bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prepregnancy Assessment of Liver Function to Predict Perinatal and Postpregnancy Outcomes in Biliary Atresia Patients with Native Liver
Authors: Takahashi Nobuhiro , Ochiai Daigo , Yamada Yohei , Tamagawa Masumi , Kanamori Hiroki , Kato Mototoshi , Ikenoue Satoru , Kasuga Yoshifumi , Kuroda Tatsuo , Tanaka Mamoru
Published: September 2021

Considering that some biliary atresia (BA) survivors with native liver have reached reproductive age and face long-lasting complications, specific attention needs to be paid to pregnant cases. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between liver function, perinatal outcomes, and prognosis. A database review was conducted to identify pregnant BA cases with native liver and perinatal data, and clinical information on BA-related complications was analyzed. Perinatal serum cholinesterase (ChE) levels, model for end-stage liver-disease (MELD) score, and platelet trends were analyzed, and the association between these indicators and perinatal outcomes was investigated. Patients were categorized into three groups according to the perinatal clinical outcomes: favorable (term babies with or without several episodes of cholangitis; n = 3), borderline (term baby and following liver dysfunction; n = 1), and unfavorable (premature delivery with subsequent liver failure; n = 1). Lower serum ChE levels, lower platelet counts, and higher MELD scores were observed in the unfavorable category. Borderline and unfavorable patients displayed a continuous increase in MELD score, with one eventually needing a liver transplantation. Pregnancy in patients with BA requires special attention. Serum ChE levels, platelet counts, and MELD scores are all important markers for predicting perinatal prognosis.
Development and Validation of a Model to Predict Severe Hospital-Acquired Acute Kidney Injury in Non-Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Carpio Jacqueline Del , Marco Maria Paz , Martin Maria Luisa , Ramos Natalia , de la Torre Judith , Prat Joana , Torres Maria J. , Montoro Bruno , Ibarz Mercedes , Pico Silvia , Falcon Gloria , Canales Marina , Huertas Elisard , Romero Iñaki , Nieto Nacho , Gavaldà Ricard , Segarra Alfons
Published: September 2021

Background. The current models developed to predict hospital-acquired AKI (HA-AKI) in non-critically ill fail to identify the patients at risk of severe HA-AKI stage 3. Objective. To develop and externally validate a model to predict the individual probability of developing HA-AKI stage 3 through the integration of electronic health databases. Methods. Study set: 165,893 non-critically ill hospitalized patients. Using stepwise logistic regression analyses, including demography, chronic comorbidities, and exposure to risk factors prior to AKI detection, we developed a multivariate model to predict HA-AKI stage 3. This model was then externally validated in 43,569 non-critical patients admitted to the validation center. Results. The incidence of HA-AKI stage 3 in the study set was 0.6%. Among chronic comorbidities, the highest odds ratios were conferred by ischemic heart disease, ischemic cerebrovascular disease, chronic congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease and liver disease. Among acute complications, the highest odd ratios were associated with acute respiratory failure, major surgery and exposure to nephrotoxic drugs. The model showed an AUC of 0.906 (95% CI 0.904 to 0.908), a sensitivity of 89.1 (95% CI 87.0–91.0) and a specificity of 80.5 (95% CI 80.2–80.7) to predict HA-AKI stage 3, but tended to overestimate the risk at low-risk categories with an adequate goodness-of-fit for all risk categories (Chi2: 16.4, p: 0.034). In the validation set, incidence of HA-AKI stage 3 was 0.62%. The model showed an AUC of 0.861 (95% CI 0.859–0.863), a sensitivity of 83.0 (95% CI 80.5–85.3) and a specificity of 76.5 (95% CI 76.2–76.8) to predict HA-AKI stage 3 with an adequate goodness of fit for all risk categories (Chi2: 15.42, p: 0.052). Conclusions. Our study provides a model that can be used in clinical practice to obtain an accurate dynamic assessment of the individual risk of HA-AKI stage 3 along the hospital stay period in non-critically ill patients.
Relationship between Sensory Processing and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review
Authors: Costa-López Borja , Ferrer-Cascales Rosario , Ruiz-Robledillo Nicolás , Albaladejo-Blázquez Natalia , Baryła-Matejczuk Monika
Published: September 2021

Background: Sensory processing has been described as the ability to register, modulate, and organize sensory information to respond to environmental demands. Different theoretical approaches have studied the differential characteristics of sensory processing, such as Dunn’s model. From this framework, high sensitivity in sensory processing has been described as responses to stimuli from environment quite often due to a rapid activation of the central nervous system. It should be noted that the association between high sensitivity in sensory processing and health outcomes obtained in different studies are not homogeneous, so it is necessary to develop a review of this research in order to clarify the relationship between sensory processing and quality of life. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the relevant studies using the PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and ProQuest databases to assess how sensory processing patterns are related to quality of life. Results: Fourteen studies concerning sensory processing and quality of life were included in the review. Some studies indicate negative, moderate, and significant correlations between these variables in which high sensitivity is related to a poor quality of life in the population studied. Conclusions: High sensitivity in sensory processing could have a negative impact on quality of life, thereby facilitating a fluctuation in well-being, daily functioning, and health.
The Impact of Lower Extremity Skeletal Muscle Atrophy and Myosteatosis on Revascularization Outcomes in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease
Authors: Ma Kirsten F. , Levolger Stef , Vedder Issi R. , El Moumni Mostafa , de Vries Jean-Paul P. M. , Bokkers Reinoud P. H. , Viddeleer Alain R.
Published: September 2021

Background: This study investigated whether lower extremity muscle atrophy and myosteatosis in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are correlated to postoperative outcomes, such as reintervention or amputation-free survival. Methods: In this single-center retrospective cohort study of 462 patients treated for peripheral arterial disease scheduled for intervention, muscle mass and the presence of fattening of the lower extremity muscles were measured semiautomatically in a single computed tomography slice of the treated leg. Binary logistic regression models and Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the effect of muscle atrophy and myosteatosis on reintervention and amputation. Results: Muscle atrophy and myosteatosis increased in PAD patients with Fontaine class IV compared with Fontaine class IIa. In PAD patients with muscle atrophy or myosteatosis, no association was found with the reintervention rate or reintervention-free survival, but an association was found with amputation-free survival, even after adjustment for patient-related, disease-severity, and comorbidities-related factors. Conclusion: Muscle atrophy and mysosteatosis increased in PAD patients with increasing disease severity. Lower extremity muscle atrophy and myosteatosis are associated with amputation rate and amputation-free survival in PAD patients. No association with reintervention rate or reintervention-free survival was found. Muscle atrophy and myosteatosis may serve as additional risk factors in decision making in the often frail vascular patient.
Drug–Drug Interaction between Tacrolimus and Vonoprazan in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Suzuki Yoshiharu , Yoshihashi Takuya , Takahashi Kazuhiro , Furuya Kinji , Ohkohchi Nobuhiro , Oda Tatsuya , Homma Masato
Published: September 2021

Kidney transplant recipients with tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive therapy are often treated with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) to prevent gastric ulcer complications. Vonoprazan, a potassium-competitive acid blocker, is a novel PPI possessing different metabolic pathways from conventional PPIs (e.g., omeprazole, lansoprazole and rabeprazole). However, no data are available on the change in blood concentration of tacrolimus after switching rabeprazole, a conventional PPI, to vonoprazan coadministration in the initial period of post-transplantation. This is a retrospective study of 18 kidney transplant recipients. The blood concentration and the concentration to dose (C/D) ratio of tacrolimus were compared before and after switching from rabeprazole to vonoprazan. Impacts of CYP2C19 and CYP3A5 genetic polymorphisms on the drug–drug interaction were also examined. The median (range) trough concentration of tacrolimus was significantly increased from 5.2 (3.6–7.4) to 8.1 (6.1–11.7) ng/mL (p < 0.0005) after switching from rabeprazole to vonoprazan. The C/D ratio of tacrolimus was also significantly increased from 38.1 (16.5–138.1) to 48.9 (26.2–207.2) (p < 0.0005). The percent changes of tacrolimus concentrations and C/D were 65.8% and 41.8%, respectively. CYP2C19 and CYP3A5 genetic polymorphisms did not affect the change in concentration and C/D ratio of tacrolimus. The present study indicates that vonoprazan coadministration increases the tacrolimus concentration regardless of CYP2C19 or CYP3A5 genetic polymorphisms. Thus, frequent monitoring of blood tacrolimus concentration is required when vonoprazan is introduced as an intensive gastric acid blocker in the early phase of post-transplantation.
In Utero Programming of Testicular Cancer
Authors: Elad David , Jaffa Ariel J. , Grisaru Dan , Leibovitch Ilan
Published: September 2021

It is well established that the intrauterine biological environment plays important roles in fetal development. In this review, we re-visit the hypothesis that testicular germ cell cancer (TGCC), especially in adolescents and young adults, has been programmed in utero. The origin for extreme in utero environments is mostly maternal driven and may be due to nutritional, physical and psychological stressful conditions that alter the optimal molecular and biophysical in utero environments. Moreover, precursors for TGCC may originate as early as during fertilization or implantation of the blastocyst. Further investigations of human developmental biology, both in vivo and in vitro, are needed in order to establish better understanding of in utero programming of future wellbeing or diseases.
Regeneration in Reptiles Generally and the New Zealand Tuatara in Particular as a Model to Analyse Organ Regrowth in Amniotes: A Review
Authors: Alibardi Lorenzo , Meyer-Rochow Victor Benno
Published: September 2021

The ability to repair injuries among reptiles, i.e., ectothermic amniotes, is similar to that of mammals with some noteworthy exceptions. While large wounds in turtles and crocodilians are repaired through scarring, the reparative capacity involving the tail derives from a combined process of wound healing and somatic growth, the latter being continuous in reptiles. When the tail is injured in juvenile crocodilians, turtles and tortoises as well as the tuatara (Rhynchocephalia: Sphenodon punctatus, Gray 1842), the wound is repaired in these reptiles and some muscle and connective tissue and large amounts of cartilage are regenerated during normal growth. This process, here indicated as “regengrow”, can take years to produce tails with similar lengths of the originals and results in only apparently regenerated replacements. These new tails contain a cartilaginous axis and very small (turtle and crocodilians) to substantial (e.g., in tuatara) muscle mass, while most of the tail is formed by an irregular dense connective tissue containing numerous fat cells and sparse nerves. Tail regengrow in the tuatara is a long process that initially resembles that of lizards (the latter being part of the sister group Squamata within the Lepidosauria) with the formation of an axial ependymal tube isolated within a cartilaginous cylinder and surrounded by an irregular fat-rich connective tissue, some muscle bundles, and neogenic scales. Cell proliferation is active in the apical regenerative blastema, but much reduced cell proliferation continues in older regenerated tails, where it occurs mostly in the axial cartilage and scale epidermis of the new tail, but less commonly in the regenerated spinal cord, muscles, and connective tissues. The higher tissue regeneration of Sphenodon and other lepidosaurians provides useful information for attempts to improve organ regeneration in endothermic amniotes.
Benthic Diatoms on Sheltered Coastal Soft Bottoms (Baltic Sea)—Seasonal Community Production and Respiration
Authors: Karsten Ulf , Kuriyama Kana , Hübener Thomas , Woelfel Jana
Published: September 2021

Benthic diatom communities dominate sheltered shallow inner coastal waters of the atidal Southern Baltic Sea. However, their photosynthetic oxygen production and respiratory oxygen consumption is rarely evaluated. In the Baltic Sea carbon budget benthic diatom communities are often not included, since phytoplankton is regarded as the main primary producer. Therefore, two wind-protected stations (2–49-cm depths) were investigated between July 2010 and April 2012 using undisturbed sediment cores in combination with planar oxygen optodes. We expected strong fluctuations in the biological activity parameters in the incubated cores over the course of the seasons. The sediment particles at both stations were dominated by fine sand with a median grain size of 131–138 µm exhibiting an angular shape with many edges, which were less mobile compared to exposed coastal sites of the Southern Baltic Sea. These sand grains inhabited dense communities of rather small epipsammic diatoms (<10 µm). Chlorophyll a as a biomass parameter for benthic diatoms fluctuated from 64.8 to 277.3-mg Chl. a m−2 sediment surface. The net primary production and respiration rates exhibited strong variations across the different months at both stations, ranging from 12.9 to 56.9 mg O2 m−2 h−1 and from −6.4 to −137.6 mg O2 m−2 h−1, respectively. From these data, a gross primary production of 13.4 to 59.5 mg C m−2 h−1 was calculated. The results presented confirmed strong seasonal changes (four-fold amplitude) for the activity parameters and, hence, provided important production biological information for sheltered sediments of the Southern Baltic Sea. These data clearly indicate that benthic diatoms, although often ignored until now, represent a key component in the primary production of these coastal habitats when compared to similar studies at other locations of the Baltic Sea and, hence, should be considered in any carbon budget model of this brackish water ecosystem.
Design Wave Height Parameter Estimation Model Reflecting the Influence of Typhoon Time and Space
Authors: Liu Guilin , Xu Pengfei , Kou Yi , Wu Fang , Yang Yi , Zhao Daniel , You Zaijin
Published: September 2021

Typhoon storm surge disasters are one of the main restrictive factors of sustainable development in coastal areas. They are one of several important tasks in disaster prevention and reduction in coastal areas and require reasonable and accurate calculations of wave height in typhoon-affected sea areas to predict and resist typhoon storm surge disasters. In this paper, the design wave height estimation method based on the stochastic process and the principle of maximum entropy are theoretically advanced, and it can provide a new idea as well as a new method for the estimation of the return level for marine environmental elements under the influence of extreme weather. The model uses a family of random variables to reflect the influence of a typhoon on wave height at different times and then displays the statistical characteristics of wave height in time and space. At the same time, under the constraints of the given observations, the maximum uncertainty of the unobtainable data is maintained. The new model covers the compound extreme value distribution model that has been widely used and overcomes the subjective interference of the artificially selected distribution function—to a certain extent. Taking the typhoon wave height data of Naozhou Observatory as an example, this paper analyzes the probability of typhoon occurrence frequency at different times and the characteristics of typhoon intensity in different time periods. We then calculate the wave height return level and compare it with traditional calculation models. The calculation results show that the new model takes into account the time factor and the interaction between adjacent time periods. Furthermore, it reduces the subjective human interference, so the calculated results of the typhoon’s influence on wave height return level are more stable and accurate.
Sliding Mode Control of a Nonlinear Wave Energy Converter Model
Authors: Demonte Gonzalez Tania , Parker Gordon G. , Anderlini Enrico , Weaver Wayne W.
Published: September 2021

The most accurate wave energy converter models for heaving point absorbers include nonlinearities, which increase as resonance is achieved to maximize the energy capture. Over the power production spectrum and within the physical limits of the devices, the efficiency of wave energy converters can be enhanced by employing a control scheme that accounts for these nonlinearities. This paper proposes a sliding mode control for a heaving point absorber that includes the nonlinear effects of the dynamic and static Froude-Krylov forces. The sliding mode controller tracks a reference velocity that matches the phase of the excitation force to ensure higher energy absorption. This control algorithm is tested in regular linear waves and is compared to a complex-conjugate control and a nonlinear variation of the complex-conjugate control. The results show that the sliding mode control successfully tracks the reference and keeps the device displacement bounded while absorbing more energy than the other control strategies. Furthermore, due to the robustness of the control law, it can also accommodate disturbances and uncertainties in the dynamic model of the wave energy converter.
Armor Damage of Overtopped Mound Breakwaters in Depth-Limited Breaking Wave Conditions
Authors: Mares-Nasarre Patricia , Argente Gloria , Gómez-Martín M. Esther , Medina Josep R.
Published: September 2021

Armor damage due to wave attack is the principal failure mode to be considered when designing conventional mound breakwaters. Armor layers of mound breakwaters are typically designed using formulas in the literature for non-overtopped mound breakwaters in non-breaking wave conditions, although overtopped mound breakwaters in the depth-induced breaking wave zone are common design conditions. In this study, 2D physical tests with an armor slope H/V = 3/2 are analyzed in order to better describe the hydraulic stability of overtopped mound breakwaters with double-layer rock, double-layer randomly-place cube and single-layer Cubipod® armors in depth-limited breaking wave conditions. Hydraulic stability formulas are derived for each armor section (front slope, crest and rear slope) and each armor layer. The front slope of overtopped double-layer rock structures is more stable than the front slope of non-overtopped mound breakwaters in breaking wave conditions. When wave attack increases, armor damage appears first on the front slope, later on the crest and, finally, on the rear side. However, once the damage begins on the crest and rear side, the progression is much faster than on the front slope, because more wave energy is dissipated through the armored crest and rear side.
Neurochemical Features of Rem Sleep Behaviour Disorder
Authors: Jiménez-Jiménez Félix , Alonso-Navarro Hortensia , García-Martín Elena , Agúndez José
Published: September 2021

Dopaminergic deficiency, shown by many studies using functional neuroimaging with Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), is the most consistent neurochemical feature of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) and, together with transcranial ultrasonography, and determination of alpha-synuclein in certain tissues, should be considered as a reliable marker for the phenoconversion of idiopathic RBD (iRBD) to a synucleopathy (Parkinson’s disease –PD- or Lewy body dementia -LBD). The possible role in the pathogenesis of RBD of other neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline, acetylcholine, and excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters; hormones such as melatonin, and proinflammatory factors have also been suggested by recent reports. In general, brain perfusion and brain glucose metabolism studies have shown patterns resembling partially those of PD and LBD. Finally, the results of structural and functional MRI suggest the presence of structural changes in deep gray matter nuclei, cortical gray matter atrophy, and alterations in the functional connectivity within the basal ganglia, the cortico-striatal, and the cortico-cortical networks, but they should be considered as preliminary.
Business Improvement Districts: A Systematic Review of an Urban Governance Model towards City Center Revitalization
Authors: Guimarães Pedro
Published: September 2021

For some time, business improvement districts (BIDs) have entered into the discourse and practice of academics and urban planners. This model for town centre revitalization was created in North America, whose success has led to its transfer to a growing number of countries. This evolution highlights the importance of BIDs as an urban planning practice, as well as an object of study for academics interested in new models for intervening in central urban areas. BIDs are public–private partnerships, framed within an entrepreneurial logic of urban management that aims to increase the cities’ competitiveness. In this article, we aim to unfold the main research subjects of the literature focused on BIDs. We develop a systematic review for said endeavor, resorting to the established PRISMA protocol. After the screening and analysis of selected articles, four main research subjects were documented: (i) urban governance; (ii) urban policies: mobility and transfer; (iii) activities/axis of intervention; and (iv) types of BIDs/places of intervention. The selected literature enhances the contradictory nature of BIDs, ranging from the economic revitalization of city centres to the occasional exclusionary stance, in which it is developed. Our analysis also points to the important role of different actors in all stages of the policy transfer and implementation.
Mahdia Dialect: An Urban Vernacular in the Tunisian Sahel Context
Authors: La Rosa Cristina
Published: September 2021

This paper aims to present some preliminary results of the linguistic analysis of the dialect of the Wilāya of Mahdia on which few studies exist, focused mainly on phonology. My analysis, here extended to the morpho-syntactic level, is based on a corpus of interviews taken from some social media pages. The sample will be composed of respondents of different geographical origin (from Mahdia and some nearby towns), gender, age and social background. A deeper knowledge of the Arabic of Mahdia region, which is a bundle of urban, Bedouin and “villageois” varieties, would contribute to throw new light on the features of the Saḥlī dialects and would add a small piece to the complex mosaic of Tunisian and Maghrebi dialects, whose traditional categories of classification should be reconsidered.
A Historical Reconstruction of Some Pronominal Suffixes in Modern Dialectal Arabic
Authors: Stokes Phillip W.
Published: September 2021

The morphology of the pronominal suffixes in dialectal Arabic are of particular interest for scholars of the history of Arabic for two main reasons. First, multiple dialects attest suffixes that, from a comparative perspective, apparently retain final short vowels. The second and more complicated issue concerns the vowels which precede the suffixes in the dialects, which are thought to either have been case inflecting or epenthetic. In this paper, I take up Jean Cantineau’s “embarrassing question” of how to account for the development of the vowels of the pronominal suffixes. Based on data from dialectal tanwīn in modern dialects, and attestations from pre-modern texts as well, I will argue that the pre-suffix vowels did originate in case inflecting vowels, but that no historical model heretofore proposed can satisfactorily account for how the various dialectal forms might have arisen. I identify two major historical developments and propose models for each. First, I suggest that dialects in which the pre-suffixal vowels harmonized with the suffix vowels developed via a process of harmonization across morpheme boundaries before the loss of final short vowels. For dialects in which one vowel is generalized, I argue that a post-stress neutralization took place, which led to a single vowel both before suffixes and tanwīn as well. Finally, I rely on evidence from the behavior of the suffixes to argue that the final vowel of the 3fs suffix was originally long, but that those of the 3ms, 2ms, and 2fs were most likely short.
Solid-State NMR Studies of the Succinate-Acetate Permease from Citrobacter Koseri in Liposomes and Native Nanodiscs
Authors: Dong Xing-Qi , Lin Jing-Yu , Wang Peng-Fei , Li Yi , Wang Jian , Li Bing , Liao Jun , Lu Jun-Xia
Published: September 2021

The succinate-acetate permease (SatP) is an anion channel with six transmembrane domains. It forms different oligomers, especially hexamers in the detergent as well as in the membrane. Solid-state NMR studies of SatP were carried out successfully on SatP complexes by reconstructing the protein into liposomes or retaining the protein in the native membrane of E. coli., where it was expressed. The comparison of 13C-13C 2D correlation spectra between the two samples showed great similarity, opening the possibility to further study the acetate transport mechanism of SatP in its native membrane environment. Solid-state NMR studies also revealed small chemical shift differences of SatP in the two different membrane systems, indicating the importance of the lipid environment in determining the membrane protein structures and dynamics. Combining different 2D SSNMR spectra, chemical shift assignments were made on some sites, consistent with the helical structures in the transmembrane domains. In the end, we pointed out the limitation in the sensitivity for membrane proteins with such a size, and also indicated possible ways to overcome it.
Current Trends and Applications of Machine Learning in Tribology—A Review
Authors: Marian Max , Tremmel Stephan
Published: September 2021

Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are rising stars in many scientific disciplines and industries, and high hopes are being pinned upon them. Likewise, ML and AI approaches have also found their way into tribology, where they can support sorting through the complexity of patterns and identifying trends within the multiple interacting features and processes. Published research extends across many fields of tribology from composite materials and drive technology to manufacturing, surface engineering, and lubricants. Accordingly, the intended usages and numerical algorithms are manifold, ranging from artificial neural networks (ANN), decision trees over random forest and rule-based learners to support vector machines. Therefore, this review is aimed to introduce and discuss the current trends and applications of ML and AI in tribology. Thus, researchers and R&D engineers shall be inspired and supported in the identification and selection of suitable and promising ML approaches and strategies.
Synthesis of 4-[(1H-Benzimidazol-2-yl)sulfanyl]benzaldehyde and 2-({4-[(1H-Benzimidazol-2-yl)sulfanyl]phenyl}methylidene)hydrazine-1-carbothioamide
Authors: Ubeid Mustafa Turki , Thabet Hamdy Khamees , Abu Shuheil Mohamed Yousef
Published: September 2021

Here we describe the preparation of 2-(4-((1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)thio)-benzylidene)-hydrazine-1-carbothioamide in two steps. In the first step, 1,3-dihydro-2H-1,3-benzimidazole-2-thione was reacted with 4-fluorobenzaldehyde in DMSO to get 4-[(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)sulfanyl]benzaldehyde in high yield. The reaction of the obtained aldehyde with thiosemicarbazide in ethanol at reflux temperature yielded 2-({4-[(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)sulfanyl]phenyl}methylidene)hydrazine-1-carbothioamide. The structure of the synthesized compounds was established by NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C), mass spectrometry, and infrared spectroscopy.
Cellular Automata Modelling of Discontinuous Precipitation
Authors: Opara Jarosław , Straumal Boris , Zięba Paweł
Published: September 2021

The fundamentals of discontinuous precipitation (DP) reaction modelling using a cellular automata (CA) method are presented. In the proposed CA model, cell states, internal variables, equations, and transition rules were defined to predict the manner of mass transport during DP reaction and to relate changes in the microstructure with corresponding changes in chemical composition. Furthermore, the concept of digital material representation (DMR) was introduced into the CA model, which allowed schematic images of the microstructure to be used as starting structures in the modelling of the DP reaction. The preliminary assumptions adopted in the proposed CA model for the DP reaction were verified by numerical simulations of the growth of discontinuous precipitates at a steady-state at the example of Al-22 at.% Zn alloy. The outcomes achieved from the CA simulations were presented in a different form than that most commonly used previously (single concentration profiles), namely as the 2D maps showing changes in Zn content accompanying the successive stages of growth of discontinuous precipitates. The model used for the description of the solute diffusion along of the reaction front (RF) allowed two-dimensional systems at the nano-scale to be treated within a reasonable simulation time. The obtained results indicate that the developed CA model was able to realistically simulate the DP reaction, which was confirmed by the visualisation of migrating RFs together with associated chemical composition changes in the microstructure.
Characterization and Cytotoxicity Comparison of Silver- and Silica-Based Nanostructures
Authors: Adamska Elżbieta , Niska Karolina , Wcisło Anna , Grobelna Beata
Published: September 2021

Core-shell structures are the most common type of composite material nanostructures due to their multifunctional properties. Silver nanoparticles show broad antimicrobial activity, but the safety of their utilization still remains an issue to tackle. In many applications, the silver core is coated with inorganic shell to reduce the metal toxicity. This article presents the synthesis of various materials based on silver and silica nanoparticles, including SiO2@Ag, Ag@SiO2, and sandwich nanostructures—Ag@SiO2@Ag—and the morphology of these nanomaterials based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and FT-IR spectroscopy. Moreover, we conducted the angle measurements due to the strong relationship between the level of surface wettability and cell adhesion efficiency. The main aim of the study was to determine the cytotoxicity of the obtained materials against two types of human skin cells—keratinocytes (HaCaT) and fibroblasts (HDF). We found that among all the obtained structures, SiO2@Ag and Ag@SiO2 showed the lowest cell toxicity and very high half-maximal inhibitory concentration. Moreover, the measurements of the contact angle showed that Ag@SiO2 nanostructures were different from other materials due to their superhydrophilic nature. The novel approach presented here shows the promise of implementing core-shell type nanomaterials in skin-applied cosmetic or medical products.
Flexible Theoretical Calculation of Loop Length and Area Density of Weft-Knitted Structures: Part II
Authors: Arbataitis Edgaras , Mikucioniene Daiva , Ielina Tetiana , Halavska Liudmyla
Published: September 2021

A simple and flexible method for theoretical calculation of the main structural parameters of various weft-knitted fancy and combined patterns is presented in this article. It is especially important for patterns containing different elements, such as loops, floats of different lengths, tucks, and tuck stitches. Measurement of an actual average length of the loop in these fabrics is complicated because it is necessary to disassemble precisely one pattern repeat to measure the yarn length and divide it by the number of elements in this pattern repeat. For large and complex pattern repeats, this is difficult and usually gives a high number of errors. It is very important to have lengths of structural elements as it helps to predict the main physical properties of knitted fabrics and their mechanical behaviour, which is especially important for protective textiles. The main idea of the proposed method, based on Čiukas geometrical model, is to calculate lengths of various structural elements or even their parts separately, taking into account the number of needle bars and their formation principle, which gives great flexibility to such modelling. The proposed theoretical formulas can be used for various patterned weft-knitted structures containing not only loops but tucks, floats of different lengths, or additional yarns; they give very few errors in empirical calculations and are easy to use.
Green Composite Sensor for Monitoring Hydroxychloroquine in Different Water Matrix
Authors: de Araújo Danyelle M. , Paiva Suelya da Silva M. , Henrique João Miller M. , Martínez-Huitle Carlos A. , Dos Santos Elisama V.
Published: September 2021

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a derivative of 4-aminoquinolone, is prescribed as an antimalarial prevention drug and to treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Recently, Coronavirus (COVID-19) treatment was authorized by national and international medical organizations by chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in certain hospitalized patients. However, it is considered as an unproven hypothesis for treating COVID-19 which even itself must be investigated. Consequently, the high risk of natural water contamination due to the large production and utilization of HCQ is a key issue to overcome urgently. In fact, in Brazil, the COVID-19 kit (hydroxychloroquine and/or ivermectin) has been indicated as pre-treatment, and consequently, several people have used these drugs, for longer periods, converting them in emerging water pollutants when these are excreted and released to aquatic environments. For this reason, the development of tools for monitoring HCQ concentration in water and the treatment of polluted effluents is needed to minimize its hazardous effects. Then, in this study, an electrochemical measuring device for its environmental application on HCQ control was developed. A raw cork–graphite electrochemical sensor was prepared and a simple differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) method was used for the quantitative determination of HCQ. Results indicated that the electrochemical device exhibited a clear current response, allowing one to quantify the analyte in the 5–65 µM range. The effectiveness of the electrochemical sensor was tested in different water matrices (in synthetic and real) and lower HCQ concentrations were detected. When comparing electrochemical determinations and spectrophotometric measurements, no significant differences were observed (mean accuracy 3.0%), highlighting the potential use of this sensor in different environmental applications.
Recent Applications of Benchtop Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Yu Hyo-Yeon , Myoung Sangki , Ahn Sangdoo
Published: September 2021

Benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy uses small permanent magnets to generate magnetic fields and therefore offers the advantages of operational simplicity and reasonable cost, presenting a viable alternative to high-field NMR spectroscopy. In particular, the use of benchtop NMR spectroscopy for rapid in-field analysis, e.g., for quality control or forensic science purposes, has attracted considerable attention. As benchtop NMR spectrometers are sufficiently compact to be operated in a fume hood, they can be efficiently used for real-time reaction and process monitoring. This review introduces the recent applications of benchtop NMR spectroscopy in diverse fields, including food science, pharmaceuticals, process and reaction monitoring, metabolomics, and polymer materials.
On the Existence and Uniqueness of Solutions for Multidimensional Fractional Stochastic Differential Equations with Variable Order
Authors: Moualkia Seyfeddine , Xu Yong
Published: September 2021

Fractional stochastic differential equations are still in their infancy. Based on some existing results, the main difficulties here are how to deal with those equations if the fractional order is varying with time and how to confirm the existence of their solutions in this case. This paper is about the existence and uniqueness of solutions to the fractional stochastic differential equations with variable order. We prove the existence by using the Picard iterations and propose new sufficient conditions for the uniqueness.
Outer Synchronization of Complex-Variable Networks with Complex Coupling via Impulsive Pinning Control
Authors: Ji Yanjie , Wu Zhaoyan
Published: September 2021

In this paper, outer synchronization of complex-variable networks with complex coupling is considered. Sufficient conditions for achieving outer synchronization using static impulsive pinning controllers are first derived according to the Lyapunov function method and stability theory of impulsive differential equations. From these conditions, the necessary impulsive gains and intervals for given networks can be easily calculated. Further, an adaptive strategy is introduced to design universal controllers and avoid repeated calculations for different networks. Notably, the estimation algorithms of the impulsive gains and intervals are provided. Finally, three numerical examples are performed to verify the effectiveness of the main results.
Proadrenomedullin in Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Role in the Emergency Department
Authors: Piccioni Andrea , Saviano Angela , Cicchinelli Sara , Valletta Federico , Santoro Michele Cosimo , de Cunzo Tommaso , Zanza Christian , Longhitano Yaroslava , Tullo Gianluca , Tilli Pietro , Candelli Marcello , Covino Marcello , Franceschi Francesco
Published: September 2021

Sepsis and septic shock represent a leading cause of mortality in the Emergency Department (ED) and in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). For these life-threating conditions, different diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers have been studied. Proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) is a biomarker that can predict organ damage and the risk of imminent death in patients with septic shock, as shown by a large amount of data in the literature. The aim of our narrative review is to evaluate the role of MR-proADM in the context of Emergency Medicine and to summarize the current knowledge of MR-proADM as a serum indicator that is useful in the Emergency Department (ED) to determine an early diagnosis and to predict the long-term mortality of patients with sepsis and septic shock. We performed an electronic literature review to investigate the role of MR-proADM in sepsis and septic shock in the context of ED. We searched papers on PubMed®, Cochrane®, UptoDate®, and Web of Science® that had been published in the last 10 years. Data extracted from this literature review are not conclusive, but they show that MR-proADM may be helpful as a prognostic biomarker to stratify the mortality risk in cases of sepsis and septic shock with different degrees of organ damage, guiding emergency physicians in the diagnosis and the succeeding therapeutic workup. Sepsis and septic shock are conditions of high complexity and have a high risk of mortality. In the ED, early diagnosis is crucial in order to provide an early treatment and to improve patient survival. Diagnosis and prognosis are often the result of a combination of several tests. In our opinion, testing for MR-proADM directly in the ED could contribute to improving the prognostic assessment of patients, facilitating the subsequent clinical management and intensive treatment by the emergency physicians, but more studies are needed to confirm these results.
Recent Updates in the Treatment of Erythema Multiforme
Authors: Soares Alexa , Sokumbi Olayemi
Published: September 2021

Erythema multiforme (EM) is an immune-mediated condition that classically presents with discrete targetoid lesions and can involve both mucosal and cutaneous sites. While EM is typically preceded by viral infections, most notably herpes simplex virus (HSV), and certain medications, a large portion of cases are due to an unidentifiable cause. EM can be confused with other more serious conditions like Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS); however, clinical research has provided significant evidence to classify EM and SJS as separate disorders. Treatment of EM is highly variable, depending on the etiology, the involvement of mucosal sites, and the chronicity (acute vs. recurring) of the disease. If the etiology or causal medication/infection is identified, then the medication is stopped and/or the infection is treated prior to initiating symptomatic treatment. Treatment for acute EM is focused on relieving symptoms with topical steroids or antihistamines. Treatment for recurrent EM is most successful when tailored to individual patients. First line treatment for recurrent EM includes both systemic and topical therapies. Systemic therapies include corticosteroid therapy and antiviral prophylaxis. Topical therapies include high-potency corticosteroids, and antiseptic or anesthetic solutions for mucosal involvement. Second-line therapies for patients who do not respond to antiviral medications include immunosuppressive agents, antibiotics, anthelmintics, and antimalarials
Photocatalytic Nanofiber Membranes for the Degradation of Micropollutants and Their Antimicrobial Activity: Recent Advances and Future Prospects
Authors: Chabalala Mandla B. , Gumbi Nozipho N. , Mamba Bhekie B. , Al-Abri Mohammed Z. , Nxumalo Edward N.
Published: September 2021

This review paper systematically evaluates current progress on the development and performance of photocatalytic nanofiber membranes often used in the removal of micropollutants from water systems. It is demonstrated that nanofiber membranes serve as excellent support materials for photocatalytic nanoparticles, leading to nanofiber membranes with enhanced optical properties, as well as improved recovery, recyclability, and reusability. The tremendous performance of photocatalytic membranes is attributed to the photogenerated reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals, singlet oxygen, and superoxide anion radicals introduced by catalytic nanoparticles such as TiO2 and ZnO upon light irradiation. Hydroxyl radicals are the most reactive species responsible for most of the photodegradation processes of these unwanted pollutants. The review also demonstrates that self-cleaning and antimicrobial nanofiber membranes are useful in the removal of microbial species in water. These unique materials are also applicable in other fields such as wound dressing since the membrane allows for oxygen flow in wounds to heal while antimicrobial agents protect wounds against infections. It is demonstrated that antimicrobial activities against bacteria and photocatalytic degradation of micropollutants significantly reduce membrane fouling. Therefore, the review demonstrates that electrospun photocatalytic nanofiber membranes with antimicrobial activity form efficient cost-effective multifunctional composite materials for the removal of unwanted species in water and for use in various other applications such as filtration, adsorption and electrocatalysis.
Selective Autophagy as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Age-Associated Pathologies
Authors: Papandreou Margarita-Elena , Tavernarakis Nektarios
Published: September 2021

Progressive accumulation of damaged cellular constituents contributes to age-related diseases. Autophagy is the main catabolic process, which recycles cellular material in a multitude of tissues and organs. Autophagy is activated upon nutrient deprivation, and oncogenic, heat or oxidative stress-induced stimuli to selectively degrade cell constituents and compartments. Specificity and accuracy of the autophagic process is maintained via the precision of interaction of autophagy receptors or adaptors and substrates by the intricate, stepwise orchestration of specialized integrating stimuli. Polymorphisms in genes regulating selective autophagy have been linked to aging and age-associated disorders. The involvement of autophagy perturbations in aging and disease indicates that pharmacological agents balancing autophagic flux may be beneficial, in these contexts. Here, we introduce the modes and mechanisms of selective autophagy, and survey recent experimental evidence of dysfunctional autophagy triggering severe pathology. We further highlight identified pharmacological targets that hold potential for developing therapeutic interventions to alleviate cellular autophagic cargo burden and associated pathologies.
Digesta and Plasma Metabolomics of Rainbow Trout Strains with Varied Tolerance of Plant-Based Diets Highlights Potential for Non-Lethal Assessments of Enteritis Development
Authors: Palma Mariana , Bledsoe Jacob W. , Tavares Ludgero C. , Romano Nicholas , Small Brian C. , Viegas Ivan , Overturf Ken
Published: September 2021

The replacement of fishmeal in aquafeeds is essential to the sustainability of aquaculture. Besides the procurement of alternative protein sources, fish can also be selected for better performance on plant-based alternative diets. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is one such species in which the strain ARS-Sel has been selected for higher growth and enhanced utilization when fed soy-based diets. The aim of this study was to compare fish growth and plasma and digesta metabolomes between ARS-Sel and two commercial strains (CS-1 and CS-2), when fed plant-protein (PM) and fishmeal-based (FM) diets, and to correlate them with the onset of enteritis. An NMR-metabolomics approach was taken to assess plasma and digesta metabolite profiles. Diet and strain showed significant effects on fish growth, with the ARS-Sel fish receiving the PM diet reaching the highest final weight at sampling. Multivariate analysis revealed differences between plasma and digesta metabolite profiles of ARS-Sel and CS (CS-1 considered together with CS-2) PM-fed groups in the early stages of enteritis development, which was confirmed by intestinal histology. As reported in previous studies, the ARS-Sel strain performed better than the commercial strains when fed the PM diet. Our findings also suggest that metabolomic profiles of plasma and digesta, samples of which can be obtained through non-lethal methods, offer valuable insight in monitoring the occurrence of enteritis in carnivorous aquaculture species due to plant-based diets.