bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulation of Mesosphere Wind Measurement with Multiple Emission Lines of the O2(0-1) Band Using Space-Based Doppler Asymmetric Spatial Heterodyne
Authors: Fu Di , Zhao Hengxiang , Li Juan , Wu Kuijun , Chang Chenguang , Bai Lu , Feng Yutao , Liu Xuebin
Published: August 2022

For space-based atmospheric wind measurements, full-link simulation is critical for the optimization of the instrument indicators and the evaluation of the measurements’ performance. This paper presents observation simulations and error verification of the mesosphere wind measurement with four emission lines of the O2(0-1) band by using the space-based Doppler Asymmetric Spatial Heterodyne (DASH), named the Mesosphere Wind Image Interferometer (MWII). The passive wind measurement principle and the DASH concept are first described. The full-link simulation consists of radiation simulation, the instrument forward model, and the wind retrieval model. The four emission lines at about 866.5 nm of the O2(0-1) band were selected as the observation targets. The radiation characteristics of the target lines were studied and calculated, as well as the background radiation. Based on the LOS radiation integral model, a numerical simulation of the raw observation data was carried out using the instrument model. The interference fringe priority strategy and joint wind decision method were proposed to achieve multiple-emission-line wind retrieval with higher precision. In the simulation, multiple-line retrieval could improve the precision by more than 30% compared to single-line retrieval under the same conditions. The error simulation indicated that the wind profile precision was 3–9 m/s in the altitude range of 50–110 km, with an average accuracy of about 1 m/s, proving that the scheme of MWII has good altitude coverage of the whole mesosphere and a part of the lower thermosphere.
Near-Field Seismic Motion: Waves, Deformations and Seismic Moment
Authors: Apostol Bogdan Felix
Published: August 2022

The tensorial force acting in a localized seismic focus is introduced and the corresponding seismic waves are derived, as solutions of the elastic wave equation in a homogeneous and isotropic body. The deconvolution of the solution for a structured focal region is briefly discussed. The far-field waves are identified as P and S seismic waves. These are spherical-shell waves, with a scissor-like shape, and an amplitude decreasing with the inverse of the distance. The near-field seismic waves are spherical-shell waves, decreasing with the inverse of the squared distance. The amplitudes and the polarizations of the near-field seismic waves are given. The determination of the seismic-moment tensor and the earthquake parameters from measurements of the P and S seismic waves at Earth’s’ surface is briefly discussed. Similarly, the mainshock generated by secondary waves on Earth’s surface is reviewed. The near-field static deformations of a homogeneous and isotropic half-space are discussed and a method of determining the seismic-moment tensor from epicentral near-field (quasi-) static deformations in seismogenic regions is presented.
Enhanced Biocompatibility and Osteogenic Activity of Marine-Plankton-Derived Whitlockite Bone Granules through Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 Incorporation
Authors: Baek Ji Won , Kim Ki Su , Park Ho , Park Nak Gyu , Kim Beom-Su
Published: August 2022

Whitlockite (WH) is a calcium-phosphate-based Mg-containing ceramic with good mechanical properties, rapid resorption, and good osteogenicity. Recently, we successfully synthesized highly porous WH granules using a marine plankton exoskeleton (MP-WH). In the present study, we improved the osteoinductive activity of MP-WH granules by bone morphogenetic protein2 (BMP2) (MP-WH/BMP2). The surface morphology and composition of the fabricated MP-WH/BMP2 granules were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The biocompatibility and osteogenic effects were evaluated using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). BMP2 was absorbed on the surfaces of the MP-WH/BMP2 granules. Immobilized BMP2 was released at a moderate rate over 30 days. hMSCs seeded on MP-WH/BMP2 granules became biocompatible, with a better proliferation and adhesion for MP-WH/BMP2, compared with MP-WH. Bone-specific markers Runx2, type I collagen, osteocalcin, and osteopontin were significantly upregulated following BMP2 incorporation. Similar observations were made regarding the alkaline phosphatase activity. This study suggests that BMP2 incorporation improves the osteoinductive activity of marine-plankton-derived WH granules for bone tissue repair.
Automated Computer-Assisted Image Analysis for the Fast Quantification of Kidney Fibrosis
Authors: Sánchez-Jaramillo Esteban Andrés , Gasca-Lozano Luz Elena , Vera-Cruz José María , Hernández-Ortega Luis Daniel , Salazar-Montes Adriana María
Published: August 2022

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common and worldwide health problem and one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality. Most primary research on this disease requires evaluating the fibrosis index in animal model kidneys, specifically using Masson’s trichrome stain. Different programs are used to calculate the percentage of fibrosis; however, the analysis is time-consuming since one image must be performed at a time. CellProfiler™ is a program designed to analyze data obtained from biological samples and can process multiple images through pipelines, and the results can be exported to databases. This article explains how CellProfiler™ can be used to automatically analyze kidney histology photomicrographs from samples stained with Masson’s trichrome stain to assess the percentage of fibrosis in an experimental animal model of CKD. A pipeline was created to analyze Masson’s trichrome-stained slides in a model of CDK induced by adenine at doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, in addition to samples with the vehicle (75% glycerin). The results were compared with those obtained by ImageJ, and no significant differences were found between both programs. The CellProfiler™ pipeline made here is a reliable, fast, and easy alternative for kidney fibrosis analysis and quantification in experimental animal models.
Exploitation of High Tumour GSH Levels for Targeted siRNA Delivery in Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells
Authors: Duan Chengchen , Townley Helen
Published: August 2022

Metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS) is an aggressive paediatric cancer with a poor prognosis. Downregulation of critical tumour genes using targeted siRNA remains an obstacle, but association with nanoparticles could help to deliver, protect, target, and enhance penetration. siRNA towards two genes was investigated: (i) Human αB-crystallin (CRYAB) and Heat Shock Protein Family B (Small) Member 2 (HSPB2), and (ii) Keratin 17 (KRT17). A mesoporous silica based nanosystem was linked to siRNA via disulfide bonds and loaded with IR820 dye. Transfection efficiency and signalling was evaluated, and the metabolic effects and cell proliferation were monitored in 2D culture and 3D spheroid models. The bound siRNA was protected from degradation with RNase I for at least 24 h. The delivered siRNA showed significant suppression of viability; 53.21 ± 23.40% for CRYAB and HSPB2 siRNA, and 88.06 ± 17.28% for KRT17 siRNA. After 72 h this increased to >50% cell apoptosis and necrosis. Intracellular total glutathione (GSH) levels were also compared with fibroblasts, and the RMS cell lines showed a several-fold increase. IR820 cellular uptake rate and penetration depth was significantly improved by nanoparticle delivery. Targetted siRNA delivery may pave the way for less invasive and more effective treatments of aRMS.
Association between Vitamin D Serum Levels and Immune Response to the BNT162b2 Vaccine for SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Zelini Paola , d’Angelo Piera , Cereda Emanuele , Klersy Catherine , Sabrina Peressini , Albertini Riccardo , Grugnetti Giuseppina , Grugnetti Anna Maria , Marena Carlo , Cutti Sara , Lilleri Daniele , Cassaniti Irene , Fausto Baldanti , Caccialanza Riccardo
Published: August 2022

The use of micronutrients such as vitamin D could improve the response to viral vaccines, particularly in immunosuppressed and immunosenescent subjects. Here, we analysed the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels and the immune response elicited by the BNT162b2 vaccine in a cohort of 101 healthcare workers naïve for SARS-CoV-2 infection. We observed no significant differences in anti-spike (S) IgG and T-cell responses according to the 25OHD status at baseline. However, significant correlations between the 25OHD concentration at baseline and (i) the anti-S response (p < 0.020) and (ii) the neutralizing antibody (NT) titre (p = 0.040) at six months after the second dose were detected. We concluded that adequate levels of vitamin D may improve the immune response to mRNA vaccines such as BNT162b2, and that further larger studies are warranted in order to confirm these preliminary observations.
The Ratio of the Size of the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm to That of the Unchanged Aorta as a Risk Factor for Its Rupture
Authors: Jusko Maciej , Kasprzak Piotr , Majos Alicja , Kuczmik Waclaw
Published: August 2022

Background: A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is a severe condition associated with high mortality. Currently, the most important criterion used to estimate the risk of its rupture is the size of the aneurysm, but due to patients’ anatomical variability, many aneurysms have a high risk of rupture with a small aneurysm size. We asked ourselves whether individual differences in anatomy could be taken into account when assessing the risk of rupture. Methods: Based on the CT scan image, aneurysm and normal aorta diameters were collected from 186 individuals and compared in patients with ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. To take into account anatomical differences between patients, diameter ratios were calculated by dividing the aneurysm diameter by the diameter of the normal aorta at various heights, and then further comparisons were made. Results: It was found that the calculated ratios differ between patients with ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. This observation is also present in patients with small aneurysms, with its maximal size below the level that indicates the need for surgical treatment. For small aneurysms, the ratios help us to estimate the risk of rupture better than the maximum sac size (AUC: 0.783 vs. 0.650). Conclusions: The calculated ratios appear to be a valuable feature to indicate which of the small aneurysms have a high risk of rupture. The obtained results suggest the need for further confirmation of their usefulness in subsequent groups of patients.
Immunogenicity of BNT162b2 mRNA-Based Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in People with Cystic Fibrosis According to Disease Characteristics and Maintenance Therapies
Authors: Alicandro Gianfranco , Daccò Valeria , Cariani Lisa , Rosazza Chiara , Sciarrabba Calogero Sathya , Ferraro Federica , Lanfranchi Chiara , Medino Paola , Girelli Daniela , Colombo Carla
Published: August 2022

During the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign, people with CF (pwCF) were considered a clinically vulnerable population. However, data on the immunogenicity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in pwCF are lacking. We conducted a prospective study enrolling all patients aged > 12 and who were followed-up in our CF center and received two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine in the period of March–October 2021. Blood samples were taken from them for the quantification of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain immediately before receiving the first dose and 3 and 6 months after the second dose. We enrolled 143 patients (median age: 21 years, range: 13–38), 16 of whom had had a previous infection. Geometric mean antibody titer (GMT) 3 months after vaccination was 1355 U/mL (95% CI: 1165–1575) and decreased to 954 U/mL (95% CI: 819–1111) after 6 months (p < 0.0001). GMT was higher among previously infected patients as compared to those naïve to SARS-CoV-2 (6707 vs. 1119 U/mL at 3 months and 4299 vs. 796 U/mL at 6 months, p < 0.0001) with no significant differences in the rate of decline over time (p = 0.135). All pwCF mounted an antibody response after two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine, which waned at 6 months from vaccination. Age ≥ 30 years and the use of inhaled corticosteroids were associated with a lower humoral response. Between the second and the third doses, nine episodes of vaccine breakthrough infections were observed.
Dental Pulp-Derived Stem Cells Reduce Inflammation, Accelerate Wound Healing and Mediate M2 Polarization of Myeloid Cells
Authors: Anderson Sarah , Prateeksha Prateeksha , Das Hiranmoy
Published: August 2022

This work aimed to validate the potential use of dental pulp-derived stem cells (DPSCs) for the treatment of inflammation by defining their mechanisms of action. We planned to investigate whether priming of DPSC with proinflammatory molecules had any impact on their behavior and function. In the first step of our validation in vitro, we showed that priming of DPSCs with the bioactive agents LPS, TNF-α, or IFN-γ altered DPSCs’ immunologic properties by increasing their expression levels of IL-10, HGF, IDO, and IL-4 and by decreasing their mitochondrial functions. Moreover, DPSCs induced accelerated wound healing irrespective of priming, as determined by using a gut epithelial cell line in a scratch wound assay. Wound healing of gut epithelial cells was mediated by regulating the expressions of AKT, NF-κB, and ERK1/2 proteins compared to the control epithelial cells. In addition, primed DPSCs altered monocyte polarization toward an immuno-suppressive phenotype (M2), where monocytes expressed higher levels of IL-4R, IL-6, Arg1, and YM-1 compared to monocytes cultured with control DPSCs. In silico analysis revealed that this was accomplished in part by the interaction between kynurenine and PPARγ, which regulated the expression of M2 differentiation-related genes. Collectively, these data provided evidence that the DPSCs reduced inflammation, induced M2 polarization of myeloid cells, and healed damaged gut epithelial cells through inactivation of inflammation and modulating constitutively active signaling pathways.
Introduction of Nanomaterials to Biosensors for Exosome Detection: Case Study for Cancer Analysis
Authors: Lee Myoungro , Kim Jinmyeong , Jang Moonbong , Park Chulhwan , Lee Jin-Ho , Lee Taek
Published: August 2022

Exosomes have been gaining attention for early cancer diagnosis owing to their biological functions in cells. Several studies have reported the relevance of exosomes in various diseases, including pancreatic cancer, retroperitoneal fibrosis, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, and atherosclerosis. Particularly, exosomes are regarded as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and can be detected in biofluids, such as saliva, urine, peritoneal fluid, and blood. Thus, exosomes are advantageous for cancer liquid biopsies as they overcome the current limitations of cancer tissue biopsies. Several studies have reported methods for exosome isolation, and analysis for cancer diagnosis. However, further clinical trials are still required to determine accurate exosome concentration quantification methods. Recently, various biosensors have been developed to detect exosomal biomarkers, including tumor-derived exosomes, nucleic acids, and proteins. Among these, the exact quantification of tumor-derived exosomes is a serious obstacle to the clinical use of liquid biopsies. Precise detection of exosome concentration is difficult because it requires clinical sample pretreatment. To solve this problem, the use of the nanobiohybrid material-based biosensor provides improved sensitivity and selectivity. The present review will discuss recent progress in exosome biosensors consisting of nanomaterials and biomaterial hybrids for electrochemical, electrical, and optical-based biosensors.
Long-Term Outcomes of Local Tirofiban Infusion for Intracranial Atherosclerosis-Related Occlusion
Authors: Choi Woochan , Hwang Yang-Ha , Kim Yong-Won
Published: August 2022

Local tirofiban infusion has been reported as a rescue strategy for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS)-related stroke. However, the long-term outcomes of local tirofiban infusion during endovascular reperfusion therapy (ERT) for ICAS-related stroke are still uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of local tirofiban infusion during ERT. We retrospectively analyzed acute patients with ICAS-related stroke who were treated with local tirofiban as a rescue strategy during ERT. The primary outcomes were ischemic stroke, transient ischemic stroke (TIA), and stroke-related death within 30 days. Secondary outcomes included ischemic stroke and TIA beyond 30 days and up to 2 years after ERT in the corresponding treated vessel, symptomatic brain hemorrhage, any stroke, and non-stroke-related death. During a median follow-up of 24.0 months, 12 patients developed an ischemic stroke and TIA (4 within 30 days and 8 afterward). The 1-year risk of stroke and TIA was 9.2% (95% confidence interval, 8.0–18.6%). This study demonstrates that 1-year outcomes of local tirofiban infusion were comparable to the results of intracranial stenting in patients with symptomatic ICAS. Local tirofiban infusion for ICAS-related stroke may be a feasible rescue strategy that can have a bridging role until the maximum effect of antiplatelet agents is achieved.
The Usefulness of Extended Inflammation Parameters and Systemic Inflammatory Response Markers in the Diagnostics of Autoimmune Hepatitis
Authors: Domerecka Weronika , Kowalska-Kępczyńska Anna , Homa-Mlak Iwona , Michalak Agata , Mlak Radosław , Mazurek Marcin , Cichoż-Lach Halina , Małecka-Massalska Teresa
Published: August 2022

(1) Introduction: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic disease. A persistent autoimmune reaction in the liver is significantly related to the systemic inflammatory response. Extended Inflammation Parameters (EIP) can be used to assess the activation of immune cells such as activated neutrophils (NEUT-RI and NEUT-GI) and activated lymphocytes (RE-LYMP and AS-LYMP) in the phase of active inflammation. The role of the systemic inflammatory response markers should also be emphasised, especially: NLR, PLR, and RLR, which have recently been widely studied as markers in autoimmune skin diseases or liver diseases. (2) Materials and Methods: The study included 30 patients with AIH and 30 healthy volunteers. The parameters of the EIP group (RE-LYMP, AS-LYMP, NEUT-RI, NEUT-GI), calculated haematological indices Red Blood Cell Distribution Width-to-Platelet Ratio (RPR), Mean Platelet Volume-to-Platelet Ratio (MPR), Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Red Blood Cell Distribution Width-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (RLR), and selected blood morphological and biochemical indices were analysed. The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of the EIP and systemic inflammatory response markers in the diagnostics of AIH. (3) Results: Compared to the controls, the patients with AIH showed significantly higher EIP values: NEUT-RI (48.05 vs. 43.30), NEUT-GI (152.65 vs. 147.40), RE-LYMP (0.07 vs. 0.03), and the inflammatory response markers: MPR (0.05 vs. 0.04), RPR (0.07 vs. 0.05), and NLR (2.81 vs. 1.42. Among the examined markers, EIP has significant diagnostic potential: NEUT-RI (AUC = 0.86), NEUT-GI (AUC = 0.80), and RE-LYMP (AUC = 0.78), and so do calculated haematological indices, i.e., MPR (AUC = 0.75), PLR (AUC = 1.00), and RLR (AUC = 1.00) Moreover, the importance of NEUT-GI (AUC = 0.89), MPR (AUC = 0.93), PLR (AUC = 0.86), RPR (AUC = 0.91), and FIB-4 (AUC = 0.83) in the detection of liver fibrosis in the course of AIH has also been proven. (4) Conclusions: EIP and systemic inflammatory response markers may turn out to be useful in detecting AIH and in looking for features of already developed liver cirrhosis in its course.
RETRACTED: Rolot, M.; O’Sullivan, T.E. Living with Yourself: Innate Lymphoid Cell Immunometabolism. Cells 2020, 9, 334
Authors: Rolot Marion , O’Sullivan Timothy
Published: August 2022

The journal retracts the article, “Rolot, M. and O’Sullivan, T. E. Living with Yourself: Innate lymphoid Cell Immunometabolism. Cells 2020, 9, 334” [...]
The Ubiquitin Ligase RNF138 Cooperates with CtIP to Stimulate Resection of Complex DNA Double-Strand Breaks in Human G1-Phase Cells
Authors: Averbeck Nicole B. , Barent Carina , Jakob Burkhard , Syzonenko Tatyana , Durante Marco , Taucher-Scholz Gisela
Published: August 2022

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) represent the molecular origin of ionizing-radiation inflicted biological effects. An increase in the ionization density causes more complex, clustered DSBs that can be processed by resection also in G1 phase, where repair of resected DSBs is considered erroneous and may contribute to the increased biological effectiveness of heavy ions in radiotherapy. To investigate the resection regulation of complex DSBs, we exposed G1 cells depleted for different candidate factors to heavy ions or α-particle radiation. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to monitor the resection marker RPA, the DSB marker γH2AX and the cell-cycle markers CENP-F and geminin. The Fucci system allowed to select G1 cells, cell survival was measured by clonogenic assay. We show that in G1 phase the ubiquitin ligase RNF138 functions in resection regulation. RNF138 ubiquitinates the resection factor CtIP in a radiation-dependent manner to allow its DSB recruitment in G1 cells. At complex DSBs, RNF138′s participation becomes more relevant, consistent with the observation that also resection is more frequent at these DSBs. Furthermore, deficiency of RNF138 affects both DSB repair and cell survival upon induction of complex DSBs. We conclude that RNF138 is a regulator of resection that is influenced by DSB complexity and can affect the quality of DSB repair in G1 cells.
Neonatal Platelets: Lower G12/13 Expression Contributes to Reduced Secretion of Dense Granules
Authors: Schlagenhauf Axel , Bohler Sheila , Kunze Mirjam , Strini Tanja , Haidl Harald , Erlacher Miriam , Zieger Barbara
Published: August 2022

Despite fully functional primary hemostasis, platelets of healthy neonates exhibit hypoaggregability and secretion defects, which may be adaptations to specific requirements in this developmental stage. The etiologies for reduced signal transduction vary with the type of agonist. The discovered peculiarities are lower receptor densities, reduced calcium mobilization, and functional impairments of G proteins. Reduced secretion of dense granules has been attributed to lower numbers of granules. Signaling studies with adult platelets have shown a regulating effect of the G12/13 signaling pathway on dense granule secretion via RhoA. We comparatively analyzed secretion profiles using flow cytometry and expression levels of Gq, Gi, and G12/13 using Western blot analysis in platelets from cord blood and adults. Furthermore, we evaluated Rho activation after in vitro platelet stimulation with thrombin using a pulldown assay. We observed a markedly reduced expression of the dense granule marker CD63 on neonatal platelets after thrombin stimulation. Gα12/13 expression was significantly decreased in neonatal platelets and correlated with lower Rho activation after thrombin stimulation. We conclude that lower expression of G12/13 in neonatal platelets results in attenuated activation of Rho and may contribute to reduced secretion of dense granules after exposure to thrombin.
Characterisation of Channel Waveguides Fabricated in an Er3+-Doped Tellurite Glass Using Two Ion Beam Techniques
Authors: Bányász István , Rajta Istvan , Nagy Gyula U. L. , Khanh Nguyen Q. , Havránek Vladimír , Vosecek Vaclav , Fried Miklós , Szabó Zoltán , Veres Miklós , Holomb Roman , Himics László , Tichy-Rács Éva
Published: August 2022

Two methods were proposed and implemented for the fabrication of channel waveguides in an Er-doped Tellurite glass. In the first method, channel waveguides were fabricated by implanting 1.5 MeV and 3.5 MeV energy N+ ions through a special silicon mask to the glass sample at various fluences. Those waveguides implanted at a fluence of 1.0 × 1016 ions/cm2 operated up to 980 nm, and showed green upconversion of the Erbium ions. In the second method, channel waveguides were directly written in the Er3+: TeO2W2O3 glass using an 11 MeV C4+ ion microbeam with fluences in the range of 1 · 1014–5 · 1016 ions/cm2. The waveguides worked in single mode regime up to the 1540 nm telecom wavelength. Propagation losses were reduced from the 14 dB/cm of the as-irradiated waveguides by stepwise thermal annealing to 1.5 dB/cm at λ = 1400 nm.
Gases in Food Production and Monitoring: Recent Advances in Target Chemiresistive Gas Sensors
Authors: Shaalan Nagih M. , Ahmed Faheem , Saber Osama , Kumar Shalendra
Published: August 2022

The rapid development of the human population has created demand for an increase in the production of food in various fields, such as vegetal, animal, aquaculture, and food processing. This causes an increment in the use of technology related to food production. An example of this technology is the use of gases in the many steps of food treatment, preservation, processing, and ripening. Additionally, gases are used across the value chain from production and packaging to storage and transportation in the food and beverage industry. Here, we focus on the long-standing and recent advances in gas-based food production. Although many studies have been conducted to identify chemicals and biological contaminants in foodstuffs, the use of gas sensors in food technology has a vital role. The development of sensors capable of detecting the presence of target gases such as ethylene (C2H4), ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ethanol (C2H5OH) has received significant interest from researchers, as gases are not only used in food production but are also a vital indicator of the quality of food. Therefore, we also discuss the latest practical studies focused on these gases in terms of the sensor response, sensitivity, working temperatures, and limit of detection (LOD) to assess the relationship between the gases emitted from or used in foods and gas sensors. Greater interest has been given to heterostructured sensors working at low temperatures and flexible layers. Future perspectives on the use of sensing technology in food production and monitoring are eventually stated. We believe that this review article gathers valuable knowledge for researchers interested in food sciences and sensing development.
Adrenal Crisis Mimicking COVID-19 Encephalopathy in a Teenager with Craniopharyngioma
Authors: Chien Tzu-Chien , Chien Mu-Ming , Liu Tsai-Ling , Chang Hsi , Tsai Min-Lan , Tseng Sung-Hui , Ho Wan-Ling , Su Yi-Yu , Lin Hsiu-Chen , Lu Jen-Her , Chang Chia-Yau , Hsieh Kevin Li-Chun , Wong Tai-Tong , Miser James S. , Liu Yen-Lin
Published: August 2022

There is an increasing number of reported cases with neurological manifestations of COVID-19 in children. Symptoms include headache, general malaise, ageusia, seizure and alterations in consciousness. The differential diagnosis includes several potentially lethal conditions including encephalopathy, encephalitis, intracranial hemorrhage, thrombosis and adrenal crisis. We report the case of a 17-year-old boy with a positive antigen test of COVID-19 who presented with fever for one day, altered mental status and seizure, subsequently diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency. He had a history of panhypopituitarism secondary to a suprasellar craniopharyngioma treated with surgical resection; he was treated with regular hormone replacement therapy. After prompt administration of intravenous hydrocortisone, his mental status returned to normal within four hours. He recovered without neurologic complications. Adrenal insufficiency can present with neurological manifestations mimicking COVID-19 encephalopathy. Prompt recognition and treatment of adrenal insufficiency, especially in patients with brain tumors, Addison’s disease or those recently treated with corticosteroids, can rapidly improve the clinical condition and prevent long-term consequences.
Aspects Regarding the Innovative Conceptual Design for Children’s Recreational Areas
Authors: Bucur Bogdan , Ban Andreea , Vlase Sorin , Modrea Arina
Published: August 2022

Conceptual design approaches the definition of an innovative concept design applied to a product intended for children’-=s recreational area, corresponding to a personal profile located around the age of childhood, namely aged 2 to 5. The case study presented highlights the development of an innovative concept for children’s recreational areas, to be precise the design, and the conceptual design applied to a roto-pendular carousel for children’s recreational areas. The working method aims at identifying the chronological stages of development and the conceptual design, starting from the idea, prospectographic research, analysis of constructive solutions, and finally the materialization of the assisted design in detail, applied to the new concept. Based on the prospectographic study, several constructive variants are highlighted, at the draft level, and after the analysis, the optimized variant of the carousel concept is established that should match the functions and characteristics pursued and imposed on the new concept. Following the justification of the choice of the optimal variant of the concept, the model is designed in an assisted environment in order to follow aspects related to technology associated with each component of the whole assembly, as well as aspects related to ergonomics, safety in exploration and proportion associated to the typology and to the age criteria of children.
Rainy Day Prediction Model with Climate Covariates Using Artificial Neural Network MLP, Pilot Area: Central Italy
Authors: Gentilucci Matteo , Pambianchi Gilberto
Published: August 2022

The reconstruction of daily precipitation data is a much-debated topic of great practical use, especially when weather stations have missing data. Missing data are particularly numerous if rain gauges are poorly maintained by their owner institutions and if they are located in inaccessible areas.In this context, an attempt was made to assess the possibility of reconstructing daily rainfall data from other climatic variables other than the rainfall itself, namely atmospheric pressure, relative humidity and prevailing wind direction.The pilot area for the study was identified in Central Italy, especially on the Adriatic side, and 119 weather stations were considered.The parameters of atmospheric pressure, humidity and prevailing wind direction were reconstructed at all weather stations on a daily basis by means of various models, in order to obtain almost continuous values rain gauge by rain gauge. The results obtained using neural networks to reconstruct daily precipitation revealed a lack of correlation for the prevailing wind direction, while correlation is significant for humidity and atmospheric pressure, although they explain only 10–20% of the total precipitation variance. At the same time, it was verified by binary logistic regression that it is certainly easier to understand when it will or will not rain without determining the amount. In this case, in fact, the model achieves an accuracy of about 80 percent in identifying rainy and non-rainy days from the aforementioned climatic parameters. In addition, the modelling was also verified on all rain gauges at the same time and this showed reliability comparable to an arithmetic average of the individual models, thus showing that the neural network model fails to prepare a model that performs better from learning even in the case of many thousands of data (over 400,000). This shows that the relationships between precipitation, relative humidity and atmospheric pressure are predominantly local in nature without being able to give rise to broader generalisations.
Late Holocene Morphodynamic Feedback in Can Gio Mangrove Tide-Dominated River Mouth Systems, Vietnam
Authors: Le Thuyen Xuan , Schwarzer Klaus , Nguyen Thanh Cong , Bui Luan Thi , Unverricht Daniel
Published: August 2022

Can Gio (CG), a mangrove forest with a dense network of tidal creeks, gradually grew and spread seaward on a coastal platform, which was built since about 8 ka before present (BP). Along with this development, a sand ridge began to form and moved back with the shoreline withdrawal landward in the Late Holocene. This mangrove environment is likely abandoned from the mainland but was, however, the place for settlement of ancient Vietnamese a few centuries BC. The CG mangrove forest was severely destroyed during the American War and was restored since 1980. However, the historical change of the landscape along the Saigon-Dong Nai River (SG-DNR) since the Late Holocene is not completely unraveled. By analyzing sediment cores with a multiproxy approach, we investigated the recent geological development with regard to the variation of the intensity of the East Asian palaeomonsoon and regarding the accommodation space, as both regulate the development of this coastal environment. A recently significant shift in the coastline, mainly due to a change of hydroclimatic factors, was observed. A continuous coastline retreat occurred over the last millennium, changing the depositional environment and reshaping the CG mangrove landscape. Along the present coast and tidal channels, partially strong erosion and bank failures occur, alternating with accretion at other coastal sections. This development tends to increase progressively.
Electroless Ni-P-PTFE Composite Plating with Rapid Deposition and High PTFE Concentration through a Two-Step Process
Authors: Lee Myungwon , Park Junghyun , Son Kyeongsik , Kim Donghyun , Kim Kwangho , Kang Myungchang
Published: August 2022

Electroless composite plating enables uniform and thin surface treatment along with composite deposition using nanoparticles. Among such particles, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is capable of dry lubrication because of its self-lubricating properties. Specifically, the PTFE content in a plating layer increases with the concentration of PTFE in the plating bath. However, a high concentration of PTFE interferes with the co-deposition of Ni and P, thereby reducing the plating speed. Additionally, PTFE is unevenly deposited on the surface of the plating layer. Consequently, a method for increasing the PTFE content at low PTFE concentrations is required. Therefore, in this study, a stirring process in a low-PTFE-concentration plating bath and a process wherein PTFE precipitates on a specimen without stirring were combined. The PTFE content of the plated layer deposited on high carbon steel, plated layer deposition rate, average friction co-efficient, static contact angle, and surface energy were evaluated as 25.96%, 3.44 µm/40 min, 0.195, 141.9°, and 2.74 mN/m, respectively. This technique prevented the decrease in the deposition rate of the plating layer and led to high PTFE content in the plating layer. Notably, even a thin plating layer (5 μm or less in thickness) showed excellent surface characteristics.
Evaluation Test of NO Degradation by Nano-TiO2 Coatings on Road Pavements under Natural Light
Authors: Fang Mingjing , Peng Longfan , Li Yunyu , Cheng Yuxiao , Zhan Lu
Published: August 2022

Reducing or degrading nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted by automobile exhausts has diversified ways. This paper presents a solution to degrade NO by Nano-sized titanium dioxide (Nano-TiO2) mixed with coating materials for traffic marking on road pavements. The effect on degradation was evaluated by adopting a simple laboratory test with statistical analysis. During the test, five different contents of Nano-TiO2, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, and 6%, mix with a coating material for pavement marking, followed by an interpretation of the micro mechanism of degradation effect. The results show that the pavement marking coatings mixed with Nano-TiO2 has a good performance on NO degradation. The effect of degradation is increased with increasing the content of Nano-TiO2 particles, however. At the same time, a peak value with about 70% of the maximum removing rate existed when applying 4% Nano-TiO2 due to the agglomeration phenomenon for nanoparticles close to each other for adding more Nano-TiO2. The methods to reduce agglomeration are also suggested, and a routine field test for all potential traffic coating materials is recommended in this study.
Can Graphene Oxide Help to Prevent Peri-Implantitis in the Case of Metallic Implants?
Authors: Nartita Radu , Andrei Mihai , Ionita Daniela , Didilescu Andreea , Demetrescu Ioana
Published: August 2022

This paper is a review focused on the capability of graphene oxide (GO) coatings in preventing peri-implantitis. Firstly, the paper establishes GO’s place in the frame of carbonic materials and its role as a composite material in dentistry in the prevention of bacterial infections and in sustaining osseointegration. Secondly, the most relevant articles on GO as implant coatings and their associated shortcomings are presented and emphasizing is placed on the areas where more data is needed. The main chapters are devoted to the relationship between GO and biofilm formation on the implants and the surrounding periodontal tissue and we also attempt to evaluate GO’s efficacy in the case of peri-implantitis. Our findings strongly indicate that GO is a promising material for mitigating the problems mentioned, but some answers remain to be answered through rigorous research before declaring it a real success.
Vertical Jump Data from Inertial and Optical Motion Tracking Systems
Authors: Rico-Garcia Mateo , Botero-Valencia Juan , Hernández-García Ruber
Published: August 2022

Motion capture (MOCAP) is a widely used technique to record human, animal, and object movement for various applications such as animation, biomechanical assessment, and control systems. Different systems have been proposed based on diverse technologies, such as visible light cameras, infrared cameras with passive or active markers, inertial systems, or goniometer-based systems. Each system has pros and cons that make it usable in different scenarios. This paper presents a dataset that combines Optical Motion and Inertial Systems, capturing a well-known sports movement as the vertical jump. As a reference system, the optical motion capture consists of six Flex 3 Optitrack cameras with 100 FPS. On the other hand, we developed an inertial system consisting of seven custom-made devices based on the IMU MPU-9250, which includes a three-axis magnetometer, accelerometer and gyroscope, and an embedded Digital Motion Processor (DMP) attached to a microcontroller mounted on a Teensy 3.2 with an ARM Cortex-M4 processor with wireless operation using Bluetooth. The purpose of taking IMU data with a low-cost and customized system is the deployment of applications that can be performed with similar hardware and can be adjusted to different areas. The developed measurement system is flexible, and the acquisition format and enclosure can be customized. The proposed dataset comprises eight jumps recorded from four healthy humans using both systems. Experimental results on the dataset show two usage examples for measuring joint angles and COM position. The proposed dataset is publicly available online and can be used in comparative algorithms, biomechanical studies, skeleton reconstruction, sensor fusion techniques, or machine learning models.
The Correlation of Swedish Snus, Nicotine Pouches and Other Tobacco Products with Oral Mucosal Health and Salivary Biomarkers
Authors: Miluna Sintija , Melderis Ricards , Briuka Loreta , Skadins Ingus , Broks Renars , Kroica Juta , Rostoka Dagnija
Published: August 2022

In society, tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco products, such as snus and nicotine pouches, are becoming more attractive. There is still a lack of information regarding the effects of these products on the oral mucosa and oral saliva biomarkers. The aim of this study is to evaluate oral mucosa and the presence of inflammatory biomarkers IL-6, IL-1, IL-8, TNF alpha and LRG-1 in saliva. Respondents were divided in four groups based on their tobacco product usage. Oral examination was carried out, saliva samples were taken, and the detection of IL-6, IL-8, IL-1, TNF alpha and LRG-1 levels in saliva was carried out. Out of the tobacco users, 30.8% were snus users, 48.7% were cigarette users and 20.5% were e-cigarette users. The control group was composed of respondents who did not use any tobacco products. E-cigarettes were used more by women, but snus was used more by men. Mucosal changes were seen in the group of snus users, and mucosal changes were only seen in men who had used 5–10 tobacco units per day for 5–10 years. Increased IL-6 levels in saliva were detected in respondents who also experienced mucosal changes. Mucosal changes were white, leathery and localized at the site where snus sachets were placed. Saliva, as an easily available biofluid, could be used as a first tool to detect potentially precancerous signs, but the LRG1 marker cannot be used as a prognostic marker.
A Neural Network Approach to Estimate Transient Aerodynamic Properties of a Flapping Wing System
Authors: Lan Bluest , Lin You-Jun , Lai Yu-Hsiang , Tang Chia-Hung , Yang Jing-Tang
Published: August 2022

Understanding the causal impacts among various parameters is essential for designing micro aerial vehicles (MAVs). The simulation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides us with a technique to calculate aerodynamic forces precisely. However, even a single result regularly takes considerable computational time. Machine learning, due to the advance in computer hardware, shows another approach that can speed up the analysis process. In this study, we introduce an artificial neural network (ANN) framework to predict the transient aerodynamic forces and the corresponding energy consumption. Instead of considering the whole transient changes of each parameter as inputs, we utilised the technique of Fourier transform to simplify the ANN structure for minimising the computation cost. Furthermore, two typical activation functions, rectified linear unit (ReLU) and sigmoid, were attempted to build the network. The validity of the method was further examined by comparing it with CFD simulation. The result shows that both functions are able to provide highly accurate estimations that can be implemented for model construction under this framework. Consequently, this novel approach makes it possible to reduce the complexity of analysis, study the flapping wing aerodynamics and enable a more efficient way to optimise parameters.
Design and Analysis of a Deployment Mechanism with Clearance Compensation for High Stiffness Missile Wings
Authors: Zhao Yong , Chen Shang , Gao Yimeng , Yue Honghao , Yang Xiaoze , Lu Tongle , Yang Fei
Published: August 2022

The deployment performance of the unfolded wing determines whether the winged missiles can fly normally after being launched, infecting the attack performance of the winged missiles. The paper proposes a new deployment mechanism with clearance eliminator. Based on the slider-crank principle, the proposed deployment mechanism achieves fast and low-impact deployment of the wings. The proposed clearance eliminator with shape memory alloy (SMA) effectively eliminates the clearance of the sliding pair and improves the support stiffness and stability of the deployed wing. The collision characteristics and the clearance elimination are studied for the deployment mechanism. The influence of the collision force on the motion state of the wing during the deployment is analyzed. The static stiffness of the wing under the clearance state and the deformation is analyzed. The dynamic stiffness under the catapult clearance elimination state is modeled based on the fractal geometry and contact stress theory. The relationship between the locking force and the support stiffness is revealed. The kinetic simulation is used to analyze the motion response during the action of the deployment mechanism. Modal analysis, harmonic response analysis, and random vibration analysis were conducted for the whole wings. A prototype was developed to verify the ejection performance of the wing according to the input load characteristics. The dynamic stiffness of the unfolded wings is tested by the fundamental frequency experiments to verify the performance of the clearance elimination assembly. The experimental results show that the designed deployment mechanism with clearance compensation achieves fast ejection and high stiffness retention of the missile wing.
RIS-Assisted Network Slicing Resource Optimization Algorithm for Coexistence of eMBB and URLLC
Authors: Shen Xianhao , Zeng Ziling , Liu Xin
Published: August 2022

Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and Ultra-Reliable and Low-Latency Communications (URLLC) are the two main services in the fifth-generation mobile network. URLLC services have stringent latency and reliability requirements, while eMBB services are designed to provide extremely high data rates for content delivery. The differentiated Quality of Service (QoS) requirements of the two services make their coexistence on the same bandwidth resources a challenging issue. To meet this challenge, we introduce reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) technology to assist in solving the resource allocation problem. The problem is formulated as two optimization problems. For the eMBB allocation problem, we jointly optimize the resource block allocation, power allocation, and RIS phase shift matrix and propose a two-stage alternating iterative algorithm to maximize the total traversal capacity of eMBB users. For the URLLC allocation problem, we maximize the URLLC packet reception rate and minimize the amount of eMBB rate loss while ensuring the quality of service for eMBB and URLLC. A heuristic URLLC allocation algorithm based on pre-configured RIS is proposed. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can meet the strict delay requirements of URLLC even when the URLLC packet reception rate is nearly 95.5%. Meanwhile, the total loss rate of eMBB service caused by the reuse of URLLC service is less than 6%. Thus, the applicability of the proposed solution to the coexistence problem is demonstrated.
Formation, Exploration, and Development of Natural Gas Hydrates
Authors: Dong Hongsheng , Zhang Lunxiang , Wang Jiaqi
Published: August 2022

Currently, natural gas hydrates (NGHs) have been proposed as promising and environmentally friendly carbon-based energy sources that are beneficial for mitigating the traditional energy crises [...]