and-down motions resulting in forward propulsion of the device. In the present paper, the description of the vertical motion of the PH is reduced to a linear oscillator excited by an oscillating mass coupled with the requirement that the weight is supported by dynamic lift of the foil(s). The inertial and damping influence of the hydrofoil(s) is accounted for by expanding unsteady lift force on the foil(s) in terms of kinematic parameters. The restoring term of the oscillator is associated with the phenomenon of automatic stabilization of shallowly submerged hydrofoils. The latter effect manifests itself in that when a hydrofoil approaches free surface, its lift decreases, and when it moves away from free surface, its lift increases. The analytical solution of the pumping foil mass-spring type forced oscillations equation allows one to calculate the flapping motion of the foil(s) and, thereafter, the period-averaged thrust generated by the PH. The resulting speed has been estimated on an assumption that the device enters its cruising mode when the thrust becomes equal to the drag, the latter comprising viscous, wave, and induced drag components. The model under discussion allows one to relate the main parameters of the system to its performance and, hopefully, provides further insight into the pumped hydrofoil phenomenon, its design methodology, and operation strategy. The review part of the paper focuses on two aspects of the problem: hydrodynamic behavior of the hydrofoil(s) in proximity to free water surface and their propulsion due to oscillations.
Designing Protograph LDPC Codes for Differential Chaotic Bit-Interleaved Coded Modulation System for Underwater Acoustic Communications
Authors: Xu Zhiping , Chen Qiwang , Li Yang , Cai Guofa , Lin Lixiong , Zheng Jiachun , Sun Yanglong
Published: April 2023

Underwater acoustic (UWA) communications face many challenges, such as large multipath delay, severe fading and the time-varying distortions. Chaotic modulations have shown advantages in UWA communications, but the reliability of current chaotic modulations is still not guaranteed. In this paper, a short-length protograph low-density parity-check (P-LDPC) code design framework for the differential chaotic bit-interleaved coded modulation (DC-BICM) system for UWA communication is proposed. This design framework, considering the requirements of short codes in UWA communications, integrates the DC-BICM system, UWA channel and the differential evolutionary code searching algorithm. Through this design framework, the optimized short P-LDPC code can be obtained. Simulation results show that the DC-BICM system with the proposed P-LDPC code can obtain more than 0.48 dB coding gain and reduce 32.6%~69.5% of the average number of iterations compared with the counterparts. Moreover, the reconstructed underwater image with the proposed P-LDPC code is clearest with the highest peak-signal-noise ratio value when compared with counterparts.
Computational Decision Support for Socio-Technical Awareness of Land-Use Planning under Complexity—A Dam Resilience Planning Case Study
Authors: Tolk Andreas , Richkus Jennifer A. , Shults F. LeRon , Wildman Wesley J.
Published: April 2023

Land-use planning for modern societies requires technical competence as well as social competence. We therefore propose an integrative solution enabling better land-use planning and management through better-informed decision-making. We adapt a method developed for cross-disciplinary team building to identify the stakeholders and their various objectives and value systems. We use these results to populate artificial societies embedded into a dynamic data analytics framework as a tool to identify, explore, and visualize the challenges resulting from the different objectives and value systems in land-use planning and management. To prove the feasibility of the proposed solution, we present two use cases from the dam resilience planning domain, show how to apply the process and tools, and present the results. The solution is not limited to such use cases but can be generalized to address challenges in socio-technical systems, such as water resource evaluations or climate change effects.
Microstructure and Wear Performance of CeO2-Modified Micro-Nano Structured WC-CoCr Coatings Sprayed with HVOF
Authors: Ding Xiang , Wang Qun , Tian Yinghao , Yang Changchun , Yuan Chengqing , Ramachandran Chidambaram Seshadri
Published: April 2023

Rare earth elements have been widely utilized in material manufacturing to enhance properties in various ways. In order to obtain the WC-10Co4Cr coating with uniform distribution of rare earths, CeO2-modified powder was prepared by mixing 1 wt.% nano-sized CeO2 during the initial ball-milling of the powder fabrication process. Bare and CeO2-modified WC-10Co4Cr coatings were deposited via high velocity oxygen fuel spraying to investigate the impact of CeO2 modification on the coating’s microstructure, mechanical properties and abrasive wear performance. The results show that the addition of CeO2 increased the interface energy, inhibiting the formation of the Co3W3C phase during the powder sintering process, as well as the W2C phase and CoCr alloy during the high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) process. This led to a significantly decreased porosity and higher concentration of undissolved Cr-rich areas. The microhardness and fracture toughness of the CeO2-modified coating were 1230 HV0.3 and 5.77 MPam1/2, respectively. The abrasive wear resistance of the CeO2-modified coating was only 70.9% of that of the unmodified coating. Due to the weak cohesive strength between WC and Cr, Cr-rich areas were preferentially removed, resulting in an increased wear rate in the CeO2-modified coating.
Research on the Process, Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions of Different Magnesium Refining Processes
Authors: Xu Jingzhong , Zhang Tingan , Li Xiaolong
Published: April 2023

Under the policy of low carbon energy saving, higher requirements are put forward for magnesium smelting. As the mainstream magnesium smelting process, the Pidgeon process has the disadvantages of a long production cycle, high energy consumption and high carbon emission, which makes it difficult to meet the requirements of green environmental protection. This paper reviews the research progress on different magnesium smelting processes and further analyzes their energy consumption and carbon emissions. It is concluded that the standard coal required for the production of tons of magnesium using the relative vacuum continuous magnesium refining process is reduced by more than 1.5 t, the carbon emission is reduced by more than 10 t and the reduction cycle is shortened by more than 9.5 h. The process has the advantages of being clean, efficient and low-carbon, which provides a new way for the development of the magnesium industry.
Three-Dimensional Vibration Model of Cylindrical Shells via Carrera Unified Formulation
Authors: Liang Weige , Liu Tao , Li Chi , Wang Qingshan
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we present a novel and unified model for studying the vibration of cylindrical shells based on the three-dimensional (3D) elastic theory and the Carrera Unified Formulation. Our approach represents a significant advancement in the field, as it enables us to accurately predict the vibrational behavior of cylindrical shells under arbitrary boundary conditions. To accomplish this, we expand the axial, circumferential, and radial displacements of the shell using Chebyshev polynomials and Taylor series, thereby reducing the dimensionality of the expansion and ensuring the precision and rigor of our results. In addition, we introduce three groups of artificial boundary surface springs to simulate the general end boundary conditions of the cylindrical shell and coupling springs to strongly couple the two surfaces of the cylindrical shell φ = 0 and φ = 2π to ensure continuity of displacements on these faces. Using the energy function of the entire cylindrical shell model, we obtain the characteristic equation of the system by finding the partial derivatives of the unknown coefficients of displacement in the energy function. By solving this equation, we can directly obtain the vibration characteristics of the cylindrical shell. We demonstrate the convergence, accuracy, and reliability of our approach by comparing our computational results with existing results in the literature and finite element results. Finally, we present simulation results of the frequency features of cylindrical shells with various geometrical and boundary parameters in the form of tables and figures. Overall, we believe that our novel approach has the potential to greatly enhance our understanding of cylindrical shells and pave the way for further advancements in the field of structural engineering. Our comprehensive model and simulation results contribute to the ongoing efforts to develop efficient and reliable techniques for analyzing the vibrational behavior of cylindrical shells.
Study on Effect of Nano-CaCO3 on Properties of Phosphorus Building Gypsum
Authors: Zhang Yi , Tao Zhong , Wu Lei , Zhang Zhiqi , Zhao Zhiman
Published: April 2023

Phosphogypsum is an industrial by-product from the wet preparation of phosphoric acid. Phosphorus building gypsum (PBG) can be obtained from phosphogypsum after high-thermal dehydration. Improving the mechanical properties of PBG is of great significance to extending its application range. In this paper, PBG was modified by adding nano-CaCO3. Specifically, this study, conducted on 0.25–2% nano-CaCO3-doped PBG, tested effects on the fluidity, setting time, absolute dry flexural strength, absolute dry compressive strength, water absorption and softening coefficient of PBG, followed by its microscopic analysis with SEM and XRD. The experimental results showed that, with an increase in nano-CaCO3 content, the fluidity and setting time of PBG-based mixes were decreased. When the content was 2%, the fluidity was 120 mm, which was 33% lower than that of the blank group; the initial setting time was 485 s, which was 38% lower than that in the blank group; the final setting time was 1321 s, which was reduced by 29%. Nano-CaCO3 evidently improved the absolute dry flexural strength, absolute dry compressive strength, water absorption and softening coefficient of PBG to a certain extent. When the content was 1%, the strengthening effect reached the optimum, with the absolute dry flexural strength and absolute dry compressive strength being increased to 8.1 MPa and 20.5 MPa, respectively, which were 50% and 24% higher than those of the blank group; when the content was 1.5%, the water absorption was 0.22, which was 33% lower than that of the blank group; when the content approached 0.75%, the softening coefficient reached the peak of 0.63, which was 66% higher than that of the blank group. Doping with nano-CaCO3 could significantly improve the performance of PBG, which provides a new scheme for its modification.
On the Modernisation of Weber’s Electrodynamics
Authors: Montes Juan Manuel
Published: April 2023

This work is an attempt to modernise Weber’s electrodynamics to make it compatible with the high-velocity regime, and with the existence of a limiting velocity, c. For this purpose, starting from the law of energy conservation and the mass–energy equivalence, new expressions for potential energy and for kinetic energy are derived jointly which are consistent with an ultimate velocity of the value of c. The new potential energy, already reported by Phipps, becomes Weber’s expression in the limit of low velocities. The new kinetic energy differs from the relativistic expression, but, like the latter, it also becomes the Newtonian expression in the limit of low velocities. New expressions for force and linear momentum are also derived which complete a new mechanics. Phipps’ potential energy and new kinetic energy are applied to the problem of two interacting charges in a radial motion and orbital motion. The new framework is also applied to the problem of a charge moving between the two plates of a charged capacitor, obtaining a result similar to that obtained by means of Maxwell–Lorentz electromagnetism and relativistic mechanics. The metaphysical considerations that clearly differentiate the conventional framework from the new framework proposed here are discussed.
Approximation Properties of the Vector Weak Rescaled Pure Greedy Algorithm
Authors: Xu Xu , Guo Jinyu , Ye Peixin , Zhang Wenhui
Published: April 2023

We first study the error performances of the Vector Weak Rescaled Pure Greedy Algorithm for simultaneous approximation with respect to a dictionary D in a Hilbert space. We show that the convergence rate of the Vector Weak Rescaled Pure Greedy Algorithm on A1(D) and the closure of the convex hull of the dictionary D is optimal. The Vector Weak Rescaled Pure Greedy Algorithm has some advantages. It has a weaker convergence condition and a better convergence rate than the Vector Weak Pure Greedy Algorithm and is simpler than the Vector Weak Orthogonal Greedy Algorithm. Then, we design a Vector Weak Rescaled Pure Greedy Algorithm in a uniformly smooth Banach space setting. We obtain the convergence properties and error bound of the Vector Weak Rescaled Pure Greedy Algorithm in this case. The results show that the convergence rate of the VWRPGA on A1(D) is sharp. Similarly, the Vector Weak Rescaled Pure Greedy Algorithm is simpler than the Vector Weak Chebyshev Greedy Algorithm and the Vector Weak Relaxed Greedy Algorithm.
Assisting the Human Embryo Viability Assessment by Deep Learning for In Vitro Fertilization
Authors: Ishaq Muhammad , Raza Salman , Rehar Hunza , Abadeen Shan e Zain ul , Hussain Dildar , Naqvi Rizwan Ali , Lee Seung-Won
Published: April 2023

The increasing global infertility rate is a matter of significant concern. In vitro fertilization (IVF) significantly minimizes infertility by providing an alternative clinical means of becoming pregnant. The success of IVF mainly depends on the assessment and analysis of human blastocyst components such as the blastocoel (BC), zona pellucida (ZP), inner cell mass (ICM), and trophectoderm (TE). Embryologists perform a morphological assessment of the blastocyst components for the selection of potential embryos to be used in the IVF process. Manual assessment of blastocyst components is time-consuming, subjective, and prone to errors. Therefore, artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods are highly desirable for enhancing the success rate and efficiency of IVF. In this study, a novel feature-supplementation-based blastocyst segmentation network (FSBS-Net) has been developed to deliver higher segmentation accuracy for blastocyst components with less computational overhead compared with state-of-the-art methods. FSBS-Net uses an effective feature supplementation mechanism along with ascending channel convolutional blocks to accurately detect the pixels of the blastocyst components with minimal spatial loss. The proposed method was evaluated using an open database for human blastocyst component segmentation, and it outperformed state-of-the-art methods in terms of both segmentation accuracy and computational efficiency. FSBS-Net segmented the BC, ZP, ICM, TE, and background with intersections over union (IoU) values of 89.15, 85.80, 85.55, 80.17, and 95.61%, respectively. In addition, FSBS-Net achieved a mean IoU for all categories of 87.26% with only 2.01 million trainable parameters. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method could be very helpful in assisting embryologists in the morphological assessment of human blastocyst components.
Constructing an Evolutionary Tree and Path–Cycle Graph Evolution along It
Authors: Gorbunov Konstantin , Lyubetsky Vassily
Published: April 2023

The paper solves the problem of constructing an evolutionary tree and the evolution of structures along it. This problem has long been posed and extensively researched; it is formulated and discussed below. As a result, we construct an exact cubic-time algorithm which outputs a tree with the minimum cost of embedding into it and of embedding it into a given network (Theorem 1). We construct an algorithm that outputs a minimum embedding of a tree into a network, taking into account incomplete linear sorting; the algorithm depends linearly on the number of nodes in the network and is exact if the sorting cost is not less than the sum of the duplication cost and the loss cost (Theorem 3). We construct an exact approximately quadratic-time algorithm which, for arbitrary costs of SCJ operations, solves the problem of reconstruction of given structures on any two-star tree (Theorem 4). We construct an exact algorithm which reduced the problem of DCJ reconstruction of given structures on any star to a logarithmic-length sequence of SAT problems, each of them being of approximately quadratic size (Theorem 5). The theorems have rigorous and complete proofs of correctness and complexity of the algorithms, and are accompanied by numerical examples and numerous explanatory illustrations, including flowcharts.
A New RP1PR Type Coupling for Shafts with Crossed Axes
Authors: Alaci Stelian , Doroftei Ioan , Ciornei Florina-Carmen , Romanu Ionut-Cristian , Doroftei Ioan-Alexandru , Ciornei Mariana-Catalina
Published: April 2023

There are few examples of mechanical coupling solutions for the transmission of high torques between two rotating shafts that have non-coplanar, non-parallel axes. Based on the structural analysis, the paper proposes a solution for an RP1PR-type symmetrical coupling. The Hartenberg–Denavit methodology is not applicable for performing the kinematical analysis, hence the solution starts from the geometrical condition of the creation of planar pairs of the mechanism, expressed in vector form. The absolute motion of all elements of the mechanism’s structure can be expressed after developing the kinematical analysis. The theoretical results are validated via numerical analysis. By comparing the analytical results with the CATIA-modeled results, excellent compatibility is obtained. We also propose a constructive solution for the newly designed coupling mechanism.
A Novel Kinematics Model of Flip-Flow Screen Panel: Inclined Catenary Model
Authors: Fan Jingfeng , He Zhanshu , Zhang Yifei , Wang Mingli
Published: April 2023

A flip-flow screen can effectively screen viscous particles, and its kinematic characteristics determine its screening performance. Since previous kinematic models have errors, a novel kinematics model of the flip-flow screen panel, namely the inclined catenary model, is developed. It is verified by comparing theoretical motion trajectory with experimental motion trajectory. Then, the kinematic characteristics, i.e., displacement, velocity and acceleration, obtained using four kinematic models, are compared. Finally, the effects of rotation speed n, eccentricity e, incline angle α and tensional amount Δl on displacement, velocity and acceleration of the midpoint are investigated. The results show that displacement, velocity and acceleration of each point in the screen panel can be calculated by using the inclined catenary model, and the inclined catenary model possesses higher prediction accuracy than the three previous kinematic models. Moreover, with the increase in n, the absolute value of velocity and acceleration increases, and the maximum absolute value of displacement remains unchanged. With the increase in e, the absolute value of displacement, velocity and acceleration increases. With the increase in α, the absolute value of transverse components of displacement, velocity and acceleration increases slowly and the absolute value of longitudinal components of displacement, velocity and acceleration decreases slightly. With the increase in Δl, the absolute value of displacement, velocity and acceleration increases. Therefore, the inclined catenary model can provide good guidance for selecting reasonable screening parameters.
An Algebraic Approach to the Δh-Frobenius–Genocchi–Appell Polynomials
Authors: Wani Shahid Ahmad , Shaikh Sarfaraj , Alam Parvez , Tamboli Shahid , Zayed Mohra , Dar Javid G. , Bhat Mohammad Younus
Published: April 2023

In recent years, the generating function of mixed-type special polynomials has received growing interest in several fields of applied sciences and physics. This article intends to study a new class of polynomials, called the Δh-Frobenius–Genocchi–Appell polynomials. The generating function of Δh-Frobenius–Genocchi–Appell polynomials is constructed and some of their fundamental properties are studied. By making use of this generating function, we investigate some novel and interesting results, such as recurrence relations, explicit representations, and implicit formulas for the Δh-Frobenius–Genocchi–Appell polynomials. The quasi-monomiality and determinant form for these polynomials are established. The Δh-Genocchi–Appell polynomials are explored as a special case and several results for Δh-Genocchi–Appell polynomials are also obtained.
Prevention of Post-Operative Pain after Elective Brain Surgery: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Fiore Giorgio , Porto Edoardo , Pluderi Mauro , Ampollini Antonella Maria , Borsa Stefano , Legnani Federico Giuseppe , Giampiccolo Davide , Miserocchi Anna , Bertani Giulio Andrea , DiMeco Francesco , Locatelli Marco
Published: April 2023

Background and Objective: To analyze the effects of several drug for pain prevention in adults undergoing craniotomy for elective brain surgery. Material and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. The inclusion criteria were limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for preventing post-operative pain in adults (aged 18 years or older) undergoing craniotomies. The main outcome measures were represented by the mean differences in validated pain intensity scales administered at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h post-operatively. The pooled estimates were calculated using random forest models. The risk of bias was evaluated using the RoB2 revised tool, and the certainty of evidence was assessed according to the GRADE guidelines. Results: In total, 3359 records were identified through databases and registers’ searching. After study selection, 29 studies and 2376 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The overall risk of bias was low in 78.5% of the studies included. The pooled estimates of the following drug classes were provided: NSAIDs, acetaminophen, local anesthetics and steroids for scalp infiltration and scalp block, gabapentinoids and agonists of adrenal receptors. Conclusions: High-certainty evidence suggests that NSAIDs and acetaminophen may have a moderate effect on reducing post-craniotomy pain 24 h after surgery compared to control and that ropivacaine scalp block may have a bigger impact on reducing post-craniotomy pain 6 h after surgery compared to control. Moderate-certainty evidence indicates that NSAIDs may have a more remarkable effect on reducing post-craniotomy pain 12 h after surgery compared to control. No moderate-to-high-certainty evidence indicates effective treatments for post-craniotomy pain prevention 48 h after surgery.
Prognostic Implication of EBV Infection in Gastric Carcinomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Pyo Jung-Soo , Kim Nae-Yu , Kang Dong-Wook
Published: April 2023

Background and objectives: This study aims to elucidate the prognostic implications of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection in gastric carcinomas (GCs) through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: In total, 57 eligible studies and 22,943 patients were included in this meta-analysis. We compared the prognoses of EBV-infected and non-infected GC patients. The subgroup analysis was performed based on the study location, molecular classification, and Lauren’s classification. This study was checked according to the PRISMA 2020. The meta-analysis was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software package. Results: EBV infection was found in 10.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.082–0.131) of GC patients. The EBV-infected GC patients had a better overall survival compared with the EBV-non-infected GC patients (hazard ratio (HR) 0.890, 95% CI 0.816–0.970). In the subgroup analysis based on molecular classification, no significant differences were found between EBV+ and microsatellite instability and microsatellite stable (MSS)/EBV− subgroups (HR 1.099, 95% CI 0.885–1.364 and HR 0.954, 95% CI 0.872–1.044, respectively). In the diffuse type of Lauren’s classification, EBV-infected GCs have a better prognosis compared with the EBV-non-infected GCs (HR 0.400, 95% CI 0.300–0.534). The prognostic impact of EBV infection was found in the Asian and American subgroups but not in the European subgroup (HR 0.880, 95% CI 0.782–0.991, HR 0.840, 95% CI 0.750–0.941, and HR 0.915, 95% CI 0.814–1.028). Conclusions: EBV infection is a favorable survival factor for GCs. However, the prognostic implications of EBV infection in the new molecular classification are not clear.
The Role of the PAA1 Gene on Melatonin Biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A Search of New Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferases
Authors: Bisquert Ricardo , Planells-Cárcel Andrés , Alonso-del-Real Javier , Muñiz-Calvo Sara , Guillamón José Manuel
Published: April 2023

Recently, the presence of melatonin in fermented beverages has been correlated with yeast metabolism during alcoholic fermentation. Melatonin, originally considered a unique product of the pineal gland of vertebrates, has been also identified in a wide range of invertebrates, plants, bacteria, and fungi in the last two decades. These findings bring the challenge of studying the function of melatonin in yeasts and the mechanisms underlying its synthesis. However, the necessary information to improve the selection and production of this interesting molecule in fermented beverages is to disclose the genes involved in the metabolic pathway. So far, only one gene has been proposed as involved in melatonin production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, PAA1, a polyamine acetyltransferase, a homolog of the vertebrate’s aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT). In this study, we assessed the in vivo function of PAA1 by evaluating the bioconversion of the different possible substrates, such as 5-methoxytryptamine, tryptamine, and serotonin, using different protein expression platforms. Moreover, we expanded the search for new N-acetyltransferase candidates by combining a global transcriptome analysis and the use of powerful bioinformatic tools to predict similar domains to AANAT in S. cerevisiae. The AANAT activity of the candidate genes was validated by their overexpression in E. coli because, curiously, this system evidenced higher differences than the overexpression in their own host S. cerevisiae. Our results confirm that PAA1 possesses the ability to acetylate different aralkylamines, but AANAT activity does not seem to be the main acetylation activity. Moreover, we also prove that Paa1p is not the only enzyme with this AANAT activity. Our search of new genes detected HPA2 as a new arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase in S. cerevisiae. This is the first report that clearly proves the involvement of this enzyme in AANAT activity.
Rumen Microbiota Predicts Feed Efficiency of Primiparous Nordic Red Dairy Cows
Authors: Tapio Miika , Fischer Daniel , Mäntysaari Päivi , Tapio Ilma
Published: April 2023

Efficient feed utilization in dairy cows is crucial for economic and environmental reasons. The rumen microbiota plays a significant role in feed efficiency, but studies utilizing microbial data to predict host phenotype are limited. In this study, 87 primiparous Nordic Red dairy cows were ranked for feed efficiency during their early lactation based on residual energy intake, and the rumen liquid microbial ecosystem was subsequently evaluated using 16S rRNA amplicon and metagenome sequencing. The study used amplicon data to build an extreme gradient boosting model, demonstrating that taxonomic microbial variation can predict efficiency (rtest = 0.55). Prediction interpreters and microbial network revealed that predictions were based on microbial consortia and the efficient animals had more of the highly interacting microbes and consortia. Rumen metagenome data was used to evaluate carbohydrate-active enzymes and metabolic pathway differences between efficiency phenotypes. The study showed that an efficient rumen had a higher abundance of glycoside hydrolases, while an inefficient rumen had more glycosyl transferases. Enrichment of metabolic pathways was observed in the inefficient group, while efficient animals emphasized bacterial environmental sensing and motility over microbial growth. The results suggest that inter-kingdom interactions should be further analyzed to understand their association with the feed efficiency of animals.
Seasonality in Synergism with Multi-Pathogen Presence Leads to Mass Mortalities of the Highly Endangered Pinna nobilis in Greek Coastlines: A Pathophysiological Approach
Authors: Lattos Athanasios , Feidantsis Konstantinos , Giantsis Ioannis A. , Theodorou John A. , Michaelidis Basile
Published: April 2023

Mortalities of Pinna nobilis populations set at risk the survival of the species from many Mediterranean coastline habitats. In many cases, both Haplosporidium pinnae and Mycobacterium spp. are implicated in mass mortalities of P. nobilis populations, leading the species into extinction. In the context of the importance of these pathogens’ role in P. nobilis mortalities, the present study investigated two Greek populations of the species hosting different microbial loads (one only H. pinnae and the second both pathogens) by the means of pathophysiological markers. More specifically, the populations from Kalloni Gulf (Lesvos Island) and from Maliakos Gulf (Fthiotis), seasonally sampled, were chosen based on the host pathogens in order to investigate physiological and immunological biomarkers to assess those pathogens’ roles. In order to determine if the haplosporidian parasite possesses a major role in the mortalities or if both pathogens are involved in these phenomena, a variety of biomarkers, including apoptosis, autophagy, inflammation and heat shock response were applied. The results indicated a decreased physiological performance of individuals hosting both pathogens in comparison with those hosting only H. pinnae. Our findings provide evidence for the synergistic role of those pathogens in the mortality events, which is also enhanced by the influence of seasonality.
In-Silico Analysis Highlights the Existence in Members of Burkholderia cepacia Complex of a New Class of Adhesins Possessing Collagen-like Domains
Authors: Estevens Ricardo , Mil-Homens Dalila , Fialho Arsenio M.
Published: April 2023

Burkholderia cenocepacia is a multi-drug-resistant lung pathogen. This species synthesizes various virulence factors, among which cell-surface components (adhesins) are critical for establishing the contact with host cells. This work in the first part focuses on the current knowledge about the adhesion molecules described in this species. In the second part, through in silico approaches, we perform a comprehensive analysis of a group of unique bacterial proteins possessing collagen-like domains (CLDs) that are strikingly overrepresented in the Burkholderia species, representing a new putative class of adhesins. We identified 75 CLD-containing proteins in Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) members (Bcc-CLPs). The phylogenetic analysis of Bcc-CLPs revealed the evolution of the core domain denominated “Bacterial collagen-like, middle region”. Our analysis remarkably shows that these proteins are formed by extensive sets of compositionally biased residues located within intrinsically disordered regions (IDR). Here, we discuss how IDR functions may increase their efficiency as adhesion factors. Finally, we provided an analysis of a set of five homologs identified in B. cenocepacia J2315. Thus, we propose the existence in Bcc of a new type of adhesion factors distinct from the described collagen-like proteins (CLPs) found in Gram-positive bacteria.
Advancements in Research on Constructing Physiological and Pathological Liver Models and Their Applications Utilizing Bioprinting Technology
Authors: Ming Zibei , Tang Xinyu , Liu Jing , Ruan Banfeng
Published: April 2023

In recent decades, significant progress has been made in liver tissue engineering through the use of 3D bioprinting technology. This technology offers the ability to create personalized biological structures with precise geometric design capabilities. The complex and multifaceted nature of liver diseases underscores the need for advanced technologies to accurately mimic the physiological and mechanical characteristics, as well as organ-level functions, of liver tissue in vitro. Bioprinting stands out as a superior option over traditional two-dimensional cell culture models and animal models due to its stronger biomimetic advantages. Through the use of bioprinting, it is possible to create liver tissue with a level of structural and functional complexity that more closely resembles the real organ, allowing for more accurate disease modeling and drug testing. As a result, it is a promising tool for restoring and replacing damaged tissue and organs in the field of liver tissue engineering and drug research. This article aims to present a comprehensive overview of the progress made in liver tissue engineering using bioprinting technology to provide valuable insights for researchers. The paper provides a detailed account of the history of liver tissue engineering, highlights the current 3D bioprinting methods and bioinks that are widely used, and accentuates the importance of existing in vitro liver tissue models based on 3D bioprinting and their biomedical applications. Additionally, the article explores the challenges faced by 3D bioprinting and predicts future trends in the field. The progress of 3D bioprinting technology is poised to bring new approaches to printing liver tissue in vitro, while offering powerful tools for drug development, testing, liver disease modeling, transplantation, and regeneration, which hold great academic and practical significance.
Natural Products for Drug Discovery in the 21st Century: Innovations for Novel Therapeutics
Authors: Coy-Barrera Ericsson , Ogungbe Ifedayo Victor , Schmidt Thomas J.
Published: April 2023

Natural products (NPs) from plants, fungi, animals, and microorganisms have historically played important roles in drug discovery [...]
Base-Promoted Intramolecular Addition of Vinyl Cyclopropanecarboxamides to Access Conformationally Restricted Aza[3.1.0]bicycles
Authors: Li Jingya , Zhang Zhiguo , Chen Liming , Li Mengjuan , Zhang Xingjie , Zhang Guisheng
Published: April 2023

3-Azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes are common structural components in natural products and bioactive compounds. Traditionally, the metal-mediated cyclopropanation domino reaction of chain enzymes is the most commonly used strategy for the construction of this type of aza[3.1.0]bicycle derivative. In this study, a base-promoted intramolecular addition of alkenes used to deliver conformationally restricted highly substituted aza[3.1.0]bicycles is reported. This reaction was tailor-made for saturated aza[3.1.0] bicycle-containing fused bicyclic compounds that may be applied in the development of concise and divergent total syntheses of bioactive compounds.
Promising Effects of N-Docosahexaenoyl Ethanolamine in Breast Cancer: Molecular and Cellular Insights
Authors: Augimeri Giuseppina , Bonofiglio Daniela
Published: April 2023

Unhealthy dietary habits have been identified as a risk factor for the development and progression of cancer. Therefore, adopting a healthy eating pattern is currently recommended to prevent the onset of different types of cancers, including breast carcinoma. In particular, the Mediterranean diet, based on high consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (N-3 PUFAs), such as those found in cold-water fish and other seafood, nuts, and seeds, is recommended to reduce the incidence of several chronic-degenerative diseases. Indeed, the consumption of N-3 PUFAs, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), reduced the risk of different types of cancer, including breast cancer. Moreover, they can counteract breast cancer progression and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy in breast cancer survival. Studies have demonstrated that DHA, exhibiting greater antitumor activity than EPA in breast cancer, can be attributed to its direct impact on breast cancer cells and also due to its conversion into various metabolites. N-docosahexaenoyl ethanolamine, DHEA, is the most studied DHA derivative for its therapeutic potential in breast cancer. In this review, we emphasize the significance of dietary habits and the consumption of N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly DHA, and we describe the current knowledge on the antitumoral action of DHA and its derivative DHEA in the treatment of breast cancer.
Functional Foods as a New Therapeutic Strategy
Authors: Cruz-Chamorro Ivan
Published: April 2023

Recently, the use of nutraceuticals has drawn attention in the food industry due to their potential health benefits [...]