bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Base and Prime Editing in the Retina—From Preclinical Research toward Human Clinical Trials
Authors: Yee Tiffany , Wert Katherine J.
Published: October 2022

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of diseases that are one of the leading causes of vision loss in young and aged individuals. IRDs are mainly caused by a loss of the post-mitotic photoreceptor neurons of the retina, or by the degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium. Unfortunately, once these cells are damaged, it is irreversible and leads to permanent vision impairment. Thought to be previously incurable, gene therapy has been rapidly evolving to be a potential treatment to prevent further degeneration of the retina and preserve visual function. The development of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) base and prime editors have increased the capabilities of the genome editing toolbox in recent years. Both base and prime editors evade the creation of double-stranded breaks in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and the requirement of donor template of DNA for repair, which make them advantageous methods in developing clinical therapies. In addition, establishing a permanent edit within the genome could be better suited for patients with progressive degeneration. In this review, we will summarize published uses of successful base and prime editing in treating IRDs.
Molecular Characterization and Drought Resistance of GmNAC3 Transcription Factor in Glycine max (L.) Merr.
Authors: Chen Zhanyu , Yang Xiaoqin , Tang Minghao , Wang Yujue , Zhang Qian , Li Huiying , Zhou Ying , Sun Fengjie , Cui Xiyan
Published: October 2022

Soybean transcription factor GmNAC plays important roles in plant resistance to environmental stresses. In this study, GmNAC3 was cloned in the drought tolerant soybean variety “Jiyu47”, with the molecular properties of GmNAC3 characterized to establish its candidacy as a NAC transcription factor. The yeast self-activation experiments revealed the transcriptional activation activity of GmNAC3, which was localized in the nucleus by the subcellular localization analysis. The highest expression of GmNAC3 was detected in roots in the podding stage of soybean, and in roots of soybean seedlings treated with 20% PEG6000 for 12 h, which was 16 times higher compared with the control. In the transgenic soybean hairy roots obtained by the Agrobacterium-mediated method treated with 20% PEG6000 for 12 h, the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase and the content of proline were increased, the malondialdehyde content was decreased, and the expressions of stress resistance-related genes (i.e., APX2, LEA14, 6PGDH, and P5CS) were up-regulated. These expression patterns were confirmed by transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana with the overexpression of GmNAC3. This study provided strong scientific evidence to support further investigation of the regulatory function of GmNAC3 in plant drought resistance and the molecular mechanisms regulating the plant response to environmental stresses.
Microbiota and Serum Metabolic Profile Changes in Korean Native Hanwoo Steer in Response to Diet Feeding Systems
Authors: Jung Jeong Sung , Soundharrajan Ilavenil , Kim Dahye , Baik Myunggi , Ha Seungmin , Choi Ki Choon
Published: October 2022

The diversity of bacteria and their function in cattle gastrointestinal tracts can influence animal welfare. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to investigate microbial diversity in the feces of Hanwoo steers reared under natural grazing (GS) and housing (HS) systems. Additionally, serum metabolic parameters, such as liver and kidney markers and mineral and lipid content changes, as well as their correlation with pyrotags, were studied. A total of 6468 ± 87.86 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified in both steer groups, of which 3538 ± 38.17 OTUs were from grazing steer and 2930 ± 94.06 OTUs were from GS. Chao1 index analysis revealed a higher bacterial richness in GS. The dominant bacterial taxa were Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. GS showed lower Bacteroidetes and higher Firmicutes abundance than HS. The serum of HS showed consistent increases in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGTP), glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (T-CHO), and triglyceride (TG) levels. The impact of GS on animal health and serum metabolic markers was strongly correlated with microbiota. As shown in this study, grazing has a significant impact on the fecal microbiota at the phylum and family levels, as well as the serum biochemical metabolites of Hanwoo steers.
Tropaeolum majus R2R3 MYB Transcription Factor TmPAP2 Functions as a Positive Regulator of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis
Authors: Wang Xiaoping , Wang Wei , Chen Siyu , Lian Yuji , Wang Shucai
Published: October 2022

Anthocyanins are an important group of water-soluble and non-toxic natural pigments with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can be found in flowers, vegetables, and fruits. Anthocyanin biosynthesis is regulated by several different types of transcription factors, including the WD40-repeat protein Transparent Testa Glabra 1 (TTG1), the bHLH transcription factor Transparent Testa 8 (TT8), Glabra3 (GL3), Enhancer of GL3 (EGL3), and the R2R3 MYB transcription factor Production of Anthocyanin Pigment 1 (PAP1), PAP2, MYB113, and MYB114, which are able to form MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) complexes to regulate the expression of late biosynthesis genes (LBGs) in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is an edible flower plant that offers many health benefits, as it contains numerous medicinally important ingredients, including anthocyanins. By a comparative examination of the possible anthocyanin biosynthesis regulator genes in nasturtium varieties with different anthocyanin contents, we found that TmPAP2, an R2R3 MYB transcription factor gene, is highly expressed in “Empress of India”, a nasturtium variety with high anthocyanin content, while the expression of TmPAP2 in Arabidopsis led to the overproduction of anthocyanins. Protoplast transfection shows that TmPAP2 functions as a transcription activator; consistent with this finding, some of the biosynthesis genes in the general phenylpropanoid pathway and anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway were highly expressed in “Empress of India” and the 35S:TmPAP2 transgenic Arabidopsis plants. However, protoplast transfection indicates that TmPAP2 may not be able to form an MBW complex with TmGL3 and TmTTG1. These results suggest that TmPAP2 may function alone as a key regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis in nasturtiums.
Current Nanomedicine for Targeted Vascular Disease Treatment: Trends and Perspectives
Authors: Choi Kyung-A , Kim June Hyun , Ryu Kitae , Kaushik Neha
Published: October 2022

Nanotechnology has been developed to deliver cargos effectively to the vascular system. Nanomedicine is a novel and effective approach for targeted vascular disease treatment including atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, strokes, peripheral arterial disease, and cancer. It has been well known for some time that vascular disease patients have a higher cancer risk than the general population. During atherogenesis, the endothelial cells are activated to increase the expression of adhesion molecules such as Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1), Vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, and P-selectin. This biological activation of endothelial cells gives a targetability clue for nanoparticle strategies. Nanoparticle formation has a passive targeting pathway due to the increased adhesion molecule expression on the cell surface as well as increased cell activation. In addition, the VCAM-1-targeting peptide has been widely used to target the inflamed endothelial cells. Biomimetic nanoparticles using platelet and leukocyte membrane fragment strategies have been promising techniques for targeted vascular disease treatment. Cyclodextrin, a natural oligosaccharide with a hydrophobic cavity, increase the solubility of cholesterol crystals at the atherosclerotic plaque site and has been used to deliver the hydrophobic drug statin as a therapeutic in a targeted manner. In summary, nanoparticles decorated with various targeting molecules will be an effective and promising strategy for targeted vascular disease treatment.
Mechanical Design of an Electromagnetic Calorimeter Prototype for a Future Muon Collider
Authors: Paesani Daniele , Saputi Alessandro , Sarra Ivano
Published: October 2022

Measurement of physics processes at new energy frontier experiments requires excellent spatial, time, and energy resolutions to resolve the structure of collimated high-energy jets. In a future Muon Collider, beam-induced backgrounds (BIB) represent the main challenge in the design of the detectors and of the event reconstruction algorithms. The technology and the design of the calorimeters should be chosen to reduce the effect of the BIB, while keeping good physics performance. Several requirements can be inferred: (i) high granularity to reduce the overlap of BIB particles in the same calorimeter cell; (ii) excellent timing (of the order of 100 ps) to reduce the out-of-time component of the BIB; (iii) longitudinal segmentation to distinguish the signal showers from the fake showers produced by the BIB. Moreover, the calorimeter should operate in a very harsh radiation environment, withstanding yearly a neutron flux of 1014 n1MeV/cm2 and a dose of 100 krad. Our proposal consists of a semi-homogeneous electromagnetic calorimeter based on Lead Fluoride Crystals (PbF2) readout by surface-mount UV-extended Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs): the Crilin calorimeter. In this paper, we report the mechanical design for the development of a small-scale prototype, consisting of 2 layers of 3 × 3 crystals.
Is SARS-CoV-2 a Risk Factor of Bipolar Disorder?—A Narrative Review
Authors: Lorkiewicz Piotr , Waszkiewicz Napoleon
Published: October 2022

For 2.5 years we have been facing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its health, social and economic effects. One of its known consequences is the development of neuropsychiatric diseases such as anxiety and depression. However, reports of manic episodes related to COVID-19 have emerged. Mania is an integral part of the debilitating illness—bipolar disorder (BD). Due to its devastating effects, it is therefore important to establish whether SARS-CoV-2 infection is a causative agent of this severe mental disorder. In this narrative review, we discuss the similarities between the disorders caused by SARS-CoV-2 and those found in patients with BD, and we also try to answer the question of whether SARS-CoV-2 infection may be a risk factor for the development of this affective disorder. Our observation shows that disorders in COVID-19 showing the greatest similarity to those in BD are cytokine disorders, tryptophan metabolism, sleep disorders and structural changes in the central nervous system (CNS). These changes, especially intensified in severe infections, may be a trigger for the development of BD in particularly vulnerable people, e.g., with family history, or cause an acute episode in patients with a pre-existing BD.
A Head-to-Head Comparison of 18F-Fluorocholine PET/CT and Conventional MRI as Predictors of Outcome in IDH Wild-Type High-Grade Gliomas
Authors: Garcia Vicente Ana María , Pérez-Beteta Julián , Amo-Salas Mariano , Bosque Jesús J. , Noriega-Álvarez Edel , Soriano Castrejon Ángel María , Pérez-García Víctor M.
Published: October 2022

(1) Aim: To study the associations between imaging parameters derived from contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI) and 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT and their performance as prognostic predictors in isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type (IDH-wt) high-grade gliomas. (2) Methods: A prospective, multicenter study (FuMeGA: Functional and Metabolic Glioma Analysis) including patients with baseline CE-MRI and 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT and IDH wild-type high-grade gliomas. Clinical variables such as performance status, extent of surgery and adjuvant treatments (Stupp protocol vs others) were obtained and used to discriminate overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) as end points. Multilesionality was assessed on the visual analysis of PET/CT and CE-MRI images. After tumor segmentation, standardized uptake value (SUV)-based variables for PET/CT and volume-based and geometrical variables for PET/CT and CE-MRI were calculated. The relationships among imaging techniques variables and their association with prognosis were evaluated using Pearson’s chi-square test and the t-test. Receiver operator characteristic, Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression were used for the survival analysis. (3) Results: 54 patients were assessed. The median PFS and OS were 5 and 11 months, respectively. Significant strong relationships between volume-dependent variables obtained from PET/CT and CE-MRI were found (r > 0.750, p < 0.05). For OS, significant associations were found with SUVmax, SUVpeak, SUVmean and sphericity (HR: 1.17, p = 0.035; HR: 1.24, p = 0.042; HR: 1.62, p = 0.040 and HR: 0.8, p = 0.022, respectively). Among clinical variables, only Stupp protocol and age showed significant associations with OS and PFS. No CE-MRI derived variables showed significant association with prognosis. In multivariate analysis, age (HR: 1.04, p = 0.002), Stupp protocol (HR: 2.81, p = 0.001), multilesionality (HR: 2.20, p = 0.013) and sphericity (HR: 0.79, p = 0.027) derived from PET/CT showed independent associations with OS. For PFS, only age (HR: 1.03, p = 0.021) and treatment protocol (HR: 2.20, p = 0.008) were significant predictors. (4) Conclusions: 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT metabolic and radiomic variables were robust prognostic predictors in patients with IDH-wt high-grade gliomas, outperforming CE-MRI derived variables.
Reliability and Utility of Various Methods for Evaluation of Bone Union after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
Authors: Godlewski Bartosz , Bebenek Adam , Dominiak Maciej , Bochniak Marcin , Cieslik Piotr , Pawelczyk Tomasz
Published: October 2022

Most surgical procedures performed on account of degenerative disease of the cervical spine involve a discectomy and interbody fixation. Bone fusion at the implant placement site is evaluated post-operatively. It is agreed that computed tomography is the best modality for assessing bone union. We evaluated the results obtained with various methods based solely on conventional radiographs in the same group of patients and compared them with results obtained using a method that is a combination of CT and conventional radiography, which we considered the most precise and a reference method. We operated on a total of 170 disc spaces in a group of 104 patients. Fusion was evaluated at 12 months after surgery with five different and popular classifications based on conventional radiographs and then compared with the reference method. Statistical analyses of test accuracy produced the following classification of fusion assessment methods with regard to the degree of consistency with the reference method, in descending order: (1) bone bridging is visible on the anterior and/or posterior edge of the operated disc space on a lateral radiograph; (2) change in the value of Cobb’s angle for a motion segment on flexion vs. extension radiographs (threshold for fusion vs. pseudoarthrosis is 2°); (3) change in the interspinous distance between process tips on flexion vs. extension radiographs (threshold of 2 mm); (4) change in the value of Cobb’s angle of a motion segment (threshold of 4°); (5) change in the interspinous distance between process bases on flexion vs. extension radiographs (threshold of 2 mm). When bone union is evaluated on the basis on radiographs, without CT evidence, we suggest using the “bone bridging” criterion as the most reliable commonly used approach to assessing bone union.
Prepared to Accompany the End of Life during Pandemics in Nursing Homes
Authors: Krumm Norbert , Gebel Cordula , Kloppenburg Lars , Rolke Roman , Wedding Ulrich
Published: October 2022

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic confronted nursing homes with a variety of challenges to ensure the provision of palliative care for residents. PallPan-Implement aimed to adapt the recommendations of the National Strategy for the Care of Seriously Ill, Dying Adults and their Families in Times of Pandemic (PALLPAN) in such a way that nursing facilities can use and implement them. Methods: Based on 33 PALLPAN recommendations, we developed a questionnaire, conducted a pilot implementation for selected nursing homes, and asked for qualitative feedback. Results: The developed questionnaire contains 22 main questions. A three-stage pilot implementation with an introductory event, processing phase, and evaluation event took place in seven facilities. The facilities evaluated the developed questionnaire as helpful. Feedback from the facilities identified three major categories: (a) requirements for facilities should be realistic to avoid frustration, (b) the creation of a pandemic plan for palliative care only is impractical, (c) measures for the psychosocial support of staff is particularly necessary, but was perceived as difficult to implement. Conclusions: The practical implementation of recommendations requires a concept and material tailored to facilities and areas. The strategy of PallPan Implement developed in this project appears to be target-oriented, well-received, and can be recommended for further implementation.
Reliability of the Spanish Version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) and Characteristics of Motor Imagery in Institutionalized Elderly People
Authors: Suárez Rozo Manuel Enrique , Trapero-Asenjo Sara , Pecos-Martín Daniel , Fernández-Carnero Samuel , Gallego-Izquierdo Tomás , Jiménez Rejano José Jesús , Nunez-Nagy Susana
Published: October 2022

Motor imagery (MI) training is increasingly used to improve the performance of specific motor skills. The Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) is an instrument for assessing MI ability validated in Spanish although its reliability has not yet been studied in the elderly population. The main objective of this study was to test its reliability in institutionalized elderly people. Secondarily, we studied whether there are differences according to gender and age in MI ability (measured by the MIQ-3) and in temporal congruency (measured by mental chronometry of elbow and knee flexion-extension and getting up and sitting down from chair movements). The subjects were 60 elderly, institutionalized, Spanish-speaking individuals without cognitive impairment or dementia, and aged between 70 and 100 years. Cronbach’s alpha showed high internal consistency in the internal visual and external visual subscales and moderate in the kinesthetic subscale. The intraclass correlation coefficient showed good test-retest reliability for all three subscales. Mixed factorial analysis of variances (ANOVAs) showed that MI ability decreased with increasing age range, the imagery time decreased concerning the execution of the same movement, and there were no gender differences in either IM ability or temporal congruence. The Spanish version of the MIQ-3 is a reliable instrument for measuring MI ability in institutionalized elderly.
Low Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Level Is Associated with Poor Immunologic Response among People Living with HIV/AIDS
Authors: Lee Eun Hwa , Lee Ki Hyun , Lee Se Ju , Kim Jinnam , Kim Jung Ho , Ahn Jin Young , Ku Nam Su , Choi Jun Yong , Yeom Joon-Sup , Jeong Su Jin
Published: October 2022

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an adrenal steroid converted to potent androgens. This study aimed to discover the association between serum DHEA levels and immunologic response in people with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). We enrolled patients aged ≥ 18 years who were treated with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). We measured CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts, HIV-RNA titres, and serum DHEA levels. We assigned each patient to a good- or poor-responder group depending on their CD4+ T-cell counts at study enrolment. Participants with CD4+ T-cell counts > 200/µL were assigned to the good-responder group, whilst those with CD4+ T-cell counts < 200/µL were assigned to the poor-responder group. The participants were followed up for 2 years. The poor-responder group showed lower CD4+ T-cell counts and higher HIV PCR titres at their initial HIV diagnosis and in their 2-year follow-up data. Serum DHEA level was lower in the poor-responder group. Multivariable logistic analysis showed that BMI, initial CD4+ T-cell counts, and serum DHEA level were clinical factors associated with poor immunologic responsiveness to cART in PLWHA. Therefore, DHEA may be used as an indicator of the immunological recovery of PLWHA.
Risk Factors and Outcome of Acute Kidney Injury following Acute Myocardial Infarction—A Case Series Study from 2009 to 2019
Authors: Wang Wen-Hwa , Hong Yu-Cyuan , Chen Hsiu-Min , Chen David , Wei Kai-Che , Lai Ping-Chin
Published: October 2022

Background: Historically, acute kidney injury (AKI) has been a common severe complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI). As percutaneous coronary interventions have become more widely used, AMI outcomes have significantly improved. However, post-AMI AKI epidemiology and its associated factors are not well-understood in the age of interventional cardiology. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study examining changes in creatinine levels in all patients admitted for AMI in a single medical center between August 2009 and February 2019. KDIGO criteria were used to define the different stages of post-AMI AKI. Results: The study included 1299 eligible cases, among which 213 (16.4%) developed AKI during AMI index admission; and 128 (60.1%), 46 (21.6%), and 39 (18.3%) were classified as KDIGO stages 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Compared with non-AKI subjects, the AKI group had a higher prevalence of non-STEMI (48.4% vs. 29.1%, p < 0.001), higher Killip class (3 or 4), and higher in-hospital mortality (15% vs. 2.5%, p < 0.001). During the index MI hospitalization, 13.6% (29/213) of the post-MI AKI patients received hemodialysis. Baseline abnormal creatinine (≥1.5 mg/dL), dyslipidemia, and more advanced KDIGO stages (2 or 3) were associated with an increased risk of requiring in-hospital hemodialysis. Moreover, a more advanced KDIGO stage (≥2) was correlated with higher all-cause in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: AMI patients remain at risk of AKI, which negatively affects their survival in the modern age.
Management of Renal Angiomyolipomas in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Hunter-Dickson Mitchell , Wu Patrick , Athavale Akshay , Wang Amanda Ying
Published: October 2022

We report a case of misdiagnosed tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in a patient without TSC gene variant presenting with bilateral renal angiomyolipomas and seizures in the context of strong family history of polycystic kidney disease. Clinical diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis complex was made and treatment with everolimus reduced size of renal angiomyolipomas. In this case, report we discuss the association between tuberous sclerosis complex and polycystic kidney disease and novel treatment for TSC.
Neurovascular Manifestations of Iron-Deficient Anemia: Narrative Review and Practical Reflections through a Teaching Case
Authors: Zedde Marialuisa , Portaro Giacomo , Ferri Laura , Cavallieri Francesco , Napoli Manuela , Moratti Claudio , Piazza Fabrizio , Valzania Franco , Pascarella Rosario
Published: October 2022

Anemia is one of the most frequent diseases worldwide, affecting one-third of the general population. Anemia in general and in particular, iron-deficient anemia (IDA), has been associated to a higher risk of thrombotic manifestations, including ischemic stroke and cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), as well as systemic extra-cerebral arterial and venous thrombosis. Despite these data, anemia is seldom considered as an etiological factor of stroke. An individual case encompassing all known neurovascular and systemic arterial and venous thrombotic manifestations related to IDA is presented with the focus on clinical reasoning issues in the diagnostic pathways, starting from the neuroradiological signs. The main questions have been identified and addressed in a narrative review of the most relevant data in the literature from a pragmatic and clinical viewpoint. The presented case concerns a 46-year-old man admitted to the Stroke Unit because of acute ischemic stroke with multiple thrombi in large intracranial and extracranial vessels, multifocal ischemic lesions in several arterial territories and the concurrent finding of asymptomatic CVT, pulmonary embolism with lung infarction and aortic thrombosis. An extended diagnostic work-up excluded the main etiologies (arterial dissection, cardiac embolism, genetic and acquired prothrombotic disorders, such as cancer and antiphospholipid syndrome), except for a severe IDA, such as to require blood transfusions followed by anticoagulant therapy for the several thrombotic manifestations. Neuroimaging and systemic vascular findings have been analyzed, and the main issues proposed by the case in the diagnostic pathway have been identified and discussed in a pragmatic clinical road map reviewing the data provided by the literature. Conclusions: IDA is a common but treatable condition that, independently or synergically, may increase the risk of thrombotic events. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach has not yet been defined, and each case should be individually addressed in a pragmatic clinical road map.
Plasma Rich in Growth Factors in the Treatment of Endodontic Periapical Lesions in Adult Patients: 3-Dimensional Analysis Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography on the Outcomes of Non-Surgical Endodontic Treatment Using A-PRF+ and Calcium Hydroxide: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Machut Katarzyna , Żółtowska Agata
Published: October 2022

The study presents results of periapical lesion healing after one-visit root canal treatment (RCT) with Advanced Platelet Rich Fibrin plus (A-PRF+) application compared to a two-visit RCT with an inter-appointment calcium hydroxide filling. The comparison was made based on CBCT-Periapical Index (PAI) lesion volume changes and the occurrence of post endodontic pain. The results of 3D radiographic healing assessments based on volume reduction criteria were different from the CBCT-PAI. Based on volume changes, the healing assessment criteria-9 cases from the Study Group and six cases in the Control Group were defined as healed. Based on the CBCT-PAI healing assessment criteria, 8 cases from the Study Group and 9 cases from the Control Group were categorized as healed. The volumes of apical radiolucency were, on average, reduced by 85.93% in the Study Group and by 72.31% in the Control Group. Post-endodontic pain occurred more frequently in the Control than in the Study Group. The highest score of pain in the Study Group was five (moderate pain, n = 1), while in the Control Group, the highest score was eight (severe pain, n = 2). In the 6-month follow-up, CBCT scans showed a better healing tendency for patients in the Study Group.
Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors of Non-Infectious Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis
Authors: Chen Yu-Chieh , Chang Chun-Wei , Wu Hsiu-Chuan , Chen Chiung-Mei , Chang Chien-Hung , Chang Kuo-Hsuan
Published: October 2022

Non-infectious cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an uncommon type of cerebrovascular disease that usually affects young patients. It occurs frequently in female patients, probably due to the association of sex-specific risk factors for coagulopathies. Currently, the prognostic factors of CVT remain unclear. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics among 260 CVT patients, including 147 females and 113 males. A favorable clinical outcome was defined by the scores of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≤ 2 at hospital discharge, while a poor clinical outcome was defined by an mRS score of 3 to 6. A headache (28.5%) was the most frequent presentation. The most commonly affected sinus was the transverse-sigmoid sinus (59.6%). Most of the cases (78.5%) were treated with anticoagulants. One hundred and fifty-seven patients (60.4%) were discharged with favorable clinical outcomes. Consciousness disturbance (odds ratio: 5.01, p < 0.001) was associated with a poor clinical outcome. Patients with poor clinical outcomes demonstrated higher D-dimer levels on admission (4137.76 ± 3317.07 vs. 2476.74 ± 2330.87 ng/mL FEU, p = 0.029) and longer hospitalization days (31.81 ± 26.29 vs. 13.96 ± 8.82 days, p < 0.001) compared with favorable clinical outcomes. These findings provide important information of clinical characteristics and prognosis for CVT. Aggressive monitoring and treatment should be considered in CVT patients with poor prognostic factors.
Ceramics Based on Sodium Rhenanite CaNaPO4, Obtained via Firing of Composite Cement-Salt Stone
Authors: Toshev Otabek , Safronova Tatiana , Kazakova Gilyana , Shatalova Tatiana , Boytsova Olga , Lukina Yulia , Sivkov Sergey
Published: October 2022

Ceramics based on rhenanite CaNaPO4 with density of 0.94 g/cm3 and compressive strength of 10.3 MPa was obtained via firing at 900 °C of composite cement-salt stone prepared from a hardening powder mixture of calcium citrate tetrahydrate Ca3(C6H5O7)2∙4H2O and sodium dihydrogen phosphate NaH2PO4. The phase composition of the obtained samples of cement–salt stone was represented by monetite CaHPO4, unreacted sodium dihydrogen phosphate and calcium citrate tetrahydrate. According to the XRD data, the phase composition of the ceramic samples after annealing in the temperature range of 500–700 °C was mainly represented by the β-CaNaPO4 phase. It was found that after an annealing at temperature of 900 °C, the phase composition of ceramics was presented with the only phase of β-CaNaPO4. It was demonstrated that an increase in the annealing temperature led to an increase in the grain size from 1 μm after annealing at 500 °C to 5 μm after annealing at 900 °C. Obtained ceramic material based on CaNaPO4 could be important for regenerative treatments of bone tissue defects.
Process-Integrated Lubrication in Sheet Metal Forming
Authors: Lachmayer Roland , Behrens Bernd-Arno , Ehlers Tobias , Müller Philipp , Althaus Philipp , Oel Marcus , Farahmand Ehsan , Gembarski Paul Christoph , Wester Hendrik , Hübner Sven
Published: October 2022

The deep-drawability of a sheet metal blank is strongly influenced by the tribological conditions prevailing in a deep-drawing process. Therefore, new methods to influence the tribology represent an important research topic. In this work, the application of a process-integrated lubrication in a deep-drawing process is investigated. Most promising geometries of the lubrication channels and outlet openings are first identified by means of numerical simulation at the example of a demonstrator process. Cylindrical test specimens with the specified channel geometries are additively manufactured and installed in a strip drawing test stand. Additive manufacturing enables the possibility of manufacturing complex channel geometries which cannot be manufactured by conventional methods. A hydraulic metering device for conveying lubricant is connected to the cylindrical test specimens. Thus, hydraulically lubricated strip drawing tests are performed. The tests are evaluated according to the force curves and the fluid mechanical buildup of pressure cushion. The performance of process-integrated lubrication is thus analyzed and evaluated. By means of a coupled forming and SPH simulation, the lubrication channels could be optimally designed. From the practical tests, it could be achieved that the drawing force decreases up to 27% with pressure cushion build up. In this research, a hydraulic lubrication in the area of highest contact normal stresses is the most optimal process parameter regarding friction reduction.
The Preliminary Investigation of Communication Characteristics Using Evaporation Duct across the Taiwan Strait
Authors: Yang Cheng , Shi Yafei , Wang Jian
Published: October 2022

Affected by the Taiwan Strait Warm Current, the evaporation intensity around the Taiwan Strait is significantly higher than in other southern and eastern coastal areas of China. To explore a new and effective method for maritime communication across the Taiwan Strait, we present a preliminary investigation of wireless microwave transmission in an evaporation duct. From 9 to 14 o’clock, the percentage of the evaporation duct height exceeding 10 m reached over 90% in 2020. With the favorable channel in this period, a “straight-through propagation channel” emerged, with a serviceable ratio of 99.00% at a 300 km transmission range. The high-quality transmission with BPSK modulation occurred 98.90% of the year from 12 to 13 o’clock, with 89.89% of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) exceeding 90 dB. Based on the effective use of the evaporation duct, the proposed method can provide favorable support for maritime applications across the Taiwan Strait.
A New Simple Method to Design Degaussing Coils Using Magnetic Dipoles
Authors: Jin Huanghuang , Wang Hong , Zhuang Zhihong
Published: October 2022

Since submarines are mostly made of ferromagnetic materials, anti-submarine warfare aircraft detect submarines using all kinds of magnetometers. In order to make the submarine magnetically silent, it is usually equipped with degaussing coils to neutralize the magnetic anomaly. However, with the increased size of the submarine, more coils are needed by conventional degaussing methods, and the degaussing system becomes complex to design and implement. To simplify the design of submarine degaussing coils and improve their degaussing accuracies, this paper presents a novel and efficient method of the degaussing coil design, which is based on the simplest equivalent model of multiple magnetic dipoles. First, the influence of the magnetic moment and spatial distribution of multi-magnetic dipoles on the equivalent effects with different spatial scales were studied. Then the simplest model of multiple magnetic dipoles was proved to capably model complex ferromagnets. We simulated the degaussing coils of a submarine by COMSOL Multiphysics software to verify the validity of the simplest modeling method and the design of the coils. The simulation results show that the magnetic anomaly induced by the submarine was reduced by at least 99% at different ranges.
Guanidine-Containing Antifungal Agents against Human-Relevant Fungal Pathogens (2004–2022)—A Review
Authors: Baugh Simon D. P.
Published: October 2022

The guanidine moiety is typically a highly basic group, and can be found in a wide variety of drugs, such as zanamivir (Relenza) and metformin (Fortamet), as well as in biologically active compounds for numerous disease areas, including central nervous system (CNS) diseases and chemotherapeutics. This review will focus on antifungal agents which contain at least one guanidine group, for the treatment of human-related fungal pathogens, described in the literature between 2004 and 2022. These compounds include small molecules, steroids, polymers, metal complexes, sesquiterpenes, natural products, and polypeptides. It shall be made clear that a diverse range of guanidine-containing derivatives have been published in the literature and have antifungal activity, including efficacy in in vivo experiments.
L1 Influences on Bulgarian-Accented German: Prosodic Units and Prenuclear Pitch Accents
Authors: Andreeva Bistra , Dimitrova Snezhina
Published: October 2022

This study investigates the L1 influence on the use of accentual patterns, choice of prenuclear pitch accent types and their realization on L2 prosody. We use Mennen’s LILt model as a framework for our analysis. We recorded ten Bulgarian female speakers of German and ten female native German speakers who read Aesop’s fable The North Wind and the Sun. We found that the tendency for the Bulgarian native speakers to use more pitch accents than German native speakers is transferred to the L2 German of the Bulgarian learners. L*+H was the most frequent prenuclear pitch accent used by all groups. We also found that the Bulgarian learners stressed more function words and tolerated more stress clashes than the native German speakers. When speaking German, under the influence of the statistical regularities that relate to prosodic word patterns in their mother tongue, Bulgarian learners phrased their L2 speech into a higher number of shorter prosodic words, and therefore realized more pitch accents and aligned the high tonal target earlier than the native speakers. Concerning the variable alignment of the high target, we propose the prosodic word or the two-syllable window as the tentative candidate for an anchorage region. Our findings can be explained with respect to age of learning, as proposed by LILt’s general theoretical assumptions.
Single Cell in a Gravity Field
Authors: Ogneva Irina V.
Published: October 2022

The exploration of deep space or other bodies of the solar system, associated with a long stay in microgravity or altered gravity, requires the development of fundamentally new methods of protecting the human body. Most of the negative changes in micro- or hypergravity occur at the cellular level; however, the mechanism of reception of the altered gravity and transduction of this signal, leading to the formation of an adaptive pattern of the cell, is still poorly understood. At the same time, most of the negative changes that occur in early embryos when the force of gravity changes almost disappear by the time the new organism is born. This review is devoted to the responses of early embryos and stem cells, as well as terminally differentiated germ cells, to changes in gravity. An attempt was made to generalize the data presented in the literature and propose a possible unified mechanism for the reception by a single cell of an increase and decrease in gravity based on various deformations of the cortical cytoskeleton.
Preclinical and Clinical Research Models of Prostate Cancer: A Brief Overview
Authors: Basak Debasish , Gregori Lisney , Johora Fatema , Deb Subrata
Published: October 2022

The incidence and mortality from prostate cancer (PCa) are on the rise which poses a major public health concern worldwide. In this narrative review, we have summarized the characteristics of major in vitro and in vivo PCa models including their utility in developing treatment strategies. Androgens, particularly, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) activate the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway that facilitates the development and progression of castration resistant PCa. Several enzymes namely, CYP17A1, HSD17B, and SRD5A are essential to furnishing DHT from dehydroepiandrosterone in the classical pathway while DHT is formed from androstanediol in the backdoor pathway. The advancement in delineating the molecular heterogeneity of PCa has been possible through the development of several in vitro and in vivo research models. Generally, tissue culture models are advantageous to understand PCa biology and investigate the efficacy and toxicity of novel agents; nevertheless, animal models are indispensable to studying the PCa etiology and treatment since they can simulate the tumor microenvironment that plays a central role in initiation and progression of the disease. Moreover, the availability of several genetically engineered mouse models has made it possible to study the metastasis process. However, the conventional models are not devoid of limitations. For example, the lack of heterogeneity in tissue culture models and the variation of metastatic characteristics in xenograft models are obviously challenging. Additionally, due to the racial and ethnic disparities in PCa pathophysiology, a new model that can represent PCa encompassing different ethnicities is urgently needed. New models should continue to evolve to address the genetic and molecular complexities as well as to further elucidate the finer details of the steroidogenic pathway associated with PCa.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with Biventricular Involvement and Coronary Anomaly: A Case Report
Authors: Bartolacelli Ylenia , Bonetti Simone , Balducci Anna , Bulgarelli Ambra , Ragni Luca , Donti Andrea
Published: October 2022

Although hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is classically considered a disease of the left ventricle, right ventricular (RV) involvement has also been reported, though still not extensively characterized. We present a case of biventricular HCM with significant RV involvement in the absence of a left intraventricular gradient: RV outflow tract gradient due to hypertrophy and near obliteration of the RV cavity. Significant RV hypertrophy may cause reduced RV diastolic filling and/or RV outflow obstruction, with potentially increased incidence of symptoms of heart failure, arrhythmias, and pulmonary thromboembolism. The optimal treatment for these patients is unclear. Our patient underwent complete treatment and elimination of right ventricular obstruction, resulting in improved symptoms and a significant reduction in postoperative gradients. Direct relief of outflow tract obstruction can be achieved with low morbidity and good intermediate- to long-term results. Conventional surgery may provide significant symptomatic improvement and should thus be considered in the setting of HCM with outflow obstruction.
Elasticity of Mg3Bi2-xSbx
Authors: Peng Qing , Zhao Shuai , Yuan Xiaoze , Chen Xiao-Jia
Published: October 2022

Mg3Bi2-xSbx is a promising thermoelectric material working around room temperatures. Compared to electronic and thermoelectric properties, its mechanical properties are of great importance in practical applications but much less understood. Herein, we have systematically studied the elasticity of Mg3Bi2-xSbx by means of first-principles calculations with a large supercell of 40 atoms. We demonstrated that the 10-atom-unitcell is undersized with improper electronic structures. With the elastic constants, we have explored the comprehensive elastic features and the three-dimensional distribution of fundamental characteristics of Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio and their variation with respect to the Sb content x. We interpolate the variation in terms of the valence electron concentration. We have further examined the hardness, ductility, anisotropicity, and Debye temperatures. The elasticity exhibits strong anisotropy where the maxima are approximately three times larger than the minima for modules. A nearly linear dependence is also observed on the Sb content except x in the vicinity of 0.5. Our atomistic insights on elasticity might be helpful in the material design of thermoelectrics with desirable mechanical properties. Our work could serve as a map for tuning the mechanical properties of Mg3Bi2-xSbx and guide the possible synthesizing of novel thermoelectric material.
Development and Characterisation of Joints with Novel Densified and Wood/Cork Composite Substrates
Authors: Corte-Real Luis M. R. M. , Jalali Shahin , Borges Catarina S. P. , Marques Eduardo A. S. , Carbas Ricardo J. C. , da Silva Lucas F. M.
Published: October 2022

The automotive industry, driven by the desire to decrease the environmental impact of vehicles, is permanently seeking to develop lightweight structural components, which lead to lower gas emissions and energy consumption, reducing their carbon footprint. In parallel, adopting innovative, constructive solutions, which dispense non-recyclable and energy-intensive materials, can increase the footprint reduction. Thus, an increase in the use of renewable materials for structural applications, including wood and its by-products, has been observed over the last few decades. Furthermore, composite materials are often joined by using petroleum-based synthetic adhesives, which should be progressively replaced by eco-friendly bio-adhesives. In this study, novel densified wood and wood/cork composites, joined with a bio-adhesive, are proposed and characterised. The densification of the wood aims to enhance the mechanical properties of the natural material, with the purpose of improving the energy absorption of the wood/bio-adhesive joint. To mitigate delamination and the brittle behaviour of wood/cork agglomerates were introduced between the wood substrate and the bio-adhesive. Different configurations of single lap joints (SLJ) were manufactured to study the effect of the overlap length and loading rate on the performance of the joints, both in terms of failure load and energy absorption. Afterward, the joints were numerically simulated. The densification process was successful, although it represents an additional challenge in terms of surface flatness, because the bio-adhesive requires zero bondline thickness. The increase of the overlap had a positive impact on the energy absorption of the joint, and the addition of cork resulted in a more consistent failure mode and higher strain to failure. The numerical models developed had a good correlation with the experimental results.
Prediction of the Mechanical Properties of Basalt Fiber Reinforced High-Performance Concrete Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Hasanzadeh Ali , Vatin Nikolai Ivanovich , Hematibahar Mohammad , Kharun Makhmud , Shooshpasha Issa
Published: October 2022

In this research, we present an efficient implementation of machine learning (ML) models that forecast the mechanical properties of basalt fiber-reinforced high-performance concrete (BFHPC). The objective of the present study was to predict compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths of BFHPC through ML techniques and propose some correlations between these properties. Moreover, the modulus of elasticity (ME) values and compressive stress–strain curves were simulated using ML techniques. In this regard, three predictive algorithms, including linear regression (LR), support vector regression (SVR), and polynomial regression (PR), were considered. LR, SVR, and PR were utilized to forecast the compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths of BFHPC, and the PR technique was employed to simulate the compressive stress–strain curves. The performance of the models was also determined by the coefficient of determination (R2), mean absolute errors (MAE), and root mean square errors (RMSE). According to the obtained values of R2, MAE, and RMSE, the performance of PR was better than other types of algorithms in estimating the compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths. For example, R2 values were 0.99, 0.94, and 0.98 in predicting the compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths using PR, respectively. This shows the higher accuracy and reliability of the PR technique compared with other predictive algorithms. Finally, we concluded that ML techniques can be appropriately applied to assess the mechanical characteristics of BFHPC.
Laser-Deposited Beta Type Ti-42Nb Alloy with Anisotropic Mechanical Properties for Pioneering Biomedical Implants with a Very Low Elastic Modulus
Authors: Arias-González Felipe , Rodríguez-Contreras Alejandra , Punset Miquel , Manero José María , Barro Óscar , Fernández-Arias Mónica , Lusquiños Fernando , Gil Javier , Pou Juan
Published: October 2022

Present commercial titanium alloy implants have an elastic modulus higher than 100 GPa, whereas that of the cortical bone is much smaller (17–28 GPa). This elastic modulus mismatch produces a stress shielding effect and the resorption of the bone surrounding the implant. In the present work, a <100> fiber texture is developed in β type Ti-42Nb (wt%) alloy ingots generated by laser-directed energy deposition (LDED) in order to achieve anisotropic mechanical properties. In addition, we demonstrate that laser-deposited β type Ti-42Nb alloy ingots with an intense <100> fiber texture exhibit a very low elastic modulus in the building direction (Ez < 50 GPa) and high yield (σ0.2z > 700 MPa) and tensile (UTSz > 700 MPa) strengths. Laser-deposited Ti-42Nb alloy enhances the osteoinductive effect, promoting the adhesion, proliferation, and spreading of human osteoblast-like cells. Hence, we propose that laser-deposited β type Ti-42Nb alloy is a potentially promising candidate for the manufacturing of pioneering biomedical implants with a very low elastic modulus that can suppress stress shielding.