bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) in Treating Portal Hypertension in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Balducci Daniele , Montori Michele , De Blasio Federico , Di Bucchianico Alessandro , Argenziano Maria Eva , Baroni Gianluca Svegliati , Scarpellini Emidio
Published: June 2023

Liver cancer is very frequent, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for the majority of liver cancer cases. Its growing incidence has been greatly affected by the increasing prevalence of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). The latter is a new epidemic in our era. In fact, HCC is often generated from noncirrhotic liver and its treatment benefits from surgical and nonsurgical approaches, potentially bridged by transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) use. TIPS use is an effective treatment for portal hypertension complications, but its application in patients with HCC and clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) remains controversial due to concerns about tumor rupture, dissemination, and increased toxicity. The technical feasibility and safety of TIPS use in HCC patients have been evaluated in several studies. Despite concerns about intraprocedural complications, retrospective studies have shown high success rates and low complication rates in TIPS placement for HCC patients. TIPS use in combination with locoregional treatments, such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or transarterial radioembolization (TARE), has been explored as a treatment option for HCC patients with portal hypertension. These studies have shown improved survival rates in patients undergoing TIPS in combination with locoregional treatments. However, the efficacy and toxicity of TACE in combination with TIPS use require careful evaluation, as changes in venous and arterial flow can affect treatment outcomes and complications. The results from studies evaluating the impact of TIPS on systemic therapy and surgical options are also promising. In conclusion, the TIPS is a sufficiently safe, useful item available for physicians treating complications of portal hypertension. Moreover, a TIPS can be used in combination with locoregional therapy in HCC patients. Systemic chemotherapy can also benefit of the use of TIPS placement. A complex interplay affects TIPS use with surgery. The latter needs further data. The TIPS is a useful and safe add-on treatment, changing the natural course of HCC progression. Its use is regulated by a sophisticated physiologic and pathophysiologic flow of evidence.
Biliary Amino Acids and Telocytes in Gallstone Disease
Authors: Bugajska Jolanta , Berska Joanna , Pasternak Artur , Sztefko Krystyna
Published: June 2023

The role of amino acids in cholesterol gallstone formation is not known. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the amino acid profile in the bile of patients with and without cholecystolithiasis in relation to bile lithogenicity and telocyte numbers within the gallbladder wall. The study included 23 patients with cholecystolithiasis and 12 gallstone-free controls. The levels of free amino acids in the bile were measured, and telocytes were identified and quantified in the gallbladder muscle wall. The mean values of valine, isoleucine, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, glutamic acid, serine alanine, proline and cystine were significantly higher in the study group than in the controls (p from 0.0456 to 0.000005), and the mean value of cystine was significantly lower in patients with gallstone disease than in the controls (p = 0.0033). The relationship between some of the amino acids, namely alanine, glutamic acid, proline, cholesterol saturation index (CSI) and the number of telocytes was significant (r = 0.5374, p = 0.0051; r = 0.5519, p = 0.0036; and r = 0.5231, p = 0.0071, respectively). The present study indicates a potential relationship between the altered amino acid composition of bile and the reduced number of telocytes in the gallbladder muscle wall in cholelithiasis.
Bacterial Communities Associated with the Roots of Typha spp. and Its Relationship in Phytoremediation Processes
Authors: Martínez-Martínez Joana Guadalupe , Rosales-Loredo Stephanie , Hernández-Morales Alejandro , Arvizu-Gómez Jackeline Lizzeta , Carranza-Álvarez Candy , Macías-Pérez José Roberto , Rolón-Cárdenas Gisela Adelina , Pacheco-Aguilar Juan Ramiro
Published: June 2023

Heavy metal pollution is a severe concern worldwide, owing to its harmful effects on ecosystems. Phytoremediation has been applied to remove heavy metals from water, soils, and sediments by using plants and associated microorganisms to restore contaminated sites. The Typha genus is one of the most important genera used in phytoremediation strategies because of its rapid growth rate, high biomass production, and the accumulation of heavy metals in its roots. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria have attracted much attention because they exert biochemical activities that improve plant growth, tolerance, and the accumulation of heavy metals in plant tissues. Because of their beneficial effects on plants, some studies have identified bacterial communities associated with the roots of Typha species growing in the presence of heavy metals. This review describes in detail the phytoremediation process and highlights the application of Typha species. Then, it describes bacterial communities associated with roots of Typha growing in natural ecosystems and wetlands contaminated with heavy metals. Data indicated that bacteria from the phylum Proteobacteria are the primary colonizers of the rhizosphere and root-endosphere of Typha species growing in contaminated and non-contaminated environments. Proteobacteria include bacteria that can grow in different environments due to their ability to use various carbon sources. Some bacterial species exert biochemical activities that contribute to plant growth and tolerance to heavy metals and enhance phytoremediation.
Glucose Transport in Escherichia coli: From Basics to Transport Engineering
Authors: Carreón-Rodríguez Ofelia E. , Gosset Guillermo , Escalante Adelfo , Bolívar Francisco
Published: June 2023

Escherichia coli is the best-known model for the biotechnological production of many biotechnological products, including housekeeping and heterologous primary and secondary metabolites and recombinant proteins, and is an efficient biofactory model to produce biofuels to nanomaterials. Glucose is the primary substrate used as the carbon source for laboratory and industrial cultivation of E. coli for production purposes. Efficient growth and associated production and yield of desired products depend on the efficient sugar transport capabilities, sugar catabolism through the central carbon catabolism, and the efficient carbon flux through specific biosynthetic pathways. The genome of E. coli MG1655 is 4,641,642 bp, corresponding to 4702 genes encoding 4328 proteins. The EcoCyc database describes 532 transport reactions, 480 transporters, and 97 proteins involved in sugar transport. Nevertheless, due to the high number of sugar transporters, E. coli uses preferentially few systems to grow in glucose as the sole carbon source. E. coli nonspecifically transports glucose from the extracellular medium into the periplasmic space through the outer membrane porins. Once in periplasmic space, glucose is transported into the cytoplasm by several systems, including the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS), the ATP-dependent cassette (ABC) transporters, and the major facilitator (MFS) superfamily proton symporters. In this contribution, we review the structures and mechanisms of the E. coli central glucose transport systems, including the regulatory circuits recruiting the specific use of these transport systems under specific growing conditions. Finally, we describe several successful examples of transport engineering, including introducing heterologous and non-sugar transport systems for producing several valuable metabolites.
Weak Metal–Support Interaction over CuO/TiO2 Catalyst Governed Low-Temperature Toluene Oxidation
Authors: Zou Meilin , Wang Mingyue , Wang Jingge , Zhu Danrui , Liu Jiaying , Wang Junwei , Xiao Qingchao , Chen Jianjun
Published: June 2023

Regulating the metal–support interaction is essential for obtaining highly efficient catalysts for the catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this work, CuO-TiO2(coll) and CuO/TiO2(imp) with different metal–support interactions were prepared via colloidal and impregnation methods, respectively. The results demonstrated that CuO/TiO2(imp) has higher low-temperature catalytic activity, with a 50% removal of toluene at 170 °C compared to CuO-TiO2(coll). Additionally, the normalized reaction rate (6.4 × 10−6 mol·g−1·s−1) at 160 °C over CuO/TiO2(imp) was almost four-fold higher than that over CuO-TiO2(coll) (1.5 × 10−6 mol·g−1·s−1), and the apparent activation energy value (27.9 ± 2.9 kJ·mol−1) was lower. Systematic structure and surface analysis results disclosed that abundant Cu2+ active species and numerous small CuO particles were presented over CuO/TiO2(imp). Owing to the weak interaction of CuO and TiO2 in this optimized catalyst, the concentration of reducible oxygen species associated with the superior redox property could be enhanced, thus significantly contributing to its low-temperature catalytic activity for toluene oxidation. This work is helpful in exploring the influence of metal–support interaction on the catalytic oxidation of VOCs and developing low-temperature catalysts for VOCs catalytic oxidation.
Exchange Coupling Effects on the Magnetotransport Properties of Ni-Nanoparticle-Decorated Graphene
Authors: Arguello Cruz Erick , Ducos Pedro , Gao Zhaoli , Johnson Alan T. Charlie , Niebieskikwiat Dario
Published: June 2023

We characterize the effect of ferromagnetic nickel nanoparticles (size ∼6 nm) on the magnetotransport properties of chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) graphene. The nanoparticles were formed by thermal annealing of a thin Ni film evaporated on top of a graphene ribbon. The magnetoresistance was measured while sweeping the magnetic field at different temperatures, and compared against measurements performed on pristine graphene. Our results show that, in the presence of Ni nanoparticles, the usually observed zero-field peak of resistivity produced by weak localization is widely suppressed (by a factor of ∼3), most likely due to the reduction of the dephasing time as a consequence of the increase in magnetic scattering. On the other hand, the high-field magnetoresistance is amplified by the contribution of a large effective interaction field. The results are discussed in terms of a local exchange coupling, J∼6 meV, between the graphene π electrons and the 3d magnetic moment of nickel. Interestingly, this magnetic coupling does not affect the intrinsic transport parameters of graphene, such as the mobility and transport scattering rate, which remain the same with and without Ni nanoparticles, indicating that the changes in the magnetotransport properties have a purely magnetic origin.
Structural and Dynamic Behaviour of Heterocycles Derived from Ethylenediamines with Formaldehyde: 1,3,5-Triazinanes and Bis(imidazolidinyl)methanes
Authors: Colorado-Peralta Raúl , Sánchez-Ruiz Sonia Araceli , Flores-Parra Angelina
Published: June 2023

Formaldehyde is a simple chemical compound that is used as a building block in obtaining a wide range of products. The versatility of formaldehyde in chemical synthesis becomes evident when it is reacted with N-alkylethylenediamines. Therefore, this paper reports the structure and reactivity of a series of compounds derived from easily accessible molecules, such as formaldehyde, sodium hydrosulphide, and N-alkylethylenediamines. The 1,3,5-triazines (1a-1d) and bis(3-alkyl-imidazolidin-1-yl)methanes (2a-2d) were obtained by simple reaction conditions. Additionally, different proportions of sodium hydrosulphide and formaldehyde were used with N-benzylamine to obtain N-benzyltriazinane (3), N-benzylthiadiazinane (4) and N-benzyldithiazinane (5). All these compounds were characterized by analytical, spectroscopic, and spectrometric techniques, such as melting point, solubility, one-dimensional and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (13C, 1H, 15N, COSY, HETCOR, NOESY, COLOC), elemental analysis, high- and low-resolution mass spectrometry, among others. The structures of compounds 4 and 5 were obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The results show that small variations in the stoichiometry and the reaction conditions significantly influence the products obtained.
Topical Bacteriophage Therapy for Staphylococcal Superficial Pyoderma in Horses: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Marshall Kalie , Marsella Rosanna
Published: June 2023

Increased antimicrobial resistance highlights the need for alternatives to antibiotics. Bacteriophages, which are benign viruses that kill bacteria, are promising. We studied the efficacy of topical bacteriophages for treating equine staphylococcal superficial pyodermas. Eight Staphylococcus aureus isolates were tested against a bacteriophage bank, and a cocktail consisting of two bacteriophages was prepared. Twenty horses with clinical and cytological evidence of superficial pyoderma and confirmed S. aureus infection based on swabbed culture were enrolled in the study. Each horse received both the bacteriophage cocktail and the placebo at two different infection sites, once daily for four weeks. Clinical lesions and cytology were evaluated weekly by an investigator who was unaware of the treatment sites. All infection sites were swabbed and cultured at the end of the study. A linear mixed model showed no significant differences between the placebo and treatment sites in terms of clinical signs, cytological scores of inflammation, and bacterial counts at the end of the study. It is possible that the bacteriophage cocktail killed S. aureus, but cytology scores did not change as new populations of cocci took over. The study limitations included a small sample size and inconsistent control of the underlying causes of pyodermas.
Conceptual Design of a Pilot Process for Manufacturing Aluminum-Based Intermetallic Compound Powders
Authors: Salazar Melchor , Lagos Flavio-Américo
Published: June 2023

The FeAl intermetallic compound is of great interest for industry due to its low density, low cost and high mechanical and corrosion resistance, so it can replace stainless steels and nickel-based alloys for some applications. In previous publications, the concept (principle) test for a novel FeAl powder manufacturing process has been shown. It consists mainly of the following stages: (a) metallic strip manufacture through rapid solidification, (b) water vapor exposure of these metallic strips for their disintegration and powder generation and (c) powder drying. Experimental tests were performed for 2 g of the FeAl intermetallic compound. However, this process can be extended to manufacture any other intermetallic compound containing aluminum, such as TiAl, NiAl, CoAl or any other that can be obtained from every element that can combine with aluminum, if the aluminum content is between 55 and 60 at.%. Nowadays, this process is at technology readiness level (TRL) 3. Therefore, in this paper, a process equipment up-scaling configuration for producing up to 15 kg powder is proposed. This manufacturing process is an industrial alternative to those commonly used to produce powders of this type of intermetallic compounds, such as mechanical alloying (MA). Moreover, several alternatives for employing renewable energy sources are given, making it even more environmentally sustainable.
Research on the Strength Calculation Method and Effects of Gear Parameters for High-Coincidence High-Tooth Gears
Authors: Zhang Jiachi , Wang Haiwei , Liu Yi , Hou Shengwen , Liu Zhe , Wang Huan
Published: June 2023

This article studies the calculation method for the tooth root bending stress of a high-tooth gear pair with a high contact ratio. The boundary point of the double-tooth meshing zone of the high-tooth gear pair is used as the loading point for the load, and the calculation formula for the bending stress at the dangerous section of the tooth root is obtained. By using ANSYS finite element simulation, the effect of the addendum coefficient, pressure angle, and other gear parameters on the bending stress of the tooth root is studied. The analysis shows that increasing the pressure angle will reduce the bending strength of the tooth root. Increasing the coefficient of a tooth’s top height will lead to an increase in the bending strength of the tooth root. Comparing the finite element analysis (FEA) results with the theoretical calculation results, the analysis shows that under low loads, the maximum error of the theoretical calculation values of the driving toothed gear and driven gear shall not exceed 13.53% and 15.42%, respectively. Under high loads, the maximum theoretical errors of the driving toothed gear and driven gear shall not exceed 8.78% and 10.91%, respectively. This verifies the correctness of the calculation method, which is of great significance for improving the load-bearing capacity of high-tooth gears and for guiding tooth shape design.
A Feasible Route for Preparation of Calcium Sulfate Whiskers from FGD Gypsum via Filtrate Recycle under Hydro-Thermal Conditions
Authors: Wang Xiao , Jin Biao , Fan Mengke , Liu Xueping , Zhang Xiaoting , Zhang Jianwu , Li Shanying , Zhang Wei
Published: June 2023

Calcium sulfate whiskers (CSWs) were synthesized using purified flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum as raw materials using a hydrothermal method, where the filtrate was recycled back to the reaction slurry. The study investigated the impact of pH and Cu2+ concentration in the reaction solution with or without reagent compensation. The effects of cycle number on the crystal morphology, phase structure, and productivity of the hydrothermal products were also examined. The findings indicate that the crystal morphology and quality of the CSWs deteriorated as the cycle number increased due to a rise in pH and a decrease in Cu2+ concentrations in the reaction solution without reagent compensation. However, adding a specific amount of H2SO4 and CuCl2 to the slurry with filtrate recycle maintained the long fibrous shape of the hydrothermal products for up to seven cycles while also increasing their productivity from 73.7% to 86%. Regardless of reagent compensation, the cycle number of filtrate significantly affected the crystal morphology of the hydrothermal products, but it had no impact on their phases.
Quinine: Redesigned and Rerouted
Authors: Agbo Chinazom Precious , Ugwuanyi Timothy Chukwuebuka , Eze Osita Christopher , Onugwu Adaeze Linda , Echezona Adaeze Chidiebere , Nwagwu Chinekwu Sherridan , Uzondu Samuel Wisdom , Ogbonna John Dike , Ugorji Lydia Onyinyechi , Nnamani Petra Obioma , Akpa Paul Achile , Reginald-Opara Joy Nneji , Ogbodo John Onyebuchi , McConville Christopher , Attama Anthony Amaechi , Momoh Mumuni Audu , Ofokansi Kenneth Chibuzor
Published: June 2023

Quinine hydrochloride (QHCl) has remained a very relevant antimalarial drug 400 years after its effectiveness was discovered. Unlike other antimalarials, the development of resistance to quinine has been slow. Hence, this drug is to date still used for the treatment of severe and cerebral malaria, for malaria treatment in all trimesters of pregnancy, and in combination with doxycycline against multidrug-resistant malaria parasites. The decline in its administration over the years is mainly associated with poor tolerability due to its gastrointestinal (GIT) side effects such as cinchonism, complex dosing regimen and bitter taste, all of which result in poor compliance. Hence, our research was aimed at redesigning quinine using nanotechnology and investigating an alternative route for its administration for the treatment of malaria. QHCl nanosuspension (QHCl-NS) for intranasal administration was prepared using lipid matrices made up of solidified reverse micellar solutions (SRMS) comprising Phospholipon® 90H and lipids (Softisan® 154 or Compritol®) in a 1:2 ratio, while Poloxamer® 188 (P188) and Tween® 80 (T80) were used as a stabilizer and a surfactant, respectively. The QHCl-NS formulated were in the nanosize range (68.60 ± 0.86 to 300.80 ± 10.11 nm), and highly stable during storage, though zeta potential was low (≤6.95 ± 0.416). QHCl-NS achieved above 80% in vitro drug release in 6 h. Ex vivo permeation studies revealed that formulating QHCl as NS resulted in a 5-fold and 56-fold increase in the flux and permeation coefficient, respectively, thereby enhancing permeation through pig nasal mucosa better than plain drug solutions. This implies that the rate of absorption as well as ease of drug permeation through porcine nasal mucosa was impressively enhanced by formulating QHCl as NS. Most importantly, reduction in parasitaemia in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA by QHCl-NS administered through the intranasal route (51.16%) was comparable to oral administration (52.12%). Therefore, redesigning QHCl as NS for intranasal administration has great potential to serve as a more tolerable option for the treatment of malaria in endemic areas.
Experimental Study on the Damage and Failure Characteristics of High-Temperature Granite after Liquid-Nitrogen Cooling
Authors: Cai Chengzheng , Wang Bo , Zou Zengxin , Feng Yinrong , Tao Zhixiang
Published: June 2023

To analyze the influence of liquid-nitrogen cooling on the damage and failure of high-temperature granite, granite samples were heated to 150~600 °C for natural cooling and liquid-nitrogen cooling treatment. Brazilian splitting tests were carried out as the samples returned to room temperature, and basic tensile and energy evolution parameters were obtained. Acoustic emission signal parameters during loading were recorded. The experimental results showed that the heating process caused damage to the granite samples, and liquid-nitrogen cooling further increased the degree of damage. Specifically, the ultrasonic velocity of liquid-nitrogen-cooled samples was lower than that of naturally cooled samples at each heating temperature. With an increase in heating temperature, the AE ring-down counts of liquid-nitrogen-cooled samples were higher than that of naturally cooled samples. At the same heating temperature, the dissipated energy of naturally cooled samples was greater than that of liquid-nitrogen-cooled samples. Liquid-nitrogen cooling could effectively promote the propagation of microcracks inside high-temperature granite and result in a reduction in the mechanical strength of granite, which could be conducive to the efficient fracture of high-temperature rock during fracturing.
Study on the Effects of Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization on Particulate Matter Emission from Industrial Coal-Fired Power Plants
Authors: Wang Anyu , Li Shuran , Zheng Qinzhen , Zhang Shuo , Zhang Shihao , Wang Zhihao , Liu Zhen , Yan Keping
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effects of wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) on particulate matter (PM) emissions in coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) using an electrical low-pressure impactor (ELPI). The investigation was conducted on five industrial CFPPs of various loads in China to clarify the influence factors of WFGD on PM10 emissions. After WFGD, the proportion of PM2.5 to PM10 in the outlet flue gas increases, which showed that the WFGD system is selective in the capture of PM, with a significant effect on the capture of large particle sizes. The investigation found that four spray layers have a better effect on the capture of particles than two spray layers. Additionally, the investigation also found that unit load is not the main factor affecting the efficiency of PM10 capture by WFGD. Instead, the factors affecting the capture efficiency of PM10 by WFGD are the inlet flue gas temperature and the dust concentration. Relatively higher inlet flue gas temperature and lower inlet dust concentration will both result in higher emission of PM0.1~1 from the WFGD outlet. These findings suggest that a matched integration of WFGD and CFPP is essential for ultra-low PM emission control and green industry development.
Simple Preparation of a Unique Ionic Liquid/Deep Eutectic Solvent and β-Cyclodextrin Composite Discs and Its Use to Capture Hazardous Substances from Water
Authors: Guo Yingying , Liu Na , Chen Hangping , Ali Ahmad , Toufouki Sara , Yao Shun
Published: June 2023

With the development of health service, animal husbandry, aquaculture and the chemical industry, more and more pollutants are discharged into the water environment, including antibiotics and heavy-metal ions. These hazardous substances pose a great threat to environmental safety and human health. Two new kinds of green solvents, ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs), are widely utilized in various fields, including separation and environmental engineering, and are attracting much attention from academia and industry. In this study, an optimal ionic liquid and a deep eutectic solvent were selected, and their complex with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was first prepared by a process of simple and effective inclusion. After necessary characterization and analysis, two kinds of complexes were applied to prepare a special two-sided sorbent disc by adding a diluent (excipient) and pressing the substance under 5~15 MPa. As a result, the IL and DES were stably immobilized on the disc to play a key role in the selective adsorption of targets. Moreover, the experiments with different hazardous substances achieved the expected results. This study demonstrates that the complex disc, with its easy preparation, good stability, and simple operation, exhibited many merits in its separation performance. We believe it to be a useful tool for water purification and detection of noxious substances.
Modeling Model Misspecification in Structural Equation Models
Authors: Robitzsch Alexander
Published: June 2023

Structural equation models constrain mean vectors and covariance matrices and are frequently applied in the social sciences. Frequently, the structural equation model is misspecified to some extent. In many cases, researchers nevertheless intend to work with a misspecified target model of interest. In this article, a simultaneous statistical inference for sampling errors and model misspecification errors is discussed. A modified formula for the variance matrix of the parameter estimate is obtained by imposing a stochastic model for model errors and applying M-estimation theory. The presence of model errors is quantified in increased standard errors in parameter estimates. The proposed inference is illustrated with several analytical examples and an empirical application.
An Activatable Nanoscintillator Probe for Detecting Telomerase Activity and Screening Inhibitors In Vivo
Authors: Chen Baoliu , Dai Junduan , Song Sijie , Tang Xianzhe , Guo Yuheng , Wu Ting , Wu Mengnan , Hao Chaojie , Cheng Xiaofeng , Lin Xucong , Bian Yijie , Chen Zhaowei , Yang Huanghao
Published: June 2023

Telomerase represents an essential molecular machinery for tumor occurrence and progression and a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Sensitive and reliable analysis of telomerase activity is of significant importance for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In this study, we developed a telomerase-activated nanoscintillator probe for deep-tissue and background-free imaging of telomerase activity and screening telomerase inhibitors in tumor-bearing living mice models. The probe was constructed by modifying lanthanide-doped nanoscintillators with aptamer-containing DNA anchor strands which hybridized with quencher labelled–oligonucleotide strands and telomerase primers. The X-ray-induced fluorescence of the probe was quenched originally but turned on upon telomerase-catalyzed extension of the primer. Benefiting from exceptional tissue penetrating properties and negligible autofluorescence of X-ray excitation, this probe enabled direct detection of telomerase activity in vivo via fluorescence imaging. Furthermore, with the direct, readable fluorescent signals, the probe enabled the screening of telomerase inhibitors in living cells and whole-animal models in the native states of telomerase. This strategy would inspire the development of low autofluorescence and deep tissue bioimaging probes for disease diagnosis and drug development in high-level living settings.
A Customizable Suite of Methods to Sequence and Annotate Cattle Antibodies
Authors: Ramirez Valdez Kristel , Nzau Benjamin , Dorey-Robinson Daniel , Jarman Michael , Nyagwange James , Schwartz John C. , Freimanis Graham , Steyn Angela W. , Warimwe George M. , Morrison Liam J. , Mwangi William , Charleston Bryan , Bonnet-Di Placido Marie , Hammond John A.
Published: June 2023

Studying the antibody response to infection or vaccination is essential for developing more effective vaccines and therapeutics. Advances in high-throughput antibody sequencing technologies and immunoinformatic tools now allow the fast and comprehensive analysis of antibody repertoires at high resolution in any species. Here, we detail a flexible and customizable suite of methods from flow cytometry, single cell sorting, heavy and light chain amplification to antibody sequencing in cattle. These methods were used successfully, including adaptation to the 10x Genomics platform, to isolate native heavy–light chain pairs. When combined with the Ig-Sequence Multi-Species Annotation Tool, this suite represents a powerful toolkit for studying the cattle antibody response with high resolution and precision. Using three workflows, we processed 84, 96, and 8313 cattle B cells from which we sequenced 24, 31, and 4756 antibody heavy–light chain pairs, respectively. Each method has strengths and limitations in terms of the throughput, timeline, specialist equipment, and cost that are each discussed. Moreover, the principles outlined here can be applied to study antibody responses in other mammalian species.
Attitudes towards Plastic Pollution: A Review and Mitigations beyond Circular Economy
Authors: Tang Kuok Ho Daniel
Published: June 2023

Plastic pollution has received unprecedented attention globally, and there are increasing calls to control it. Despite this, the uptrends of plastic consumption and mismanaged plastic waste show little sign of reversal. This review aims to examine the attitudes of various societal groups towards plastics to identify the behavioral barriers to reduce plastic pollution and synthesize effective countermeasures. It achieved the aim through content analysis of the most recent literature related to attitudes and behaviors towards plastic pollution, consumption and management, as well as an important emerging theme on plastics recycling ecosystem and economy. It reveals the general negative attitudes of the participants in the studies reviewed towards plastic pollution and their willing attitude to act against it by supporting campaigns, paying for environmentally friendly alternatives and supporting solution-based interventions from governments including policies, regulations and guidelines. Inconvenience due to limited options for plastic items and habits are two main barriers to behavioral changes. This underscores the crucial roles of governments to tap into these attitudes to lead and intensify plastic pollution control through a multi-pronged approach that facilitates systematic substitution of conventional plastics with environmentally friendly alternatives as well as the stepping-up of the circular plastic economy and industrial symbiosis. This review deems that progressively regulated capping of conventional plastic production and consumption could help the transition, and the public could complement government endeavors through education, mutual influence and awareness-raising which could also be driven by governmental policies and programs.
Personalized Collision Avoidance Control for Intelligent Vehicles Based on Driving Characteristics
Authors: Li Haiqing , Gao Lina , Cai Xiaoyu , Zheng Taixiong
Published: June 2023

Collision avoidance has been widely researched in the field of intelligent vehicles (IV). However, the majority of research neglects the individual driver differences. This paper introduced a novel personalized collision avoidance control (PCAC) strategy for IV based on driving characteristics (DC), which can better satisfy various scenarios and improve drivers’ acceptance. First, the driver’s DC is initially classified into four types using K-means clustering, followed by the application of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method to construct the DC identification model for the PCAC design. Then, a novel PCAC is integrated with a preview-follower control (PFC) module, an active rear steering (ARS) module, and a forward collision control (FCC) module to ensure individual requirements and driving stability. Moreover, simulations verified the validity of the developed PCAC in terms of path tracking, lateral acceleration, and yaw rate. The research results indicate that DC can be identified effectively through APH, and PCAC based on DC can facilitate the development of intelligent driving vehicles with superior human acceptance performance.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis) – oral cavity manifestations (clinical case)
Authors: Aksamit L. A. , Volkov Ye. A. , Atrushkevich V. G. , Luzina V. V. , Tsvetkova M. A. , Volkova S. Ye.
Published: June 2023

Relevance. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis) is a rare disease in which oral cavity symptoms manifest as 'strawberry' gingivitis.

Description of the clinical case. The paper presents early oral cavity clinical symptoms of a rare systemic disease – granulomatosis with polyangiitis with the manifestation of gingival hyperplasia in 1 patient, in the form of so-called "strawberry gingivitis", in another – a non-specific ulcer on the mucous mem-brane of the soft palate. After examination, the dentist referred the patients to a rheumatologist, who confirmed the diagnosis based on additional diagnostic methods.

Conclusion. Timely initiated therapy can significantly improve the patient's quality of life and life expectancy.
Relationship between glycemic control and periodontal status in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Nikitin V. S. , Dukhanova R. S. , Kelmanson I. A. , Antonova I. N.
Published: June 2023

Relevance. The study of the dental status, including periodontal, in adolescents with type 1 diabetes, has a high scientific and clinical significance in terms of early diagnosis and prediction of the pathology of the dentoalveolar system in this group of patients.

Materials and methods. The study included 54 adolescents with type 1 diabetes aged 14-17 y.o.; of which 44% were boys, and 56% were girls. The duration of diabetes was 71.2 ± 46 months. Oral cavity condition evaluation included an interview and examination using instrumental and index assessment. The index assessment included the Green-Vermilion oral hygiene index (OHI-S), the papillary-marginal-attached index (PMA), Russell’s periodontal index (PI) and the decayed-missing-filled index (DMFT). To evaluate the diabetes factor impact on the periodontal tissues, we assessed the level of HbA1c, the duration of DM1, sex, age, and the presence of microangiopathy specific for type 1 diabetes, followed by multivariate regression analysis using JAMOVI 2.3.13 software.

Results. The study established that only 11% of the examined adolescents had compensated type 1 diabetes with an HbA1c level <7%. As for the index assessment of the oral cavity condition, most patients had mild or moderate deviations, indicating initial changes, including ones in periodontium. We also established a significant adverse effect of HbA1c increase, i.e., metabolic decompensation, on all studied indices (OHI-S, PI, PMA).

Conclusion. Initial inflammatory periodontal changes in type 1 DM may occur at a fairly early age and do not depend on age, sex and the presence of vascular complications, and are associated with worse glycemic control numbers. Dental check-ups of adolescents with type 1 diabetes require periodontal index assessment and collaboration of dentists and pediatric endocrinologists.
Oral mucosal disease screening testing in terms of cancer alertness
Authors: Shkarin V. V. , Makedonova Yu. A. , Shulman I. D. , Alexandrina E. S. , Filimonova O. N.
Published: June 2023

Relevance. Currently, there is a steady increase in the development of oral mucosal diseases, and they are affecting younger people. If, at the beginning of the XX century, inflammatory and destructive oral mucosal diseases appeared in people over 60 y.o., who formed a senior dental patient group, now this pathology affects the working-age population. It is related to many reasons, including the consequences of COVID-19. However, diagnosis in dentistry is actively developing. There are quite many basic and additional examination methods, as well as in terms of cancer alertness. Based on the example of the study, the paper presents screening testing for oral mucosal diseases, which a dentist should perform at an appointment before starting treatment of the main pathology.

Material and methods. The study examined the patients who presented for dental treatment. 16 out of 113 people were diagnosed with oral mucosal diseases.

Results. The patients had poor oral hygiene, and electromyography indicated masticatory muscle spasticity in 20.3%, which may cause trauma development, including pressure ulcers.

Conclusion. A dental appointment for each patient should include screening testing, which will prevent the development of a number of dental pathologies.
A systematic review of dental instruments used for interproximal contact point restoration in posterior teeth
Authors: Orekhova L. Yu. , Prokhorova O. V. , Shefov V. Yu.
Published: June 2023

Relevance. Anatomical and functional restoration of an interproximal contact point is an important step in the comprehensive treatment and prevention of periodontal disease. A lot of tools are applicable for interproximal contact point restoration. Since the first application of the first composite material in dentistry, over one hundred instruments have been proposed, with different characteristics and positive and negative features. The variety available on the market may lead to a mistake in the instrument choice, which decreases the dentist's work quality. Purpose. To systematically review the clinical experience in dental instruments used for posterior tooth interproximal contact point restoration.

Materials and methods. The review analyzed Russian and international studies on the dental instruments used for posterior tooth interproximal contact point restoration that met the specified criteria. The primary search was performed in the databases Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, ResearchGate, and eLIBRARY.RU, using the keywords: контактный пункт, инструмент, матрица, клин, interproximal contact, matrix, wedge, dental instrument in the Russian and English languages.

Results. We selected 24 original primary prospective studies on instruments for an interproximal contact point restoration certified in Russia. All instruments were divided into two groups: matrix systems (Palodent V3, HAWE SuperMat, TOR VM) and additional instruments (Contact-Pro-2, OptraContact).

Conclusion. The experience of the instruments’ clinical application and the history of their creation have demonstrated a shift towards the anatomically-guided reconstruction of lost tissue. Thus, developing a tool for the anatomical and functional restoration of an interproximal contact point is a challenge for modern dentistry.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the stress level of dentists
Authors: Petrova T. G. , Tagiltseva E. V. , Borodina N. B. , Vanyunina V. V. , Zvereva T. V. , Ragimova T. M.
Published: June 2023

Relevance. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the stress levels of healthcare workers. Like some other medical specialties, dentists have the highest risk of infection due to close contact with the patient's oral cavity and aerosol-generating procedures.

Purpose. The study aimed to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the stress level of dentists in Novosibirsk.

Material and methods. The study involved 273 dentists of various specialties aged from 20 to 65 years. The study assessed the overall level of perceived stress, overstrain and counteraction to stress using the "Perceived stress scale" (PSS-10). The Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) evaluated the level of distress associated with the pandemic.

Results. The overall level of perceived stress is sufficiently high in all groups; the indicators increase with age from 6.9% in the younger age group to 95.7% in the older one. Older dentists are aware of the higher risks of a severe course and consequences of the disease and fear for the lives of loved ones. In the middle and younger age groups, the level of distress associated with professional activities is within the normal range. The older age group showed a high peritraumatic distress level associated with practising medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gender differences in the perceived stress and distress levels were not found.

Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic caused an increase in the psychological stress level among dentists, especially among older age groups. The study allowed us to identify factors affecting stress levels, which must be considered when organizing effective psychological assistance to doctors during epidemics of infectious diseases and providing targeted help to those in need.
A digital workflow in the treatment of patients with temporomandibular joint disorders: a case report
Authors: Antonik P. M. , Gvetadze R. Sh. , Oganesyan A. S. , Sarkisyan N. G.
Published: June 2023

Relevance. TMDs are frequently encountered due to the wide variety and polymorphism of clinical and morphological manifestations.

Clinical case description. The  clinical example presents an algorithm for clinical and instrumental  diagnosis of the dentoalveolar system, the stages of occlusal splint fabrication and clinical monitoring of masticatory muscles, dental occlusion and dentition, based on the application of modern digital technologies for the diagnosis of the dentoalveolar system functional status. The 28-year-old patient underwent a comprehensive diagnosis, including electronic condylography, electromyography, T-scan (digital occlusal analysis), and measurement of condylar displacement from the reference point. A follow-up examination, six weeks after treatment with a mandibular occlusal splint, showed positive changes in the therapeutic process: the absence of occlusal pressure distribution imbalance (T-scan) and symmetric work of masticatory proper and temporal muscles (EMG).
WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT IN RELATION TO THE SURROUNDING SOIL MANAGEMENT OF TWO RESERVOIRS IN PINDORAMA/SP - A PRELIMINARY STUDY
Authors: Gonsalves Bertho Gabriel , Mello Martins Antônio Lúcio , Contri Campanelli Leandro , Lopes Maria Conceição , Lopes Simedo Mariana Bárbara
Published: June 2023

Water quality monitoring of rural reservoirs is essential to detect the effects of diffuse pollution sources such as agricultural activities on the water quality. This paper describes a preliminary study that uses a multiparameter probe and total phosphorus analysis to characterize and compare two reservoirs in Pindorama/SP surrounded by active plantations, noting that one of them has its surface filled with floating macrophytes. The reservoirs areas were characterized, and analysis of physicochemical parameters were made in strategic sampling points. Elevated total phosphorus concentrations were detected in both reservoirs, being hypothesized that the source of this nutrient is the runoff of agricultural byproducts from the surroundings. The reservoir filled with macrophytes had greater phosphorus concentration and was characterized as in a eutrophic state, thus explaining the overpopulation of macrophytes as they can be a consequence of the eutrophication process. Lower levels of phosphorus in the other reservoir may be explained by its morphological characteristics and the presence of a more consolidated riparian forest. To reduce the environmental impacts of the contamination in both reservoirs, it was proposed that practices for adequate soil management in the surroundings, for increasing the reservoirs water circulation, and for sustainably retaining the contamination sources, could be implemented to control the effects of eutrophication.
REFLEXÕES A PARTIR DA APLICAÇÃO DE MODELO PARA ANÁLISE QUANTITATIVA DOS RECURSOS HÍDRICOS SUPERFICIAIS NA REGIÃO METROPOLITANA DE BELO HORIZONTE (ALTO E MÉDIO-ALTO VELHAS)  MG
Authors: Costa Adriana Monteiro da , Silva Victor Cordeiro da , Araújo Bárbara Janine Reis Silva , Moura Maíse Soares de
Published: June 2023

Avaliações das estimativas de disponibilidade hídrica quantitativas se relacionam às gestões territorial de bacias hidrográficas e dos recursos hídricos, e contribuem para o entendimento da segurança hídrica destes espaços, podendo, ainda, orientar práticas de conservação do solo e água, avaliações e monitoramentos quali-quantitativos. Por consequência, a partir de métodos desta estimação, é possível avaliar os aspectos das demandas hídricas e quais as suas dinâmicas, sobretudo, no território das bacias hidrográficas e de conjuntos de municípios. A Região Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte (RMBH), porção central de Minas Gerais, é composta por 34 municípios, contidos, majoritariamente, nas Circunscrições Hidrográficas das bacias dos rios das Velhas (SF5) e Paraopeba (SF3), pressionadas quanto às demandas múltiplas pelos recursos hídricos, incluindo a preponderância do abastecimento público, dos usos industriais e para a mineração. Este estudo objetivou estimar a demanda e disponibilidade hídricas no recorte da RMBH inserido na SF5, avaliando 21 municípios e 12 Unidades Territoriais Estratégicas do Comitê desta bacia. Promoveu discussão regional sobre a disponibilidade, a partir de dados dos usuários de água até novembro/2019. Os cálculos foram baseados no método da avaliação da demanda e disponibilidade hídrica proposto por Semad e Seapa (2016), tendo sido encontrados 9,86% dos trechos em estado de atenção, 57,34% em indisponibilidade, considerando somente os trechos com captação. Os resultados da aplicação deste modelo foram, posteriormente, avaliados à luz da comparação da evolução e distribuição espacial dos usos da terra (entre 1998-2018), em observância, sobretudo, à espacialidade dos trechos com captação, em relação ao crescimento urbano e usos preponderantes. No entanto, estes resultados se mostraram conservadores diante da perspectiva do uso da terra e do ano hidrológico que competiu ao modelo, sinalizando que a metodologia deveria ser, primordialmente, empregada conectada a outras análises. Diante do modelo e seus resultados, refletiu-se sobre a responsabilidade frente às respostas de aplicações como estas, vínculos à gestão das águas e sobre as potencialidades e limitações destas estimativas, quando empregadas, sobretudo no ambiente técnico-científico das Geociências.
On optimum speaker placement with a model-based approach for indoor local active noise control applications
Authors: Bozcu Levent , Söğütlü İ. Ethem , Öztürk Sinem , Erol Haluk
Published: June 2023

In this study, a control system actively canceling the noise will be developed through a model-based algorithm to reduce the noise generated in the room on individuals in an environment as much as possible. The model-based design approach is preferred because it is convenient for optimization
and can be applied much more effortlessly than real experiments; it is applied using the finite difference method. The model developed within this scope has been validated by comparing it with the acoustic test data performed in an empty room. The positioning of loudspeakers was accomplished
through a heuristic search algorithm to obtain the highest local cancellation of noise originating in the acoustic cavity from any position(s) in the targeted area. The feedforward adaptive control system chosen to drive the control loudspeakers is implemented using the least mean squares
algorithm. The efficiency of the designed system under different noise conditions was examined, and two of them were included in the study.