bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advancing Glaucoma Treatment During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Contemporary Management Strategies and Prospective Therapeutic Developments
Authors: Salvetat Maria Letizia , Toro Mario Damiano , Pellegrini Francesco , Scollo Paolo , Malaguarnera Roberta , Musa Mutali , Mereu Liliana , Tognetto Daniele , Gagliano Caterina , Zeppieri Marco
Published: November 2024

The management of glaucoma in pregnancy and breastfeeding requires a careful evaluation of treatment choices to guarantee the well-being of both the mother and the developing fetus. This review explores the intricacies of controlling glaucoma in pregnant and breastfeeding women, including a comprehensive overview of existing glaucoma treatment methods, clinical guidelines, and future therapeutic approaches. The efficacy and safety profiles of traditional treatment approaches, such as topical and systemic medicines and surgical treatments, are evaluated specifically about their use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The significance of personalized treatment programs to achieve a balance between controlling intraocular pressure and ensuring the safety of the fetus and the newborn and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that includes ophthalmologists, obstetricians, and other healthcare experts are underlined. Non-pharmacological therapies, lifestyle adjustments, and the importance of patient education in the management of glaucoma during pregnancy and the post-partum period are also examined. Advancing our comprehension of and strategy toward glaucoma can reduce the effects of glaucoma on maternal, fetal, and newborn well-being.
Microbiota and Autism: A Review on Oral and Gut Microbiome Analysis Through 16S rRNA Sequencing
Authors: Anaclerio Federico , Minelli Maria , Antonucci Ivana , Gatta Valentina , Stuppia Liborio
Published: November 2024

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with multifactorial etiologies, including genetic, environmental, and microbiological factors. In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the role of the gut microbiota in ASD. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota dysbiosis may influence the central nervous system through the gut-brain axis, potentially impacting behavior and neurodevelopment. The use of 16S rRNA gene sequencing has become a pivotal tool in profiling the microbial communities associated with ASD, offering valuable insights into bacterial diversity, composition, and potential functional roles. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of current findings on the relationship between the gut and oral microbiota with ASD, and a particular focus on studies utilizing 16S rRNA sequencing. We will explore how gut microbiome alterations may contribute to ASD pathophysiology, discuss the limitations of existing research, and propose future directions for the integration of microbiome analysis in ASD diagnostics and treatment strategies. These findings underscore the potential role of microbiota in modulating ASD symptoms. The data suggest that specific bacterial taxa are consistently altered in ASD, which may have implications for understanding the gut-brain axis and its influence on neurodevelopment.
Xanthohumol: Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Mechanically Stimulated Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells
Authors: Niederau Christian , Tolba René H. , Jankowski Joachim , Marx Nikolaus , Wolf Michael , Craveiro Rogerio Bastos
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: Initial sterile inflammation is an essential molecular process in the periodontium during orthodontic tooth movement. A better understanding and possible modulations of these processes are of great interest to develop individual therapies for special patient groups. The prenylated plant polyphenol xanthohumol (XN) could have modulating effects as it has shown anti-inflammatory and angiogenesis-inhibiting effects in various cell lines. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of XN in an in vitro model of compressively stimulated human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs), which have a different function in the periodontium than the previously used cementoblasts. Methods: The expression of inflammatory markers at the mRNA and protein levels and the regulation of central kinases were investigated. Results: XN showed a dose-dependent influence on cell viability. Low concentrations between 0.2 and 4 µM showed positive effects, while 8 µM caused a significant decrease in viability after 24 h. Mechanical stimulation induced an upregulation of pro-inflammatory gene (IL-6, COX2) and protein (IL-6) expression. Here, XN significantly reduced stimulation-related IL-6 mRNA and gene expression. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of AKT and ERK was upregulated by mechanical stimulation, and XN re-established phosphorylation at a level similar to the control. Conclusions: We demonstrated a selective anti-inflammatory effect of XN in hPDLSCs. These findings provide the basis for further investigation of XN in the modulation of inflammatory responses in orthodontic therapy and the treatment of periodontal inflammation.
A Reflective Terahertz Point Source Meta-Sensor with Asymmetric Meta-Atoms for High-Sensitivity Bio-Sensing
Authors: Zheng Luwei , Hara Kazuki , Murakami Hironaru , Tonouchi Masayoshi , Serita Kazunori
Published: November 2024

Biosensors operating in the terahertz (THz) region are gaining substantial interest in biomedical analysis due to their significant potential for high-sensitivity trace-amount solution detection. However, progress in compact, high-sensitivity chips and methods for simple, rapid and trace-level measurements is limited by the spatial resolution of THz waves and their strong absorption in polar solvents. In this work, a compact nonlinear optical crystal (NLOC)-based reflective THz biosensor with a few arrays of asymmetrical meta-atoms was developed. A near-field point THz source was locally generated at a femtosecond-laser-irradiation spot via optical rectification, exciting only the single central meta-atom, thereby inducing Fano resonance. The reflective resonance response demonstrated dependence on several aspects, including structure asymmetricity, geometrical size, excitation point position, thickness and array-period arrangement. DNA samples were examined using 1 μL applied to an effective sensing area of 0.234 mm2 (484 μm × 484 μm) for performance evaluation. The developed Fano resonance sensor exhibited nearly double sensitivity compared to that of symmetrical sensors and one-gap split ring resonators. Thus, this study advances liquid-based sensing by enabling easy, rapid and trace-level measurements while also driving the development of compact and highly sensitive THz sensors for biological samples.
Breeding Season Habitat Selection of the Eurasian Collared Dove in a Dry Mediterranean Landscape
Authors: Bermúdez-Cavero Alan Omar , Bernat-Ponce Edgar , Gil-Delgado José Antonio , López-Iborra Germán Manuel
Published: November 2024

Birds select habitats to optimize resources and maximize fitness, with some species recently colonizing new areas, like the Eurasian Collared Dove (ECD) in the Iberian Peninsula. The ECD spread across Europe in the early 20th century from South Asia. This study reanalyzes data from the Atlas of Breeding Birds in the Province of Alicante (SE Spain) to identify macrohabitat-level environmental variables related to its occurrence and abundance in this semi-arid Mediterranean landscape during the breeding season. We performed Hierarchical Partitioning analyses to identify important environmental variables for the species associated with natural vegetation, farming, topography, hydrographical web, urbanization, and climate. Results show that ECD has a higher occurrence probability near anthropic areas (isolated buildings, suburban areas), water points (medium-sized ponds), larger crop surfaces (total cultivated area), and warmer localities (thermicity index). The species avoids natural habitats like pine forests and scrublands. Abundance is positively linked to anthropic features like larger suburban areas and urban-related land uses. These findings can help predict its expansion in regions with a Mediterranean climate in South America, North America, or Australia, and its continuous natural expansion and population increase within the Mediterranean basin and Europe.
Is Being Male a Marker of Aggression? Evidence for the Decoupling of Sex and Gender Role Orientation
Authors: Li Ziang , Liu Yutong , Liu Weijun , Chen Hong
Published: November 2024

Objectives: This study explores whether sex differences in reactive aggression (RA) and proactive aggression (PA) are attributable to sex, gender role orientation, or their interaction and explores the neuroanatomical characteristics of these sex differences. Methods: In a sample of 108 males and 126 females, we examined the sex-by-gender role orientation interaction on RA, PA, and brain gray matter volume (GMV). Then, we explored the relationship between aggression and regional GMV. Results: When the effects of sex and gender role orientation on aggression were disentangled, there were no sex differences in RA, regardless of gender role orientation. However, sex differences (male > female) in PA were observed within the masculine group but not within the feminine group. Brain imaging results revealed sex differences (male > female) on the right inferior frontal gyrus GMV, a region involved in cognitive control, within the masculine group. Moreover, a negative association between PA and the right inferior frontal gyrus GMV was observed in masculine females rather than masculine males. Conclusions: These findings indicate that gender role orientation has a more significant effect on aggression than sex, particularly with regard to PA, and hint that the goal of cognitive control involved in displaying PA differs in masculine males and masculine females.
The Impact of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Spasticity in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Jiménez Amalio , Carrick Frederick R. , Hoffman Norman , Jemni Monèm
Published: November 2024

Context: Spastic cerebral palsy (SCP) is a condition characterized by muscle stiffness and involuntary movements, which greatly affect movement abilities and overall well-being. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has emerged as a treatment option for managing spasticity, though the current evidence varies. Objective: This systematic review seeks to assess the efficacy of LLLT on spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. We hope it will pinpoint areas where more research is needed and suggest directions for future studies. Method: A search of the literature was performed across databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Elicit. The search utilized keywords and the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms. Only studies conducted in English that focused on children with cerebral palsy (CP) and explored the effects of LLLT on spasticity were considered. The quality of the selected studies was evaluated using assessment tools. Results: The search identified 534 references, out of which eight studies met the screening criteria for inclusion. All cited papers indicated reductions in spasticity with further mention of reduced pain and greater muscle strength by some authors. Conclusions: This review indicates that LLLT shows promise in decreasing spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. Nevertheless, a lack of treatment parameters, heterogeneity in research methods, and a lack of objective outcome measures weaken the results. This review underscores the importance of standardized procedures and carefully planned randomized controlled trials to establish conclusive findings on the effectiveness of LLLT in this population.
Leveraging Leadership Development to Pre-Empt Leader Derailments
Authors: Conger Jay A.
Published: November 2024

This article examines the role of leadership development interventions in pre-empting leader derailments. The research literature suggests that derailments are not only commonplace but associated with a range of significant costs, from financial, to mental health, to morale, to employee turnover, to missed opportunities. Given these costly consequences, this article seeks to answer the question: “Can leadership development—especially at early managerial-career stages and during transitions—play a significant role in mitigating leader derailments?” Research suggests that the majority of leadership failures occur—or are more visible—at senior organizational levels. This begs the question of whether development interventions earlier in a leader’s career might have pre-empted their later failure. What if the field of leadership development were to adopt a ‘preventative medicine’ model in which pre-empting derailments was the focus rather than ‘fixing’ leaders as they are derailing? Moreover, there appears to be an overreliance on coaching as the intervention of choice. What if the field were to leverage a broader range of development interventions beyond coaching to ensure a greater probability of minimizing derailments? Five interventions will be discussed which have the potential to pre-empt leadership failures, when deployed in unison.
Examining Virtual Delivery of Strength at Home for Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration
Authors: Taft Casey T. , Benzer Justin K. , Kopitsky Megan , Creech Suzannah K.
Published: November 2024

This study examined the effectiveness of the virtual delivery of the Strength at Home (SAH) intervention program for intimate partner violence in a sample of 605 military veterans across 69 Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers through a national implementation of the program. Outcome measures included physical IPV, psychological IPV, coercive control behaviors, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and alcohol misuse. Significant pre-intervention to post-intervention reductions were found for all the outcomes, with similar effect size estimates relative to a prior investigation of in-person-delivered SAH through the same national VA implementation. Study findings suggest that the virtual delivery of SAH may be as effective as in-person delivery which has important implications for program access and impact.
Evaluating the Effectiveness and Efficiency of a Training Program for Tunnel Construction Workers
Authors: Guo Zongyong , Tao Huadi , Yang Yanqun , Lin Wei
Published: November 2024

With the benefits of reduced travel time and alleviated traffic congestion, tunnel construction significantly enhances urban mobility. Meanwhile, tunnel construction accidents result in many casualties and property losses. To minimize accidents associated with tunnel construction while keeping its benefits, it is important to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of training programs for construction workers. However, there is a lack of training evaluation systems specifically designed for tunnel construction workers, along with limited research on the effectiveness and efficiency of training programs for this group. This paper targets personnel from the China Railway 14th Bureau Group Company, aiming to evaluate a training program designed for tunnel construction workers. Three popular training approaches are proposed to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of training outcomes, including WeChat push safety construction knowledge (WP), the emergency drill (ED), and the unitive lecture (UL). Additionally, a concept of study is conducted to examine the performance of the proposed approaches in eighteen schemes that vary at different levels of training intensity by using VR (virtual reality), an electroencephalogram (EEG) system, and data enveloping analysis (DEA). The results show that the ED is the most effective training method, enabling industry professionals to respond effectively to unsafe situations by equipping them with critical skills through comprehensive training. Additionally, the ED has great potential for training tunnel construction workers via the provision of simulated experiences to enhance their safety preparedness.
An Ontology Framework for ERBS (Evidence/Risk-Based Safety) Management of Divisional and Subdivisional Works with High Risk
Authors: She Jianjun , Zhou Yilun , Guo Zihao , Ye Song
Published: November 2024

As an important data source, the Building Information Model (BIM) plays an important role in modern building safety management. Numerous studies have closely examined automatic compliance inspections for building safety and the safety management of dangerous projects. However, the value of the BIM has not been fully exploited in evidence-based practices of building safety. To address this limitation, this paper proposes an ontology-based Evidence/Risk-Based Safety (ERBS) management framework for divisional and subdivisional works with high risk, which includes: (1) BIM data extraction based on dynamo; (2) creation of an ontology based on building information and the ERBS management process model; (3) converting BIM data and evidence into ontology individuals; and (4) integrating the ontology through semantic web technology and using the Semantic Web Rule Language (SWRL) to conduct rule-based reasoning on the ontology. A case study shows that the framework is effective for the ERBS management of divisional and subdivisional works with high risk. The framework proposed in this study provides effective safety management methods for high-risk projects that can be applied in wider engineering practice in the future.
Environmental Impact Minimization Model for Storage Yard of In-Situ Produced PC Components: Comparison of Dung Beetle Algorithm and Improved Dung Beetle Algorithm
Authors: Lim Jeeyoung , Kim Sunkuk
Published: November 2024

If PC components are produced on site under the same conditions, the quality can be secured at least equal to that of factory production. In-situ production can reduce environmental loads by 14.58% or more than factory production, and if the number of PC components produced in-situ is increased, the cost can be reduced by up to 39.4% compared to factory production. Most of the existing studies focus on optimizing the layout of logistics centers, and relatively little attention is paid to the layout of PC parts for in-situ production. PC component yard layout planning for in-situ production can effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve construction efficiency. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop an environmental impact minimization model for in-situ production of PC components. As a result of applying the developed model, the optimization of the improved dung beetle optimization algorithm was verified to be efficient by improving the neighboring correlation by 22.79% and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 18.33% compared to the dung beetle optimization algorithm. The proposed environmental impact minimization model can support the construction, reconstruction, and functional upgrade of logistics centers, contributing to low carbon dioxide in the logistics industry.
Degradation of Tetracycline (TC) by ZrO2-3DG/PMS System: Revealing the Role of Defects in the Conditions of Light Irradiation and Sulfate Accumulation
Authors: Duan Jixiang , Wang Xin , Ye Zhihong , Chen Fuming
Published: November 2024

The application of advance oxidation processes (AOPs) based on the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) is a great concern for wastewater treatment. Herein, ZrO2-3DG was constructed using a hydrothermal method for the degradation of tetracycline (TC) with PMS. The defective ZrO2-3DG materials were also prepared with plasma treatment. SEM and XPS results show that the ZrO2-3DG composite and the corresponding defective materials were successfully fabricated. The ZrO2 particles are distributed uniformly on the substrate material. Plasma can induce defects on the composite materials and create highly active sites. TC degradation results show that the ZrO2-3DG/PMS system can achieve a degradation efficiency of 92.9% for TC. The influences of defects on materials, light irradiation and sulfate accumulation were investigated. It has been found that defects can induce an inhibiting effect on the degradation process, which can be tuned by plasma time. The defective ZrO2-3DG/PMS system exhibits excellent resistance to the accumulation of sulfate, even showing enhanced degradation performances in specific conditions. The light irradiation has led to a higher degradation efficiency with the accumulation of sulfate compared with a dark environment. These findings give great guidance to the application of the ZrO2-3DG/PMS system for environmental protection.
Mechanistic and Kinetic Analysis of Complete Methane Oxidation on a Practical PtPd/Al2O3 Catalyst
Authors: Wang Min , Chen Hai-Ying , Lugo-Jose Yuliana , Fedeyko Joseph M. , Toops Todd J. , Fidler Jacqueline
Published: November 2024

A PtPd/Al2O3 catalyst developed for the complete oxidation of methane from the ventilation air of underground coal mines is compared against a model PdO/Al2O3 catalyst. Although the PtPd/Al2O3 catalyst is substantially more active and stable than the model catalyst, the nature of active sites between the two catalysts is deemed to be fundamentally the same based on their response to different feed gas compositions and the evolution of surface CO adsorption complexes during time-resolved CO adsorption DRIFTS experiment. For both catalysts, coordinatively unsaturated Pd sites are considered the active centers for methane activation and the subsequent oxidation reaction. H2O competes with CH4 for the same active sites, resulting in severe inhibition. Additionally, the CH4 oxidation reaction also causes self-inhibition. Taking both inhibition effects into consideration, a relatively simple kinetic model is developed. The model provides a good fit of the 72 sets of kinetic data collected on the PtPd/Al2O3 catalyst under practically relevant reaction conditions with CH4 concentration in the range of 0.05–0.4%, H2O concentration of 1.0–5.0%, and reaction temperatures of 450–700 °C. Kinetic parameters based on the model suggest that the CH4 activation energy on the PtPd/Al2O3 catalyst is 96.7 kJ/mol, and the H2O adsorption energy is −31.0 kJ/mol. Both values are consistent with the parameters reported in the literature. The model can be used to develop catalyst sizing guidelines and be incorporated into the control algorithm of the catalytic system.
Editorial: Noble Metal-Based Nanomaterials for Heterogeneous Catalysis
Authors: Li Menggang , Geng Shuo , Gao Manyi
Published: November 2024

As is well known, precious metal catalysts can be widely used in fields such as environmental protection, energy conversion, food processing, petrochemicals, and fine chemicals due to their unique intrinsic properties and irreplaceable catalytic activities [...]
Impact of Ga, Sr, and Ce on Ni/DSZ95 Catalyst for Methane Partial Oxidation in Hydrogen Production
Authors: Al-Zahrani Salma A. , Bellahwel Omer , Ibrahim Ahmed Aidid , Alotibi Mohammed F. , Masood Najat , Rajeh Sahar Y. , Al Otaibi Ahmed , Al-Enazy Hessah Difallah A. , Al-Fatesh Ahmed S.
Published: November 2024

The greenhouse gas CH4 is more potent than CO2, although both these gases are solely responsible for global warming. The efficient catalytic conversion of CH4 into hydrogen-rich syngas, which also demonstrates economic viability, can deplete the concentration of CH4. This study examines the partial oxidation of methane (POM) prepared by the wetness impregnation process using 5% Ni supported over DSZ95 (93.3% ZrO2 + 6.7% Sc2O3) and promoted with 1% Ga (gallium), 1% Sr (strontium), and 1% Ce (cerium). These catalysts are characterized by surface area porosity, X-ray diffraction, FT-Infrared spectroscopy, Raman infrared spectroscopy, temperature programmed reduction, CO2 temperature-programmed techniques, desorption techniques, thermogravimetry, and transmission electron microscopy. The characterization results demonstrate that Ni is appropriate for the POM because of its crystalline structure, improved metal support contact, and increased thermal stability with Sr, Ce, and Ga promoters. The synthesized catalyst 5Ni+1Ga-DSZ95 maintained stability for 240 min on stream during the POM at 700 °C. Adding a 1% Ga promoter and active metal Ni to the DSZ95 improved the CH4 conversion from 70.00% to 75.90% and raised the H2 yield from 69.21% to 74.80%, while maintaining the reactants’ stoichiometric ratio of (CH4:O2 = 2:1). The 5Ni+1Ga-DSZ95 catalyst is superior to the other catalysts, given its rich catalyst surface, strong metal support interaction, high surface area and low amount of carbon deposit. The high H2/CO ratio (>2.6) and H2 yield close to 75% indicate that 5Ni+1Ga-DSZ95 is a potent industrial catalyst for hydrogen-rich syngas production through partial oxidation of methane.
Catalytic Transformation of Biomass-Derived Hemicellulose Sugars by the One-Pot Method into Carboxylic Acids Using Heterogeneous Catalysts
Authors: Sobuś Natalia , Piotrowski Marcin , Czekaj Izabela
Published: November 2024

This article presents the conditions for the transformation of pulp containing mixtures that occur in the hemicellulose fraction derived from lignocellulosic biomass. Selected materials with strong acid centers were used as catalytic materials: ion exchange resins, including AMBERLYST 15(H) and DOWEX DR-G8(H), and selected zeolite in the hydrogen form of the Beta type (H-BEA). The group was marked with the abbreviations M1, M2 and M3, where it differs in the content of xylose, mannose, galactose, glucose, rhamnose and uronic acids. The catalytic process was carried out in the reactor as a one-pot technique at temperatures of 180–250 °C for 1–5 h. Based on the collected results, the transformation products of hemicellulose pulp were determined and the catalytic abilities of selected materials were determined. The proposed conditions led to the production of organic acids. Levulinic acid was obtained with a selectivity of 25.95% after 1 h of the process at a temperature of 250 °C with the participation of H-BEA, and lactic acid was obtained with a selectivity of 73.28% after 5 h of the process at a temperature of 250 °C using DOWEX DRG8(H). The presence of oxalic, propionic and acetic acids was also observed.
Neuronal Cell Rearrangement During Aging: Antioxidant Compounds as a Potential Therapeutic Approach
Authors: Bej Erjola , Cesare Patrizia , d’Angelo Michele , Volpe Anna Rita , Castelli Vanessa
Published: November 2024

Aging is a natural process that leads to time-related changes and a decrease in cognitive abilities, executive functions, and attention. In neuronal aging, brain cells struggle to respond to oxidative stress. The structure, function, and survival of neurons can be mediated by different pathways that are sensitive to oxidative stress and age-related low-energy states. Mitochondrial impairment is one of the most noticeable signs of brain aging. Damaged mitochondria are thought to be one of the main causes that feed the inflammation related to aging. Also, protein turnover is involved in age-related impairments. The brain, due to its high oxygen usage, is particularly susceptible to oxidative damage. This review explores the mechanisms underlying neuronal cell rearrangement during aging, focusing on morphological changes that contribute to cognitive decline and increased susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases. Potential therapeutic approaches are discussed, including the use of antioxidants (e.g., Vitamin C, Vitamin E, glutathione, carotenoids, quercetin, resveratrol, and curcumin) to mitigate oxidative damage, enhance mitochondrial function, and maintain protein homeostasis. This comprehensive overview aims to provide insights into the cellular and molecular processes of neuronal aging and highlight promising therapeutic avenues to counteract age-related neuronal deterioration.
The Opportunities and Challenges of Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Derived Exosomes in Theranostics and Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Yadav Sachin , Maity Pritiprasanna , Kapat Kausik
Published: November 2024

Cell-secreted nanovesicles of endosomal origin, called exosomes, are vital for mediating intracellular communication. As local or distal transporters of intracellular cargo, they reflect the unique characteristics of secretory cells and establish cell-specific interactions via characteristic surface proteins and receptors. With the advent of rapid isolation, purification, and identification techniques, exosomes have become an attractive choice for disease diagnosis (exosomal content as biomarkers), cell-free therapy, and tissue regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes (MSC-exosomes) display angiogenic, immune-modulatory, and other therapeutic effects crucial for cytoprotection, ischemic wound repair, myocardial regeneration, etc. The primary focus of this review is to highlight the widespread application of MSC-exosomes in therapeutics, theranostics, and tissue regeneration. After a brief introduction of exosome properties, biogenesis, isolation, and functions, recent studies on therapeutic and regenerative applications of MSC-exosomes are described, focusing on bone, cartilage, periodontal, cardiovascular, skin, and nerve regeneration. Finally, the review highlights the theranostic potential of exosomes followed by challenges, summary, and outlook.
Outbreak of Acute Fulminant Myocarditis in Children in Campania Region, Italy: A Case Series
Authors: Giannattasio Antonietta , Maglione Marco , Di Nardo Giangiacomo , Di Marco Giovanni Maria , Lauretta Daria , Carrella Maria Chiara , Furlan Daniela , Savoia Fabio , Tipo Vincenzo
Published: November 2024

Acute fulminant myocarditis is a rare event in children, accounting for about 10% of all cases of acute myocarditis. Its lack of specific onset patterns and unpredictable evolution make diagnosis and prompt treatment challenging. We observed six cases of fulminant myocarditis admitted to our Pediatric Emergency Unit (Campania region, Sothern Italy) within a very short timeframe (50 days, from July to September 2024). Three of them died, and two are still under treatment in a Pediatric Cardiologic Intensive Care Unit in critical condition. In only one case, cardiac function improved. The described cases were not geographically linked, belonging to different areas of Southern Italy. No common etiological agent was found. Given the relatively low incidence of the condition, the occurrence of six pediatric myocarditis within approximately two months should be considered exceptional. Careful monitoring of further cases in the next few months should be warranted.
Nonlinear Relationship Between Coronary Perfusion Pressure and In-Hospital Outcomes After Infant Congenital Heart Surgery
Authors: Ge Tongkai , Luo Dandong , Wang Qiuji , Chen Jimei , Huang Huanlei , Zhang Chongjian
Published: November 2024

Objectives: Our goal was to evaluate the associations between postoperative coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) values and in-hospital outcomes in infants after congenital cardiac surgery. Our goal was to assess the relationship between postoperative coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) values and in-hospital outcomes in infants following congenital cardiac surgery. Methods: In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis on a cohort of 296 consecutive infant patients (aged 31–120 days) who underwent congenital cardiac surgery between 1 January 2019 and 30 April 2019. A total of 208 patients undergoing congenital cardiac surgery were included. The primary poor in-hospital outcome was prolonged recovery. The association between CPP level and in-hospital outcomes was determined using logistic regression analysis. We also used restricted cubic splines (RCSs) to evaluate the nonlinear relationship. Results: Our study included 208 participants, among whom the mortality rate was 1%. Prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS) was defined as more than 15 days, prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV) stay as more than 96 h, and prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) LOS as more than 403 h. In univariate analyses, we found that prolonged recovery was associated with both low CPP levels (p < 0.001, OR 4.28, 95% CI 1.94–9.46) and high CPP levels (p = 0.003, OR 3.39, 95% CI 1.52–7.58). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, after full adjustment, low CPP levels and high CPP levels were significantly associated with prolonged recovery (p = 0.005, OR = 3.72, 95% CI 1.48–9.35 and p < 0.001, OR = 6.04, 95% CI 2.32–15.72, respectively). We observed that the relationship between CPP level and poor in-hospital outcomes was U-shaped in a two-piecewise linear regression analysis. We found that the inflection point of CPP level for prolonged recovery was 47 mm Hg. Conclusion: The CPP levels exhibited a nonlinear relationship with poor in-hospital outcomes.
Real-Time Self-Positioning with the Zero Moment Point Model and Enhanced Position Accuracy Using Fiducial Markers
Authors: Ogata Kunihiro , Tanaka Hideyuki
Published: November 2024

Many companies are turning their attention to digitizing the work efficiency of employees in large factories and warehouses, and the demand for measuring individual self-location indoors is increasing. While methods combining wireless network technology and Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR) have been developed, they face challenges such as high infrastructure costs and low accuracy. In this study, we propose a novel approach that combines high-accuracy fiducial markers with the Center of Gravity Zero Moment Point (COG ZMP) model. Combining fiducial markers enables precise estimation of self-position on a map. Furthermore, the use of high-accuracy fiducial markers corrects modeling errors in the COG ZMP model, enhancing accuracy. This method was evaluated using an optical motion capture system, confirming high accuracy with a relative error of less than 3%. Thus, this approach allows for high-accuracy self-position estimation with minimal computational load and standalone operation. Moreover, it offers a cost-effective solution, contributing to society by enabling low-cost, high-performance self-positioning. This research enables high-accuracy standalone self-positioning and contributes to the advancement of indoor positioning technology.
Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) as a Partial Replacement of Aggregates in Sustainable Concrete
Authors: Abubakar Lukman , Yeasmin Nusrat , Bhattacharjee Arjak
Published: November 2024

Concrete use is enhanced daily due to infrastructure development, but it has adverse impacts on the environment. Modern lifestyles have led to the increased use of plastic, and, for households, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics are used. However, PET is non-biodegradable and causes adverse impacts on the environment and marine health. So, there is a need to minimize the amount of plastic waste by finding an alternative use for the waste. Our study focuses on creating sustainable concrete by utilizing PET-based plastic waste as a partial substitution for aggregates, aiming to use this concrete for various low-load-bearing construction applications. From our phase analysis study, no adverse effects were found on cement phase formation. We also found that up to 10 wt.% PET incorporation leads to acceptable compressive strength reduction as per ASTM guidelines. To enhance adhesion, the PET was roughened, and, from FESEM, we found effective adhesion of PET waste into the cement matrix. We believe that this sustainable concrete will not only contribute to waste reduction but also promote eco-friendly construction material development.
Iron Bonding with Light Elements: Implications for Planetary Cores Beyond the Binary System
Authors: Yang Hong , Wang Wenzhong , Mao Wendy L.
Published: November 2024

Light element alloying in iron is required to explain density deficit and seismic wave velocities in Earth’s core. However, the light element composition of the Earth’s core seems hard to constrain as nearly all light element alloying would reduce the density and sound velocity (elastic moduli). The alloying light elements include oxidizing elements like oxygen and sulfur and reducing elements like hydrogen and carbon, yet their chemical effects in the alloy system are less discussed. Moreover, Fe-X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (Fe-XANES) fingerprints have been studied for silicate materials with ferrous and ferric ions, while not many X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies have focused on iron alloys, especially at high pressures. To investigate the bonding nature of iron alloys in planetary interiors, we presented X-ray absorption spectroscopy of iron–nitrogen and iron–carbon alloys at high pressures up to 50 GPa. Together with existing literature on iron–carbon, –hydrogen alloys, we analyzed their edge positions and found no significant difference in the degree of oxidation among these alloys. Pressure effects on edge positions were also found negligible. Our theoretical simulation of the valence state of iron, alloyed with S, C, O, N, and P also showed nearly unchanged behavior under pressures up to 300 GPa. This finding indicates that the high pressure bonding of iron alloyed with light elements closely resembles bonding at the ambient conditions. We suggest that the chemical properties of light elements constrain which ones can coexist within iron alloys.
Revealing the Interaction Between Dislocations and LPSO-Precipitates Structure in a Mg-Y-Al Alloy at Different Temperatures
Authors: Zhu Qingchun , Li Yangxin , Zhang Huan , Wang Jie , Jiang Hongxiang , Zhao Jiuzhou
Published: November 2024

Precipitation strengthening represents a crucial strengthening approach in the realm of metals, with particular significance for magnesium. In this study, a complex LPSO–precipitate structure, which is constituted of the principal secondary phases in Mg rare earth (RE) alloys, namely the Long-Period Stacking Ordered (LPSO) phase and the aging precipitate, was successfully fabricated within a Mg-11Y-1Al alloy. Subsequently, an in-depth investigation was conducted regarding the interaction between dislocations and this LPSO–precipitate structure under varying temperature conditions. The findings revealed that, at room temperature (RT), the aging precipitates effectively hindered the movement of basal dislocations, and the activation of non-basal dislocations is rather difficult, resulting in the alloy’s high strength and low plasticity. When the temperature was elevated to 200 °C, although non-basal slip could be initiated, the LPSO–precipitate structure was capable of blocking both basal and non-basal slips. Consequently, the alloy still demonstrated high strength and low plasticity. As the temperature further increased to 250 °C, dislocations could cut through the aging precipitate particles, and the interior of the grains could provide partial deformation. Hence, the tensile elongation of the alloy was significantly enhanced, increasing from 4% to 12% as the temperature was elevated from 200 °C to 250 °C. These results suggest that the LPSO–precipitate structure still exerts a remarkable strengthening effect at 200 °C. When the temperature reaches 250 °C, the plasticity of the alloy is improved but its strength decreases. The research outcomes presented in this paper offer a novel perspective for the precise tailoring of mechanical properties through precipitation strengthening within Mg-RE alloys.
Synthesis and Characterization of New Organoammonium, Thiazolium, and Pyridinium Triiodide Salts: Crystal Structures, Polymorphism, and Thermal Stability
Authors: Bandara Madhushi , Kobra Khadijatul , Watts Spencer R. , Grady Logan , Hudson Connor , Veas Claudina , Hanks Timothy W. , Sachdeva Rakesh , Barroso Jorge , McMillen Colin D. , Pennington William T.
Published: November 2024

Triiodide salts are of interest for a variety of applications, including but not limited to electrochemical and photochemical devices, as antimicrobials and disinfectants, in supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering, and in ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents. Our work has focused on the design of salt–solvate cocrystals and deep eutectic solvents in which the triiodide anion interacts as a halogen bond acceptor with organoiodine molecules. To understand structure–property relationships in these hybrid materials, it is essential to have benchmark structural and physical data for the parent triiodide salt component. Herein, we report the structure and thermal properties of eight new triiodide salts, three of which exhibit polymorphism: tetrapentylammonium triiodide (1a and 1b), tetrahexylammonium triiodide (2), trimethylphenylammonium triiodide (3), trimethylbenzylammonium triiodide (4), triethylbenzylammonium triiodide (5), tri-n-butylbenzylammonium triiodide (6), 3-methylbenzothizolium triiodide (7a and 7b), and 2-chloro-1-methylpyridinium triiodide (8a and 8b). The structural features of the triiodide anion, Raman spectroscopic analysis, and melting and thermal decomposition behavior of the salts, as well as a computational analysis of the polymorphs, are discussed. The polymorphic pairs here are distinguished by symmetric versus asymmetric triiodide anions, as well as different packing patterns. Computational analyses revealed more subtle differences in their isosurface plots. Importantly, this study provides reference data for these new triiodide salts for comparison to hybrid cocrystals and deep eutectic solvents formed from their combination with various organoiodines.
Two New Species of Urocleidoides (Monopisthocotyla: Dactylogyridae) Parasitizing the Gills of Cyphocharax modestus (Characiformes: Curimatidae) Supported by Morphological and Molecular Data
Authors: Yamada Priscilla de Oliveira Fadel , Osaki-Pereira Melissa Miyuki , Acosta Aline Angelina , Ebert Mariana Bertholdi , da Silva Reinaldo José
Published: November 2024

The present study describes two new species of monopisthocotylans parasitizing the gills of Cyphocharax modestus (Characiformes: Curimatidae) from two localities of the Upper Paraná River basin, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Urocleidoides saghirus n. sp. and Urocleidoides taquariensis n. sp. differ from other congeners mainly in the morphology of the accessory piece: comprising two subunits (one scythe-shaped subunit, and one adjacent piece with a narrow base broadening towards the upper end, which is axe-shaped) in Urocleidoides saghirus n. sp., and a straight rod with a bifurcated proximal portion, a distal portion ending in a point, and two curved handles arising from the medial portion and uniting close to the distal portion in Urocleidoides taquariensis n. sp. The phylogenetic analyses revealed Urocleidoides to be non-monophyletic, indicating the need for a taxonomic review. This study provides the first molecular sequences for Urocleidoides spp. parasitizing Curimatidae, including the newly described species. These findings revealed distinct clades and suggested possible host specificity, underscoring the importance of additional research to better understand the phylogenetic relationships within the genus.
TMS: Ensemble Deep Learning Model for Accurate Classification of Monkeypox Lesions Based on Transformer Models with SVM
Authors: Abdelrahim Elsaid Md. , Hashim Hasan , Atlam El-Sayed , Osman Radwa Ahmed , Gad Ibrahim
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives:The emergence of monkeypox outside its endemic region in Africa has raised significant concerns within the public health community due to its rapid global dissemination. Early clinical differentiation of monkeypox from similar diseases, such as chickenpox and measles, presents a challenge. The Monkeypox Skin Lesion Dataset (MSLD) used in this study comprises monkeypox skin lesions, which were collected primarily from publicly accessible sources. The dataset contains 770 original images captured from 162 unique patients. The MSLD includes four distinct class labels: monkeypox, measles, chickenpox, and normal. Methods: This paper presents an ensemble model for classifying the monkeypox dataset, which includes transformer models and support vector machine (SVM). The model development process begins with an evaluation of seven convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures. The proposed model is developed by selecting the top four models based on evaluation metrics for performance. The top four CNN architectures, namely EfficientNetB0, ResNet50, MobileNet, and Xception, are used for feature extraction. The high-dimensional feature vectors extracted from each network are then concatenated and optimized before being inputted into the SVM classifier. Results: The proposed ensemble model, in conjunction with the SVM classifier, achieves an accuracy of 95.45b%. Furthermore, the model demonstrates high precision (95.51%), recall (95.45%), and F1 score (95.46%), indicating its effectiveness in identifying monkeypox lesions. Conclusions: The results of the study show that the proposed hybrid framework achieves robust diagnostic performance in monkeypox detection, offering potential utility for enhanced disease monitoring and outbreak management. The model’s high diagnostic accuracy and computational efficiency indicate that it can be used as an additional tool for clinical decision support.
Etiology of Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, Biomarker Efficacy, and the Role of Machine Learning in Stage Diagnosis
Authors: Sarma Manash , Chatterjee Subarna
Published: November 2024

Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) is a subtype of dementia that manifests after the age of 65. It is characterized by progressive impairments in cognitive functions, behavioral changes, and learning difficulties. Given the progressive nature of the disease, early diagnosis is crucial. Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) is solely attributable to genetic factors, whereas LOAD has multiple contributing factors. A complex pathway mechanism involving multiple factors contributes to LOAD progression. Employing a systems biology approach, our analysis encompassed the genetic, epigenetic, metabolic, and environmental factors that modulate the molecular networks and pathways. These factors affect the brain’s structural integrity, functional capacity, and connectivity, ultimately leading to the manifestation of the disease. This study has aggregated diverse biomarkers associated with factors capable of altering the molecular networks and pathways that influence brain structure, functionality, and connectivity. These biomarkers serve as potential early indicators for AD diagnosis and are designated as early biomarkers. The other biomarker datasets associated with the brain structure, functionality, connectivity, and related parameters of an individual are broadly categorized as clinical-stage biomarkers. This study has compiled research papers on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnosis utilizing machine learning (ML) methodologies from both categories of biomarker data, including the applications of ML techniques for AD diagnosis. The broad objectives of our study are research gap identification, assessment of biomarker efficacy, and the most effective or prevalent ML technology used in AD diagnosis. This paper examines the predominant use of deep learning (DL) and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnosis utilizing various types of biomarker data. Furthermore, this study has addressed the potential scope of using generative AI and the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) for data augmentation.