bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intending Island Service Restoration Method With Topology-Powered Directional Traversal Considering the Uncertainty of Distributed Generations
Authors: Chen Chun , Wu Yitong , Cao Yijia , Liu Shengpeng , Tan Qingbo , Wang Weiyu
Published: October 2021

The intending island service restoration method is one of the core technologies of self-healing control for smart distribution systems, which aims to maximize the restoration of the out-of-service loads in the out-of-service area without faults quickly. For this reason, a topology-weighted directional traversal intending island recovery method considering the uncertainty of distributed generation sources is proposed. First, divide the network level of the power-loss feeder and calculate the interval power flow of the feeder before the fault, and obtain the power flow direction when the active and reactive power of the faulted branch is the smallest so as to determine whether the distributed generation supply in the non-faulty power-loss area can restore all load power supply. If not, to determine the island recovery plan, continue to compare the distributed generation supply and the load capacity at all levels, and give priority to recovering loads with higher importance levels and smaller network levels. The traversal of the topological authority and direction effectively reduces the island recovery time and can make full use of the distributed generation output to maximize the recovery of the non-faulty power-loss area. Taking the PG&E 69-node system as an example and using the BFGS trust region algorithm to calculate the island power flow without unbalanced nodes for verification, the results show that this method consumes less time and can restore more load power supply than the existing island recovery method, which verifies the method’s effectiveness and reasonability.
Accessible Phreatic Groundwater Resources in the Central Shijiazhuang of North China Plain: Perspective From the Hydrogeochemical Constraints
Authors: Xiao Yong , Xiao Dian , Hao Qichen , Liu Kui , Wang Rui , Huang Xun , Liao Xin , Zhang Yunhui
Published: October 2021

Phreatic groundwater plays a significant role in the water supply for human communities, especially in water scarce regions. This research was conducted to investigate the hydrochemistry and contamination of phreatic groundwater and their constraints on drinking water supply in a semiarid region of the North China Plain. A total of 49 phreatic groundwaters were collected for the hydrochemical analysis. The results suggested the phreatic groundwater had a slightly alkaline nature. Although the groundwater had a large variation of salinity with the TDS of 172–1,875 mg/l, most groundwater was moderately-hard fresh and of HCO3-Ca type. Contaminants of NO3−, NO2−, NH4+, Fe, F−, Zn, Mn were detected, but only NO3−, NO2−, NH4+, and Fe were found exceeding the drinking water desirable limits at some sites. The nitrogen contaminants were from anthropogenic inputs (urban sewage effluents and agricultural fertilizers) and mainly distributed in the central study area. The anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen contaminants also elevated groundwater salinity. Among the exceeding contaminants, only NO3− would pose a potential health risk to water consumers. The existing health risks by NO3− ranged from medium risk (HQ of 1–4) to high risk (hazard quotient > 4) for all populations, and most risks were categorized into the medium risk rank. Groundwater F− was also found with health risk at some sporadic sites although it did not exceed, only approached, the desirable limit. Its health risk was only to infants and categorized into the medium risk with the maximum HQ of 1.55. Most phreatic groundwater (83.67%) in the study area had relatively good quality and was suitable for domestic usage with the EWQI value below 150. Others belonged to the poor (EWQI of 150–200) and extremely poor (EWQI > 200) quality categories, and mainly distributed in the urban Gaocheng. Thus, it is recommended to pay attentions to the anthropogenic contaminants inputs into phreatic aquifers in human activities areas.
Deep Learning Approach for Prediction of Critical Temperature of Superconductor Materials Described by Chemical Formulas
Authors: Viatkin Dmitry , Garcia-Zapirain Begonya , Méndez-Zorrilla Amaia , Zakharov Maxim
Published: October 2021

This paper proposes a novel neural network architecture and its ensembles to predict the critical superconductivity temperature of materials based on their chemical formula. The research describes the methods and processes of extracting data from the chemical formula and preparing these extracted data for use in neural network training using TensorFlow. In our approach, recurrent neural networks are used including long short-term memory layers and neural networks based on one-dimensional convolution layers for data analysis. The proposed model is an ensemble of pre-trained neural network architectures for the prediction of the critical temperature of superconductors based on their chemical formula. The architecture of seven pre-trained neural networks is based on the long short-term memory layers and convolution layers. In the final ensemble, six neural networks are used: one network based on LSTM and four based on convolutional neural networks, and one embedding ensemble of convolution neural networks. LSTM neural network and convolution neural network were trained in 300 epochs. Ensembles of models were trained in 20 epochs. All neural networks are trained in two stages. At both stages, the optimizer Adam was used. In the first stage, training was carried out by the function of losses Mean Absolute Error (MAE) with the value of optimizer learning rate equal to 0.001. In the second stage, the previously trained model was trained by the function of losses Mean Squared Error (MSE) with a learning rate equal to 0.0001. The final ensemble is trained with a learning rate equal to 0.00001. The final ensemble model has the following accuracy values: MAE is 4.068, MSE is 67.272, and the coefficient of determination (R2) is 0.923. The final model can predict the critical temperature for the chemistry formula with an accuracy of 4.068°.
The Combined Measurement of Pelvic Organ Mobility and Hiatus Area Improves the Sensitivity of Transperineal Ultrasound When Detecting Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Authors: Wen Xiaoduo , Tian Haiyan , Yan Xiaojing , Sun Quiqing , Du Yuanyuan , Wen Denggui , Yang Yi
Published: October 2021

Objective: To evaluate whether the combined measurement of pelvic organ mobility and levator hiatus area improves the sensitivity of transperineal ultrasound (the index test) for diagnosing pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Methods: We retrospectively recruited women who had been examined in a tertiary gynecological center for symptoms of lower urinary tract incontinence and/or POP between January 2017 and June 2018. We excluded patients who had undergone hysterectomy previously or those who had received corrective surgery. All subjects underwent a standardized interview, POP quantification (POP-Q) examination (a reference standard for patients and controls), and ultrasound measurements of the levator hiatus area at rest (rHA), on contraction (cHA), and on Valsalva (vHA). We also determined the mobility of the bladder neck (BNM), cervix (CM), and rectum ampulla (RAM). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine cut-off values for diagnosis. Diagnostic performance was assessed by sensitivity, specificity, and area under curve (AUC).

Results: A total of 343 women were eligible for analysis, including 247 POP patients (stage 2–3 by POP-Q) and 96 controls. Compared with controls, POP cases had significantly higher values for rHA, vHA, cHA, BNM, CM, and RAM. Each parameter was identified as a significant discriminator for POP and controls, as determined by ROC curve analysis, although the cut-off value varied slightly between different parameters. The combination of rHA, vHA, and cHA (with any HA that was ≥ the cut-off) improved the sensitivity from 64–89 to 89–93%. The combination of pelvic organ mobility with rHA, vHA, and cHA, further increased the sensitivity from 89–93 to 95–97%.

Conclusion: The combination of levator hiatus area and pelvic organ mobility improved the sensitivity of transperineal ultrasound in the diagnosis of POP, whether used as a frontline test to assist POP-Q grading or to monitor the effect of pelvic floor exercise programs.
Early Enhancement of Neuroplasticity Index, the Ratio of Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Level to HAMD-24 Score, in Predicting the Long-Term Antidepressant Efficacy
Authors: Zhang Yuxuan , Cui Bo , Wang Tianyu , Lu Yan , Chen Zhenlin , Zou Zhilu , Miao Jinlin , Zhao Xiuli , Yuan Yonggui , Wang Haosen , Chen Gang
Published: October 2021

Background: Current mainstream treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) has a disadvantage in delayed onset of efficacy, making detection of early signatures predicative of the long-term treatment efficacy urgent.

Methods: MDD patients were scored with HAMD-24 and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were measured at different times in two independent trials: a single-arm observation of Yueju pill, a clinically approved traditional multiherbal medicine, and a two-arm random placebo-controlled trial for Yueju vs escitalopram. The ratio of the BDNF level to HAMD-24 score, or neuroplasticity index (NI), and its derived parameters were used for correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results: On both the early (4th) and final (28th) days, Yueju and escitalopram significantly reduced HAMD-24 scores, compared to baselines, but only Yueju increased BDNF at both times. For either Yueju or escitalopram treatment, NI, but not BDNF, at baseline was correlated to NIs at the early or final treatment day. NI at early time was significantly correlated to early NI enhancement from the baseline for both Yueju and escitalopram, and to final NI enhancement from the baseline for Yueju in both trials. ROC analysis supported the predictability of Yueju’s final treatment efficacy from early NI enhancement.

Limitations: The small sample size and 28 days of treatment time may lead to the impossibility of ROC analysis of escitalopram.

Conclusion: Early NI enhancement is useful for prediction of long-term efficacy of Yueju and presumably some other antidepressants.

Clinical Trial Registration: [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [ChiCTR1900021114].
Comparison of Spectral and Perfusion Computed Tomography Imaging in the Differential Diagnosis of Peripheral Lung Cancer and Focal Organizing Pneumonia
Authors: Deng Liangna , Zhang Guojin , Lin Xiaoqiang , Han Tao , Zhang Bin , Jing Mengyuan , Zhou Junlin
Published: October 2021

Objective

To investigate the spectral and perfusion computed tomography (CT) findings of peripheral lung cancer (PLC) and focal organizing pneumonia (FOP) and to compare the accuracy of spectral and perfusion CT imaging in distinguishing PLC from FOP.

Materials and Methods

Patients who were suspected of having lung tumor and underwent “one-stop” chest spectral and perfusion CT, with their diagnosis confirmed pathologically, were prospectively enrolled from September 2020 to March 2021. Patients who were suspected of having lung tumor and underwent “one-stop” chest spectral and perfusion CT, with their diagnosis confirmed pathologically, were prospectively enrolled from September 2020 to March 2021. A total of 57 and 35 patients with PLC and FOP were included, respectively. Spectral parameters (CT40keV, CT70keV, CT100keV, iodine concentration [IC], water concentration [WC], and effective atomic number [Zeff]) of the lesions in the arterial and venous phases were measured in both groups. The slope of the spectral curve (K70keV) was calculated. The perfusion parameters, including blood volume (BV), blood flow (BF), mean transit time (MTT), and permeability surface (PS), were measured simultaneously in both groups. The differences in the spectral and perfusion parameters between the groups were examined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to calculate and compare the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of both sets of parameters in both groups.

Results

The patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). In the arterial and venous phases, the values of spectral parameters (CT40keV, CT70keV, spectral curve K70keV, IC, and Zeff) were greater in the FOP group than in the PLC group (P < 0.05). In contrast, the values of the perfusion parameters (BV, BF, MTT, and PS) were smaller in the FOP group than in the PLC group (P < 0.05). The AUC of the combination of the spectral parameters was larger than that of the perfusion parameters. For the former imaging method, the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82–0.96), 0.86, and 0.83, respectively. For the latter imaging method, the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.70–0.90), 0.71, and 0.83, respectively. There was no significant difference in AUC between the two imaging methods (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Spectral and perfusion CT both has the capability to differentiate PLC and FOP. However, compared to perfusion CT imaging, spectral CT imaging has higher diagnostic efficiency in distinguishing them.
Prevalence and Treatment Outcome of Displaced High-Long Oblique Supracondylar Humeral Fractures in Children
Authors: Shah Mudit , Han Joo Hyung , Park Hoon , Kim Hyun Woo , Park Kun-Bo
Published: October 2021

Aim: The treatment protocol for supracondylar humeral fracture has mainly been based only on the severity of displacement and percutaneous pinning has been recommend as a first treatment. However, a long oblique fracture line is difficult to fix by the traditional cross pinning. The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of high-long oblique supracondylar humeral (HLO) fracture and evaluate the surgical outcome of percutaneous pin fixation.

Methods: We reviewed 690 children who had undergone an operation for the displaced supracondylar humeral fracture. HLO fracture was defined as having a fracture line starting from either cortex above the metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction and finishing at the opposite cortex around or below the olecranon fossa. Clinical and radiographic parameter outcomes were assessed.

Results: There were 14 patients diagnosed with the HLO fracture (14/690) and all the patients were treated by pin fixation. The median age was 5 years 1 month (range, 2–11 years). The common mode of injury was direct contact injury to the elbow. There were 6 patients with lateral HLO fracture, and 8 patients had medial HLO type. In medial HLO type, medial pinning only was done in 3 patients due to the difficulty in lateral pin insertion. In addition, the lateral pin was not a bicortical fixation through capitellum entry in 2 patients who had it fixed by cross pinning. The final Baumann angle and lateral humero-capitellar angle were 20.5 (5–67.6) degrees and 49.3 (23.3–71.9) degrees, respectively, without statistical significance compared to the normal side. Flynn's cosmetic grade showed satisfactory results in all patients.

Conclusion: The prevalence of HLO fractures was 2% in the displaced supracondylar humeral fracture. The mechanism of injury of HLO fractures may be direct contact injury. In medial HLO fractures, medial pinning is important for stability, and sometimes lateral pinning was impossible. Contrarily, lateral HLO fracture could easily be fixed by lateral-only pinning, but the correct lateral pinning is necessary because medial pinning is difficult. The HLO fracture is a difficult pattern to treat by traditional percutaneous pinning and another surgical option should be considered.
Body Composition and Physical Fitness Affect Central Hemodynamics in Young Children
Authors: Köchli Sabrina , Deiseroth Arne , Hauser Christoph , Streese Lukas , Schmidt-Trucksäss Arno , Faude Oliver , Hanssen Henner
Published: October 2021

Objective: Central hemodynamics are related to cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in adults, but associations with childhood CV risk remain unclear. The study aimed to investigate the association of obesity, physical activity, and fitness with parameters of central pulse wave reflection in young prepubertal children.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1,324 primary school children (aged 7.2 ± 0.4 years) were screened for parameters of pulse wave reflection such as augmentation index (AIx), central pulse pressure (CPP), body mass index (BMI), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) by standardized procedures for children.

Results: The mean AIx and AIx@75 were 22.2 ± 7.7 and 29.2 ± 9.2%, respectively. With each unit increase in BMI, AIx [−0.226 (−0.328; −0.125)%] and AIx@75 [−0.444(−0.660; −0.229)%] decreased, whereas peak forward pulse wave increased (p < 0.001). Increasing BMI was associated with higher CPP, but did not remain significant after adjustment for CRF and heart rate. One unit increase in CRF was associated with lower AIx@75 [−0.509(−0.844; −0.173)%, p = 0.003] and lower reflection magnitude [RM: −0.559 (−0.890; −0.227), p = 0.001], independent of body weight and height. Girls had significantly higher AIx, AIx@75, peak backward pulse wave, and RM compared with boys.

Conclusion: Childhood obesity was associated with higher CPP but lower augmentation of the reflected pulse wave in children. Assessment of central blood pressures appears to be a valuable asset to childhood CV risk screening. The validity of augmentation indices during childhood development and the association with early vascular aging in children need to be verified in long-term follow-up studies. Physical activity and fitness have the potential to improve vascular hemodynamics in susceptible children and, thus, counteract vascular aging.

Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov: Exercise and Arterial Modulation in Youth. Identifier: NCT02853747; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02853747.
Ilicicolin A Exerts Antitumor Effect in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Via Suppressing EZH2 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Guo Lang , Luo Xiaowei , Yang Ping , Zhang Yanting , Huang Jialuo , Wang Hong , Guo Yinfeng , Huang Weifeng , Chen Zhiqiang , Wang Shusheng , Wang Junjian , Lei Jinping , Xiang Songtao , Liu Yonghong
Published: October 2021

The Polycomb protein enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has critical roles in prostate cancer (PCa) progression and drug-resistance, which remains an obstacle for PCa treatment. Enzalutamide (ENZ) is a second-generation androgen receptor antagonist employed for treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer A considerable proportion of tumors eventually develop resistance during treatment. Thus, agents that can overcome resistance to PCa are needed urgently. Ilicicolin A (Ili-A), an ascochlorin derivative isolated from the coral-derived fungus Acremonium sclerotigenum GXIMD 02501, shows antiproliferative activity in human PCa cells, but its mechanism of action against Castration-resistant prostate cancer is not known. Herein, RNA-sequencing showed the EZH2 pathway to be involved in PCa proliferation. Ili-A at low doses reduced the protein level of EZH2, leading to transcriptional change. Interestingly, Ili-A suppressed the binding of EZH2 to promoter regions in AR/serine/threonine polo-like kinase-1/aurora kinase A. Moreover, Ili-A could enhance the anticancer activity of enzalutamide in CRPC cancer models. These data suggest that Ili-A could be used in combination with enzalutamide to treat CRPC.
Glycemic Disorder Risk Remote Monitoring Program in the COVID-19 Very Elderly Patients: Preliminary Results
Authors: Zulfiqar Abrar-Ahmad , Massimbo Delwende Noaga Damien , Hajjam Mohamed , Gény Bernard , Talha Samy , Hajjam Jawad , Ervé Sylvie , Hassani Amir Hajjam El , Andrès Emmanuel
Published: October 2021

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated the use of new technologies and new processes to care for hospitalized patients, including diabetes patients. This was the basis for the “GER-e-TEC COVID study,” an experiment involving the use of the smart MyPrediTM e-platform to automatically detect the exacerbation of glycemic disorder risk in COVID-19 older diabetic patients.

Methods: The MyPrediTM platform is connected to a medical analysis system that receives physiological data from medical sensors in real time and analyzes this data to generate (when necessary) alerts. An experiment was conducted between December 14th, 2020 and February 25th, 2021 to test this alert system. During this time, the platform was used on COVID-19 patients being monitored in an internal medicine COVID-19 unit at the University Hospital of Strasbourg. The alerts were compiled and analyzed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values with respect to clinical data.

Results: 10 older diabetic COVID-19 patients in total were monitored remotely, six of whom were male. The mean age of the patients was 84.1 years. The patients used the telemedicine solution for an average of 14.5 days. 142 alerts were emitted for the glycemic disorder risk indicating hyperglycemia, with an average of 20.3 alerts per patient and a standard deviation of 26.6. In our study, we did not note any hypoglycemia, so the system emitted any alerts. For the sensitivity of alerts emitted, the results were extremely satisfactory, and also in terms of positive and negative predictive values. In terms of survival analysis, the number of alerts and gender played no role in the length of the hospital stay, regardless of the reason for the hospitalization (COVID-19 management).

Conclusion: This work is a pilot study with preliminary results. To date, relatively few projects and trials in diabetic patients have been run within the “telemedicine 2.0” setting, particularly using AI, ICT and the Web 2.0 in the era of COVID-19 disease.
The Processing of the Second Syllable in Recognizing Chinese Disyllabic Spoken Words: Evidence From Eye Tracking
Authors: Wang Youxi , Zang Xuelian , Zhang Hua , Shen Wei
Published: October 2021

In the current study, two experiments were conducted to investigate the processing of the second syllable (which was considered as the rhyme at the word level) during Chinese disyllabic spoken word recognition using a printed-word paradigm. In Experiment 1, participants heard a spoken target word and were simultaneously presented with a visual display of four printed words: a target word, a phonological competitor, and two unrelated distractors. The phonological competitors were manipulated to share either full phonemic overlap of the second syllable with targets (the syllabic overlap condition; e.g., 小篆, xiao3zhuan4, “calligraphy” vs. 公转, gong1zhuan4, “revolution”) or the initial phonemic overlap of the second syllable (the sub-syllabic overlap condition; e.g., 圆柱, yuan2zhu4, “cylinder” vs. 公转, gong1zhuan4, “revolution”) with targets. Participants were asked to select the target words and their eye movements were simultaneously recorded. The results did not show any phonological competition effect in either the syllabic overlap condition or the sub-syllabic overlap condition. In Experiment 2, to maximize the likelihood of observing the phonological competition effect, a target-absent version of the printed-word paradigm was adopted, in which target words were removed from the visual display. The results of Experiment 2 showed significant phonological competition effects in both conditions, i.e., more fixations were made to the phonological competitors than to the distractors. Moreover, the phonological competition effect was found to be larger in the syllabic overlap condition than in the sub-syllabic overlap condition. These findings shed light on the effect of the second syllable competition at the word level during spoken word recognition and, more importantly, showed that the initial phonemes of the second syllable at the syllabic level are also accessed during Chinese disyllabic spoken word recognition.
Executive Function and Self-Regulation: Bi-Directional Longitudinal Associations and Prediction of Early Academic Skills
Authors: Howard Steven J. , Vasseleu Elena , Neilsen-Hewett Cathrine , de Rosnay Marc , Chan Amy Y. C. , Johnstone Stuart , Mavilidi Myrto , Paas Fred , Melhuish Edward C.
Published: October 2021

Despite a tendency to study executive function (EF) and self-regulation (SR) separately, parallel lines of research suggest considerable overlap between the two abilities. Specifically, both show similar developmental trajectories (i.e., develop rapidly in the early years), predict a broad range of overlapping outcomes across the lifespan (e.g., academic success, mental and physical health, and social competence), and have overlapping neural substrates (e.g., prefrontal cortex). While theoretical frameworks diverge in how they reconcile EF and SR – ranging from treating the two as functionally synonymous, to viewing them as related yet distinct abilities – there is no consensus and limited empirical evidence on the nature of their relationship and how this extends developmentally. The current study examined bi-directional longitudinal associations between early EF and SR, and their longitudinal associations with subsequent early academic skills, in a sample of 199 3- to 5-year-old pre-school children. The adopted measures permitted EF and SR to be modelled as composite indices for these analyses, thereby decreasing task-specific components of these associations. Early academic skills were captured by a standardized direct assessment. Bi-directional associations between EF and SR were found, with both accounting for unique variance in early academic skills 7 and 19months later. The current results provide important evidence to distinguish between EF and SR abilities, yet also for their reciprocal influence in situ and across early development.
Implicit Teacher Theories Regarding the Argumentative Commentary of Multimodal Texts in the Teaching of Spanish as a Native and Foreign Language
Authors: Caro Valverde María Teresa , Amo Sánchez-Fortún José Manuel de , Domínguez-Oller Juana Celia
Published: October 2021

The research works linked to the thinking of the teaching staff influence the relevant influence that implicit theories exert on decision-making about classroom practise and on the academic performance of students. In this sense, the present study focuses on the teaching belief system about the development of argumentation in the commentary of multimodal texts. For this, a quantitative methodology based on non-experimental or ex post facto design with semi-structured and closed survey-questionnaire-type instruments has been selected. From a target population made up of Spanish teachers, 502 respondents selected using the non-probabilistic sampling technique applied the accessibility criterion. An ad hoc questionnaire has been drawn up consisting of 28 items digitised electronically using the survey platform of the University of Murcia. It has been structured in two blocks: the first aimed at establishing the sociodemographic and professional profile of the participants and the second at collecting data related to the teachers' beliefs regarding the work of the text commentary in class. The results show five professional profiles defined based on the implicit theories and the pedagogical model to which they are associated. It is also found that the majority declare that they align themselves with non-conservative didactic trends or approaches, centred on the student body and oriented toward the construction of critical knowledge. In this regard, manifest contradictions are detected between his implicit and explicit epistemological convictions. The findings of this study offer guidelines for the design of an effective and efficient argumentative text commentary formative proposal.
Naloxone Alleviate the Severity of Delirium in Hospitalized Patients With Parkinsonism: Three Case Reports
Authors: Jin Haiyan , Zhang Jie , Hu Qiongyue , Ping Junjiao , Jiang Tingyun , Du Baoguo , Duan Xin
Published: October 2021

Purpose: Delirium is common in geriatric with Parkinson's disease (PD). Treatments for delirium have generally been neuroleptics; however, antipsychotics have potential effect to block striatal dopamine D2 receptors and worsen symptom of parkinsonism. We explored whether naloxone can alleviate delirium in PD and other forms of parkinsonism.

Patients and Methods: Patients with parkinsonism who met the delirium criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) received naloxone infusions once or twice daily. Treatment effects were evaluated by the delirium rating scale–revised 98 (DRS-R98), including non-cognitive and cognitive subscales; the Richmond agitation–sedation scale (RASS); and the mini mental status examination (MMSE).

Results: Two patients with primary parkinsonism, one with vascular PD were observed. The daily dose of naloxone was 2.08 ± 0.64 mg (range: 1–4 mg). Medication time last from 1 h to 7 days without side effects observed. Following with naloxone infusions, DRS-R98 scores decreased within 12 h and MMSE scores increased. The psychotic symptoms, disorientation, and attention deficits were alleviated significantly, while RASS scores decreased with naloxone treatment.

Conclusion: Naloxone alleviated psychotic symptoms, improved cognitive dysfunction, and irritability in patients with delirium in the context of PD. The preliminary findings point out that the opioid system may be involved in the pathophysiology of delirium, which may be one of potential treat targets for delirium of PD.
Epidemiologic Characteristics of and Prognostic Factors for COVID-19 Among Hospitalized Patients: Updated Implications From Hubei Province, China
Authors: Liu Xiang , Zhu Linzhi , Lu Tingjuan , Liu Xibang , Jiao Demin , Tang Xiali , Chen Jun , Chen Yu , Yu Wenya , Chen Qingyong
Published: October 2021

Introduction: The roles of some indicators in the prognosis of patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) remain unclear and controversial. This study aimed to explore the epidemiologic characteristics of and prognostic factors for COVID-19 to provide updated recommendations for its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Methods: For this retrospective study, demographic, epidemiologic, and clinical data were extracted from the medical records of patients admitted to the Maternal and Child Hospital of Hubei Province (Optical Valley) with COVID-19 between February 19, 2020, and March 19, 2020. The primary outcome was the prognosis that was determined at discharge as mentioned in the medical records. Descriptive statistics, univariate analyses, and stepwise logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis.

Results: Of the 1,765 patients included, 93.1% were cured and the mortality was 1.8%. Univariate analyses identified 63 factors significantly associated with COVID-19 prognosis. Logistic regression analysis revealed that a poorer prognosis was associated with undergoing resuscitation, complex disease manifestations, consultation with outside specialists, elevated basophil or lymphocyte counts, an albumin (ALB)/globulin (A/G) ratio > 2.4, and elevated levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or creatinine. Patients had a better prognosis if the following conditions were met: dry cough reported as an initial symptom, fatigue as a clinical manifestation, and a diagnosis based on laboratory testing.

Conclusion: To prevent clinical deterioration, clinicians should provide special care to patients who underwent resuscitation, with a critical disease, or requiring consultation with outside specialists. Extra attention should be paid to patients with high basophil or lymphocyte counts, a high A/G ratio, and elevated AST or creatinine levels.
Dietary Changes During COVID-19 Lockdown in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes on a Hybrid Artificial Pancreas
Authors: Vetrani Claudia , Calabrese Ilaria , Di Rienzo Silvia , Pagliuca Mariasofia , Rivieccio Annamaria , De Angelis Raffaele , Riccardi Gabriele , Rivellese Angela Albarosa , Annuzzi Giovanni , Bozzetto Lutgarda
Published: October 2021

In this retrospective analysis, we examine the impact of the lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on eating habits in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) on a hybrid artificial pancreas (HAP). Dietary composition before and during lockdown was assessed by 7-day food records of 12 participants with T1D on HAP (three men and nine women, ages 38 ± 13 years, HbA1c 6.8 ± 0.3%, M ± SD). Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) metrics and lifestyle changes (online questionnaire) were also assessed. Compared to prelockdown, reported body weight tended to increase during lockdown with no changes in total energy intake. Participants significantly decreased animal protein intake (−2.1 ± 3.7% of total energy intake, p = 0.048), but tended to increase carbohydrate intake (+17 ± 28 g/day, p = 0.052). These changes were induced by modifications of eating habits at breakfast and lunch during weekdays. Patients consumed more cereals (+21 ± 33 g/day, p = 0.038), whole grain (+22 ± 32 g/day, p = 0.044), and sweets (+13 ± 17 g/day, p = 0.021), and less animal protein sources (−42 ± 67 g/day, p = 0.054). Participants showed a more regular meal timing and decreased physical activity. Blood glucose control remained optimal (time-in-range 76 ± 8 vs. 75 ± 7% before lockdown), and daily total insulin infusion increased (42 ± 10 vs. 39 ± 12 I.U., p = 0.045). During the lockdown, patients with T1D on HAP modified dietary habits by decreasing animal protein and increasing carbohydrate intake. This increase, mainly concerning whole grain and low-glycemic-index products, did not influence blood glucose control.
Investigation and Systematic Risk Assessment in a Typical Contaminated Site of Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
Authors: Zhu Wenhui , Yang Xintong , He Jun , Wang Xiahui , Lu Ran , Zhang Zheng
Published: October 2021

A total of 214 sampling sites of a hazardous waste disposal center were surveyed in a two-stage pollution investigation, including soil boreholes and groundwater monitoring wells. Results showed that chemical oxygen demand (COD) (4.00–2930.00 mg/L), fluoride (0.07–9.08 mg/L), chromium (0.12–1.20 μg/L), nickel (0.15–459.00 μg/L), lead (0.10–10.20 μg/L), cadmium (Cd) (0.05–16.40 μg/L), and beryllium (0.06–3.48 μg/L) were detected in groundwater samples. For soils, Cd in soil (78.7 mg/kg) exceeded the risk screening value (65 mg/kg) for soil contamination of the second type of development land (GB36600-2018), and there remained the risk of leakage in the landfill detection investigation. Then, a health risk assessment was carried out. Based on the definitions of the groundwater exposure pathway (HJ 25.3-2019) and the pollution investigation of groundwater, the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of groundwater were generally considered to be negligible. The carcinogenic risk and non-carcinogenic risk of the concerned pollutant in soil for risk assessment (Cd) under the condition of reutilization exceeded the corresponding acceptable levels (1E-06 and 1). The (non-)carcinogenic risk of Cd mainly came from oral intake of soil and inhalation of soil particles under two conditions of reutilization and non-utilization, so on-site workers and surrounding residents should be properly protected from the mouth and nose to minimize the intake of pollutants from the soil and soil particles. The area of soil contaminated by Cd was about 630.58 m2, and the amount of pollution was about 1261.16 m3. The heavy metal pollution was only distributed in the depth range of 0–2 m, and the suggested risk control value of soil pollutants under the condition of reutilization for Cd was 56 mg/kg. Based on different pollution characteristics of soil, groundwater, and the landfill, targeted control measures were proposed.
A Narrative Review: In-vitro Methods for Assessing Bio-Accessibility/Bioavailability of Iron in Plant-Based Foods
Authors: Sulaiman N. , Givens D. I. , Anitha S.
Published: October 2021

In-vitro measurement has the advantage of rapid and convenient method of screening the iron bioavailability within the range of plant-based foods. It is important to do preliminary screening as it provides information which will be useful to identify promising plant sources of iron before moving to human trials. A review on in-vitro methods of bio-accessibility and bioavailability of iron in plant-based foods including fruits, vegetables, cereals and legumes is entailed here. The review will focus on in-vitro methods of iron bioavailability in plant-based foods and the effects of inhibitors and processing on the iron bioavailability. The variation of the methods and updates on a recent INFOGEST method used to measure the bioavailability of iron in plant-based foods will also be discussed.
Experimental Study on the Mass Flow Rate of the Self-Pressurizing Propellants in the Rocket Injector
Authors: Palacz Tomasz , Cieślik Jacek
Published: October 2021

High vapor pressure propellants such as nitrous oxide are widely used in experimental hybrid and liquid rockets as they can be used in a self-pressurization mode, eliminating the need for external pressurization or pumps and simplifying the design of the rocket system. This approach causes the two-phase flow in the feed system and the injector orifices, which cannot be easily modeled and accounted for in the design. A dedicated test stand has been developed to better understand how the two-phase flow of the self-pressurizing propellant impacts the mass flow characteristics, enabling the simulation of the operating conditions in the rocket engine. The injectors have been studied in the range of ΔP. The flow regimes have been identified, which can be predicted by the SPI and HEM models. It has been shown that the two-phase flow quality upstream of the injector may impact the discharge coefficient in the SPI region and the accuracy of the HEM model. It has been found that the transition to the critical flow region depends on the L/D ratio of the injector orifice. A series of conclusions can be drawn from this work to design the rocket injector with a self-pressurizing propellant to better predict the mass flow rate and ensure stable combustion.
The Modus Operandi of Hydrogen Sulfide(H2S)-Dependent Protein Persulfidation in Higher Plants
Authors: Corpas Francisco J. , González-Gordo Salvador , Muñoz-Vargas María A. , Rodríguez-Ruiz Marta , Palma José M.
Published: October 2021

Protein persulfidation is a post-translational modification (PTM) mediated by hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which affects the thiol group of cysteine residues from target proteins and can have a positive, negative or zero impact on protein function. Due to advances in proteomic techniques, the number of potential protein targets identified in higher plants, which are affected by this PTM, has increased considerably. However, its precise impact on biological function needs to be evaluated at the experimental level in purified proteins in order to identify the specific cysteine(s) residue(s) affected. It also needs to be evaluated at the cellular redox level given the potential interactions among different oxidative post-translational modifications (oxiPTMs), such as S-nitrosation, glutathionylation, sulfenylation, S-cyanylation and S-acylation, which also affect thiol groups. This review aims to provide an updated and comprehensive overview of the important physiological role exerted by persulfidation in higher plants, which acts as a cellular mechanism of protein protection against irreversible oxidation.
The Protective Effect of Taurine on Oxidized Fish-Oil-Induced Liver Oxidative Stress and Intestinal Barrier-Function Impairment in Juvenile Ictalurus punctatus
Authors: Shi Yong , Hu Yi , Wang Ziqin , Zhou Jiancheng , Zhang Junzhi , Zhong Huan , Fu Guihong , Zhong Lei
Published: October 2021

Dietary lipids provide energy for growth and development and provide fatty acids necessary for normal structure and biological function. However, oxidized lipids cause oxidative stress and intestinal damage. An 8-week feeding trial with fresh fish oil (FFO, control group), oxidized fish oil (OFO), and taurine-supplemented diets (OFOT, OFO + 0.2% of taurine) was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of taurine on oxidized fish-oil-induced liver oxidative stress and intestine impairment in juvenile Ictaluruspunctatus. The results showed that (1) Growth performance was significantly lower in fish fed OFO than in those fed other diets, whereas the opposite occurred in the hepatosomatic index. (2) OFO-feeding significantly increased lipid deposition compared with the FFO group. The addition of taurine ameliorated the OFO-induced increase in lipid vacuolization in the liver, significantly upregulated lpl mRNA expression, and downregulated fas and srebp1 mRNA expression. (3) OFO-feeding significantly reduced oxidative damage of liver. Compared with the OFO group, the OFOT group remarkably upregulated antioxidant enzyme mRNA expression through the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway based on the transcriptional expression. (4) OFO diets induced intestinal physical and immune barrier damage. Compared with the OFO group, OFOT diets remarkably downregulated il-1β, il-6, tnf-α, and il-8 mRNA expression and upregulated tgf-β mRNA expression through the NF-κB signaling pathway. Besides, the addition of taurine to OFO diets significantly upregulated zo-2 and zo-1 mRNA expression, and downregulated claudin-15 and claudin-12 mRNA expression. In conclusion, oxidized-fish-oil diets can cause negative physiological health effects in Ictaluruspunctatus, while adding taurine can increase growth and antioxidant ability, reduce lipid deposition, and improve intestinal health.
Comprehensive Insights into the Porosity of Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes: A Comparative Study on Positive Electrodes Based on LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 (NMC622)
Authors: Beuse Thomas , Fingerle Mathias , Wagner Christian , Winter Martin , Börner Markus
Published: October 2021

Porosity is frequently specified as only a value to describe the microstructure of a battery electrode. However, porosity is a key parameter for the battery electrode performance and mechanical properties such as adhesion and structural electrode integrity during charge/discharge cycling. This study illustrates the importance of using more than one method to describe the electrode microstructure of LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 (NMC622)-based positive electrodes. A correlative approach, from simple thickness measurements to tomography and segmentation, allowed deciphering the true porous electrode structure and to comprehend the advantages and inaccuracies of each of the analytical techniques. Herein, positive electrodes were calendered from a porosity of 44–18% to cover a wide range of electrode microstructures in state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries. Especially highly densified electrodes cannot simply be described by a close packing of active and inactive material components, since a considerable amount of active material particles crack due to the intense calendering process. Therefore, a digital 3D model was created based on tomography data and simulation of the inactive material, which allowed the investigation of the complete pore network. For lithium-ion batteries, the results of the mercury intrusion experiments in combination with gas physisorption/pycnometry experiments provide comprehensive insight into the microstructure of positive electrodes.
Monte Carlo-Based Error Propagation for a More Reliable Regression Analysis across Specific Rates in Bioprocesses
Authors: Kager Julian , Herwig Christoph
Published: October 2021

During process development, bioprocess data need to be converted into applicable knowledge. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the obtained data under the usage of transparent and reliable data reduction and correlation techniques. Within this contribution, we show a generic Monte Carlo error propagation and regression approach applied to two different, industrially relevant cultivation processes. Based on measurement uncertainties, errors for cell-specific growth, uptake, and production rates were determined across an evaluation chain, with interlinked inputs and outputs. These uncertainties were subsequently included in regression analysis to derive the covariance of the regression coefficients and the confidence bounds for prediction. The usefulness of the approach is shown within two case studies, based on the relations across biomass-specific rate control limits to guarantee high productivities in E. coli, and low lactate formation in a CHO cell fed-batch could be established. Besides the possibility to determine realistic errors on the evaluated process data, the presented approach helps to differentiate between reliable and unreliable correlations and prevents the wrong interpretations of relations based on uncertain data.
Recent Advances in Natural Materials for Corneal Tissue Engineering
Authors: Jameson Julie F. , Pacheco Marisa O. , Nguyen Henry H. , Phelps Edward A. , Stoppel Whitney L.
Published: October 2021

Given the incidence of corneal dysfunctions and diseases worldwide and the limited availability of healthy, human donors, investigators are working to generate engineered cellular and acellular therapeutic approaches as alternatives to corneal transplants from human cadavers. These engineered strategies aim to address existing complications with human corneal transplants, including graft rejection, infection, and complications resulting from surgical methodologies. The main goals of these research endeavors are to (1) determine ideal mechanical properties, (2) devise methodologies to improve the efficacy of engineered corneal grafts and cell-based therapies, and (3) optimize transplantation of engineered tissue structures in the eye. Thus, recent innovations have sought to address these challenges through both in vitro and in vivo studies. This review covers recent work aimed at evaluating engineered materials, potential therapeutic cells, and the resulting cell-material interactions that lead to optimal corneal graft properties. Furthermore, we discuss promising strategies in corneal tissue engineering techniques and in vivo studies in animal models.
Gold and Silver Nanoparticle-Based Colorimetric Sensors: New Trends and Applications
Authors: Alberti Giancarla , Zanoni Camilla , Magnaghi Lisa Rita , Biesuz Raffaela
Published: October 2021

Gold and Silver nanoparticles (AuNPs and AgNPs) are perfect platforms for developing sensing colorimetric devices thanks to their high surface to volume ratio and distinctive optical properties, particularly sensitive to changes in the surrounding environment. These characteristics ensure high sensitivity in colorimetric devices. Au and Ag nanoparticles can be capped with suitable molecules that can act as specific analyte receptors, so highly selective sensors can be obtained. This review aims to highlight the principal strategies developed during the last decade concerning the preparation of Au and Ag nanoparticle-based colorimetric sensors, with particular attention to environmental and health monitoring applications.