bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Symmetrical Composite Supercapacitor Based on Activated Carbon and Cobalt Nanoparticles with High Cyclic Stability and Current Load
Authors: Abdullin Khabibulla A. , Gabdullin Maratbek T. , Kalkozova Zhanar K. , Nurbolat Shyryn T. , Mirzaeian Mojtaba
Published: May 2023

Supercapacitors play an important role in a future clean-energy landscape to meet the challenges of existing energy-storage/delivery systems. They suffer from low energy density and are mainly used for the storage/delivery of electrical energy in high power demands. However, improvement of their energy density is vital to develop energy storage systems that can respond to the energy demands of emerging technologies requiring a wider energy/power spectrum. In this article, a symmetrical capacitor is developed from a composite consisting of synthesized activated carbon and cobalt oxide to improve the energy storage performance of the supercapacitor. Uniform distribution and immobilization of cobalt nanoparticles within the composite is achieved by embedding cobalt acetate into the initial resorcinol formaldehyde polymeric aerogels, followed by the pyrolysis of the gel in Ar atmosphere and activation of the carbon in CO2 atmosphere at 800 °C. The activated carbon/cobalt composite is used as the electroactive material in electrode formulation. The electrochemical characteristics of the synthesized electrode materials demonstrates an optimized specific capacitance of 235 F g−1 at a sweep rate of 10 mV s−1 in a three-electrode system. The symmetrical capacitor has a capacitance of 66 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, a very high rate of performance in 10,000 cycle tests, and a rate capability of 24% at 30 A g−1. The capacitor shows a power density of up to 15 Wh k g−1. The presence of cobalt spices makes it possible to optimize the capacitance of a symmetrical capacitor, while the capacitance of a symmetrical activated carbon capacitor cannot be optimized.
The Role of Forest Stands Characteristics on Formation of Exterior Migratory Outbreak Spots by the Siberian Silk Moth Dendrolimus sibiricus (Tschetv.) during Population Collapse
Authors: Demidko Denis A. , Goroshko Andrey A. , Slinkina Olga A. , Mikhaylov Pavel V. , Sultson Svetlana M.
Published: May 2023

The characteristics of Abies sibirica Ledeb.- and Pinus sibirica Du Tour dominated forests stands in outbreak spots formed during a Dendrolimus sibiricus outbreak in 2014–2017 were studied at the stage of population collapse (east of the West Siberian Plain and western foothills of the Yenisei Range). The research was based on the data obtained during ground surveys conducted in 2016 when stands characteristics, the Siberian silk moth population density, and defoliation level were recorded. We classified the studied stands using decision trees and random forest algorithms to identify the key characteristics that determine the formation of outbreak spots. The classification results showed that the characteristics of the detected outbreak spots differ significantly from those previously described for dark coniferous stands of the southern taiga in Siberia. The highest probability of the outbreak spot occurrence in the study area was revealed for stands with the following characteristics: moderately moist site; Siberian stone pine and Siberian fir take 40% or more of stem volume; age of less than 105 years. Another group of forest stands under threat are those sharing the following characteristics: large area (more than 60 ha); stand homogeneity; ground vegetation is dominated by feather mosses; age of more than 120 years; Picea obovata Ledeb. takes a significant share in a stem volume. Such characteristics indicate that during the population collapse, the Siberian silk moth forms outbreak spots in stands that either undergo an early successional stage after previous outbreak or have been slightly damaged during the previous outbreaks due to unfavorable habitat conditions.
Effect of Sun Exposure of the Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) on the Occurrence and Number of Cameraria ohridella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)
Authors: Bogoutdinova Liliya R. , Tkacheva Ekaterina V. , Konovalova Ludmila N. , Tkachenko Oleg B. , Olekhnovich Ludmila S. , Gulevich Alexander A. , Baranova Ekaterina N. , Shelepova Olga V.
Published: May 2023

The study of the leafmining moth of the chestnut miner (Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dymić, 1986) was carried out through the planting of the common horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) in the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The effect of various degrees of insolation of horse chestnut plants on leaf morphology and the composition of secondary metabolites, as well as the relationship of these parameters with the number and density of C. ohridella populations during the growing season, was studied. The solar influence, it was noted, had a significant impact. Thus, the largest number of the pests was recorded on the leaves of the sunlit side of the tree crown, and the smallest on the leaves of the shady part of the crown. The low content of polyphenols in the pool of secondary metabolites in the tissues of the A. hippocastanum leaves did not deter C. ohridella and poorly protected the plants from this miner, while the significant content of carbohydrates in the leaves reduced the resistance of chestnut plants to damage by the Ohrid leaf miner.
Causes and Consequences of Cognitive Variation in Fishes
Authors: Braga Goncalves Ines , Ashton Benjamin J. , Fischer Stefan
Published: May 2023

Fishes are not only the largest, but also the most diverse group of vertebrates [...]
A Novel Grey Seasonal Model for Natural Gas Production Forecasting
Authors: Chen Yuzhen , Wang Hui , Li Suzhen , Dong Rui
Published: May 2023

To accurately predict the time series of energy data, an optimized Hausdorff fractional grey seasonal model was proposed based on the complex characteristics of seasonal fluctuations and local random oscillations of seasonal energy data. This paper used a new seasonal index to eliminate the seasonal variation of the data and weaken the local random fluctuations. Furthermore, the Hausdorff fractional accumulation operator was introduced into the traditional grey prediction model to improve the weight of new information, and the particle swarm optimization algorithm was used to find the nonlinear parameters of the model. In order to verify the reliability of the new model in energy forecasting, the new model was applied to two different energy types, hydropower and wind power. The experimental results indicated that the model can effectively predict quarterly time series of energy data. Based on this, we used China’s quarterly natural gas production data from 2015 to 2021 as samples to forecast those for 2022–2024. In addition, we also compared the proposed model with the traditional statistical models and the grey seasonal models. The comparison results showed that the new model had obvious advantages in predicting quarterly data of natural gas production, and the accurate prediction results can provide a reference for natural gas resource allocation.
Longitudinal Analysis of Contrasts in Gene Expression Data
Authors: Hahn Georg , Novak Tanya , Crawford Jeremy C. , Randolph Adrienne G. , Lange Christoph
Published: May 2023

We are interested in detecting a departure from the baseline in a longitudinal analysis in the context of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). In particular, we are given gene expression reads at two time points for a fixed number of genes and individuals. The individuals can be subdivided into two groups, denoted as groups A and B. Using the two time points, we compute a contrast of gene expression reads per individual and gene. The age of each individual is known and it is used to compute, for each gene separately, a linear regression of the gene expression contrasts on the individual’s age. Looking at the intercept of the linear regression to detect a departure from the baseline, we aim to reliably single out those genes for which there is a difference in the intercept among those individuals in group A and not in group B. In this work, we develop testing methodology for this setting based on two hypothesis tests—one under the null and one under an appropriately formulated alternative. We demonstrate the validity of our approach using a dataset created by bootstrapping from a real data application in the context of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).
Flight Capacity and Response to Habitat Drying of Endemic Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in Arkansas (USA)
Authors: Longing Scott D. , Magoulick Daniel D.
Published: May 2023

The ability to colonize new habitat is essential for wild populations affected by disturbance or other forms of habitat change. For aquatic insects in small streams, overland flight is an important strategy for dispersal when barriers to in-stream migration exist and when populations are isolated in upland habitats. Two Ozark-endemic water beetles (Heterosternuta sulphuria and Heterosternuta phoebeae) have shown little overlap in distributions, with the former frequently occurring in small upland watersheds and the latter occurring in aquatic habitats farther downstream in larger watersheds. Because H. sulphuria has been associated with perennial aquatic habitats, we hypothesized that H. sulphuria individuals could exhibit low capacity for flight, thereby affecting population distributions over time. Laboratory flight observations showed that zero individuals of H. sulphuria flew (n = 67), whereas 17 of 76 individuals of H. phoebeae were observed to fly. Stream habitat drying experiments provided further evidence of the weak capacity for flight and overland migration of H. sulphuria, with low probabilities of survivorship in microhabitats exposed to drying. Weak flight capacity and apparent intolerance to habitat drying have important implications for the evolutionary history and conservation of H. sulphuria in small Ozark streams exposed to variable flow regimes and stream margins vulnerable to disturbances.
Non-Stationary Precipitation Frequency Estimates for Resilient Infrastructure Design in a Changing Climate: A Case Study in Sydney
Authors: Doulabian Shahab , Tousi Erfan Ghasemi , Shadmehri Toosi Amirhossein , Alaghmand Sina
Published: May 2023

The intensity–duration–frequency (IDF) curve is a commonly utilized tool for estimating extreme rainfall events that are used for many purposes including flood analysis. Extreme rainfall events are expected to become more intense under the changing climate, and there is a need to account for non-stationarity IDF curves to mitigate an underestimation of the risks associated with extreme rainfall events. Sydney, Australia, has recently started experiencing flooding under climate change and more intense rainfall events. This study evaluated the impact of climate change on altering the precipitation frequency estimates (PFs) used in generating IDF curves at Sydney Airport. Seven general circulation models (GCMs) were obtained, and the best models in terms of providing the extreme series were selected. The ensemble of the best models was used for comparing the projected 24 h PFs in 2031–2060 with historical values provided by Australian Rainfall and Runoff (ARR). The historical PFs consistently underestimate the projected 24 h PFs for all return periods. The projected 24 h 100 yr rainfall events are increased by 9% to 41% for the least and worst-case scenario compared to ARR historical PFs. These findings highlight the need for incorporating the impact of climate change on PFs and IDF curves in Sydney toward building a more prepared and resilient community. The findings of this study can also aid other communities in adapting the same framework for developing more robust and adaptive approaches to reducing extreme rainfall events’ repercussions under changing climates.
Hydrogeochemistry, Geothermometry, and Sourcing of High Dissolved Boron, Tungsten, and Chlorine Concentrations in the Trans-Himalayan Hotsprings of Ladakh, India
Authors: Ansari Arif H. , Singh Veeru Kant , Kumar Pankaj , Sharma Mukund , Sharma Anupam , Patnaik Satyakam , Gundiga Gurumurthy P. , Rahi Ishwar Chandra , Ansari Mohammad Arif , Ramanathan AL
Published: May 2023

Boron (B) and Tungsten (W) are often found enriched in high-temperature geothermal waters associated with the development of subduction-related mafic to felsic arc magma. However, knowledge about the sourcing and transportation of these elements from such hydrothermal systems is sparse and ambiguous. Being the only active continental collision site in the world, the Trans-Himalaya offers a unique chance to study how continental collision sources the high boron and tungsten concentrations in geothermal fluids. This study investigated the distribution of trace elements, major cations, and anions in three physicochemically distinct hotspring sites in the Ladakh region. The results were integrated with the existing geochemical and isotopic data to address the research problem more effectively. This study exhibits that the extreme concentrations of boron, sodium, chlorine, potassium, and tungsten in the hotspring waters were primarily governed by magmatic fluid inputs. In addition, this study recorded the highest-ever chlorine and boron concentrations for the Trans-Himalayan hotspring waters. The highest-ever boron and chlorine concentrations in the hotspring waters probably represented an increase in magmatic activity in the deeper source zone.
Neighborhood Walkability as a Risk Factor for Preterm Birth Phenotypes in Two Philadelphia Hospitals from 2013–2016
Authors: Kash Theresa A. , Ledyard Rachel F. , Mullin Anne M. , Burris Heather H.
Published: May 2023

A total of one in ten infants is born preterm in the U.S. with large racial disparities. Recent data suggest that neighborhood exposures may play a role. Walkability—how easily individuals can walk to amenities–may encourage physical activity. We hypothesized that walkability would be associated with a decreased risk of preterm birth (PTB) and that associations would vary by PTB phenotype. PTB can be spontaneous (sPTB) from conditions such as preterm labor and preterm premature rupture of membranes, or medically indicated (mPTB) from conditions such as poor fetal growth and preeclampsia. We analyzed associations of neighborhood walkability (quantified by their Walk Score® ranking) with sPTB and mPTB in a Philadelphia birth cohort (n = 19,203). Given racial residential segregation, we also examined associations in race-stratified models. Walkability (per 10 points of Walk Score ranking) was associated with decreased odds of mPTB (aOR 0.90, 95% CI: 0.83, 0.98), but not sPTB (aOR 1.04, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.12). Walkability was not protective for mPTB for all patients; there was a non-significant protective effect for White (aOR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.75, 1.01), but not Black patients (aOR 1.05, 95% CI: 0.92, 1.21) (interaction p = 0.03). Measuring health effects of neighborhood characteristics across populations is key for urban planning efforts focused on health equity.
Feasibility of a Virtual Educational Programme for Behaviour Change in Cardiac Patients from a Low-Resource Setting
Authors: Santos Rafaella Zulianello dos , Almeida Sidnei , Scheafer Andrea Korbes , Karsten Marlus , Oh Paul , Benetti Magnus , Ghisi Gabriela Lima de Melo
Published: May 2023

Patient education is an integral part of recovery from a critical cardiac life event and a core component of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes. This study addressed the feasibility of a virtual educational programme for behaviour change in CR patients from a low-resource setting in Brazil. Cardiac patients from a CR programme closed due to the pandemic received a 12-week virtual educational intervention (WhatsApp messages and bi-weekly calls from healthcare providers). Acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality, and limited efficacy were tested. Overall, 34 patients and 8 healthcare providers agreed to participate. The intervention was considered practical and acceptable by the participants, who reported a satisfaction median of 9.0 (7.4–10.0)/10 (patients) and 9.8 (9.6–10.0)/10 (providers). The main difficulties in carrying out the intervention activities were related to technology, motivation to self-learning, and a lack of in-person orientation. All the patients reported that the information included in the intervention was aligned with their information needs. The intervention was associated with changes in exercise self-efficacy, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and performance of high-intensity physical activity. In conclusion, the intervention was considered feasible to educate cardiac patients from a low-resource setting. It should be replicated and expanded to support patients that face barriers to onsite CR participation. Challenges related to technology and self-learning should be addressed.
Parthenolide Induces ROS-Mediated Apoptosis in Lymphoid Malignancies
Authors: Jorge Joana , Neves Joana , Alves Raquel , Geraldes Catarina , Gonçalves Ana Cristina , Sarmento-Ribeiro Ana Bela
Published: May 2023

Lymphoid malignancies are a group of highly heterogeneous diseases frequently associated with constitutive activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Parthenolide is a natural compound used to treat migraines and arthritis and found to act as a potent NF-κB signaling inhibitor. This study evaluated in vitro parthenolide efficacy in lymphoid neoplasms. We assessed parthenolide metabolic activity in NCI-H929 (MM), Farage (GCB-DLBCL), Raji (BL), 697 and KOPN-8 (B-ALL), and CEM and MOLT-4 (T-ALL), by resazurin assay. Cell death, cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨmit), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, activated caspase-3, FAS-ligand, and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 were evaluated using flow cytometry. CMYC, TP53, GPX1, and TXRND1 expression levels were assessed using qPCR. Our results showed that parthenolide promoted a metabolic activity decrease in all cell lines in a time-, dose-, and cell-line-dependent manner. The mechanism induced by parthenolide was demonstrated to be cell line dependent. Nonetheless, parthenolide promoted cell death by apoptosis with significant ROS increase (peroxides and superoxide anion) and GSH decrease combined with a ΔΨmit reduction across all studied cell lines. Despite the need to further understand parthenolide mechanisms, parthenolide should be considered as a possible new therapeutic approach for B- and T-lymphoid malignancies.
Role of p53 in Cisplatin-Induced Myotube Atrophy
Authors: Matsumoto Chinami , Sekine Hitomi , Zhang Nana , Mogami Sachiko , Fujitsuka Naoki , Takeda Hiroshi
Published: May 2023

Chemotherapy-induced sarcopenia is an unfavorable prognostic factor implicated in the development of postoperative complications and reduces the quality of life of patients with cancer. Skeletal muscle loss due to cisplatin use is caused by mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases Atrogin-1 and muscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1). Although animal studies suggest the involvement of p53 in age-, immobility-, and denervation-related muscle atrophy, the association between cisplatin-induced atrophy and p53 remains unknown. Herein, we investigated the effect of a p53-specific inhibitor, pifithrin-alpha (PFT-α), on cisplatin-induced atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. Cisplatin increased the protein levels of p53, phosphorylated p53, and upregulated the mRNA expression of p53 target genes PUMA and p21 in C2C12 myotubes. PFT-α ameliorated the increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial dysfunction, and also reduced the cisplatin-induced increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Although PFT-α also reduced the cisplatin-induced increase in MuRF1 and Atrogin-1 gene expression, it did not ameliorate the decrease in myosin heavy chain mRNA and protein levels and muscle-specific actin and myoglobin protein levels. We conclude that cisplatin increases muscle degradation in C2C12 myotubes in a p53-dependent manner, but p53 has minimal involvement in the reduction of muscle protein synthesis.
Assessment of Liquefaction Hazard and Mapping Based on Standard Penetration Tests in the Long Beach and Tuzla Regions of Cyprus
Authors: Selcukhan Onur , Ekinci Abdullah
Published: May 2023

Cyprus is the third largest and populated island in the Mediterranean Sea, and is still rapidly expanding. Significant infrastructures, such as hotels, educational institutions, and large residential complexes, are being built. Historically, 15 destructive earthquakes were reported on Cyprus from 1896 to 2019 that caused structural damages and casualties. In this study, the liquefaction potential of Tuzla and Long Beach on the east coast of Cyprus is estimated using the standard penetration test (SPT) data from more than 200 boreholes at different locations at the sites. The overall results are presented in a liquefaction potential index obtained from the factor of safety (F.S.) coefficient. Both study areas are susceptible to liquefaction. Thus, liquefaction potential maps are prepared to identify hazards in Tuzla and Long Beach. Additionally, the average factor of the safety line was introduced for both sites to create a correlation between the liquefaction area and F.S. values of every borehole. The adopted approach precisely provides the liquefiable regions when compared with historical evidence, CPT measurements, surface geology aspects, and geospatial data. Additionally, the results prove that the liquefaction potential must be considered during the design stage of new infrastructure in these areas.
Dispersal Behavior Characters of Spodoptera frugiperda Larvae
Authors: Li Yong-Ping , Yao Su-Yi , Feng Dan , Haack Robert A. , Yang Yang , Hou Jia-Lan , Ye Hui
Published: May 2023

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major pest of corn worldwide. FAW larval dispersal is an important life strategy that influences FAW population distribution in corn fields and subsequent plant damage. We studied FAW larval dispersal in the laboratory with sticky plates placed around the test plant and a unidirectional airflow source. Crawling and ballooning were the main dispersal means of FAW larvae both within and between corn plants. All larval instars (1st–6th) could disperse by crawling, with crawling being the only dispersal mechanism for 4th–6th instars. By crawling, FAW larvae could reach all aboveground parts of a corn plant as well as adjacent corn plants where leaves overlapped. Ballooning was used primarily by 1st-3rd instar larvae, and the proportion of these larvae that used ballooning decreased with age. Ballooning was largely governed by the larva’s interaction with airflow. Airflow influenced the direction and distance of larval ballooning. With an airflow speed of about 0.05 m/s, 1st instars could travel up to 196 cm from the test plant, indicating that long-distance FAW larval dispersal depends on ballooning. These results increase our understanding of FAW larval dispersal and provide scientific information for the development of FAW monitoring and control strategies.
The Importance of Mehran Score to Predict Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with TAVI: A Large Multicenter Cohort Study
Authors: Arrotti Salvatore , Sgura Fabio Alfredo , Monopoli Daniel Enrique , Siena Valerio , Leo Giulio , Morgante Vernizia , Cataldo Paolo , Magnavacchi Paolo , Gabbieri Davide , Guiducci Vincenzo , Benatti Giorgio , Vignali Luigi , Boriani Giuseppe , Rossi Rosario
Published: May 2023

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has developed as an alternative to surgery for symptomatic high-risk patients with aortic stenosis (AS). An important complication of TAVI is acute kidney injury. The purpose of the study was to investigate if the Mehran Score (MS) could be used to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) in TAVI patients. Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective, observational study including 1180 patients with severe AS. The MS comprised eight clinical and procedural variables: hypotension, congestive heart failure class, glomerular filtration rate, diabetes, age >75 years, anemia, need for intra-aortic balloon pump, and contrast agent volume use. We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the MS in predicting AKI following TAVI, as well as the predictive value of MS with each AKI-related characteristic. Results: Patients were categorized into four risk groups based on MS: low (≤5), moderate (6–10), high (11–15), and very high (≥16). Post-procedural AKI was observed in 139 patients (11.8%). MS classes had a higher risk of AKI in the multivariate analysis (HR 1.38, 95% CI, 1.43–1.63, p < 0.01). The best cutoff for MS to predict the onset of AKI was 13.0 (AUC, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.57–0.67), whereas the best cutoff for eGFR was 42.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 (AUC, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.56–0.67). Conclusions: MS was shown to be a predictor of AKI development in TAVI patients.
Association of CD47 Expression with Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Survival Outcomes in Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Myint Zin W. , Chahine Zena , Jayswal Rani , Bachert Emily , McDonald Robert J. , Strup Stephen E. , James Andrew C. , Hensley Patrick J. , Allison Derek B.
Published: May 2023

Objective: CD47 is an antiphagocytic molecule that plays a critical role in immune surveillance. A variety of malignancies have been shown to evade the immune system by increasing the expression of CD47 on the cell surface. As a result, anti-CD47 therapy is under clinical investigation for a subset of these tumors. Interestingly, CD47 overexpression is associated with negative clinical outcomes in lung and gastric cancers; however, the expression and functional significance of CD47 in bladder cancer is not fully understood. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively studied patients with muscle invasion bladder cancer (MIBC) who underwent a transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and subsequently underwent radical cystectomy (RC) with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). CD47 expression was examined by IHC in both TURBT and matched RC specimens. The difference in CD47 expression levels between TURBT and RC was also compared. The association of CD47 levels (TURBT) with clinicopathological parameters and survival outcomes was evaluated by Pearson’s chi-squared tests and the Kaplan–Meier method, respectively. Results: A total of 87 MIBC patients were included. The median age was 66 (39–84) years. Most patients were Caucasian (95%), male (79%), and aged >60 (63%) and most often (75%) underwent NAC prior to RC. Of those who received NAC, 35.6% were responders and 64.4% were non-responders. The final reported stages as per AJCC for all patients were as follows: stage 0 (32%), stage 1 (1%), stage 2 (20%), stage 3 (43%), and stage 4a (5%). A total of 60% of patients were alive; of those, 30% had disease recurrence and 40% died from bladder cancer at a median follow-up of 3.1 (0.2–14.2) years. CD47 levels were detectable in 38 (44%) TURBT samples. There was no association between CD47 levels and clinicopathological parameters such as age, gender, race, NAC, final stage, disease recurrence, and overall survival (OS). Patients aged >60 (p = 0.006), non-responders (p = 0.002), and at stage ≥ 3 (p < 0.001) were associated with worse OS by a univariate analysis and stage ≥ 3 remained significant even after a multivariate analysis. In patients managed with NAC, there were decreased CD47 levels in RC specimens compared to the TURBT specimens, but this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: CD47 expression was not a predictive nor prognostic marker for MIBC patients. However, expression of CD47 was detected in nearly half of MIBCs, and future studies are needed to explore the potential role of anti-CD47 therapy in these patients. Furthermore, there was a slight positive trend in decreased CD47 levels (from TURBT to RC) in patients receiving NAC. As a result, more research is needed to understand how NAC may modify immune surveillance mechanisms in MIBC.
The Mechanisms of Inhibition Effects on Bubble Growth in He-Irradiated 316L Stainless Steel Fabricated by Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Shen Shangkun , Sun Zhangjie , Hao Liyu , Liu Xing , Zhang Jian , Yang Kunjie , Liu Peng , Tang Xiaobin , Fu Engang
Published: May 2023

The AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) is considered to have great prospects for applications in nuclear systems. This study investigated the He-irradiation response of SLM 316L, and several possible reasons for the improved He-irradiation resistance of SLM 316L were systematically revealed and evaluated by using TEM and related techniques. The results show that the effects of unique sub-grain boundaries have primary contributions to the decreased bubble diameter in SLM 316L compared to that in the conventional 316L counterpart, while the effects of oxide particles on bubble growth are not the dominant factor in this study. Moreover, the He densities inside the bubbles were carefully measured using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The mechanism of stress-dominated He densities in bubbles was validated, and the corresponding reasons for the decrease in bubble diameter were freshly proposed in SLM 316L. These insights help to shed light on the evolution of He bubbles and contribute to the ongoing development of the steels fabricated by SLM for advanced nuclear applications.
Resistance Profiles to Second-Line Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs and Their Treatment Outcomes: A Three-Year Retrospective Analysis from South India
Authors: Gopalaswamy Radha , Palani Nandhini , Viswanathan Dinesh , Preysingh Bershila , Rajendran Suchithra , Vijayaraghavan Vaishnavee , Thangavel Kannadasan , Vadivel Senthil Devi , Stanley Hannah , Thiruvengadam Kannan , Jayabal Lavanya , Murugesan Kaleeswari , Rathinam Sridhar , Frederick Asha , Sivaramakrishnan Gomathi , Padmapriyadarsini Chandrasekaran , Shanmugam Sivakumar
Published: May 2023

Background: Patients with first-line drug resistance (DR) to rifampicin (RIF) or isoniazid (INH) as a first-line (FL) line probe assay (LPA) were subjected to genotypic DST using second-line (SL) LPA to identify SL-DR (including pre-XDR) under the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP), India. SL-DR patients were initiated on different DR-TB treatment regimens and monitored for their outcomes. The objective of this retrospective analysis was to understand the mutation profile and treatment outcomes of SL-DR patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of mutation profile, treatment regimen, and treatment outcome was performed for SL-DR patients who were tested at ICMR-NIRT, Supra-National Reference Laboratory, Chennai between the years 2018 and 2020. All information, including patient demographics and treatment outcomes, was extracted from the NTEP Ni-kshay database. Results: Between 2018 and 2020, 217 patients out of 2557 samples tested were identified with SL-DR by SL-LPA. Among them, 158/217 were FQ-resistant, 34/217 were SLID-resistant, and 25/217 were resistant to both. D94G (Mut3C) of gyrA and a1401g of rrs were the most predominant mutations in the FQ and SLID resistance types, respectively. Favorable (cured and treatment complete) and unfavorable outcomes (died, lost to follow up, treatment failed, and treatment regimen changed) were recorded in a total of 82/217 and 68/217 patients in the NTEP Ni-kshay database. Conclusions: As per the testing algorithm, SL- LPA is used for genotypic DST following identification of first-line resistance, for early detection of SL-DR in India. The fluoroquinolone resistance pattern seen in this study population corelates with the global trend. Early detection of fluoroquinolone resistance and monitoring of treatment outcome can help achieve better patient management.
Effects of Intravascular Photobiomodulation on Insomnia, Muscle Soreness, and Biochemistry Profiles: An Eight-Year Retrospective Cohort
Authors: Lin Yen-Po , Ding Ruei-Sian , Yin Chun-Hao , Chen Yao-Shen , Chen Jin-Shuen , Chang Shin-Tsu
Published: May 2023

Background: Although cognitive-behavioral therapy is the first-line treatment for insomnia, pharmacotherapy is often prescribed to treat insomnia and related symptoms. In addition, muscle relaxants are commonly prescribed to alleviate muscle soreness when the pain is unbearable. However, pharmacotherapy can lead to numerous side effects. The non-drug strategy intravascular laser irradiation of blood (iPBM) has been advocated to improve pain, wound healing, blood circulation, and blood cell function to relieve insomnia and muscle soreness symptoms. Therefore, we assessed whether iPBM improves blood parameters and compared drug use before and after iPBM therapy. Methods: Consecutive patients who received iPBM therapy between January 2013 and August 2021 were reviewed. The associations between laboratory data, pharmacotherapies, and iPBM therapy were retrospectively analyzed. We compared patient characteristics, blood parameters, and drug use within the three months before the first treatment and the three months after the last treatment. We also compared the changes before and after treatment in patients who received ≥10 or 1–9 iPBM treatments. Result: We assessed 183 eligible patients who received iPBM treatment. Of them, 18 patients reported insomnia disturbance, and 128 patients reported pain in any part of their body. After the treatment, HGB and HCT significantly increased after treatment in both the ≥10 and 1–9 iPBM treatment groups (HGB p < 0.001 and p = 0.046; HCT p < 0.001 and p = 0.029, respectively). Pharmacotherapy analysis revealed no significant differences in drug use before and after treatment, though drug use tended to decrease after iPBM. Conclusions: iPBM therapy is an efficient, beneficial, and feasible treatment that increases HGB and HCT. While the results of this study do not support the suggestion that iPBM reduces drug use, further larger studies using symptom scales are needed to confirm the changes in insomnia and muscle soreness after iPBM treatment.
Changes in Nutritional Status during Induction Phase and Their Association with Fever and Minimal Residual Disease in Paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
Authors: Gustaitė Sigita , Everatt Veronika , Kairienė Ignė , Vaišnorė Ramunė , Rascon Jelena , Vaitkevičienė Goda Elizabeta
Published: May 2023

Background and objectives: Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is associated with a cytokine imbalance and oxidative stress, which can be aggravated by malnutrition. Malnutrition, defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as obesity or undernutrition, can affect treatment complications and outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to analyse the change in the body mass index (BMI) z-score during induction, as well as evaluate the impact of childhood malnutrition on fevers at an ALL presentation and early response to therapy. Methods: An observational cohort study of 50 consecutive children with ALL, diagnosed in 2019–2022, was performed. Patients were divided into age groups of 0–5, 6–11, and 12–17 years. BMI-for-age z-scores were used to define undernutrition and overnutrition according to WHO growth standards. Results: The number of patients with an abnormal BMI increased from 3 (6%) at diagnosis to 10 (20%) at the end of induction (from 2 (4%) to 6 (12%) in overweight/obese, and from 1 (2%) to 4 (8%) in underweight patients). At the end of induction, all overweight/obese patients were 0–5 years old. On the other hand, a statistically significant decrease in the mean BMI z-score among patients aged 12–17 was observed (p = 0.005). The mean BMI z-score differed statistically significantly among children aged 0–5 presenting with and without fever (p = 0.001). The minimal residual disease (MRD) level at the end of induction was not related to BMI at diagnosis. Conclusions: Despite the use of steroids, adolescents are prone to losing weight during an ALL induction, in contrast to preschool children, who tend to gain weight under the same treatment. BMI at diagnosis was related to a fever of ≥38 °C (at ALL presentation) in the 0–5 age group. The results emphasise the importance of careful nutritional status monitoring, with younger and older children as important target groups for weight gain and weight loss interventions, respectively.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression and Anxiety among Women in the Last Trimester of Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Răchită Anca Ioana Cristea , Strete Gabriela Elena , Sălcudean Andreea , Ghiga Dana Valentina , Rădulescu Flavia , Călinescu Mihai , Nan Andreea Georgiana , Sasu Andreea Bianca , Suciu Laura Mihaela , Mărginean Claudiu
Published: May 2023

Pregnancy represents a psychologically and emotionally vulnerable period, and research indicates that pregnant women have a higher prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression, debunking the myth that hormonal changes associated with pregnancy protect the mother. In recent years, several researchers have focused on the study of prenatal anxiety/depression—emotional disorders manifested by mood lability and low interest in activities—with a high prevalence. The main objective of this research was to conduct an antenatal screening in a cohort of pregnant women hospitalized for delivery in order to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression. The secondary objective was to identify the risk factors associated with depression and anxiety in women in the third trimester of pregnancy. We carried out a prospective study in which we evaluated 215 pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy hospitalized for childbirth at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the Târgu-Mureș County Clinical Hospital. The research was carried out between December 2019 and December 2021. The results showed that age and the environment of origin are the strongest predictors of mental health during pregnancy (OR = 0.904, 95%CI: 0.826–0.991; p = 0.029). For women from urban areas, there is an increased probability of falling at a higher level on the dependent variable (moderate depression) (OR = 2.454, 95%CI: 1.086–5.545; p = 0.032). In terms of health behaviors, none of the variables were statistically significant predictors of the outcome variable. The study highlights the importance of monitoring mental health during pregnancy and identifying relevant risk factors to provide appropriate care to pregnant women and the need for interventions to support the mental health of pregnant women. Especially in Romania, where there is no antenatal or postnatal screening for depression or other mental health conditions, these results could be used to encourage the implementation of such screening programs and appropriate interventions.
Assessment of the Hydrolysis of Pydiflumetofen and Its Degradation Characteristics in Agricultural Soils
Authors: Shi Xianluo , Xie Guai , Zhang Wei , Yu Ailin
Published: May 2023

Pydiflumetofen is a potent fungicide that effectively inhibits pathogenic fungal growth by regulating succinate dehydrogenase activity. It effectively prevents and treats various fungal diseases, including leaf spot, powdery mildew, grey mold, bakanae, scab, and sheath blight. Pydiflumetofen’s hydrolytic and degradation properties were investigated indoors in four distinct soil types (phaeozems, lixisols, ferrosols, and plinthosols) to assess its risks in aquatic and soil environments. The effect of soil physicochemical properties and external environmental conditions on its degradation was also explored. Hydrolysis experiments found that pydiflumetofen’s hydrolysis rate decreased with increasing concentration, regardless of the initial concentration. Furthermore, an increasing temperature significantly enhances the hydrolysis rate, with neutral conditions having higher degradation rates than acidic and alkaline conditions. Pydiflumetofen showed a degradation half-life of 10.79–24.82 days and a degradation rate of 0.0276–0.0642 in different soils. Phaeozems soils had the fastest degradation, while ferrosols soils had the slowest. Sterilization significantly reduced its soil degradation rate and extended its half-life, which confirmed that microorganisms were the primary cause. Therefore, when using pydiflumetofen in agricultural production activities, the characteristics of water bodies, soil, and environmental factors must be considered, while minimizing the emissions and environmental impact.
Design and Synthesis of Brefeldin A-Isothiocyanate Derivatives with Selectivity and Their Potential for Cervical Cancer Therapy
Authors: Wang Mingying , Chen Xiaoyuan , Qu Ying , Ma Qingyinglu , Pan Huaqi , Li Haonan , Hua Huiming , Li Dahong
Published: May 2023

Brefeldin A has a wide range of anticancer activity against a variety of tumor cells. Its poor pharmacokinetic properties and significant toxicity seriously hinder its further development. In this manuscript, 25 brefeldin A-isothiocyanate derivatives were designed and synthesized. Most derivatives showed good selectivity between HeLa cells and L-02 cells. In particular, 6 exhibited potent antiproliferative activity against HeLa cells (IC50 = 1.84 μM) with no obvious cytotoxic activity to L-02 (IC50 > 80 μM). Further cellular mechanism tests indicated that 6 induced HeLa cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Cell nucleus fragmentation and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential suggested 6 could induce apoptosis in HeLa cells through the mitochondrial-dependent pathway.
Atomistic Simulation of Physical Vapor Deposition of Optical Thin Films
Authors: Grigoriev Fedor Vasilievich , Sulimov Vladimir Borisovich
Published: May 2023

A review of the methods and results of atomistic modeling of the deposition of thin optical films and a calculation of their characteristics is presented. The simulation of various processes in a vacuum chamber, including target sputtering and the formation of film layers, is considered. Methods for calculating the structural, mechanical, optical, and electronic properties of thin optical films and film-forming materials are discussed. The application of these methods to studying the dependences of the characteristics of thin optical films on the main deposition parameters is considered. The simulation results are compared with experimental data.
Robotics and Aseptic Processing in View of Regulatory Requirements
Authors: Tanzini Andrea , Ruggeri Marco , Bianchi Eleonora , Valentino Caterina , Vigani Barbara , Ferrari Franca , Rossi Silvia , Giberti Hermes , Sandri Giuseppina
Published: May 2023

Several nanomedicine based medicinal products recently reached the market thanks to the drive of the COVID-19 pandemic. These products are characterized by criticality in scalability and reproducibility of the batches, and the manufacturing processes are now being pushed towards continuous production to face these challenges. Although the pharmaceutical industry, because of its deep regulation, is characterized by slow adoption of new technologies, recently, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) took the lead in pushing for process improvements using technologies already established in other manufacturing sectors. Foremost among these technologies, robotics is a technological driver, and its implementation in the pharma field should cause a big change, probably within the next 5 years. This paper aims at describing the regulation changes mainly in aseptic manufacturing and the use of robotics in the pharmaceutical environment to fulfill GMP (good manufacturing practice). Special attention is therefore paid at first to the regulatory aspect, explaining the reasons behind the current changes, and then to the use of robotics that will characterize the future of manufacturing especially in aseptic environments, moving from a clear overview of robotics to the use of automated systems to design more efficient processes, with reduced risk of contamination. This review should clarify the regulation and technological scenario and provide pharmaceutical technologists with basic knowledge in robotics and automation, as well as engineers with regulatory knowledge to define a common background and language, and enable the cultural shift of the pharmaceutical industry.
Botanical Analysis of the Baroque Art on the Eastern Adriatic Coast, South Croatia
Authors: Jasprica Nenad , Lupis Vinicije B. , Dolina Katija
Published: May 2023

The analysis of plants featured in Baroque artworks on the eastern Adriatic coast has not previously been the subject of an in-depth study. The study of plant iconography in Baroque sacred artworks, which are mostly paintings, was carried out in eight churches and monasteries on the Pelješac peninsula in southern Croatia. Taxonomic interpretation of the painted flora on 15 artworks led to the identification of 23 different plant taxa (species or genera) belonging to 17 families. One additional plant was identified only by family taxonomic rank. The number of plants was relatively high, and most species were considered non-native (71%, “exotic” flora) phanerophytes. In terms of geographic origin, the Palaearctic region (Eurasia) and the American continent were identified as the main areas of plant origin. Lilium candidum, Acanthus mollis, and Chrysanthemum cf. morifolium, were the most common species. We think that the plants were selected for decorative and aesthetic reasons, as well as for their symbolic significance.
Nodule Synthetic Bacterial Community as Legume Biofertilizer under Abiotic Stress in Estuarine Soils
Authors: Flores-Duarte Noris J. , Navarro-Torre Salvadora , Mateos-Naranjo Enrique , Redondo-Gómez Susana , Pajuelo Eloísa , Rodríguez-Llorente Ignacio D.
Published: May 2023

Estuaries are ecologically important ecosystems particularly affected by climate change and human activities. Our interest is focused on the use of legumes to fight against the degradation of estuarine soils and loss of fertility under adverse conditions. This work was aimed to determine the potential of a nodule synthetic bacterial community (SynCom), including two Ensifer sp. and two Pseudomonas sp. strains isolated from Medicago spp. nodules, to promote M. sativa growth and nodulation in degraded estuarine soils under several abiotic stresses, including high metal contamination, salinity, drought and high temperature. These plant growth promoting (PGP) endophytes were able to maintain and even increase their PGP properties in the presence of metals. Inoculation with the SynCom in pots containing soil enhanced plant growth parameters (from 3- to 12-fold increase in dry weight), nodulation (from 1.5- to 3-fold increase in nodules number), photosynthesis and nitrogen content (up to 4-fold under metal stress) under all the controlled conditions tested. The increase in plant antioxidant enzymatic activities seems to be a common and important mechanism of plant protection induced by the SynCom under abiotic stress conditions. The SynCom increased M. sativa metals accumulation in roots, with low levels of metals translocation to shoots. Results indicated that the SynCom used in this work is an appropriate ecological and safe tool to improve Medicago growth and adaptation to degraded estuarine soils under climate change conditions.