bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanoengineering of Catalysts for Enhanced Hydrogen Production
Authors: Fiorio Jhonatan Luiz , Gothe Maitê Lippel , Kohlrausch Emerson Cristofer , Zardo Maria Luísa , Tanaka Auro Atsushi , de Lima Roberto Batista , da Silva Anderson Gabriel Marques , Garcia Marco Aurélio Suller , Vidinha Pedro , Machado Giovanna
Published: May 2022

Hydrogen (H2) has emerged as a sustainable energy carrier capable of replacing/complementing the global carbon-based energy matrix. Although studies in this area have often focused on the fundamental understanding of catalytic processes and the demonstration of their activities towards different strategies, much effort is still needed to develop high-performance technologies and advanced materials to accomplish widespread utilization. The main goal of this review is to discuss the recent contributions in the H2 production field by employing nanomaterials with well-defined and controllable physicochemical features. Nanoengineering approaches at the sub-nano or atomic scale are especially interesting, as they allow us to unravel how activity varies as a function of these parameters (shape, size, composition, structure, electronic, and support interaction) and obtain insights into structure–performance relationships in the field of H2 production, allowing not only the optimization of performances but also enabling the rational design of nanocatalysts with desired activities and selectivity for H2 production. Herein, we start with a brief description of preparing such materials, emphasizing the importance of accomplishing the physicochemical control of nanostructures. The review finally culminates in the leading technologies for H2 production, identifying the promising applications of controlled nanomaterials.
Research on Three-Dimensional Electronic Navigation Chart Hybrid Spatial Index Structure Based on Quadtree and R-Tree
Authors: Zhang Yunong , Zhang Anmin , Gao Miao , Liang Yi
Published: May 2022

The three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the electronic navigation chart (ENC) can reflect the marine environment and various marine features truly, accurately, and directly, to reduce misoperation during chart use and improve the convenience of using the chart. Due to a large amount of ENC data, complex data structure, and uneven distribution in 3D space, the construction and real-time rendering of 3D ENCs depend on the retrieval speed of 3D spatial data. Improving the spatial retrieval efficiency of 3D ENC data is helpful for the rapid rendering of a 3D scene. In this paper, based on the S-100 universal hydrological data model (S-100) and the 3D characteristics to classify the ENC features and create the 3D ENC data set, a hybrid spatial index structure is proposed based on quadtree and R-tree and ENC features data structure, using the smallest minimum bounding box (SMBB) and classification retrieval methods to optimize the spatial index structure. All the ENC features are rendered in a 3D marine scene. By analyzing the overlap of ENC features and testing the efficiency of spatial index structure, the results show that this method can effectively reduce the overlap rate of index nodes and improve the efficiency of data retrieval, realize the effective management of 3D ENC data, and improve the drawing speed of 3D ENCs.
County-Level Assessment of Vulnerability to COVID-19 in Alabama
Authors: Fall Souleymane , Abdalla Ehsan , Quansah Joseph , Franklin Meghan J. , Whaley-Omidire Timmera
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented challenge to public health across the world and has further exposed health disparities and the vulnerability of marginal groups. Since the pandemic has exhibited marked regional differences, it is necessary to better understand the levels of vulnerability to the disease at local levels and provide policymakers with additional tools that will allow them to develop finely targeted policies. In this study, we develop for the State of Alabama (USA) a composite vulnerability index at county level that can be used as a tool that will help in the management of the pandemic. Twenty-four indicators were assigned to the following three categories: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The resulting subindices were aggregated into a composite index that depicts the vulnerability to COVID-19. A multivariate analysis was used to assign factor loadings and weights to indicators, and the results were mapped using Geographic Information Systems. The vulnerability index captured health disparities very well. Many of the most vulnerable counties were found in the Alabama Black Belt region. A deconstruction of the overall index and subindices allowed the development of individual county profiles and the detection of local strengths and weaknesses. We expect the model developed in this study to be an efficient planning tool for decision-makers.
New Horizons in Plant Cell Signaling
Authors: Wong Aloysius , Gehring Christoph
Published: May 2022

Responding to environmental stimuli with appropriate molecular mechanisms is essential to all life forms and particularly so in sessile organisms such as plants [...]
Plants as Biofactories to Produce Food, Medicines, and Materials for a True Green Revolution
Authors: Zarrelli Armando
Published: May 2022

A proper diet is the basis of a healthy life; according to the WHO, approximately 1/3 of cardiovascular diseases and cancers can be avoided with a balanced and healthy diet [...]
The Long-Term Culture of Human Fibroblasts Reveals a Spectroscopic Signature of Senescence
Authors: Magalhães Sandra , Almeida Idália , Pereira Cátia D. , Rebelo Sandra , Goodfellow Brian J. , Nunes Alexandra
Published: May 2022

Aging is a complex process which leads to progressive loss of fitness/capability/ability, increasing susceptibility to disease and, ultimately, death. Regardless of the organism, there are some features common to aging, namely, the loss of proteostasis and cell senescence. Mammalian cell lines have been used as models to study the aging process, in particular, cell senescence. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize the senescence-associated metabolic profile of a long-term culture of human fibroblasts using Fourier Transform Infrared and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. We sub-cultivated fibroblasts from a newborn donor from passage 4 to passage 17 and the results showed deep changes in the spectroscopic profile of cells over time. Late passage cells were characterized by a decrease in the length of fatty acid chains, triglycerides and cholesterol and an increase in lipid unsaturation. We also found an increase in the content of intermolecular β-sheets, possibly indicating an increase in protein aggregation levels in cells of later passages. Metabolic profiling by NMR showed increased levels of extracellular lactate, phosphocholine and glycine in cells at later passages. This study suggests that spectroscopy approaches can be successfully used to study changes concomitant with cell senescence and validate the use of human fibroblasts as a model to monitor the aging process.
Study of Oligonucleotides Access and Distribution in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Authors: Fernández-Delgado Manuel , Sendra Luis , Herrero María José , Olivera-Pasquini Gladys G. , Batista-Duharte Alexander , Aliño Salvador F.
Published: May 2022

Therapeutic oligonucleotides have achieved great clinical interest since their approval as drug agents by regulatory agencies but their access and distribution in blood cells are not completely known. We evaluated by flow cytometry the ability of short fluorescent scramble oligonucleotides (ON*) to access human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after incubating with ON* during 1 h and 7 days of culture follow-up ‘in vitro’. Blood samples were treated with chemically modified oligonucleotides (phosphorothioate backbone and 2′ O-Me ends) to resist nuclease digestion under culture conditions. The ON* internalization was determined after discarding the membrane-associated fluorescence by trypan blue quenching. Whereas the oligonucleotide accessed neutrophils and monocytes rapidly, achieving their maximum in 1 h and 24 h, respectively, lymphocytes required 7 days to achieve the maximum (80% of cells) transfection. The ON*ability to access lymphocyte types (T, B, and NK) and T cell subtypes (CD4+, CD8+, and CD4-CD8-) were similar, with T cells being more accessible. Regulatory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were classified in low and high Foxp3 expressers, whose expression proved not to alter the ON* internalization during the first hour, achieving 53% of CD4+Foxp3+ and 40% of CD8+Foxp3+ cells. Our results contribute to understanding and improving the management of therapeutic ONs.
Morphological Characterization and Integrated Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis of Organ Development Defective 1 (odd1) Mutant in Cucumis sativus L.
Authors: Han Jing , Ma Zengguang , Chen Linjie , Wang Zaizhan , Wang Can , Wang Lina , Chen Chunhua , Ren Zhonghai , Cao Chenxing
Published: May 2022

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an economically important vegetable crop with the unique growth habit and typical trailing shoot architecture of Cucurbitaceae. Elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of growth and development is significant for improving quality and productivity in cucumber. Here we isolated a spontaneous cucumber mutant organ development defective 1 (odd1) with multiple morphological changes including root, plant stature, stem, leaf, male and female flowers, as well as fruit. Anatomical and cytological analyses demonstrated that both cell size and number decreased, and the shoot apical meristem (SAM) was smaller in odd1 compared with WT. Pollen vigor and germination assays and cross tests revealed that odd1 is female sterile, which may be caused by the absence of ovules. Genetic analysis showed that odd1 is a recessive single gene mutant. Using the MutMap strategy, the odd1 gene was found to be located on chromosome 5. Integrated profiling of transcriptome and proteome indicated that the different expression genes related to hormones and SAM maintenance might be the reason for the phenotypic changes of odd1. These results expanded the insight into the molecular regulation of organ growth and development and provided a comprehensive reference map for further studies in cucumber.
The Role of Transposable Elements of the Human Genome in Neuronal Function and Pathology
Authors: Chesnokova Ekaterina , Beletskiy Alexander , Kolosov Peter
Published: May 2022

Transposable elements (TEs) have been extensively studied for decades. In recent years, the introduction of whole-genome and whole-transcriptome approaches, as well as single-cell resolution techniques, provided a breakthrough that uncovered TE involvement in host gene expression regulation underlying multiple normal and pathological processes. Of particular interest is increased TE activity in neuronal tissue, and specifically in the hippocampus, that was repeatedly demonstrated in multiple experiments. On the other hand, numerous neuropathologies are associated with TE dysregulation. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of literature about the role of TEs in neurons published over the last three decades. The first chapter of the present review describes known mechanisms of TE interaction with host genomes in general, with the focus on mammalian and human TEs; the second chapter provides examples of TE exaptation in normal neuronal tissue, including TE involvement in neuronal differentiation and plasticity; and the last chapter lists TE-related neuropathologies. We sought to provide specific molecular mechanisms of TE involvement in neuron-specific processes whenever possible; however, in many cases, only phenomenological reports were available. This underscores the importance of further studies in this area.
Structural and Functional Thymic Biomarkers Are Involved in the Pathogenesis of Thymic Epithelial Tumors: An Overview
Authors: Gallo Enzo , Ramieri Maria , Marino Mirella
Published: May 2022

The normal human thymus originates from the third branchial cleft as two paired anlages that descend into the thorax and fuse on the midline of the anterior–superior mediastinum. Alongside the epithelial and lymphoid components, different types of lymphoid accessory cells, stromal mesenchymal and endothelial cells migrate to, or develop in, the thymus. After reaching maximum development during early postnatal life, the human thymus decreases in size and lymphocyte output drops with age. However, thymic immunological functions persist, although they deteriorate progressively. Several major techniques were fundamental to increasing the knowledge of thymic development and function during embryogenesis, postnatal and adult life; these include immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, in vitro colony assays, transplantation in mice models, fetal organ cultures (FTOC), re-aggregated thymic organ cultures (RTOC), and whole-organ thymic scaffolds. The thymic morphological and functional characterization, first performed in the mouse, was then extended to humans. The purpose of this overview is to provide a report on selected structural and functional biomarkers of thymic epithelial cells (TEC) involved in thymus development and lymphoid cell maturation, and on the historical aspects of their characterization, with particular attention being paid to biomarkers also involved in Thymic Epithelial Tumor (TET) pathogenesis. Moreover, a short overview of targeted therapies in TET, based on currently available experimental and clinical data and on potential future advances will be proposed.
A Review on Federated Learning and Machine Learning Approaches: Categorization, Application Areas, and Blockchain Technology
Authors: Ogundokun Roseline Oluwaseun , Misra Sanjay , Maskeliunas Rytis , Damasevicius Robertas
Published: May 2022

Federated learning (FL) is a scheme in which several consumers work collectively to unravel machine learning (ML) problems, with a dominant collector synchronizing the procedure. This decision correspondingly enables the training data to be distributed, guaranteeing that the individual device’s data are secluded. The paper systematically reviewed the available literature using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guiding principle. The study presents a systematic review of appliable ML approaches for FL, reviews the categorization of FL, discusses the FL application areas, presents the relationship between FL and Blockchain Technology (BT), and discusses some existing literature that has used FL and ML approaches. The study also examined applicable machine learning models for federated learning. The inclusion measures were (i) published between 2017 and 2021, (ii) written in English, (iii) published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, and (iv) Preprint published papers. Unpublished studies, thesis and dissertation studies, (ii) conference papers, (iii) not in English, and (iv) did not use artificial intelligence models and blockchain technology were all removed from the review. In total, 84 eligible papers were finally examined in this study. Finally, in recent years, the amount of research on ML using FL has increased. Accuracy equivalent to standard feature-based techniques has been attained, and ensembles of many algorithms may yield even better results. We discovered that the best results were obtained from the hybrid design of an ML ensemble employing expert features. However, some additional difficulties and issues need to be overcome, such as efficiency, complexity, and smaller datasets. In addition, novel FL applications should be investigated from the standpoint of the datasets and methodologies.
Signal Processing Methodology of Response Data from a Historical Arch Bridge toward Reliable Modal Identification
Authors: Cornaggia Aram , Ferrari Rosalba , Zola Maurizio , Rizzi Egidio , Gentile Carmelo
Published: May 2022

The paper is part of a case study concerning the structural assessment of a historical infrastructure in the local territory, a road three-span reinforced concrete arch bridge over a river, built by the end of World War I (1917). The purpose of the paper is twofold: first, in-situ acquired response data are systematically analysed by specific signal processing techniques, to form a devoted methodological procedure and to extract useful information toward possible interpretation of the current structural conditions; second, the deciphered information is elaborated, in view of obtaining peculiar conceptualisations of detailed features of the structural response, as meant to achieve quantitative descriptions and modelling, for final Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and intervention purposes. The proposed methodology, integrating self-implemented and adapted classical signal processing methods, and refined techniques, such as Wavelet analysis and ARMA models, assembles a rather general, systematic methodological approach to signal processing, highlighting the capability to extract useful and fundamental information from acquired response data, also endowed of a non-stationary character, toward final structural interpretation, identification and modelling, thus enabling for developing a reliable and effective SHM platform, on strategic ageing infrastructures. For the present case study, non-stationary characteristics of the response signals are revealed and flattened out, to identify the underlying fundamental frequencies of the infrastructure and to advance particular interpretations of its current structural behaviour, in forming an enlarging structural consciousness of the bridge at hand.
High-Quality Queens Produce High-Quality Offspring Queens
Authors: Yu Longtao , Shi Xinxin , He Xujiang , Zeng Zhijiang , Yan Weiyu , Wu Xiaobo
Published: May 2022

Honey bees, rather than rear queens with eggs and larvae from worker cells, prefer to rear new queens with eggs form queen cells, if available. This may be a result of long-term evolutionary process for honey bee colonies. However, the exact mechanism of this phenomenon is unclear. In this study, queens were reared with eggs from queen cells (F1-QE), eggs from worker cells (F1-WE), and two-day-old larvae from worker cells (F1-2L). Physiological indexes and the expression of the development-related genes ((Hexamerin (Hex110, Hex70b), Transferrin (Trf), and Vitellogenin (Vg)) of reared F1 generation queens were measured and compared. Furthermore, F2 generation queens were reared with one-day-old larvae from F1 queens, and the weight and ovariole count of reared F2 generation daughter queens were examined. Meanwhile, the expression of the development- and reproduction-related genes (Hex110, Hex70b, Trf, Vg, and Juvenile Hormone (Jh)) and immune detoxication-related genes (Hymenoptaecin, Abeacin, and CytP450) of reared F2 queens were further explored. We found that the F1-QE queens had the highest physiological indexes and higher Hex110 and Trf expression levels, while no significant difference was found in the expression of Hex70b and Vg among the three groups of F1 queens. In addition, the reared queens of F2-QE had the highest quality, with the highest development, reproduction, immune-detoxication genes’ expression levels. Our results revealed that the quality of reared offspring queens from high-quality mother queens was also high. These findings inform methods for rearing high-quality queens and highlight that a high-quality queen is essential for offspring colony growth and survival.
Molecular Oscillator Affects Susceptibility of Caterpillars to Insecticides: Studies on the Egyptian Cotton Leaf Worm—Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Haj Darwich Choukri , Chrzanowski Marcin , Bernatowicz Piotr , Polanska Marta , Joachimiak Ewa , Bebas Piotr
Published: May 2022

The molecular oscillator is the core of the biological clock and is formed by genes and proteins whose cyclic expression is regulated in the transcriptional-translational feedback loops (TTFLs). Proteins of the TTFLs are regulators of both their own and executive genes involved in the control of many processes in insects (e.g., rhythmic metabolism of xenobiotics, including insecticides). We disrupted the clock operation in S. littoralis larvae by injecting the dsRNA of clock genes into their body cavity and culturing the larvae under continuous light. As a result, the daily susceptibility of larvae to insecticides was abolished and the susceptibility itself increased (in most cases). In the fat body, midgut, and Malpighian tubules (the main organs metabolizing xenobiotics) of the larvae treated with injected-dsRNA, the daily activity profiles of enzymes involved in detoxification—cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, Glutathione-S-transferase, and esterase—have changed significantly. The presented results prove the role of the molecular oscillator in the regulation of larvae responses to insecticides and provide grounds for rational use of these compounds (at suitable times of the day), and may indicate clock genes as potential targets of molecular manipulation to produce plant protection compounds based on the RNAi method.
Diagnostic Validity in Occlusal Caries Detection of ICDAS II, DIAGNOdent, Radiography and a Combination of the Three Methods: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Minuesa-García Elena , Iranzo-Cortés José Enrique , Almerich-Torres Teresa , Bellot-Arcís Carlos , Montiel-Company José María , Almerich-Silla José Manuel
Published: May 2022

In this study, we compare the efficacy and diagnostic concordance of the ICDAS, the radiographic criterion and the instrument known as the DIAGNOdent fluorescence laser pen on occlusal caries lesions using a histological section as the gold standard. Of 100 teeth that did not present cavitated occlusal lesions or occlusal fillings, 80 were chosen through a randomization program and examined by two previously trained and calibrated researchers. Subsequently, the teeth were sectioned with a diamond disk and observed under an optical microscope. The results were studied for caries with a limit established in enamel and caries with extension to dentin. The intra-examiner (0.821–0.933) and inter-examiner (0.817–0.924) reproducibility obtained for both ICDAS and DIAGNOdent for the diagnosis of borderline enamel caries was high. Similarly, intra-examiner (0.686–1.000) and inter-examiner (0.809–0.944) reproducibility for diagnosis of caries with dentin extension was also high for both methods. The sensitivity obtained was 0.76 (ICDAS), 0.87 (DIAGNOdent) and 0.58 (Rx), whereas the specificity obtained was 0.66 (ICDAS), 0.4 (DIAGNOdent) and 0.77 (Rx) for lesions limited to enamel. For lesions with extension to dentin, the sensitivity obtained was 0.73 (ICDAS), 0.82 (DIAGNOdent) and 0.09 (Rx), and the specificity obtained was 0.79 (ICDAS), 0.52 (DIAGNOdent) and 0.97 (Rx). Sensitivity increases in both cases by combining diagnostic methods. In conclusion, ICDAS and DIAGNOdent are better diagnostic methods than Rx for the detection of occlusal caries, and the combination of these methods helps to obtain a better diagnosis.
Is Conservative Treatment Better than Surgical Treatment for Basal Ganglia Hemorrhage in a Conventionally Non-Surgical Indication Group with Poor Motor Function?
Authors: Park Chan-Hee , Lim Min-Gyu , Jung Hyunwoo , Jeong Jae-Gyeong , Park Seong-Hyun , Kim Ae-Ryoung , Jung Tae-Du
Published: May 2022

Background: The treatment options for basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), either surgical or conservative, remain controversial. A previous study developed “A new modified ICH (MICH) score” that suggests which treatment option will be better for basal ganglia ICH. According to this scoring system, a MICH score of 0 or 1 indicates that conservative treatment is better than surgical treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether conservative treatment is still a better option for a basal ganglia hemorrhage in patients with MICH scores of 0 and 1, with initial poor motor grades. Methods: This retrospective study was comprised of 41 patients with a spontaneous basal ganglia hemorrhage. These patient groups had no previous brain lesions, their initial MICH score was 0 or 1, and the manual muscle test (MMT) of their hand was grade 2+ or lower in the initial evaluation. All patients were transferred to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and received rehabilitation treatment. Ten patients had an operative intervention, which was burr-hole aspiration or craniotomy with hematoma removal. The control group included 31 patients who underwent conservative treatment. Outcome evaluations used the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Brunnstrom recovery stage (BRS) which were evaluated at initial and regular follow-ups after 1, 3, and 6 months. We defined an improvement state if the BRS of their hand became 4 or more in 6 months, which means an escape from the synergic pattern. Results: Demographic characteristics showed no significant differences in age, sex, hemiplegic side, initial GCS score, presence of IVH and hydrocephalus, or distribution of MICH scores 0 and 1. There was only a significant difference in the distribution of hematoma volume between groups of less than 20 mL and groups from 21 to 50 mL (p = 0.049). There were no significant differences in MBI values in 1 month or improvement of BRS of their hand in 6 months between the two groups. Conclusions: Even in the group classified as predominantly conservative in basal ganglia hemorrhage patients, if the initial muscle strength is low, it is necessary to reconsider whether conservative treatment is superior to surgical treatment in terms of functional improvement.
Ozone in Patients with Periodontitis: A Clinical and Microbiological Study
Authors: Ramirez-Peña Ana Maria , Sánchez-Pérez Arturo , Campos-Aranda Matilde , Hidalgo-Tallón Francisco Javier
Published: May 2022

The purpose of this article was to assess the effectiveness of ozone therapy as an adjunct to mechanical therapy in periodontitis patients. Thirty-two patients diagnosed with generalized periodontitis were selected, with a total of 655 teeth examined. Each patient’s mouth was divided into four quadrants (the split-mouth model) to be randomly treated with four sessions of gaseous ozone or air. The following clinical variables were recorded: the gingival index, the periodontal clinical attachment loss, the Miller’s mobility index and the clinical improvements, as assessed through the visual analog scale (VAS). In addition, the microorganisms were qualitatively compared. After four weeks of treatment, the teeth of the ozone-treated quadrants showed statistically significant reductions in the gingival index and an improvement in the clinical attachment (p < 0.0001). The same treatment also significantly improved mobility by between 70% and 86% compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). Statistically significant differences were also recorded for the VAS (p < 0.0001). In the qualitative study of the subgingival flora, significant differences were observed (p < 0.0001). The overall results of this trial support the view that ozone treatment is effective and well tolerated in cases of generalized chronic periodontitis.
Rubus occidentalis and Ellagic Acid Affect the Contractility of Penile Corpus Cavernosum Smooth Muscle through the Nitric Oxide-Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate and Cyclic Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate Signaling Pathway
Authors: Karna Keshab Kumar , Choi Bo-Ram , Kim Chul-Young , Kim Hye-Kyung , Park Jong-Kwan
Published: May 2022

The present study was designed to evaluate the relaxation effect of Rubus occidentalis (RO) and ellagic acid (EA) on rabbit penile corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (PCCSM). Rabbit PCCSM was treated with ROE or EA after preincubation with nitric oxide synthase (NOS), guanylate cyclase (GC), adenylyl cyclase (AC) or protein kinase A (PKA) blocker. Cyclic nucleotides in the perfusate were analyzed using radioimmunoassay (RIA). Subsequently, perfused PCCSMs were subjected to analysis to evaluate the expression level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). The interaction of ROE or EA with phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 and PDE4 inhibitors, such as udenafil (UDE) and rolipram (ROL), were also evaluated. Both ROE and EA relaxed the PCCSM in a concentration-dependent manner. Coincubation of ROE or EA with NOS, GC, AC, or PKA blocker significantly decreased the ROE- and EA-induced relaxation. Pretreatment of ROE and EA significantly upregulated the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP), and eNOS levels in the perfused PCCSM. Furthermore, the treatment of ROE and EA markedly increased the UDE- and ROL-induced relaxation of the PCCSM. In conclusion, ROE and EA induced PCCSM relaxation by activating the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMp and cAMp signaling pathways and may have a synergistic action to improve erectile function.
Atrial Fibrillation Global Changes after Pulmonary Vein and Posterior Wall Isolation: A Charge Density Mapping Study
Authors: Pannone Luigi , Bisignani Antonio , Sorgente Antonio , Gauthey Anaïs , Della Rocca Domenico G. , Monaco Cinzia , Bories Wim , Ramak Robbert , Overeinder Ingrid , Bala Gezim , Almorad Alexandre , Iacopino Saverio , Paparella Gaetano , Ströker Erwin , Sieira Juan , Flamée Panagiotis , Brugada Pedro , La Meir Mark , Chierchia Gian-Battista , De Asmundis Carlo
Published: May 2022

Background: Non-contact charge density (CD) mapping allows a global visualization of left atrium (LA) activation and of activation patterns during atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to analyze, with CD mapping, the changes in persistent AF induced by pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and LA posterior wall isolation (LAPWI). Methods: Patients undergoing PVI + LAPWI using the Arctic Front Advance PROTM cryoballoon system were included in the study. CD maps were created during AF at baseline, after PVI and after LAPWI. Three distinct activation patterns were identified in the CD maps: localized irregular activation (LIA), localized rotational activation (LRA) and focal centrifugal activation (FCA). LA maps were divided into the following regions: anterior, septal, lateral, roof, posterior, inferior. Results: Eleven patients were included, with a total of 33 maps and 198 AF regions analyzed. Global and regional AF cycle lengths significantly increased after PVI and LAPWI. Baseline analysis demonstrated higher LIA, LRA and FCA numbers in the posterior and anterior regions. After PVI, there was no change in LIA, LRA and FCA occurrence. After PVI + LAPWI, a significant decrease in LRA was observed with no difference in LIA and FCA occurrence. In the regional analysis, there was a significant reduction in the LIA number in the inferior region, in the LRA number in the roof and posterior regions and in the FCA number in the lateral region. Conclusions: A global reduction in the LRA number was observed only after PVI + LAPWI; it was driven by a reduction in rotational activity in the roof and posterior regions.
Editorial: Unusual Clinical Presentation of COVID-19
Authors: Di Micco Pierpaolo
Published: May 2022

Nearly two years ago, the SARS-CoV2 outbreak began, and our lives have changed significantly since then [...]
Association between Following the ESCMID Guidelines for the Management of Candidemia and Mortality: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Maurille Charles , Bonhomme Julie , Briant Anaïs R. , Parienti Jean-Jacques , Verdon Renaud , Fournier Anna Lucie
Published: May 2022

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between ESCMID adherence and 30-day mortality in candidemia. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study in two French tertiary-care hospitals. All patients with at least one positive blood culture (BC) for Candida spp. between January 2013 and December 2019 were included. An adherent case was defined as a candidemia case for which the treatment fulfilled a bundle of defined criteria based on the latest ESCMID recommendations. We explored factors associated with adherence to ESCMID recommendations in an unadjusted model, and we used a propensity score method to address potential channeling biases with regard to 30-day mortality. Results: During the study period, 165 cases of candidemia were included. Among the ESCMID criteria, funduscopic examination was not performed in 45% and neither was echocardiography in 31%, while the ESCMID criteria were fully implemented in 44 cases (27%). In the propensity score analysis, the all-cause 30-day mortality rate was significantly lower among adherent cases (3.4/36.6, 9%) than among nonadherent cases (42.4/119.5, 36%) (OR = 5.3 95% CI [1.6–17.1]). Conclusions: In our study, adherence to the bundle of criteria for candidemia management was associated with increased survival, supporting additional efforts to implement these recommendations.
Effect of Household Laundering, Heat Drying, and Freezing on the Survival of Dermatophyte Conidia
Authors: Akhoundi Mohammad , Nasrallah Jade , Marteau Anthony , Chebbah Dahlia , Izri Arezki , Brun Sophie
Published: May 2022

Dermatomycoses are one of the most common dermatological infectious diseases. Dermatophytoses, such as tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) in adults and tinea capitis in children, are the most prevalent fungal diseases caused by dermatophytes. The transmission of anthropophilic dermatophytoses occurs almost exclusively through indirect contact with patient-contaminated belongings or environments and, subsequently, facilitates the spread of the infection to others. Hygienic measures were demonstrated to have an important role in removing or reducing the fungal burden. Herein, we evaluated the effectiveness of physical-based methods of laundering, heat drying, and freezing in the elimination of Trichophyton tonsurans, T. rubrum, and T. interdigitale conidia in diverse temperatures and time spectra. Based on our findings, laundering at 60 °C was effective for removing the dermatophyte conidia from contaminated linens. On the contrary, heat drying using domestic or laundromat machines; freezing at −20 °C for 24 h, 48 h, or one week; and direct heat exposure at 60 °C for 10, 30, or 90 min were unable to kill the dermatophytes. These results can be helpful for clinicians, staff of children’s communities, and hygiene practitioners for implementing control management strategies against dermatophytoses caused by mentioned dermatophyte species.
Personalized Management of Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps in Clinical Practice: A Multidisciplinary Consensus Statement
Authors: De Corso Eugenio , Bilò Maria Beatrice , Matucci Andrea , Seccia Veronica , Braido Fulvio , Gelardi Matteo , Heffler Enrico , Latorre Manuela , Malvezzi Luca , Pelaia Girolamo , Senna Gianenrico , Castelnuovo Paolo , Canonica Giorgio Walter
Published: May 2022

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a sino-nasal chronic inflammatory disease, occurring in 5–15% of the general population. CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is present in up to 30% of the CRS population. One-third of CRSwNP patients suffer from disease that is uncontrolled by current standards of care. Biologics are an emerging treatment option for patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP, but their positioning in the treatment algorithm is under discussion. Effective endotyping of CRSwNP patients who could benefit from biologics treatment is required, as suggested by international guidelines. Other issues affecting management include comorbidities, such as allergy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug–exacerbated respiratory disease, and asthma. Therefore, the choice of treatment in CRSwNP patients depends on many factors. A multidisciplinary approach may improve CRSwNP management in patients with comorbidities, but currently there is no shared management model. We summarize the outcomes of a Delphi process involving a multidisciplinary panel of otolaryngologists, pulmonologists, and allergist-immunologists involved in the management of CRSwNP, who attempted to reach consensus on key statements relating to the diagnosis, endotyping, classification and management (including the place of biologics) of CRSwNP patients.
Deep Learning-Based Grimace Scoring Is Comparable to Human Scoring in a Mouse Migraine Model
Authors: Chiang Chih-Yi , Chen Yueh-Peng , Tzeng Hung-Ruei , Chang Man-Hsin , Chiou Lih-Chu , Pei Yu-Cheng
Published: May 2022

Pain assessment is essential for preclinical and clinical studies on pain. The mouse grimace scale (MGS), consisting of five grimace action units, is a reliable measurement of spontaneous pain in mice. However, MGS scoring is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Deep learning can be applied for the automatic assessment of spontaneous pain. We developed a deep learning model, the DeepMGS, that automatically crops mouse face images, predicts action unit scores and total scores on the MGS, and finally infers whether pain exists. We then compared the performance of DeepMGS with that of experienced and apprentice human scorers. The DeepMGS achieved an accuracy of 70–90% in identifying the five action units of the MGS, and its performance (correlation coefficient = 0.83) highly correlated with that of an experienced human scorer in total MGS scores. In classifying pain and no pain conditions, the DeepMGS is comparable to the experienced human scorer and superior to the apprentice human scorers. Heatmaps generated by gradient-weighted class activation mapping indicate that the DeepMGS accurately focuses on MGS-relevant areas in mouse face images. These findings support that the DeepMGS can be applied for quantifying spontaneous pain in mice, implying its potential application for predicting other painful conditions from facial images.
Direct Wafer-Scale CVD Graphene Growth under Platinum Thin-Films
Authors: Hagendoorn Yelena , Pandraud Gregory , Vollebregt Sten , Morana Bruno , Sarro Pasqualina M. , Steeneken Peter G.
Published: May 2022

Since the transfer process of graphene from a dedicated growth substrate to another substrate is prone to induce defects and contamination and can increase costs, there is a large interest in methods for growing graphene directly on silicon wafers. Here, we demonstrate the direct CVD growth of graphene on a SiO2 layer on a silicon wafer by employing a Pt thin film as catalyst. We pattern the platinum film, after which a CVD graphene layer is grown at the interface between the SiO2 and the Pt. After removing the Pt, Raman spectroscopy demonstrates the local growth of monolayer graphene on SiO2. By tuning the CVD process, we were able to fully cover 4-inch oxidized silicon wafers with transfer-free monolayer graphene, a result that is not easily obtained using other methods. By adding Ta structures, local graphene growth on SiO2 is selectively blocked, allowing the controlled graphene growth on areas selected by mask design.
Experimental Study on the Characterization of Orientation of Polyester Short Fibers in Rubber Composites by an X-ray Three-Dimensional Microscope
Authors: Yu Benhui , Ren Jianbin , Wang Kongshuo , Wang Chuansheng , Bian Huiguang
Published: May 2022

Polyester-short-fiber-reinforced rubber composites have been detected by an X-ray three-dimensional microscope, and then the three-dimensional reconstruction of the image has been carried out to characterize the orientation of polyester short fibers in the composites for the first time. Based on the summary of three traditional methods and mechanisms of characterizing the orientation of polyester short fibers by the numerical parameter method, the direct test method, and the indirect test method, the method and mechanism of the X-ray three-dimensional microscope applied to the orientation characterization of polyester short fibers have been studied. The combination of the center point and threshold segmentation methods has been used to distinguish which fiber section belongs to the same fiber, and the identification of the whole short fiber in different slice images has been realized for the first time. Moreover, Avizo software has been used to realize the three-dimensional reconstruction of a polyester short fiber scanning image. The obtained data have been integrated and the orientation angle and orientation degree have been quantitatively characterized for the first time. This has filled the key technical problem of quantitative characterization of the orientation angle and orientation degree of polyester fibers. The image has been verified by 3Dmed software, and furthermore, the accuracy of the three-dimensional reconstruction results has been verified.
Uncemented Cups and Impaction Bone Grafting for Acetabular Bone Loss in Revision Hip Arthroplasty: A Review of Rationale, Indications, and Outcomes
Authors: D’Apolito Rocco , Zagra Luigi
Published: May 2022

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is increasingly performed in young patients and the number of revisions is estimated to rise over time. Acetabular osteolysis and bone loss are frequently encountered during revision and may be classified and treated in different ways. Impaction bone grafting (IBG) with morselized allograft offers a viable option. IBG was introduced over 40 years ago in combination with cemented cups, and is also used with uncemented cups. The impacted bone chips act as a void filler to restore bone stock; once incorporated they are substituted by host bone. Surgery entails assessment of the defect, acetabular preparation, preparation of the morselized graft, impaction of the graft, and cup implantation. Satisfactory medium- and long-term results have now been reported in most studies. With the advent of high-porosity cups, indications have been extended, enhancing the potential of IBG, in which primary stability of the cup to the host bone is essential for a successful procedure. Synthetic bone substitutes have also been used in combination with allogenic grafts and may extend the original technique for which long-term studies are warranted.
Concrete Elastic Modulus Experimental Research Based on Theory of Capillary Tension
Authors: Zhou Fengbin , Su Changwang , Wu Daifeng , Hua Jianmin , Huang Lepeng , Luo Qiming , Liu Maoyi , Nie Mi , Tang Chunyao
Published: May 2022

The risk of cracking in the early stage is a critical indicator of the performance of concrete structures. Concrete cracked when the tensile stresses caused by deformation under restraint conditions exceeded its tensile strength. This research aims at an accurate prediction of shrinkage cracking of concrete under constraints. Based on the theory of capillary tension under the concrete shrinkage mechanism, the method to test and compute the elastic modulus of a micro-matrix around the capillary, Et, was derived. Shrinkage and porosity determination tests were conducted to obtain the shrinkage values and confining stresses of concrete at different strength grades, different ages and under different restraint conditions, accordingly. Meanwhile, the proposed method of this research was used to obtain Et. The restraint stress given by Et was compared with the experimental result under the corresponding time. The results suggested a positive correlation between the elastic modulus of a micro-matrix around the capillary, Et, precomputed by the theory, and the static elastic modulus, Ec, and that the ratio between the two gradually decreased with the passage of time, which ranged from 2.8 to 3.1.
Effect of Processed Oil on Asphalt Binder Properties
Authors: Hemmati Navid , Yun Jihyeon , Kim Hyunhwan , Lee Moon-Sup , Lee Soon-Jae
Published: May 2022

This study investigates the effectiveness of processed oil in the modification of PG 64-22 and PG 76-22 by assessing their physical and rheological properties, and multiple comparison was conducted between the two binders. The base binders PG 64-22 and PG 76-22 were blended with processed oil at four different percentages of contents (3%, 6%, 9% and 12% by the weight of the binder) and compared with the control binder in each test. The base and modified binders were artificially short-term and long-term aged using a rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and pressure aging vessel (PAV) procedures. Superpave binder tests were performed on the modified binders by applying a rotational viscometer (RV), dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and bending beam rheometer (BBR). The comparisons and results presented in this study indicate that (1) the processed oil has a significant effect on the binders’ viscosity, which changes with respect to the increment of processed oil content. The viscosity of both modified binders decreased with the addition of 3, 6, 9 and 12% processed oil; (2) the performed DSR test showed that the addition of processed oil had a negative effect on the rutting resistance for both binders, since in PG 64-22, G*/Sin δ values decreased by 55, 65, 75 and 83% with the addition of 3, 6, 9 and 12% processed oil, respectively, while a decrement of G*/Sin δ of 24, 45, 58 and 65% with the addition of 3, 6, 9 and 12% processed oil was observed in PG 76-22; meanwhile, the fatigue cracking performance was improved and was found to be effective, while G* Sin δ in PG76-22 decreased by 9, 30, 36, and 52% and in PG 64-22 by 27, 44, 53, and 67% with the addition of 3, 6, 9 and 12% processed oil; (3) the results from the BBR test indicate significant improvement in the thermal cracking properties of the binders. The addition of 3, 6, 9 and 12% processed oil resulted in a decrease in the stiffness of both the PG 64-22 and PG 76-22 binders, with a positive effect consequently being observed on the m-values of the binders.
Secondary Metabolites Isolated from Chilean Marine Algae: A Review
Authors: Arrieche Dioni , Carrasco Héctor , Olea Andrés F. , Espinoza Luis , San-Martín Aurelio , Taborga Lautaro
Published: May 2022

Chile is in the extreme southwestern part of America, and it has an extreme length, of approximately 4300 km that increases to 8000 km considering the Chilean Antarctic Territory. Despite the large extent of its coastal territory and the diversity of geographic environments and climates associated with Chilean coasts, the research on marine resources in Chile has been rather scarce. From marine organisms found in Chilean coastal waters, algae have been the most studied, since they contain a wide range of interesting secondary metabolites that have some structural traits that make them unique and uncharacteristic. Thus, a wide structural variety of natural products including terpenoids (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, and meroterpenoids), furanones, and C15-acetogenins have been isolated and identified. This review describes the existing literature on bioprospecting and exploration of secondary metabolites from Chilean coasts.
Brasilterpenes A–E, Bergamotane Sesquiterpenoid Derivatives with Hypoglycemic Activity from the Deep Sea-Derived Fungus Paraconiothyrium brasiliense HDN15-135
Authors: Wang Wenxue , Shi Yeqin , Liu Yuanyuan , Zhang Yundong , Wu Jiajin , Zhang Guojian , Che Qian , Zhu Tianjiao , Li Mingyu , Li Dehai
Published: May 2022

Five bergamotane sesquiterpenoid derivatives, brasilterpenes A–E (1–5), bearing an unreported spiral 6/4/5 tricyclic ring system, were isolated from the deep sea-derived ascomycete fungus Paraconiothyrium brasiliense HDN15-135. Their structures, including absolute configurations, were established by extensive spectroscopic methods complemented by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data including DP4+ analysis. The hypoglycemic activity of these compounds was assessed using a diabetic zebrafish model. Brasilterpenes A (1) and C (3) significantly reduced free blood glucose in hyperglycemic zebrafish in vivo by improving insulin sensitivity and suppressing gluconeogenesis. Moreover, the hypoglycemic activity of compound 3 was comparable to the positive control, anti-diabetes drug rosiglitazone. These results suggested brasilterpene C (3) had promising anti-diabetes potential.