bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computational fluid dynamics as supporting technology for coronary artery disease diagnosis and treatment: an international survey
Authors: Chiastra Claudio , Zuin Marco , Rigatelli Gianluca , D’Ascenzo Fabrizio , De Ferrari Gaetano Maria , Collet Carlos , Chatzizisis Yiannis S. , Gallo Diego , Morbiducci Umberto
Published: August 2023

Background

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is emerging as an effective technology able to improve procedural outcomes and enhance clinical decision-making in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The present study aims to assess the state of knowledge, use and clinical acceptability of CFD in the diagnosis and treatment of CAD.

Methods

We realized a 20-questions international, anonymous, cross-sectional survey to cardiologists to test their knowledge and confidence on CFD as a technology applied to patients suffering from CAD. Responses were recorded between May 18, 2022, and June 12, 2022.

Results

A total of 466 interventional cardiologists (mean age 48.4 ± 8.3 years, males 362), from 42 different countries completed the survey, for a response rate of 45.9%. Of these, 66.6% declared to be familiar with the term CFD, especially for optimization of existing interventional techniques (16.1%) and assessment of hemodynamic quantities related with CAD (13.7%). About 30% of respondents correctly answered to the questions exploring their knowledge on the pathophysiological role of some CFD-derived quantities such as wall shear stress and helical flow in coronary arteries. Among respondents, 85.9% would consider patient-specific CFD-based analysis in daily interventional practice while 94.2% declared to be interested in receiving a brief foundation course on the basic CFD principles. Finally, 87.7% of respondents declared to be interested in a cath-lab software able to conduct affordable CFD-based analyses at the point-of-care.

Conclusions

Interventional cardiologists reported to be profoundly interested in adopting CFD simulations as a technology supporting decision making in the treatment of CAD in daily practice.
Visualization of electrographic flow fields of increasing complexity and detection of simulated sources during spontaneously persistent AF in an animal model
Authors: Kong Melissa H. , Castellano Steven , Ruppersberg Peter , Lizama Ken S. , Avitall Boaz
Published: September 2023

Background

Mapping algorithms have thus far been unable to localize triggers that serve as drivers of AF, but electrographic flow (EGF) mapping provides an innovative method of estimating and visualizing in vivo, near real-time cardiac wavefront propagation.

Materials and Methods

One-minute unipolar EGMs were recorded in the right atrium (RA) from a 64-electrode basket catheter to generate EGF maps during atrial rhythms of increasing complexity. They were obtained from 3 normal, animals in sinus rhythm (SR) and from 6 animals in which persistent AF which was induced by rapid atrial pacing. Concurrent EGF maps and high-resolution bipolar EGMs at the location of all EGF-identified sources were acquired. Pacing was subsequently conducted to create focal drivers of AF, and the accuracy of source detection at the pacing site was assessed during subthreshold, threshold and high-output pacing in the ipsilateral or contralateral atria (n = 78).

Results

EGF recordings showed strong coherent flow emanating from the sinus node in SR that changed direction during pacing and were blocked by ablation lesions. Additional passive rotational phenomena and lower activity sources were visualized in atrial flutter (AFL) and AF. During the AF recordings, source activity was not found to be correlated to dominant frequency or f wave amplitude observed in concurrently recorded EGMs. While pacing in AF, subthreshold pacing did not affect map properties but pacing at or above threshold created active sources that could be accurately localized without any spurious detection in 95% of cases of ipsilateral mapping when the basket covered the pacing source.

Discussion

EGF mapping can be used to visualize flow patterns and accurately identify sources of AF in an animal model. Source activity was not correlated to spectral properties of f-waves in concurrently obtained EGMs. The locations of sources could be pinpointed with high precision, suggesting that they may serve as prime targets for focal ablations.
The quantitative effects of climate change and human activity on the vegetation growth in the Yangtze River Basin
Authors: Guo Renjie , Cai Anning , Chen Xin
Published: September 2023

Vegetation has changed dramatically in recent years as a result of various disturbances, but the factors influencing vegetation growth vary geographically. We looked into the impact of climate change and human activity on vegetation growth in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB). We characterized vegetation growth in the YRB using gross primary production (GPP) and the leaf area index (LAI), analyzed the relationship between vegetation growth and climate change using the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), and quantified the relative contribution rate of climate change and human activity to vegetation growth in the YRB by using residual trend method. The findings revealed that: 1) From 2000 to 2018, the YRB showed an increasing trend of temperature (0.03°C yr−1) and precipitation (4.02 mm yr−1) and that the entire area was gradually becoming warmer and wetter; 2) Vegetation growth in the YRB showed a significant increasing trend (GPP: 7.83 g C m−2 yr−2, LAI: 0.02 years‐1). Among them, 87.40% of the YRB showed an increasing trend, primarily in the northern, eastern, and southern parts, while decreasing areas were primarily found in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and the YRB’s west region. 3) Vegetation had a significant positive correlation with SPEI in most areas of the YRB, and it was more sensitive to SPEI over a long time scale. The effects of climate change and human activity on vegetation growth in the YRB were spatially heterogeneous, and climate change was the primary driving factors of vegetation change in the YRB (accounting for 61.28%). A large number of grass were converted into forest, crop and urban. Overall, climate change and human activity promoted the growth of vegetation in the middle and upper reaches of YRB (MUYRB) while inhibited the growth of vegetation in the YRD. The findings of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the effects of climate change and human activity on vegetation growth in the YRB, as well as provide a scientific foundation for future ecological restoration in humid and semi-humid areas.
Natural vs. anthropogenic metals for reconstructing the source-to-sink pathway (Naples Bay, eastern Tyrrhenian Sea)
Authors: Milia Alfonsa , Buonocunto Francesco Paolo , Mali Matilda , Giandomenico Santina , Leo Antonella Di , Spada Lucia , Ferraro Luciana , Giordano Laura
Published: August 2023

The grain size, nutrients, and metals contents of sediments are important tracers for reconstructing the origin of the contaminants and the pathway of the sediments from the source to the sink. This is particularly important in areas with high geological variability and a high demographic pressure. The origin and distribution of contaminants and nutrients allow us to identify the source-to-sink pathway of the sediments. In particular, the Sarno River is one of the main contributing sources of anthropogenic contaminants due to the outflow from the large surrounding large industrial area. Geochemical and physical parameters of sediments were analyzed along a transect from the coastline to a water depth of 112 m, with the objective of exploring the spatial variability of sediment contamination in the continental shelf of Naples Bay. The latter is characterized by a complex geological area and is subject to river inflow from a highly industrialized area. The data have been analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical correlation analysis (CA), and analysis of variance (ANOVA). To distinguish between a natural and anthropogenic origin of contaminants and to construct the source-to-sink pathway, the relationship between geochemical and physical data and their distribution was examined, and the results were compared with published data collected onshore. Four distinct sectors with different associations of metals, grain size, and total organic carbon have been recognized: I) offshore Vesuvius volcano, the occurrence of coarse-grained sediments, associated with As, Fe, Mn, and low TOC values, suggests a natural origin of the contaminant due to the volcanic nature of the substrate; II) offshore the Sarno River, the presence of Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, associated with the high TOC content, suggests an anthropogenic origin for the contaminants; III) offshore Sorrento Peninsula, the presence of As, Fe, Mn, and some gravel made up of pumice and bioclasts indicate a predominance of contaminants of natural origin; and IV) finally, the distal part is not subjected to a primary terrestrial input. Metals contamination of anthropogenic origin and the organic matter in sediments decreased rapidly with distance from the coast highlighting the main deposition area close to the river discharge.
A scientometric review of structure rockburst research: current trends and future directions
Authors: Zhang Yuanhang , Xia Yuanyou , Huang Jian
Published: August 2023

Based on practical construction experience, it is observed that a significant number of rockburst-prone regions exhibit structural surfaces of varying scales that exert a controlling influence on rockburst. Therefore, it is crucial to review the progress and hotspots in research on structure rockburst from a macroscopic perspective. This paper utilized CiteSpace software to summarize the references on structure rockburst research from the Web of Science Core Collection database from 2003 to 2022. The results include keyword cooccurrence and evolution analysis, and co-citation and cluster analysis. Through the in-depth analysis of structure rockburst literature, the research progress of structure rockburst in indoor experiments, numerical simulation, and on-site micro-seismic monitoring progress, the development trend and research hotspots were evaluated, and the current structure rockburst was discussed. The shortcomings of current research on structure rockbursts are discussed, and future development directions are proposed from the perspectives of structure rockburst mechanism, prediction and prevention measures.
Educative performance transitions in engineering students through the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Vázquez-Sánchez Agustín , Delgado Francisco
Published: September 2023

Higher education is a multivariable system by nature; thus, it is a complex task to maintain consistent academic success for students. This is a key factor to understand the positive and negative effects generated by the COVID-19 lockdown, particularly during the current stage of the “New Normal” period. The research presented herein considers a set of variables corresponding to students and faculty as causal factors to track, analyze, and assess the impact on the academic performance of engineering students in an urban Mexican university in both periods: online teaching during lockdown, and returning to face-to-face learning during the “New Normal.” Through a hybrid survey, looking for representative learning styles, academic personality traits, and technology competencies, academic performance in both periods has been recorded along with each student's learning preference. The suggested analysis model sought correlations in the stated causal factors to find valuable behavioral patterns. The outcomes show that good students in both models have attained a high level of adaptation and feel competitive in them. On the contrary, students with lower adaptation have shown poor academic performance in both models, but they perceived the online model as the less effective learning environment. Particularly, personality traits appoint on a notable impact on performance. In addition, learning styles are not significant. Still, it has been suggested this situation could be due to a greater diversity of teaching approaches established by the faculty to take care of student performance.
Differences in instructional quality during the Covid-19 pandemic between Oman and Germany and the role of teacher competences
Authors: Ohle-Peters Annika , Shahat Mohamed A.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

School closures during the Covid-19 pandemic hit educational systems worldwide, forcing teachers to switch to digital learning settings. The presented study aims to (a) adapt and evaluate scales on instructional quality in digital settings, (b) describe instructional quality during the pandemic, and (c) to identify predictive teacher competences.

Method

Data was assessed in a cross-sectional design via an online questionnaire conducted in Oman and Germany simultaneously.

Results

Analyses of data from N = 284 teachers in Oman and Germany revealed mostly good psychometric parameters, differences in instructional quality between both countries, and positive relations between teachers’ competences and instructional quality.

Conclusion

The present study contributes to instrument development and to the growing body of research, investigating teaching quality during the pandemic.
Spectral properties of a mixed singlet-triplet Ising superconductor
Authors: Patil Sourabh , Tang Gaomin , Belzig Wolfgang
Published: September 2023

Conventional two-dimensional superconductivity is destroyed when the critical in-plane magnetic field exceeds the so-called Pauli limit. Some monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides lack inversion symmetry and the strong spin-orbit coupling leads to a valley-dependent Zeeman-like spin splitting. The resulting spin-valley locking lifts the valley degeneracy and results in a strong enhancement of the in-plane critical magnetic field. In these systems, it was predicted that the density of states in an in-plane field exhibits distinct mirage gaps at finite energies of about the spin-orbit coupling strength, which arise from a coupling of the electron and hole bands at energy larger than the superconducting gap. In this study, we investigate the impact of a triplet pairing channel on the spectral properties, primarily the mirage gap and the superconducting gap, in the clean limit. Notably, in the presence of the triplet pairing channel, the mirage-gap width is reduced for the low magnetic fields. Furthermore, when the temperature is lower than the triplet critical temperature, the mirage gaps survive even in the strong-field limit due to the finite singlet and triplet order parameters. Our work provides insights into controlling and understanding the properties of spin-triplet Cooper pairs.
Thyroid hormones and minerals in immunocorrection of disorders in autoimmune thyroid diseases
Authors: Kravchenko Viktor , Zakharchenko Tamara
Published: August 2023

Thyroid hormones and essential elements iodine (I), selenium (Se), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), etc. play an important role in the work of many organs and systems of the body, including the immune system and the thyroid gland, and a violation of their supply can be the cause of pathological changes in them. In pathology, the interaction between thyroid hormones (TG), minerals and the immune system is disturbed. The review of the literature examines the immunomodulatory role of TG, minerals, their properties, and their participation in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD). The study of the relationship between the excess or deficiency of minerals and AITD is described. The basis of the development of AITD - Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), Graves’ disease (GD), Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) is the loss of immune tolerance to thyroid antigens - thyroid peroxidase (TPO), thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R). Immune-mediated mechanisms - production of autoantibodies to thyroid antigens and lymphocytic thyroid infiltration - are involved in the pathogenesis of AITD. Insufficiency of regulatory T cells (Treg) and regulatory B cells (Breg), imbalance between Th17-lymphocytes and Treg-lymphocytes, abnormal production of pro-inflammatory cytokines has a significant influence on the progression of AITD. With AITD, the balance between oxidants and antioxidants is disturbed and oxidative stress (OS) occurs. The lack of modern effective pharmacological therapy of AITD prompted us to consider the mechanisms of influence, possibilities of immunocorrection of pathogenetic factors using TG, micro/macronutrients. In order to develop a more effective treatment strategy, as well as approaches to prevention, a critical analysis of the ways of immunotherapeutic use of dietary supplements of I, Se, Zn, Mg and other minerals in AITD was carried out.
Planning for megafauna recovery in the tropical rainforests of Sumatra
Authors: Lubis Muhammad I. , Lee Janice S. H. , Rahmat U. M. , Tarmizi  , Ramadiyanta Eka , Melvern Dewi , Suryometaram Sasha , Trihangga Ahtu , Isa Muhammad , Yansyah Dedy , Abdullah Ridha , Ardiantiono  , Marthy William , Jones Kendall R. , Andayani Noviar , Linkie Matthew
Published: September 2023

Human-induced forest loss has had devastating impacts on biodiversity. Mammal populations in the tropics have been hit particularly hard by the resulting habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, as well as by overhunting which often goes hand-in-hand. While declines in these populations are generally well documented, few studies offer a pathway for their recovery. Here, we test the association between changes in forest habitat and occupancy trends of Sumatran megafauna (elephant and tiger) and key tiger prey species (wild boar and sambar) in the Leuser Ecosystem: a large forest landscape on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. For elephant and tiger, we develop additional occupancy models to predict their respective spatial distribution under different scenarios of forest loss and gain (through restoration and increased connectivity) to provide a blueprint for avoiding future species loss and assisting with their population recovery. From 2000 to 2019, 254,722 ha (6.7%) of natural forest was converted, primarily to plantations and shrubs. The species-specific responses over the study period revealed that the occurrence of elephant declined along the west, with a range shift to the northeast of Leuser, whereas wild boar underwent a dramatic widespread decline and although sambar experienced losses around the forest edge, it remained widespread in the interior forest, while tiger occupancy remained stable. Modelling habitat loss and fragmentation led to an unsurprising demise of Sumatran megafauna, whereas strategic investments that reconnected several forest patches provided disproportionately large benefits for their recovery through the recolonization of former parts of their range. Indonesia has achieved six consecutive years of declining forest loss rates, and our study’s findings can build off this conservation success by supporting improved provincial spatial planning and field-based restoration efforts that avoid declines of threatened megafauna species and act as a catalyst for rewilding a landscape of global importance.
Green revolution to genome revolution: driving better resilient crops against environmental instability
Authors: Chawla Rukoo , Poonia Atman , Samantara Kajal , Mohapatra Sourav Ranjan , Naik S. Balaji , Ashwath M. N. , Djalovic Ivica G. , Prasad P. V. Vara
Published: August 2023

Crop improvement programmes began with traditional breeding practices since the inception of agriculture. Farmers and plant breeders continue to use these strategies for crop improvement due to their broad application in modifying crop genetic compositions. Nonetheless, conventional breeding has significant downsides in regard to effort and time. Crop productivity seems to be hitting a plateau as a consequence of environmental issues and the scarcity of agricultural land. Therefore, continuous pursuit of advancement in crop improvement is essential. Recent technical innovations have resulted in a revolutionary shift in the pattern of breeding methods, leaning further towards molecular approaches. Among the promising approaches, marker-assisted selection, QTL mapping, omics-assisted breeding, genome-wide association studies and genome editing have lately gained prominence. Several governments have progressively relaxed their restrictions relating to genome editing. The present review highlights the evolutionary and revolutionary approaches that have been utilized for crop improvement in a bid to produce climate-resilient crops observing the consequence of climate change. Additionally, it will contribute to the comprehension of plant breeding succession so far. Investing in advanced sequencing technologies and bioinformatics will deepen our understanding of genetic variations and their functional implications, contributing to breakthroughs in crop improvement and biodiversity conservation.
Causal effects of the gut microbiome on COVID-19 susceptibility and severity: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhong Meng-Mei , Xie Jia-Hao , Feng Yao , Zhang Shao-Hui , Xia Jiang-Nan , Tan Li , Chen Ning-Xin , Su Xiao-Lin , Zhang Qian , Feng Yun-Zhi , Guo Yue
Published: September 2023

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused a global pandemic, with potential severity. We aimed to investigate whether genetically predicted gut microbiome is associated with susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 risk.

Methods

Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis of two sets with different significance thresholds was carried out to infer the causal relationship between the gut microbiome and COVID-19. SNPs associated with the composition of the gut microbiome (n = 5,717,754) and with COVID-19 susceptibility (n = 14,328,058), COVID-19 severity (n = 11,707,239), and COVID-19 hospitalization (n = 12,018,444) from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The random-effect inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used to determine causality. Three more MR techniques—MR Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode—and a thorough sensitivity analysis were also used to confirm the findings.

Results

IVW showed that 18 known microbial taxa were causally associated with COVID-19. Among them, six microbial taxa were causally associated with COVID-19 susceptibility; seven microbial taxa were causally associated with COVID-19 severity ; five microbial taxa were causally associated with COVID-19 hospitalization. Sensitivity analyses showed no evidence of pleiotropy or heterogeneity. Then, the predicted 37 species of the gut microbiome deserve further study.

Conclusion

This study found that some microbial taxa were protective factors or risky factors for COVID-19, which may provide helpful biomarkers for asymptomatic diagnosis and potential therapeutic targets for COVID-19.
IL-32 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in skin inflammation
Authors: Wallimann Alexandra , Schenk Mirjam
Published: September 2023

IL-32 is a recently described cytokine that performs a variety of functions under inflammatory conditions. Serum IL-32 has been shown to be elevated in several diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus, HIV infection, and atopic diseases including atopic dermatitis. There are nine different isoforms of IL-32, with IL-32γ being the most biologically active one. The following review summarizes the different roles of the various IL-32 isoforms in the context of skin inflammation, with a focus on atopic dermatitis.
Complexity of the marine ecosystem in view of the human health factors: role of network science
Authors: Capobianco Enrico , Moretti Pier Francesco
Published: August 2023

Anthropogenic and natural factors impacting health and well-being in coastal waters, regional seas, and the global ocean have long been recognized by the marine scientists, however not as much by the medical and public health community. Although establishing causal effects that directly or indirectly affect human health-related conditions is problematic and depends on the complex marine ecosystem, significant influences are present at both local and global levels, i.e., specific to coastal areas but also associated with sea activities referred to the ‘ocean health’ status. This offers a good rationale for an assessment of the human-marine environment interaction, evolution and complexity landscape. The health ecosystem as a whole (humans and environment, especially marine in our interests) is a complex bio-entity whose dynamics are largely unknown due to the presence of biodiversity and heterogeneity. In parallel, this complexity translates into various new processes that the stakeholders face to establish possible interventions and preserve the sustainability. A major checkpoint in our discussion refers to how to leverage the consolidated and indeed pervasive role of digital information across multiple fields and disciplines, supported by developments in artificial intelligence, machine learning and network science. This is an urgency, as the scientific marine community and the public health policy makers are struggling to gather big data from multiple sources and/or devices that help reveal the marine environmental status. Improvements in the ability of analyzing efficiently and effectively data are needed, and we suggest to profitably look at knowledge transfer strategies. In particular, considering and valuing how the scientific biomedical community has made use of network inference approaches to better understand complex biosystems in both structural and functional terms, we believe that the existing knowledge base can be further generalized to deal with the marine environmental ecosystem context.
Blue carbon ecosystems and shark behaviour: an overview of key relationships, network interactions, climate impacts, and future research needs
Authors: Dixon Olivia F. L. , Gallagher Austin J.
Published: September 2023

Climate change is threatening marine ecosystems and the distribution of species which rely on them. Due to their capacity to sequester vast amounts of carbon, blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs; seagrass, mangroves, salt marshes, kelp forests) are becoming increasingly recognized as key nature-based solutions to climate change. Sharks are mobile species that can exert strong control of food webs and are also key to conservation efforts. BCEs are known to support shark life histories, but the drivers of these relationships remain poorly understood. Here, we highlight two key behavioural pathways directly linking BCEs and sharks (foraging and reproductive activities) and explore the influence of climate on them. Our evaluation of the literature suggested that the physical attributes of the blue carbon plant tissue itself serves as the key link between sharks and BCEs, facilitating high rates of prey biodiversity and a platform for reproductive behaviours. We revealed that shark body size likely has an influence on the nature of these relationships, and that climate may be a modulator of key interactions. We also use basic network theory to explore how ecological information flows throughout BCEs, with sharks as a prominent actor. We identify ways in which future studies can fill knowledge gaps; namely, a focus on smaller endemic species, and empirical assessments between sharks and organic carbon stocks. Maintaining the integrity of these relationships should preserve blue natural capital: BCEs’ capacity to sequester carbon, support local biodiversity, and the role of sharks in preserving resilience.
Tidal variation modulates the dissolved silicate behavior and exchange flux across the semi-enclosed bay‐coastal water continuum, China
Authors: Zhang Peng , Xie Jiale , Zhang Jibiao , Fu Miaojian , Luo Weisheng , Cheng Mingyue
Published: September 2023

Coastal water is the key transition zone for the circulation and transport of nutrients. Their role in transporting nutrients is important to understanding global dissolved silicate (DSi) cycles and sources of nutrients supporting the biological pump and ocean carbon cycle. However, the understanding of controlling DSi exchange flux between the semi-enclosed bay and coastal water was still scarcely due to limitations in continuous observation. In this study, we conducted continuous investigations during spring tide (ST) and neap tide (NT) in 2021 in Shuidong Bay (SDB), China, to explore the impacts of different tidal cycles on DSi in SDB and the fluxes across SDB and South China Sea (SCS) coastal water. The findings demonstrated that there were significant differences in DSi concentrations and nutrients ratios between ST and NT in S1 station (P < 0.05). In addition, the DSi concentrations were 32.01 ± 27.21 μmol/L and 51.48 ± 48.44 μmol/L in ST and NT, respectively. Besides, the net export of DSi from SDB to SCS was 0.18 t throughout the entire early of autumn tidal cycle, suggesting SDB was the source of DSi, and its behavior across the semi-enclosed bay‐coastal water continuum was largely controlled by tidal characteristics (tidal height, flow velocity), water physicochemical parameters (salinity, pH), biological uptake and terrestrial sources input. SDB in ST has higher proportions of DSi: DIN (dissolved inorganic nitrogen) (1.49 ± 1.28) and DSi: DIP (dissolved inorganic phosphorus) (58.6 ± 43.73) compared with NT, DSi: DIN and DSi: DIP for the NT period were 1.45 ± 1.15 and 43.99 ± 28.59, indicating that phosphorus (P) is the limiting trophic factor for SDB. The tidal cycle in SDB would alter the DSi stoichiometry and mitigated the impact of eutrophication caused by terrestrial sources. This study provides new insights in the Si tidal cycling across the semi-enclosed bay‐coastal water continuum, which was implications for understanding DSi biogeochemical process and primary production dynamics in coastal water.
Synthesis of Cu/Co-hybrid MOF as a multifunctional porous compound in catalytic applications, synthesis of new nanofibers, and antimicrobial and cytotoxicity agents
Authors: Asiri Mohammed , Jawad BahrAluloom Yamamah , Abdullateef Alzubaidi Mazin , Mourad Mohammed Ibrahim , Suliman Muath , Ramzy Muhammad Eman , Abed Ahmed S. , Abodi Ali Fattma , Hadrawi Salema K. , Alsalamy Ali H. , Alwave Marim
Published: September 2023

Several biological properties of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and fiber compounds have been reported, and combinations of these structures can have unique properties. In this study, copper-containing and cobalt-containing MOF nanostructures were synthesized by the ultrasonic technique. Then, novel Cu/Co-hybrid MOF nanostructures were synthesized using the ultrasonic method. Synthesized Cu/Co-hybrid MOF nanostructures were used as a new and efficient recyclable catalyst in the synthesis of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives using the four-component reaction of phenylhydrazine, ethyl acetoacetate, malononitrile, and aldehyde. In the following, novel Cu/Co-hybrid MOF/PVA (poly vinyl alcohol) fiber nanostructures were synthesized by electrospinning and using Cu/Co-hybrid MOF nanostructures and PVA. The structures of the Cu/Co-hybrid MOF nanostructures and the Cu/Co-hybrid MOF/PVA fiber nanostructures were identified and confirmed using BET, TGA, FTIR, SEM, and XRD. In biological studies, the antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxicity activities of Cu/Co-hybrid MOF and Cu/Co-hybrid MOF/PVA fiber nanostructures were evaluated. In investigating the catalytic activity of Cu/Co-hybrid MOF, pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives were synthesized with higher efficiency and less time than previously reported methods. High antibacterial (against gram-negative and gram-positive strains) and antifungal properties of synthesized Cu/Co-hybrid MOF nanostructures and Cu/Co-hybrid MOF/PVA fiber nanostructures were observed (MIC between 16 and 256 μg/mL), which were higher than some commercial drugs. In the investigation of cytotoxicity activity, the effectiveness on breast cancer cells was studied. The maximum cell proliferation and viability for Cu/Co-hybrid MOF and Cu/Co-hybrid MOF/PVA fiber nanostructures were 38% and 38% higher than the control in a concentration of 200 μg/mL after 48 h. The high catalytic and biological properties of the synthesized nanoparticles can be attributed to the presence of nano-sized bioactive metals and their high specific surface area. The significant physical-chemical properties obtained for synthesized nanoparticles in this study can be related to the desirable synthesis methods, the development of materials with high purity, and the incorporation of hybrid compounds into the nanostructures.
The role of dexmedetomidine in ARDS: an approach to non-intensive care sedation
Authors: Simioli Francesca , Annunziata Anna , Coppola Antonietta , Imitazione Pasquale , Mirizzi Angela Irene , Marotta Antonella , D’Angelo Rossella , Fiorentino Giuseppe
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Severe COVID-19 is a life-threatening condition characterized by complications such as interstitial pneumonia, hypoxic respiratory failure, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Non-pharmacological intervention with mechanical ventilation plays a key role in treating COVID-19-related ARDS but is influenced by a high risk of failure in more severe patients. Dexmedetomidine is a new generation highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor (α2-AR) agonist that provides sedative effects with preservation of respiratory function. The aim of this study is to assess how dexmedetomidine influences gas exchange during non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in moderate to severe ARDS caused by COVID-19 in a non-intensive care setting.

Methods

This is a single center retrospective cohort study. We included patients who showed moderate to severe respiratory distress. All included subjects had indication to NIV and were suitable for a non-intensive setting of care. A total of 170 patients were included, divided in a control group (n = 71) and a treatment group (DEX group, n = 99).

Results

A total of 170 patients were hospitalized for moderate to severe ARDS and COVID-19. The median age was 71 years, 29% females. The median Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 2.5. Obesity affected 21% of the study population. The median pO2/FiO2 was 82 mmHg before treatment. After treatment, the increase of pO2/FiO2 ratio was clinically and statistically significant in the DEX group compared to the controls (125 mmHg [97–152] versus 94 mmHg [75–122]; ***p < 0.0001). A significative reduction of NIV duration was observed in DEX group (10 [7–16] days vs. 13 [10–17] days; *p < 0.02). Twenty four patients required IMV in control group (n = 71) and 16 patients in DEX group (n = 99) with a reduction of endotracheal intubation of 62% (OR 0.38; **p < 0.008). A higher incidence of sinus bradycardia was observed in the DEX group.

Conclusion

Dexmedetomidine provides a “calm and arousal” status which allows spontaneous ventilation in awake patients treated with NIV and HFNC. The adjunctive therapy with dexmedetomidine is associated with a higher pO2/FiO2, lower duration of NIV, and a lower risk of NIV failure. A higher incidence of sinus bradycardia needs to be considered.
Risk factors and prediction model of nomogram for preoperative calf muscle vein thrombosis in geriatric hip fracture patients
Authors: Jiang Jiabao , Xing Fei , Luo Rong , Chen Zhao , Liu Hao , Xiang Zhou , Duan Xin
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Calf muscular vein thrombosis (CMVT) is a common complication in geriatric hip fracture patients. Despite its high incidence, prior research on the topic is limited. The occurrence of CMVT in patients will prolong the preoperative waiting time and even lead to serious thromboembolic events, which can be detrimental to the patient’s prognosis. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the risk factors for preoperative CMVT in geriatric hip fracture patients and construct a nomogram model to predict the risk of preoperative CMVT in patients.

Materials and methods

Geriatric hip fracture patients who underwent surgery between January 2019 and January 2022 were included. The patients were categorized into two groups depending on whether they had preoperative CMVT, confirmed through Color Doppler ultrasound or venography examination. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze demographic characteristics, medical history, comorbidities, and laboratory tests. A nomogram was constructed to predict preoperative CMVT in geriatric hip fracture patients based on the results of the multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Three hundred and eighty-eight geriatric hip fracture patients, including one hundred and thirty-four patients with CMVT and two hundred and fifty-four patients without CMVT, were ultimately included in our study. After multivariable logistic regression analysis, the time from injury to admission, smoking history, serum albumin levels, and D-dimer levels was identified as independent risk factors and was entered into a nomogram model. The nomogram showed robust discrimination, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.805. The calibration curve showed strong agreement between the CMVT probabilities predicted by the nomogram and the actual probabilities. The decision curve analysis illustrates the excellent clinical utility of the model.

Conclusion

We have constructed a new nomogram prediction model that can effectively predict the risk of preoperative CMVT in geriatric hip fracture patients based on their medical history and blood test results. This model can help clinicians make individualized predictions of CMVT that are tailored to each patient’s unique circumstances.
Daratumumab in the treatment of C3 glomerulopathy with monoclonal gammopathy: a case report and literature review
Authors: Esposito Pasquale , Picciotto Daniela , Costigliolo Francesca , Russo Elisa , Macciò Lucia , Cenacchi Giovanna , Cagnetta Antonia , Cea Michele , Lemoli Roberto M. , Viazzi Francesca
Published: September 2023

Although rare, C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is increasingly recognized thanks to the currently available diagnostic skills. C3G is not a single disease but a group of disorders with distinct pathogenesis and progression. Thus, an essential step for its management remains an in-depth characterization of the specific form and the identification of underlying conditions, which may also impact treatment choices as well. Among these entities, an emerging condition is the association of C3G with monoclonal gammopathy, which confers poor outcomes. Overall, diagnosis of C3G remains challenging, and determining the appropriate treatment remains unclear. Conventional immunosuppressive therapy has proven ineffective in such cases, while clone-directed therapies have shown promising results in small interventional studies and case series. Here, we report a case of a patient affected by C3G with monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance who experienced rapid deterioration of kidney function requiring replacement therapy. After the failure of first-line treatment, a switch to the anti-CD38 therapy with daratumumab resulted in the progressive improvement of the patient’s kidney function, leading to the discontinuation of hemodialysis after approximately 10 months. Serial renal biopsies were also performed to study the disease’s evolution in response to the treatment. Based on the description of this single case, we have comprehensively reviewed available studies on daratumumab use in patients with C3G associated with monoclonal gammopathy to provide insights for the design of prospective studies which aim to enhance the management of such poor prognosis disease.
Effects of prebiotics on the gut microbiota in vitro associated with functional diarrhea in children
Authors: Du Zhi , Li Jiabin , Li Wei , Fu Hao , Ding Jieying , Ren Guofei , Zhou Linying , Pi Xionge , Ye Xiaoli
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Diarrhea is among the top five causes of morbidity and mortality in children. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is considered the most important risk factor for diarrhea. Prebiotics have shown efficacy in treating diarrhea by regulating the balance of the gut microbiota in vivo.

Methods

In this study, we used an in vitro fermentation system to prevent the interference of host-gut microbe interactions during in vivo examination and investigated the effect of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) on gut microbiota composition and metabolism in 39 pediatric patients with functional diarrhea.

Results

16S rRNA sequencing revealed that FOS significantly improved α- and β-diversity in volunteers with pediatric diarrhea (p < 0.05). This improvement manifested as a significant increase (LDA > 2, p < 0.05) in probiotic bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium) and a significant inhibition (LDA > 2, p < 0.05) of harmful bacteria (e.g., Escherichia-Shigella). Notably, the analysis of bacterial metabolites after FOS treatment showed that the decrease in isobutyric acid, isovaleric acid, NH3, and H2S levels was positively correlated with the relative abundance of Lachnoclostridium. This decrease also showed the greatest negative correlation with the abundance of Streptococcus. Random forest analysis and ROC curve validation demonstrated that gut microbiota composition and metabolites were distinct between the FOS treatment and control groups (area under the curve [AUC] > 0.8). Functional prediction using PICRUSt 2 revealed that the FOS-induced alteration of gut microbiota was most likely mediated by effects on starch and sucrose metabolism.

Conclusion

This study is the first to evince that FOS can modulate gut microbial disorders in children with functional diarrhea. Our findings provide a framework for the application of FOS to alleviate functional diarrhea in children and reduce the use of antibiotics for managing functional diarrhea-induced disturbances in the gut microbiota.
Detection of blaCTX-M and blaDHA genes in stool samples of healthy people: comparison of culture- and shotgun metagenomic-based approaches
Authors: Campos-Madueno Edgar I. , Aldeia Claudia , Perreten Vincent , Sendi Parham , Moser Aline I. , Endimiani Andrea
Published: August 2023

We implemented culture- and shotgun metagenomic sequencing (SMS)-based methods to assess the gut colonization with extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (ESC-R-Ent) in 42 volunteers. Both methods were performed using native and pre-enriched (broth supplemented with cefuroxime) stools. Native culture screening on CHROMID® ESBL plates resulted in 17 positive samples, whereas the pre-enriched culture (gold-standard) identified 23 carriers. Overall, 26 ESC-R-Ent strains (24 Escherichia coli) were identified: 25 CTX-M and 3 DHA-1 producers (2 co-producing CTX-Ms). Using the SMS on native stool (“native SMS”) with thresholds ≥60% for both identity and coverage, only 7 of the 23 pre-enriched culture-positive samples resulted positive for blaCTX-M/blaDHA genes (native SMS reads mapping to blaCTX-M/blaDHAs identified in gold-standard: sensitivity, 59.0%; specificity 100%). Moreover, an average of 31.5 and 24.6 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) were detected in the 23 pre-enriched culture-positive and the 19 negative samples, respectively. When the pre-enriched SMS was implemented, more blaCTX-M/blaDHA genes were detected than in the native assay, including in stools that were pre-enriched culture-negative (pre-enriched SMS reads mapping to blaCTX-M/blaDHAs identified in gold-standard: sensitivity, 78.3%; specificity 75.0%). In addition, the pre-enriched SMS identified on average 38.6 ARGs/sample, whereas for the corresponding native SMS it was 29.4 ARGs/sample. Notably, stools resulting false-negative by using the native SMS had lower concentrations of ESC-R-Ent (average: ~105 vs. ~107 CFU/g) and E. coli classified reads (average: 193,959 vs. 1.45 million) than those of native SMS positive samples. Finally, the detection of blaCTX-M/blaDHA genes was compared with two well-established bioinformatic tools. In conclusion, only the pre-enriched SMS assured detection of most carriers of ESC-R-Ent. However, its performance was not comparable to the pre-enriched culture-based approach.
Gradient boosting machine learning model to predict aflatoxins in Iowa corn
Authors: Branstad-Spates Emily H. , Castano-Duque Lina , Mosher Gretchen A. , Hurburgh Charles R. , Owens Phillip , Winzeler Edwin , Rajasekaran Kanniah , Bowers Erin L.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Aflatoxin (AFL), a secondary metabolite produced from filamentous fungi, contaminates corn, posing significant health and safety hazards for humans and livestock through toxigenic and carcinogenic effects. Corn is widely used as an essential commodity for food, feed, fuel, and export markets; therefore, AFL mitigation is necessary to ensure food and feed safety within the United States (US) and elsewhere in the world. In this case study, an Iowa-centric model was developed to predict AFL contamination using historical corn contamination, meteorological, satellite, and soil property data in the largest corn-producing state in the US.

Methods

We evaluated the performance of AFL prediction with gradient boosting machine (GBM) learning and feature engineering in Iowa corn for two AFL risk thresholds for high contamination events: 20-ppb and 5-ppb. A 90%–10% training-to-testing ratio was utilized in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2021 (n = 630), with independent validation using the year 2020 (n = 376).

Results

The GBM model had an overall accuracy of 96.77% for AFL with a balanced accuracy of 50.00% for a 20-ppb risk threshold, whereas GBM had an overall accuracy of 90.32% with a balanced accuracy of 64.88% for a 5-ppb threshold. The GBM model had a low power to detect high AFL contamination events, resulting in a low sensitivity rate. Analyses for AFL showed satellite-acquired vegetative index during August significantly improved the prediction of corn contamination at the end of the growing season for both risk thresholds. Prediction of high AFL contamination levels was linked to aflatoxin risk indices (ARI) in May. However, ARI in July was an influential factor for the 5-ppb threshold but not for the 20-ppb threshold. Similarly, latitude was an influential factor for the 20-ppb threshold but not the 5-ppb threshold. Furthermore, soil-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) influenced both risk thresholds.

Discussion

Developing these AFL prediction models is practical and implementable in commodity grain handling environments to achieve the goal of preventative rather than reactive mitigations. Finding predictors that influence AFL risk annually is an important cost-effective risk tool and, therefore, is a high priority to ensure hazard management and optimal grain utilization to maximize the utility of the nation’s corn crop.