bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Characterization of a Dysprosium(III)–Iron(III) Heterodinuclear Complex: Crystallographic, Hirshfeld Surface, Density-Functional Theory, and Luminescence Analyses
Authors: Muddassir Mohd. , Alarifi Abdullah , Abduh Naaser A. Y. , Saeed Waseem Sharaf , Karami Abdulnasser Mahmoud , Afzal Mohd
Published: December 2022

Here, a new cyano-bridged 3d–4f compound, a Dy(III)–Fe(III) molecular assembly ([Dy(DMF)4(H2O)3(μ-CN)Fe(CN)5.H2O] (1)), having a structure consisting of neutral one-dimensional (1D) chains, as well as an unbound aqua molecule, was synthesized and characterized using single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR), and elemental analyses. We then examined its structural topologies and studied its density functional theory (DFT), Hirshfeld surface analyses, and photophysical properties. The 1D chains were further linked by H-bond interactions, generating a three-dimensional (3D) motif which stabilizes the whole molecule. The weak interactions in 1 were assessed using Hirshfeld surface analyses, as well as fingerprint plots and DFT studies. Additionally, Hirshfeld surface analysis was performed to elucidate the roles of the weak interactions, such as the H⋯H, C⋯H, C–H⋯π, and van der Waals (vdW) interactions which are pivotal to stabilizing the crystal environment. Furthermore, the DFT studies were used to elucidate the bonding structure within the complex system. Complex 1 exhibits characteristic fluorescence as the Dy(III) complex is an excellent lime green luminescent material. Thus, it is considered to be a suitable material for preparing photoluminescent material.
Survey of Anaphylaxis during Rasburicase Re-Administration in Patients with Hematological Malignancies Using a Japanese Claims Database
Authors: Kobayashi Shunsuke , Yasu Takeo , Akazawa Manabu
Published: December 2022

Management of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) associated with cancer chemotherapy for malignant tumors is important because of its potentially fatal course. The use of rasburicase, a recombinant urate oxidase, is recommended for TLS; however, because rasburicase is an enzymatic drug, one should be cautious of anaphylaxis during administration. Using claims data in Japan, we investigated the rate of rasburicase re-administration and the occurrence of anaphylaxis during re-administration in patients with hematopoietic malignancies in a multicenter setting. Re-administration of rasburicase was defined as administration after an interval of 21 days from the first dose. Of 373 patients, 18 were re-administered rasburicase (re-administration rate: 4.8%). No patient developed anaphylaxis. The median number of days from the first to the last dose of rasburicase was 256.5 days (interquartile range: 138.8–455.8 days). The median daily dose was 7.5 mg (4.5–11.3 mg), and the median total dose was 33.8 mg (19.1–64.1 mg). This claims database analysis revealed that the re-administration rate of rasburicase was low in Japanese patients with hematopoietic malignancies, suggesting that rasburicase was being used appropriately, and that associated anaphylaxis was not observed.
Current Status of Artificial Intelligence-Based Computer-Assisted Diagnosis Systems for Gastric Cancer in Endoscopy
Authors: Ochiai Kentaro , Ozawa Tsuyoshi , Shibata Junichi , Ishihara Soichiro , Tada Tomohiro
Published: December 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually being utilized in various fields as its performance has been improving with the development of deep learning methods, availability of big data, and the progression of computer processing units. In the field of medicine, AI is mainly implemented in image recognition, such as in radiographic and pathologic diagnoses. In the realm of gastrointestinal endoscopy, although AI-based computer-assisted detection/diagnosis (CAD) systems have been applied in some areas, such as colorectal polyp detection and diagnosis, so far, their implementation in real-world clinical settings is limited. The accurate detection or diagnosis of gastric cancer (GC) is one of the challenges in which performance varies greatly depending on the endoscopist’s skill. The diagnosis of early GC is especially challenging, partly because early GC mimics atrophic gastritis in the background mucosa. Therefore, several CAD systems for GC are being actively developed. The development of a CAD system for GC is considered challenging because it requires a large number of GC images. In particular, early stage GC images are rarely available, partly because it is difficult to diagnose gastric cancer during the early stages. Additionally, the training image data should be of a sufficiently high quality to conduct proper CAD training. Recently, several AI systems for GC that exhibit a robust performance, owing to being trained on a large number of high-quality images, have been reported. This review outlines the current status and prospects of AI use in esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS), focusing on the diagnosis of GC.
Contribution of the Collective Excitations to the Coupled Proton and Energy Transport along Mitochondrial Cristae Membrane in Oxidative Phosphorylation System
Authors: Nesterov Semen V. , Yaguzhinsky Lev S. , Vasilov Raif G. , Kadantsev Vasiliy N. , Goltsov Alexey N.
Published: December 2022

The results of many experimental and theoretical works indicate that after transport of protons across the mitochondrial inner membrane (MIM) in the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system, they are retained on the membrane–water interface in nonequilibrium state with free energy excess due to low proton surface-to-bulk release. This well-established phenomenon suggests that proton trapping on the membrane interface ensures vectorial lateral transport of protons from proton pumps to ATP synthases (proton acceptors). Despite the key role of the proton transport in bioenergetics, the molecular mechanism of proton transfer in the OXPHOS system is not yet completely established. Here, we developed a dynamics model of long-range transport of energized protons along the MIM accompanied by collective excitation of localized waves propagating on the membrane surface. Our model is based on the new data on the macromolecular organization of the OXPHOS system showing the well-ordered structure of respirasomes and ATP synthases on the cristae membrane folds. We developed a two-component dynamics model of the proton transport considering two coupled subsystems: the ordered hydrogen bond (HB) chain of water molecules and lipid headgroups of MIM. We analytically obtained a two-component soliton solution in this model, which describes the motion of the proton kink, corresponding to successive proton hops in the HB chain, and coherent motion of a compression soliton in the chain of lipid headgroups. The local deformation in a soliton range facilitates proton jumps due to water molecules approaching each other in the HB chain. We suggested that the proton-conducting structures formed along the cristae membrane surface promote direct lateral proton transfer in the OXPHOS system. Collective excitations at the water–membrane interface in a form of two-component soliton ensure the coupled non-dissipative transport of charge carriers and elastic energy of MIM deformation to ATP synthases that may be utilized in ATP synthesis providing maximal efficiency in mitochondrial bioenergetics.
A Theoretical Comparative Study of Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle using Al2O3 Nanoparticle with Low-GWP Refrigerants
Authors: Li Shengyu , Lu Jun
Published: December 2022

Nanorefrigerant is a mixture of nanoparticles and pure refrigerant, which can increase heat transfer characteristics in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. The performance of four different Al2O3 nanorefrigerants and their pure fluids (R600a, R134a, R1234yf, and R1233zd(E)) is analyzed in a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. The enthalpy of a nanorefrigerant in the refrigeration cycle is calculated by using the prediction method based on the density of nanorefrigerant. A numerical model is established for the thermodynamic analysis, and the results show that adding nanoparticles to the pure refrigerant enhances heat transfer in heat exchangers, increases cooling capacity, reduces compressor power consumption, and finally improves the performance of the refrigeration system. The COP improvement of R1233zd(E) + Al2O3 nanorefrigerant is the highest, and the COP improvement of R134a + Al2O3 and R1234yf + Al2O3 are close to each other. When the mass fraction of Al2O3 nanoparticles increases to 0.30%, the COP of R1233zd(E) and R600a increases by more than 20%; the maximum exergy efficiency is 38.46% for R1233zd(E) + Al2O3, and the minimum exergy efficiency is 27.06% for pure R1234yf. The results provide a basis for the application of nanorefrigerants in the vapor compression refrigeration cycle.
Quantum Battery Based on Hybrid Field Charging
Authors: Jiang Yunxiu , Chen Tianhao , Xiao Chu , Pan Kaiyan , Jin Guangri , Yu Youbin , Chen Aixi
Published: December 2022

A quantum battery consisting of an ensemble two-level atom is investigated. The battery is charged simultaneously by a harmonic field and an electrostatic field. The results show that the hybrid charging is superior to the previous case of only harmonic field charging in terms of battery capacity and charging power, regardless of whether the interaction between atoms is considered or not. In addition, the repulsive interaction between atoms will increase the battery capacity and charging power, while the attractive interaction between atoms will reduce the battery capacity and discharge power.
Rolling Bearing Fault Monitoring for Sparse Time-Frequency Representation and Feature Detection Strategy
Authors: Tang Jiahui , Wu Jimei , Qing Jiajuan , Kang Tuo
Published: December 2022

Data-driven fault diagnosis methods for rotating machinery have developed rapidly with the help of deep learning methods. However, traditional intelligent fault diagnosis methods still have some limitations in fault feature extraction and the latest object detection theory has not been applied in fault diagnosis. To this end, a fault diagnosis method based on a sparse short-term Fourier transform (SSTFT) and object detection theory is developed in this paper. First, a sparse constraint is introduced in time-frequency analysis to improve the time-frequency resolution of the model without cross-term interference and proximal gradient descent (PGD) is adopted to quickly and effectively optimize the model to obtain a high-quality time-frequency representation (TFR). Second, a fault diagnosis model based on a region-based convolutional neural network (RCNN) is built; the model can extract multiple regions that can characterize fault features from the TFR. This process avoids the interference of irrelevant vibration components and improves the interpretability of the fault diagnosis model. Finally, multicategory rolling bearing fault identification is realized. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by simulation signals and bearing experiments. The results indicate that the proposed method is more effective than existing methods.
BPDGAN: A GAN-Based Unsupervised Back Project Dense Network for Multi-Modal Medical Image Fusion
Authors: Liu Shangwang , Yang Lihan
Published: December 2022

Single-modality medical images often cannot contain sufficient valid information to meet the information requirements of clinical diagnosis. The diagnostic efficiency is always limited by observing multiple images at the same time. Image fusion is a technique that combines functional modalities such as positron emission computed tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with anatomical modalities such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to supplement the complementary information. Meanwhile, fusing two anatomical images (like CT-MRI) is often required to replace single MRI, and the fused images can improve the efficiency and accuracy of clinical diagnosis. To this end, in order to achieve high-quality, high-resolution and rich-detail fusion without artificial prior, an unsupervised deep learning image fusion framework is proposed in this paper. It is named the back project dense generative adversarial network (BPDGAN) framework. In particular, we construct a novel network based on the back project dense block (BPDB) and convolutional block attention module (CBAM). The BPDB can effectively mitigate the impact of black backgrounds on image content. Conversely, the CBAM improves the performance of BPDGAN on the texture and edge information. To conclude, qualitative and quantitative experiments are tested to demonstrate the superiority of BPDGAN. In terms of quantitative metrics, BPDGAN outperforms the state-of-the-art comparisons by approximately 19.58%, 14.84%, 10.40% and 86.78% on AG, EI, Qabf and Qcv metrics, respectively.
Wireless Multi-Node uRLLc B5G/6G Networks for Critical Services in Electrical Power Systems
Authors: Zhang Ying , Wang Wenwen , Xie Huan , Du Shu , Ma Mei , Zeng Qi
Published: December 2022

The successful operations of power system require the support of communication networks with massive nodes access and two-way reliable and latency-critical transmission, which is the most-important use case of ultra-reliable low-latency communications (uRLLc) in the Fifth-Generation and Beyond and Sixth-Generation (B5G/6G) networks. In this paper, based on the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal in 5G, a new OFDM employing the hopped subcarrier technique (OFDM/FH) is proposed to attain the multiple nodes connectivity and the enhancement of transmission reliability. Considering the short and bursty packet types in the control information of power systems, the OFDM/FH signal can be naturally integrated with the mini-slot frame structure and automatic repeat request (ARQ) scheduling scheme to reduce the latency. The trade-off between the reliability in terms of the bit-error rate (BER) and the retransmission latency is investigated by semi-analytic simulations. Through the new joint design of the signal waveform and frame structure for uRLLc, we find that the proposed system can attain up to 99.999% reliability and ms-level latency for electric power services, even in the harsh wireless environment.
Assessment of Salicylic Acid in Castor Oil Content Increase in Emissions of Its Biodiesel Blends
Authors: Galván-Camacho Luis Armando , Feregrino-Pérez Ana Angélica , De Moure-Flores Francisco Javier , Morales-Hernández Luis Alberto , Campos-Guillen Juan , Rodríguez-Morales José Alberto , Flores-Macias Antonio , Quezada-Morales Diana Laura , Zavala-Gómez Carlos Eduardo , Ramos-López Miguel Angel
Published: December 2022

Ricinus communis is a species distributed worldwide. Its seeds are used to produce castor oil, which can be used for the production of biofuels; yield improvement can be achieved with elicitors that are substances of biological origin that can induce increased productivity of primary and secondary metabolism, when applied to plants. Salicylic acid (SA) is a natural constituent of plants, and applied exogenously acts as an elicitor. The aim of this work is to evaluate the oil content of castor bean plants elicitated with 900, 600, 300, and 100 µM of salicylic acid and its emissions derived from biodiesel made with the oil in blends (0, 10 and 20%) with commercial fuel in a 296 cc diesel cycle engine; elicitation was foliar sprayed. The oil content increased 39% when 900 µM SA was applied compared to control, and the evaluation of emissions showed the maximum reduction with 20% of Ricinus communis biodiesel (RCB) in all different RPM rates. Otherwise, the use of SA could be a method to increase oil content in castor plants as there is no difference in emission reduction derived from the SA application compared to control.
A Critical Review on Geometric Improvements for Heat Transfer Augmentation of Microchannels
Authors: Yu Hao , Li Tongling , Zeng Xiaoxin , He Tianbiao , Mao Ning
Published: December 2022

With the application of microdevices in the building engineering, aerospace industry, electronic devices, nuclear energy, and so on, the dissipation of high heat flux has become an urgent problem to be solved. Microchannel heat sinks have become an effective means of thermal management for microdevices and enhancements for equipment due to their higher heat transfer and small scale. However, because of the increasing requirements of microdevices for thermal load and temperature control and energy savings, high efficiency heat exchangers, especially microchannels are receiving more and more attention. To further improve the performance of microchannels, optimizing the channel geometry has become a very important passive technology to effectively enhance the heat transfer of the microchannel heat sink. Therefore, in this paper, the microchannel geometry characteristics of previous studies are reviewed, classified and summarized. The review is mainly focused on microchannel geometry features and structural design to strengthen the effect of heat transfer and pressure drop. In addition, the correlation between boiling heat transfer and geometric characteristics of microchannel flow is also presented, and the future research direction of microchannel geometry design is discussed.
A New Streamwise Scaling for Wind Turbine Wake Modeling in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer
Authors: Vahidi Dara , Porté-Agel Fernando
Published: December 2022

In this study, we aim to investigate if there is a scaling of the streamwise distance from a wind turbine that leads to a collapse of the mean wake velocity deficit under different ambient turbulence levels. For this purpose, we perform large-eddy simulations of the wake of a wind turbine under neutral atmospheric conditions with various turbulence levels. Based on the observation that a higher atmospheric turbulence level leads to faster wake recovery and shorter near-wake length, we propose the use of the near-wake length as an appropriate normalization length scale. By normalizing the streamwise distance by the near-wake length, we obtain a collapse of the normalized wake velocity deficit profiles for different turbulence levels. We then explore the possibility of using the relationship obtained for the normalized maximum wake velocity deficit as a function of the normalized streamwise distance in the context of analytical wake modeling. Specifically, we investigate two approaches: (a) using the new relationship as a stand-alone model to calculate the maximum wake velocity deficit, and (b) using the new relationship to calculate the wake advection velocity within a physics-based wake expansion model. Large-eddy simulation of the wake of a wind turbine under neutral atmospheric conditions is used to evaluate the performance of both approaches. Overall, we observe good agreement between the simulation data and the model predictions, along with considerable savings in terms of the models’ computational costs.
Simulation on Different Patterns of Mobile Laser Scanning with Extended Application on Solar Beam Illumination for Forest Plot
Authors: Jiang Kang , Chen Liang , Wang Xiangjun , An Feng , Zhang Huaiqing , Yun Ting
Published: December 2022

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology has become a mainstream tool for forest surveys, significantly contributing to the improved accuracy of forest inventories. However, the accuracy of the scanned data and tree properties derived using LiDAR technology may differ depending on the occlusion effect, scanning configurations, various scanning patterns, and vegetative characteristics of forest plots. Hence, this paper presents a computer simulation program to build a digital forest plot composed of many tree models constructed based on in situ measurement information and two mobile scanning patterns, i.e., airborne laser scanning (ALS) and ground-based mobile laser scanning (MLS). Through the adjustment of scanning parameters and the velocity of vehicle loading LiDAR sensors, the points scanned using two scanning patterns were compared with the original sampling points, derived from the constructed digital forest plots. The results show that only 2% of sampling points were collected by LiDAR sensors with the fastest vehicle speed (10 m/s) and coarsest scanning angular resolution (horizontal angular resolution 0.16° and vertical angular resolution 1.33°), and approximately 50% of sampling points were collected by LiDAR sensors with slow vehicle velocity (1.25 m/s) and a finer scanning angular resolution (horizontal angular resolution 0.08° and vertical angular resolution 0.33°). Meanwhile, the potential extended application of the proposed computer simulation program as a light model of forest plots was discussed to underpin the creation of the forest digital twin. Three main conclusions are drawn: (1) the collected points from airborne laser scanning (ALS) are higher than those collected from ground-based mobile laser scanning (MLS); (2) reducing the vehicle velocity is more efficient at improving the high density of the point cloud data than by increasing the scanning angular resolution; (3) the lateral extension of crown area increasing the light beams’ receptor area and the clumped leaf dispersion augmenting the light penetration with vertical elongation are the two paramount factors influencing the light transmittance of tree crowns.
Methane Production of Pistia Stratiotes as a Single Substrate and as a Co-Substrate with Dairy Cow Manure
Authors: Sutaryo Sutaryo , Sempana Aldila Nugrahaini , Mulya Rifo Martio , Sulistyaningrum Dian , Ali Mochamad Sofyan , Damarjati Rafi Ihsa , Purbowati Endang , Adiwinarti Retno , Purnomoadi Agung
Published: December 2022

Mono anaerobic digestion (AD) of dairy cow manure (DCM) is constrained by high moisture, ash and crude fibre content. Anaerobic co-digestion DCM and other biomass is one of the methods to overcome this drawback. This study aimed to evaluate: methane production from different parts of Pistia stratiotes (PS), methane production from the mixed substrate of PS and DCM in different proportions of PS in terms of volatile solids (VS) (0%, 7.99%, 14.91%, and 20.94%) using continuous digesters, and the potency of biogas yield from the digested slurry. Methane production from the whole plant, shoot system, and root of PS was 405.68, 416.82, and 326.42 L/kg VS, respectively. The highest methane production was obtained from the shoot system because that part contained higher crude protein and hemicellulose contents. Utilization of PS as a co-substrate for AD of the DCM can increase methane production by 28.65–56.98% compared to the control digester. No effect on pH, total ammonia nitrogen and total volatile fatty acid indicated that PS was suitable as a co-substrate of DCM and can significantly increase methane yield of the mixed substrate. AD of digested slurries showed that to recover the biogas production from the mixed substrate, the post-digestion treatment should be applied before the slurries are used as organic fertilizer.
Hydrogen-Rich Water Can Restrict the Formation of Biogenic Amines in Red Beet Pickles
Authors: Alwazeer Duried , Bulut Menekşe , Çelebi Yasemin
Published: December 2022

Fermented foods are considered the main sources of biogenic amines (BAs) in the human diet while lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the main producers of BAs. Normal water (NW) and hydrogen-rich water (HRW) were used for preparing red beet pickles, i.e., NWP and HRWP, respectively. The formation of BAs, i.e., aromatic amines (tyramine, 2-phenylethylamine), heterocyclic amines (histamine, tryptamine), and aliphatic di-amines (putrescine), was analyzed in both beet slices and brine of NWPs and HRWPs throughout the fermentation stages. Significant differences in redox value (Eh7) between NWP and HRWP brine samples were noticed during the first and last fermentation stages with lower values found for HRWPs. Total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), yeast–mold, and LAB counts were higher for HRWPs than NWPs for all fermentation stages. Throughout fermentation stages, the levels of all BAs were lower in HRWPs than those of NWPs, and their levels in brines were higher than those of beets. At the end of fermentation, the levels (mg/kg) of BAs in NWPs and HRWPs were, respectively: tyramine, 72.76 and 61.74 (beet) and 113.49 and 92.67 (brine), 2-phenylethylamine, 48.00 and 40.00 (beet) and 58.01 and 50.19 (brine), histamine, 67.89 and 49.12 (beet) and 91.74 and 70.92 (brine), tryptamine, 93.14 and 77.23 (beet) and 119.00 and 93.11 (brine), putrescine, 81.11 and 63.56 (beet) and 106.75 and 85.93 (brine). Levels of BAs decreased by (%): 15.15 and 18.35 (tyramine), 16.67 and 13.44 (2-phenylethylamine), 27.65 and 22.7 (histamine), 17.09 and 21.76 (tryptamine), and 21.64 and 19.5 (putrescine) for beet and brine, respectively, when HRW was used in pickle preparation instead of NW. The results of this study suggest that the best method for limiting the formation of BAs in pickles is to use HRW in the fermentation phase then replace the fermentation medium with a new acidified and brined HRW followed by a pasteurization process.
Kiwi Fruits Preservation Using Novel Edible Active Coatings Based on Rich Thymol Halloysite Nanostructures and Chitosan/Polyvinyl Alcohol Gels
Authors: Salmas Constantinos E. , Giannakas Aris E. , Moschovas Dimitrios , Kollia Eleni , Georgopoulos Stavros , Gioti Christina , Leontiou Areti , Avgeropoulos Apostolos , Kopsacheili Anna , Avdylaj Learda , Proestos Charalampos
Published: December 2022

The concept of this study is the replacement of previous fossil-based techniques for food packaging and food shelf-life extension, with novel more green processes and materials following the spirit of circular economy and the global trend for environmentally positive fingerprints. A novel adsorption process to produce thymol-halloysite nanohybrids is presented in this work. The high dispersion of this thymol-halloysite nanostructure in chitosan biopolymer is one of the goals of this study. The incorporation of this biodegradable matrix with poly-vinyl-alcohol produced a very promising food-packaging film. Mechanical, water-oxygen barrier, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties were measured. Transparency levels were also tested using a UV-vis instrument. Moreover, the developed films were tested in-vivo for the preservation and the extension of the shelf-life of kiwi fruits. In all cases, results indicated that the increased fraction of thymol from thyme oil significantly enhances the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the prepared chitosan-poly-vinyl- alcohol gel. The use of the halloysite increases the mechanical and water-oxygen barrier properties and leads to a control release process of thymol which extends the preservation and the shelf-life of kiwi fruits. Finally, the results indicated that the halloysite improves the properties of the chitosan/poly-vinyl-alcohol films, and the thymol makes them further advantageous.
Development of Growth Factor Releasing Hyaluronic Acid-Based Hydrogel for Pulp Regeneration: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Kim Mi Sun , Hwang Yu-Shik , Lee Hyo-Seol , Nam Ok Hyung , Choi Sung Chul
Published: December 2022

Growth factors play essential roles as signaling molecules in pulp regeneration. We investigated the effect of a hyaluronic acid (HA)-collagen hybrid hydrogel with controlled release of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB on human pulp regeneration. The cell interaction and cytotoxicity of the HA-collagen hybrid hydrogel, the release kinetics of each growth factor, and the effects of the released growth factors on pulp cell proliferation were examined. The vitality of pulp cells was maintained. The amounts of FGF-2 and PDGF-BB released over 7 days were 68% and 50%, respectively. Groups with a different concentration of growth factor (FGF-2: 100, 200, 500, and 1000 ng/mL; PDGF-BB: 10, 50, 100, 200, and 500 ng/mL) were experimented on days 1, 3, 5, and 7. Considering FGF-2 concentration, significantly increased pulp cell proliferation was observed on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 in the 100 ng/mL group and on days 3, 5, and 7 in the 200 ng/mL group. In the case of PDGF-BB concentration, significantly increased pulp cell proliferation was observed at all four time points in the 100 ng/mL group and on days 3, 5, and 7 in the 50, 200, and 500 ng/mL groups. This indicates that the optimal concentration of FGF-2 and PDGF-BB for pulp cell proliferation was 100 ng/mL and that the HA-collagen hybrid hydrogel has potential as a controlled release delivery system for FGF-2 and PDGF-BB.
Genetic Polymorphisms of Cytochromes P450 in Finno-Permic Populations of Russia
Authors: Dzhaubermezov Murat , Ekomasova Natalya , Mustafin Rustam , Gabidullina Lilia , Galimova Yuliya , Nurgalieva Alfiya , Valova Yana , Prokofyeva Darya , Khusnutdinova Elza
Published: December 2022

Cytochrome P450 is an enzyme involved in the metabolism of phase 1 xenobiotics, toxins, endogenous hormones, and drugs, including those used in COVID-19 treatment. Cytochrome p450 genes are linked to the pathogenesis of some multifactorial traits and diseases, such as cancer, particularly prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer. Genotyping was performed on 540 supposedly healthy individuals of 5 Finno-Permic populations from the territories of the European part of the Russian Federation. There was a statistically significant difference between Veps and most of the studied populations in the rs4986774 locus of the CYP2D6 gene; data on the rs3892097 locus of the CYP2D6 gene shows that Izhemsky Komis are different from the Mordovian and Udmurt populations.
Clonal Elimination of the Pathogenic Allele as Diagnostic Pitfall in SAMD9L-Associated Neuropathy
Authors: Eggermann K. , Meyer R. , Begemann M. , Dey D. , Bültmann E. , Kurth I. , Korenke G. C. , Knopp C.
Published: December 2022

Background: Heterozygous gain-of-function variants in SAMD9L are associated with ataxia-pancytopenia syndrome (ATXPC) and monosomy 7 myelodysplasia and leukemia syndrome-1 (M7MLS1). Association with peripheral neuropathy has rarely been described. Methods: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) from DNA extracted from peripheral blood was performed in a 10-year-old female presenting with demyelinating neuropathy, her similarly affected mother and the unaffected maternal grandparents. In addition to evaluation of single nucleotide variants, thorough work-up of copy number and exome-wide variant allele frequency data was performed. Results: Combined analysis of the mother’s and daughter’s duo-exome data and analysis of the mother’s and her parents’ trio-exome data initially failed to detect a disease-associated variant. More detailed analysis revealed a copy number neutral loss of heterozygosity of 7q in the mother and led to reanalysis of the exome data for respective sequence variants. Here, a previously reported likely pathogenic variant in the SAMD9L gene on chromosome 7q (NM_152703.5:c.2956C>T; p.(Arg986Cys)) was identified that was not detected with standard filter settings because of a low percentage in blood cells (13%). The variant also showed up in the daughter at 32%, a proportion well below the expected 50%, which in each case can be explained by clonal selection processes in the blood due to this SAMD9L variant. Conclusion: The report highlights the specific pitfalls of molecular genetic analysis of SAMD9L and, furthermore, shows that gain-of-function variants in this gene can lead to a clinical picture associated with the leading symptom of peripheral neuropathy. Due to clonal hematopoietic selection, displacement of the mutant allele occurred, making diagnosis difficult.
Satisfaction of Tuberculosis Patients with Directly Observed Treatment Strategy under Pakistan Health Care Policy: A Mixed-Method Study
Authors: Chaiya Chitralada , Panezai Sanaullah , Saqib Shahab E. , Ashraf Muhammad
Published: December 2022

(1) Background: Patients’ satisfaction is based on the perceived health care services of individuals and is influenced by the level of care provided by the health care system. It is often based on the patients’ expectations of care and self-assessment of their experiences. The success of the Directly Observed Treatment Strategy (DOTS) also depends on the quality of health care provided at the Tuberculosis (TB) centers, which can be evaluated by satisfaction levels of the patients. (2) Methods: A tuberculosis facility-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. A mixed-method approach was adopted for data collection. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for quantitative data collection from 269 patients who were registered at 11 TB centers and private clinics. Qualitative data were collected through 20 in-depth interviews, 15 key informant interviews, and a focus-group discussion. Binary logistic regression was employed for analysis of the data. (3) Results: More than half of the respondents (63.94%) were satisfied with the DOTS strategy. A high percentage of patients were dissatisfied with the availability of safe water, waiting space for patients, waiting time, privacy, and the processing of appointments. Results from the binary logistic regression showed that gender (AOR = 2.21, CI 1.07–4.58, p = 0.033), marital status (AOR = 3.12, CI 1.45–6.73, p = 0.004), employment status (AOR = 5.22, CI 2.44–1.21, p = 0.000), home ownership (AOR = 3.82, CI 1.94–7.54, p = 0.000), literacy (AOR = 2.17, CI 1.11–4.25, p = 0.023), households’ main occupation (AOR = 4.42, CI 1.12–17.38, p = 0.033), and level of income (AOR = 2.39, CI 1.13–5.04, p = 0.023) were the significant factors affecting satisfaction levels of the patients. (4) Conclusion: There are a number of areas that need improvement for successful TB eradication. Significant work is required to improve the quality of TB care in these specific areas from the patients’ perspective. For instance, female health workers’ involvement in the DOTS program can solve the problems of female respondents in rural areas. Improving the infrastructure facilities at the TB centers, allocation of doctors and nurses at the rural health centers would result in positive outcomes of the DOTS in Pakistan as well as in other developing countries.
In Vitro Propagation and Phytochemistry of Thymol-Producing Plants from a Horticultural Form of Thymus × josephi-angeli Mansanet & Aguil. (Lamiaceae)
Authors: Asensio Esther , de Medinacelli Juan-Méndez Roberto , Juan-Vicedo Jorge
Published: December 2022

Thymus L. is of great interest in horticulture as ornamentals, spices, and medicinal plants, as well as in the extracts industry due to the richness in bioactive specialized metabolites. The natural hybrid T. × josephi-angeli Mansanet & Aguil. is produced in Spain, as its horticultural forms are very popular for domestic uses and gardening. However, its micropropagation and chemical composition have not been studied yet. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to develop a micropropagation procedure for T. × josephi-angeli, and to check whether the in vitro culture had an impact on the chemical profile of the plants. The results showed a high initiation rate (>91%) after two sterilization treatments were applied. Moreover, a micropropagation rate of around 21 new rooted explants per culture cycle was obtained in treatment M7 (Murashige and Skoog with 0.064 µM 6-(γ,γ-Dimethylallylamino)purine) when compared to the other 10 treatments performed. Acclimatization was successful in all three approaches tested (>75%), and all plants kept growing after 4 months of outdoor cultivation. Finally, 36 volatiles were identified, and the content of major compounds remained not statistically different in acclimatized plants when compared to the wild-type plants according to the analyses made by HS-SPME-GC/MS and SPME-GC/MS. This chemical stability points out the uniformity of the microplants and the suitability of the procedure applied in this study for T.×josephi-angeli horticultural production using in vitro techniques.
Improving Quality of Fruit
Authors: Michailidis Michail , Tanou Georgia
Published: December 2022

Fruits are necessary for a balanced diet, and they are consumed for their vitamins, fiber, and other beneficial compounds [...]
Gendered Associations between Single Parenthood and Child Behavior Problems in the United Kingdom
Authors: Faulconer Samuel C. M. , Hveem M. Rachél , Dufur Mikaela J.
Published: December 2022

Internalizing and externalizing behavior problems are associated with a variety of negative child outcomes, but these conclusions have been drawn from research that usually compares children in families with two biological, married parents to all other family types. We compare behavior problems across two-parent, single-mother, and single-father families, which allows us to explore competing gender theories as possible explanations for why child behavior outcomes may be different across these three categories. Results from analyses of the UK Millennium Cohort Study suggest that while children in both single-mother and single-father families initially look like they experience more behavior problems than those in two-parent families, controlling for physical and, especially, social resources explains potential differences. Similarly, when single mothers and single fathers occupy similar family environments in terms of physical and social resources, their children report similar behavior. In contrast to findings from the US, children of single mothers who occupy similar family environments as children in two-parent families in terms of resources perform slightly better in terms of externalizing behavior problems than their two-parent counterparts. We conclude that constructivist theories more accurately explain gendered parenting behavior and its consequences for child behavior problems. Environmental factors such as income, parental closeness, and participation in extracurricular activities have a significant effect on child behavior problems.
Burden of Neurological Diseases in the Philippines as Revealed by Web Searches: An Infodemiological Study
Authors: Alonto Anisah Hayaminnah D. , Apor Almira Doreen Abigail O. , Jamora Roland Dominic G.
Published: December 2022

Due to the real-time acquisition of big data from the Internet, analysis of Google queries is now recognized as a valuable tool to explore and predict human behavior and interests. It was suggested that online data can be correlated with actual health data. Although the data are not structured nor systematic, the huge data from search engines can easily identify trends concerning diseases and other health concepts from a population perspective. Moreover, Internet data with the use of web search advertising nowadays may not only reveal the interest of the general population but also of the healthcare industry as reflected by the bid prices in search terms for medications. We aimed to compare the interests of the general population using monthly search volumes from Google and the healthcare industry using bid prices in web searches. Data used in this study were obtained from the Google Ads Application Programming Interface (API). This study evaluated the population’s interest in neurological disorders by using search volumes related to neurology, either disease diagnosis or medications. Bid values generated in API were used as a proxy for the interests of the healthcare industry. Spearman’s rank-order correlation was performed between search volumes and bid prices to determine significance. Among the neurologic diseases listed, the most searched were attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, migraine, and Alzheimer’s disease. The most commonly searched drugs were oral antihypertensives (amlodipine, losartan, carvedilol), lipid-lowering agents (atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin), and antiplatelets (acetylsalicylic acid, clopidogrel). The other most searched drugs were analgesics such as acetaminophen, tramadol, diclofenac, and morphine. The correlational analysis did not reveal a statistically significant correlation between search volume and bid price for both neurologic diseases and medications. Web searches may reflect the interest of the general population and the healthcare industry. However, there was disagreement in the search interests of the general population and the scientific community, including the pharmaceutical industry. Further studies are necessary in order to align these interests for the common benefit of all stakeholders.
Modeling: Activity Concentration of Radon, Thoron, and Their Decay Products in Closed Systems
Authors: Skubacz Krystian , Michalik Bogusław
Published: December 2022

The article presents a model for simulating changes in the activity concentration of radon and thoron as well as their progeny in closed or poorly ventilated systems. A system can be considered closed when a stream of radon and thoron flows into a space, but nothing comes out. It was also assumed that there may be devices or installations with a filtering system that would reduce the concentration of radon and thoron decay products. These assumptions may, therefore, correspond to a situation in which, in an isolated chamber, the calibration of radon hazard-monitoring devices is carried out, and nuclides are supplied from an emanation or flow through sources or well-isolated spaces in an environment where the source of nuclides is, for example, radon and thoron exhalation. The differential equations were formulated on the basis of the assumption that the activity concentration of radionuclides of concern in the space is uniform. The equations do not consider possible losses due to diffusion or the inertial or gravitational deposition of aerosols. If these phenomena have a limited impact on changes in the activity concentration of nuclides, the solutions provided may be used to simulate the activity concentration of radon and thoron and their decay products in any confined space assuming different boundary conditions.
Estimating the Relative Contribution of Environmental and Genetic Risk Factors to Different Aging Traits by Combining Correlated Variables into Weighted Risk Scores
Authors: Wigmann Claudia , Hüls Anke , Krutmann Jean , Schikowski Tamara
Published: December 2022

Genetic and exposomal factors contribute to the development of human aging. For example, genetic polymorphisms and exposure to environmental factors (air pollution, tobacco smoke, etc.) influence lung and skin aging traits. For prevention purposes it is highly desirable to know the extent to which each category of the exposome and genetic factors contribute to their development. Estimating such extents, however, is methodologically challenging, mainly because the predictors are often highly correlated. Tackling this challenge, this article proposes to use weighted risk scores to assess combined effects of categories of such predictors, and a measure of relative importance to quantify their relative contribution. The risk score weights are determined via regularized regression and the relative contributions are estimated by the proportion of explained variance in linear regression. This approach is applied to data from a cohort of elderly Caucasian women investigated in 2007–2010 by estimating the relative contribution of genetic and exposomal factors to skin and lung aging. Overall, the models explain 17% (95% CI: [9%, 28%]) of the outcome’s variance for skin aging and 23% ([11%, 34%]) for lung function parameters. For both aging traits, genetic factors make up the largest contribution. The proposed approach enables us to quantify and rank contributions of categories of exposomal and genetic factors to human aging traits and facilitates risk assessment related to common human diseases in general. Obtained rankings can aid political decision making, for example, by prioritizing protective measures such as limit values for certain exposures.
Health-Related Quality-of-Life among Pregnant Women after First, Second, and Multiple Cesarean Sections in the Perinatal Period: A Short-Term Longitudinal Study
Authors: Ilska Michalina , Kołodziej-Zaleska Anna , Banaś-Fiebrich Ewa , Brandt-Salmeri Anna , Janowska-Tyc Ewa , Łyszczarz Anna , Rzewiczok Justina , Piela Bogusława , Cnota Wojciech
Published: December 2022

The primary objective of this study was to compare assessments of health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) in women who had a medical qualification for cesarean section (CS), depending on the number of CSs in their medical history. A short longitudinal study was conducted among 115 women on the day before a planned cesarean section (CS)-T1, and on the third day after CS-T2. They were divided into three groups. G1: no CS (n = 17); G2: one CS (n = 34); G3: two or more CSs (n  =  64). Participants completed a set of questionnaires concerning sociodemographic aspects and psychological outcomes: the HRQoL questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L). A chi-square test, McNemar’s test, and repeated measures ANOVA were used to compare the three groups in T1 and T2. Regardless of the number of CSs, before a CS, women mainly experience health problems with pain and anxiety/depression, and after a CS, mostly problems with pain, usual activity, and mobility. All participants experienced an increase in the amount of health problems with mobility and pain after a CS. Women who have had two or more CSs also had problems with self-care and usual activities. Women who have had one or two CSs experienced a decrease in the general assessment of the HRQoL, which is not observed in the group of women with multiple CSs. However, the HRQoL of women in the group with multiple CSs was lower before the CS than in the other groups. The results indicated the significance of the number of CSs, not only in postoperative, but also in preoperative HRQoL.
Management of the Medico-Legal Dispute of Healthcare-Related SARS-CoV-2 Infections: Evaluation Criteria and Case Study in a Large University Hospital in Northwest Italy from 2020 to 2021
Authors: Barranco Rosario , Caristo Isabella , Spigno Filippo , Ponzano Marta , Trevisan Alessio , Signori Alessio , Di Biagio Antonio , Ventura Francesco
Published: December 2022

Healthcare-related SARS-CoV-2 infection is an issue of particular concern during the pandemic. It has important repercussions on the National Health System, which represents a source of medical-legal health disputes. In the healthcare context, there are reports of negative screening at hospital admission (via nasopharyngeal swabs) and subsequent diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection during hospitalization. Such cases cannot be considered a priori of healthcare-related infections but require extensive in-depth evaluation. In this study, we propose an empirical classification to frame cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed in the hospital (first negative admission swab, with subsequent positive test during hospitalization). The classification is based on five categories: nosocomial, probably nosocomial, indeterminate, probably community, and community cases. We analyzed patients who died after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 during hospitalization (with initial negative screening) in the largest hospital in Northwest Italy from February 2020 to 31 December 2021. A total of 383 cases were tracked and are listed as follows: 41 cases (11%) were classified as nosocomial (i.e., 3.2% of COVID-19 deaths). In contrast, 71 cases (19%) were classified as probably nosocomial, 69 (18%) were indeterminate (i.e., the clinical, radiological, and laboratory characteristics did not provide information on the genesis of the infection), 166 (43%) were classified as probably community cases, and 36 (9%) were defined as community cases. Deceased patients with nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection constituted the following: 3.23% (41/1266) with respect to the total number of COVID-19 deaths, 1.1% (41/3789) with respect to those who entered the hospital with a negative swab and 0.82% (41/4672) with respect to the total of deaths from any cause of death. In this paper we discuss the topic and issues of nosocomial COVID-19 in hospitalized patients and address the medicolegal implications.