bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proton Pump Inhibitors Worsen Colorectal Cancer Outcomes in Patients Treated with Bevacizumab
Authors: Wu Chin-Chia , Fang Chuan-Yin , Chiou Wen-Yen , Chen Pei-Tsen , Hsu Ta-Wen , Hung Shih-Kai , Liao Yu-Tso , Hung Chuan-Sheng , Tsai Jui-Hsiu
Published: October 2024

Background: Approximately one-third of patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) and treated with bevacizumab are prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs). However, there is limited data on the effects of PPIs and H2RAs in these patients. To investigate the oncological outcomes of PPI and H2RA use in CRC patients treated with bevacizumab, we performed a retrospective cohort study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database and Taiwan Cancer Registry Database from 2005 to 2020. Methods: In CRC patients treated with bevacizumab, the PPI users and H2RA users were matched with patients without acid-reducing agents (ARAs) by 1:4 propensity score matching. PPI users and H2RA users were matched with propensity scoring in a 1:1 ratio. We divided patients into 4 cumulative PPI dosage levels to assess the dose–response relationship. The primary endpoints were 5-year overall survival and cancer-specific survival. Results: Compared with ARA non-users, both H2RA users and PPI users were associated with reduced overall survival. PPI users were associated with more significant negative effects on overall survival. Compared with H2RA users, PPI users were associated with lower 5-year overall survival (aHR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.09–1.31) and cancer-specific survival (aHR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.09–1.31). A similar dose–response relationship was observed for PPI users in terms of 5-year overall survival and cancer-specific overall survival. Conclusions: Compared to H2AR use, PPI use was associated with dose-dependent poorer oncological outcomes in metastatic CRC patients treated with bevacizumab.
Para-Aortic Lymphadenectomy in Ovarian, Endometrial, Gastric, and Bladder Cancers: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Alouini Souhail , Bakri Younes
Published: October 2024

Background: Para-aortic lymphadenectomy can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes as it aids in staging, provides prognostic data, and influences the patient’s options for adjuvant therapy. However, there is still contention over its potential in treating cancer. A systematic review of the literature was performed to look into the published randomized controlled studies (RCTs) that have reported the effectiveness of lymphadenectomy. Methods: Five different electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Clinical trials.gov, ICTRP, and Embase, were used to conduct a comprehensive search. Original RCTs reporting on the impact of lymphadenectomy on the overall survival in various cancers were included. Information related to the study population, intervention, type of cancer, primary endpoints, and key findings of the study were extracted. Quality assessment of the selected studies was conducted using the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool Rob 2 for randomized trials. Results: A total of 1693 citations, with 1511 from PubMed, 80 from the Cochrane Library, 67 from Embase, 18 from ICTRP, and 17 from Clinicaltrials.gov were retrieved. Preliminary screening was performed, and after applying selection criteria, nine articles were included in the final qualitative analysis. The total number of patients was 4231, and the sample size ranged from 70 to 1408. Among these nine studies, four studies were on genital cancers (two ovarian cancers, one endometrial cancer, and one cervical cancer); four on digestive cancers (advanced gastric cancers); and one on urinary cancer (advanced bladder cancer). These studies reported that para-aortic lymphadenectomy did not improve overall survival and disease-free survival in advanced ovarian cancers, early endometrial cancers, advanced gastric, and bladder cancers. All of the studies had a low risk of bias. Conclusions: Para-aortic lymphadenectomy is not advised in advanced ovarian cancers, early endometrial cancers with low risks, advanced gastric cancers, and bladder cancers. SNB could be an alternative to lymphadenectomy for ovarian cancer in the future. Clinicians should inform patients regarding the benefits of para-aortic lymphadenectomy in terms of survival and the potential risks associated with it.
Cobalt Molybdenum Telluride as an Efficient Trifunctional Electrocatalyst for Seawater Splitting
Authors: Kar Rajarshi , Nouralishahi Amideddin , Singh Harish , Nath Manashi
Published: October 2024

A mixed-metal ternary chalcogenide, cobalt molybdenum telluride (CMT), has been identified as an efficient tri-functional electrocatalyst for seawater splitting, leading to enhanced oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The CMT was synthesized by a single step hydrothermal technique. Detailed electrochemical studies of the CMT-modified electrodes showed that CMT has a promising performance for OER in the simulated seawater solutions, exhibiting a small overpotential of 385 mV at 20 mA cm−2, and superior catalyst durability for prolonged period of continuous oxygen evolution. Interestingly, while gas chromatography analysis confirmed the evolution of oxygen in an anodic chamber, it showed that there was no chlorine evolution from these electrodes in alkaline seawater, highlighting the novelty of this catalyst. CMT also displayed remarkable ORR activity in simulated seawater as indicated by its four-electron reduction pathway forming water as the dominant product. One of the primary challenges of seawater splitting is chlorine evolution from the oxidation of dissolved chloride salts. The CMT catalyst successfully and significantly lowers the water oxidation potential, thereby separating the chloride and water oxidation potentials by a larger margin. These results suggest that CMT can function as a highly active tri-functional electrocatalyst with significant stability, making it suitable for clean energy generation and environmental applications using seawater.
Berberine Inhibits the Inflammatory Response Induced by Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Atopic Eczema Patients via the TNF-α/Inflammation/RAGE Pathways
Authors: Maskey Anish R. , Kopulos Daniel , Kwan Matthew , Reyes Niradiz , Figueroa Christian , Mo Xian , Yang Nang , Tiwari Raj , Geliebter Jan , Li Xiu-Min
Published: October 2024

Atopic eczema patients exhibit high levels of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) skin colonization. S. aureus can stimulate macrophages and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Berberine (BBR), an alkaloid, attenuates S. aureus toxin production. This study investigated if BBR suppressed bacterial growth and inflammatory response induced by eczema-patient-derived S. aureus using murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) and human monocyte cell lines (U937). RAW 264.7 and U937 were treated with BBR at different concentrations and stimulated with heat-killed S. aureus (ATCC #33591) or S. aureus derived from severe eczema patients (EC01–EC10), who were undergoing topical steroid withdrawal, for 24 h. TNF-α protein levels were determined by ELISA, gene expression by qRT-PCR, cell cytotoxicity by trypan blue excursion, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels by fluorometric assay. BBR showed a bacteriostatic effect in S. aureus (ATCC strain #33591 and clinical isolates (EC01–EC10) and suppressed TNF-α production in RAW 264.7 and U937 cells exposed to heat-killed S. aureus (ATCC and clinical isolates) dose-dependently without any cell cytotoxicity. BBR (20 µg/mL) suppressed >90% of TNF-α production (p < 0.001), downregulated genes involved in inflammatory pathways, and inhibited S. aureus ROS production in U937 and RAW 264.7 cells (p < 0.01). BBR suppresses S. aureus-induced inflammation via inhibition of TNF-α release, ROS production, and expression of key genes involved in the inflammatory pathway.
Establishment and Characterization of Testis Organoids with Proliferation and Differentiation of Spermatogonial Stem Cells into Spermatocytes and Spermatids
Authors: Zhang Dong , Jin Wencong , Cui Yinghong , He Zuping
Published: October 2024

Organoids play pivotal roles in uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying organogenesis, intercellular communication, and high-throughput drug screening. Testicular organoids are essential for exploring the genetic and epigenetic regulation of spermatogenesis in vivo and the treatment of male infertility. However, the formation of testicular organoids with full spermatogenesis has not yet been achieved. In this study, neonatal mouse testicular cells were isolated by two-step enzymatic digestion, and they were combined with Matrigel and transplanted subcutaneously into nude mice. Histological examination (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry revealed that cell grafts assembled to form seminiferous tubules that contained spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and Sertoli cells, as illustrated by the co-expression of PLZF (a hallmark for SSCs) and SOX9 (a marker for Sertoli cells) as well as the co-expression of UCHL1 (a hallmark for SSCs) and SOX9, after 8 weeks of transplantation. At 10 weeks of transplantation, SSCs could proliferate and differentiate into spermatocytes as evidenced by the expression of PCNA, Ki67, c-Kit, SYCP3, γ-HA2X, and MLH1. Notably, testicular organoids were seen, and spermatids were observed within the lumen of testicular organoids after 16 weeks of transplantation, as shown by the presence of TNP1 and ACROSIN (hallmarks for spermatids). Collectively, these results implicate that we successfully established testicular organoids with spermatogenesis in vivo. This study thus provides an excellent platform for unveiling the mechanisms underlying mammalian spermatogenesis, and it might offer valuable male gametes for treating male infertility.
Liver Fibrosis Is Enhanced by a Higher Egg Burden in Younger Mice Infected with S. mansoni
Authors: Müller Heike , Straßmann Jan K. , Baier Anne S. , von Bülow Verena , Stettler Frederik , Hagen Maximilian J. , Schmidt Fabian P. , Tschuschner Annette , Schmid Andreas R. , Zahner Daniel , Köhler Kernt , Pons-Kühnemann Jörn , Leufkens Daniel , Glebe Dieter , Kaur Surmeet , Möscheid Max F. , Haeberlein Simone , Grevelding Christoph G. , Weiskirchen Ralf , El-Kassas Mohamed , Zalata Khaled , Roeb Elke , Roderfeld Martin
Published: October 2024

Schistosomiasis affects over 250 million people worldwide, with the highest prevalence at the age of 10–14 years. The influence of the host’s age on the severity of liver damage is unclear. We infected male 8, 14, and 20-week-old mice with S. mansoni. Hepatic damage, inflammation, fibrosis, and metabolism were analyzed by RT-qPCR, Western blotting, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and mechanistic transwell chamber experiments using S. mansoni eggs and human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) or primary mouse hepatocytes. Major results were validated in human biopsies. We found that hepatosplenomegaly, granuloma size, egg load, inflammation, fibrosis, and glycogen stores all improved with the increasing age of the host. However, serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were lowest in young mice infected with S. mansoni. Hepatic carbohydrate exploitation was characterized by a shift towards Warburg-like glycolysis in S. mansoni-infected animals. Notably, S. mansoni eggs stimulated hepatic stellate cells to an alternatively activated phenotype (GFAP+/desmin+/αSMA−) that secretes IL-6 and MCP-1. The reduction of fibrosis in older age likely depends on the fine-tuning of regulatory and inflammatory cytokines, alternative HSC activation, and the age-dependent preservation of hepatic energy stores. The current results emphasize the significance of investigations on the clinical relevance of host age-dependent liver damage in patients with schistosomiasis.
PreSCAN: A Comprehensive Review of Pre-Silicon Physical Side-Channel Vulnerability Assessment Methodologies
Authors: Bepary Md Kawser , Zhang Tao , Farahmandi Farimah , Tehranipoor Mark
Published: October 2024

Physical side-channel attacks utilize power, electromagnetic (EM), or timing signatures from cryptographic implementations during operation to retrieve sensitive information from security-critical devices. This paper provides a comprehensive review of these potent attacks against cryptographic hardware implementations, with a particular emphasis on pre-silicon leakage assessment methodologies. We explore the intricacies of cryptographic algorithms, various side-channel attacks, and the latest mitigation techniques. Although leakage assessment techniques are widely adopted in the post-silicon phase, pre-silicon leakage assessment is an emerging field that addresses the inherent limitations of its post-silicon counterpart. We scrutinize established post-silicon techniques and provide a detailed comparative analysis of pre-silicon leakage assessment across different abstraction levels in the hardware design and verification flow. Furthermore, we categorize and discuss existing pre-silicon power and electromagnetic modeling techniques for leakage detection and mitigation that can be integrated with electronic design automation (EDA) tools to automate security assessments. Lastly, we offer insights into the future trajectory of physical side-channel leakage assessment techniques in the pre-silicon stages, highlighting the need for further research and development in this critical area of cybersecurity.
Use of CRISPR Technology in Gene Editing for Tolerance to Biotic Factors in Plants: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mascarenhas Marcelly Santana , Nascimento Fernanda dos Santos , Rocha Anelita de Jesus , Ferreira Mileide dos Santos , Oliveira Wanderley Diaciso dos Santos , Morais Lino Lucymeire Souza , Mendes Tiago Antônio de Oliveira , Ferreira Claudia Fortes , Santos-Serejo Janay Almeida dos , Amorim Edson Perito
Published: October 2024

The objective of this systematic review (SR) was to select studies on the use of gene editing by CRISPR technology related to plant resistance to biotic stresses. We sought to evaluate articles deposited in six electronic databases, using pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. This SR demonstrates that countries such as China and the United States of America stand out in studies with CRISPR/Cas. Among the most studied crops are rice, tomatoes and the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The most cited biotic agents include the genera, Xanthomonas, Manaporthe, Pseudomonas and Phytophthora. This SR also identifies several CRISPR/Cas-edited genes and demonstrates that plant responses to stressors are mediated by many complex signaling pathways. The Cas9 enzyme is used in most articles and Cas12 and 13 are used as additional editing tools. Furthermore, the quality of the articles included in this SR was validated by a risk of bias analysis. The information collected in this SR helps to understand the state of the art of CRISPR/Cas aimed at improving resistance to diseases and pests to understand the mechanisms involved in most host–pathogen relationships. This SR shows that the CRISPR/Cas system provides a straightforward method for rapid gene targeting, providing useful information for plant breeding programs.
A Simulation Study on the Effect of Filament Spacing on the Temperature Field Uniformity of an HFCVD System
Authors: Hao Cen , Deng Fuming , Du Quanbin , Min Zhiyu , Lei Qing , Wang Lei , Zhang Liang
Published: October 2024

Hot-filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) has become the most widely used ways of preparing diamond film-coated tools due to the simple equipment used, its convenient operation, and its low cost. In the production process of an actual factory, a large number of coated tools need to be prepared in batches. Factors such as the hot-filament arrangement often affect the uniformity of coating on tools, making the performance of the tools prepared in the same batch unstable. This article uses ANSYS R15.0 software software in the context of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to calculate the temperature field in the HFCVD system, and study the effect of filament spacing on the uniformity of the temperature field of the surface of the substrate. It was found that when the distance between filaments was 14 mm, 10 mm, 10 mm, 8 mm, 8 mm, the temperature field on the surface of the substrate was the most uniform. The experiments are consistent with the results of the simulation, indicating that simulation research has practical significance.
Development of a Children’s Educational Dictionary for a Low-Resource Language Using AI Tools
Authors: Rakhimova Diana , Karibayeva Aidana , Karyukin Vladislav , Turarbek Assem , Duisenbekkyzy Zhansaya , Aliyev Rashid
Published: October 2024

Today, various interactive tools or partially available artificial intelligence applications are actively used in educational processes to solve multiple problems for resource-rich languages, such as English, Spanish, French, etc. Unfortunately, the situation is different and more complex for low-resource languages, like Kazakh, Uzbek, Mongolian, and others, due to the lack of qualitative and accessible resources, morphological complexity, and the semantics of agglutinative languages. This article presents research on early childhood learning resources for the low-resource Kazakh language. Generally, a dictionary for children differs from classical educational dictionaries. The difference between dictionaries for children and adults lies in their purpose and methods of presenting information. A themed dictionary will make learning and remembering new words easier for children because they will be presented in a specific context. This article discusses developing an approach to creating a thematic children’s dictionary of the low-resource Kazakh language using artificial intelligence. The proposed approach is based on several important stages: the initial formation of a list of English words with the use of ChatGPT; identification of their semantic weights; generation of phrases and sentences with the use of the list of semantically related words; translation of obtained phrases and sentences from English to Kazakh, dividing them into bigrams and trigrams; and processing with Kazakh language POS pattern tag templates to adapt them for children. When the dictionary was formed, the semantic proximity of words and phrases to the given theme and age restrictions for children were taken into account. The formed dictionary phrases were evaluated using the cosine similarity, Euclidean similarity, and Manhattan distance metrics. Moreover, the dictionary was extended with video and audio data by implementing models like DALL-E 3, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion to illustrate the dictionary data and TTS (Text to Speech) technology for the Kazakh language for voice synthesis. The developed thematic dictionary approach was tested, and a SUS (System Usability Scale) assessment of the application was conducted. The experimental results demonstrate the proposed approach’s high efficiency and its potential for wide use in educational purposes.
Performance Assessment on the Manufacturing of Zn-22Al-2Cu Alloy Foams Using Barite by Melt Route
Authors: Cruz-Ramírez Alejandro , Contreras-Hernández Ivón , Colin-García Eduardo , Plascencia-Barrera Gabriel , Pérez-Labra Miguel , Gutiérrez-Pérez Víctor Hugo , García-Hernández Margarita
Published: October 2024

A barium-rich Celestine (Sr,Ba)SO4 concentrate from the primary Mexican ore production was used as a thickening agent to produce closed-cell Zn-22Al-2Cu alloy foams, while calcium carbonate was used as a foaming agent. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the foams were analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and compression tests, respectively. The Zn-22Al-2Cu alloy foams showed a typical lamellar eutectic microstructure, constituted by a zinc-rich phase (η) and a (α) solid solution that was richer in aluminum, while a copper-rich (ε) phase was formed in the interdendritic regions. The SEM micrographs show the presence of small particles and aggregates that are randomly scattered in the cell walls and correspond to unreacted calcite and Celestine–Barian particles, especially for the higher barite addition. The compressive curves showed smooth behavior, wherein the particles at the cell walls did not affect the foam’s compressive behavior. The trial containing 1.5 wt. % of BaSO4 and 1.0 wt. % of CaCO3 showed a higher energy absorption capacity of 5.64 MJ m−3 because of its highest relative density and lowest porosity values. The Celestine–Barian concentrate could be used as a foaming agent for high melt-point metals or alloys based on the TGA results.
The Frequency of Urination Dysfunction in Patients Operated on for Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses
Authors: Ágústsdóttir Dagný Halla , Öberg Stina , Christophersen Camilla , Oggesen Birthe Thing , Rosenberg Jacob
Published: October 2024

The frequency of long-term urination dysfunction after surgery for rectal cancer remains unclear, yet it is essential to establish this to improve treatment strategies. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, and cohort studies were included with patients having undergone sphincter-preserving total (TME) or partial mesorectal excision (PME) for the treatment of primary rectal cancer in this review. The outcome was urination dysfunction reported at least three months postoperatively, both overall urination dysfunction and subdivided into specific symptoms. The online databases PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched, bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale, and results were synthesized using one-group frequency meta-analyses. A total of 55 studies with 15,072 adults were included. The median follow-up was 29 months (range 3–180). The pooled overall urination dysfunction was 21% (95% confidence interval (CI) 12%–30%) 3–11 months postoperatively and 25% (95% CI 19%–32%) ≥12 months postoperatively. Retention and incontinence were common 3–11 months postoperatively, with pooled frequencies of 11% and 14%, respectively. Increased urinary frequency, retention, and incontinence seemed even more common ≥12 months postoperatively, with pooled frequencies of 37%, 20%, and 23%, respectively. In conclusion, one in five patients experienced urination dysfunction more than a year following an operation for rectal cancer.
“The Game Changers”: How Equity-Driven Pedagogical Scaffolding Reduces Participation Disparities in Physical Education
Authors: Ribeiro Eugénio , Farias Cláudio , Mesquita Isabel
Published: October 2024

Achieving gender equity and social inclusiveness remains a key priority in education. In the context of Physical Education (PE), fostering inclusive practices is critical to ensuring all students, regardless of gender, ability, or social status, can participate meaningfully. By examining the impact of three pre-service teachers’ (PSTs) equity-driven pedagogical practices on gender equity and student engagement in game-based activities, this study investigates how targeted pedagogical interventions can reduce gender disparities in engagement and promote inclusivity in student game interactions within PE classes. Specifically, we aimed to determine whether students of different sexes exhibit similar engagement rates, identify any existing disparities, examine changes in these disparities during the intervention, assess the equity and inclusiveness of student game interactions, and explore the link between these interactions and engagement rates. A total of three PSTs were engaged in a yearlong study, divided into two units: basketball (3v3) and volleyball (4v4). A pedagogical scaffolding intervention aimed at fostering equity and inclusion was implemented through their yearlong engagement in school-placement teaching practices. Data concerning students’ participation in game-based activities were collected in the first and last unit of the schoolyear (Basketball—first semester; and Volleyball—second semester). Engagement rates, measured as participation time (PT) and Rate of Play (RoP), were recorded through video analysis. A Social Network Analysis (SNA) was used to evaluate the equity and inclusiveness of student interactions. Initial disparities in engagement rates favoured boys in both sports. However, post-test results indicated a significant increase in engagement for both sexes, with disparities decreasing over the intervention period. Basketball showed a significant reduction in gender differences in RoP (p < 0.05), while volleyball results indicated no significant gender disparities post-intervention. The SNA revealed more equitable and inclusive game interactions over time, particularly in volleyball. The results suggest the pedagogical intervention’s effectiveness in increasing students’ engagement and reducing game-based gender disparities. These findings underscore the importance of deliberate scaffolding strategies to enhance equity and inclusion, highlighting the potential of the reported strategies for fostering a more inclusive and engaging environment for all students.
A New Era in Stress Monitoring: A Review of Embedded Devices and Tools for Detecting Stress in the Workplace
Authors: Kafková Júlia , Kuchár Pavol , Pirník Rastislav , Skuba Michal , Tichý Tomáš , Brož Jiří
Published: October 2024

Detection of stress and the development of innovative platforms for stress monitoring have attracted significant attention in recent years due to the growing awareness of the harmful effects of stress on mental and physical health. Stress is a widespread issue affecting individuals and often goes unnoticed as a health concern. It can lead to various negative physiological conditions, including anxiety, depression, cardiovascular diseases and cognitive impairments. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of studies focusing on embedded devices for non-invasive stress detection, primarily in the form of a modified computer mouse or keyboard. This study not only fills a critical gap in the literature but also provides valuable insights into the design and implementation of hardware-based stress-detection methods. By focusing on embedded devices, specifically computer peripherals, this research highlights the potential for integrating stress monitoring into everyday workplace tools, thereby offering practical solutions for improving occupational health and well-being.
A Compact Broadband Rectifier Based on Coupled Transmission Line for Wireless Power Transfer
Authors: Liu Yan , Xie Gang
Published: October 2024

Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) can effectively solve the problem of autonomous power supply for low-power devices. Rectifier is the key component in WPT technology. In this paper, a novel impedance matching network for the broadband rectifier is proposed. This impedance matching network compensates for the diode impedance and reduces its impedance change when the frequency or input power changes. The passive boosting mechanism utilizing coupled transmission lines (CTLs) improves the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the diode in the low power region. The structure is especially optimized for low-power device applications. For validation, a broadband rectifier operating at 1.9–3 GHz is fabricated and measured. The structure fabricated on the Rogers 4003 substrate with a thickness of 1.508 mm and the diode is HSMS2860. The DC voltage Vout on the load (RL=1300 Ω) was measured. The results show that at 0 dBm, the PCE keeps more than 60% at 1.98–3 GHz. The peak PCE of 79.6% is obtained at 4 dBm. The compact size of the broadband rectifier is 19 mm × 21 mm. This broadband rectifier for low input power ranges can be applied to WPT technology.
On-State Voltage Measurement Circuit for Condition Monitoring of MOSFETs in Resonant Converters
Authors: Ventimiglia Marco , Scuto Alfio , Sorrentino Giuseppe , Belverde Gaetano , Iannuzzo Francesco , Rizzo Santi Agatino
Published: October 2024

This work aims to estimate the Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor’s (MOSFET) junction temperature, guessing in real time the dynamic drain-source resistance during MOSFET operation in LLC (Inductor-Inductor-Capacitor) converters usually adopted in Switched-Mode Power Supplies. The task is accomplished using an on-state voltage measurement circuit that allows clamping of the high-voltage drain-source voltage during the off-state. The results of this method have been compared with the temperature accurately measured using a co-packed die as a thermal sensor.
Optimization of PID Control Parameters for Belt Conveyor Tension Based on Improved Seeker Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Wang Yahu , Kou Ziming , Wu Lei
Published: October 2024

Aiming to address the problems of nonlinearity, a large time delay, poor adjustment ability, and a difficult parameter setting process of the tension control system of belt conveyor tensioning devices, an adaptive Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) parameter self-tuning algorithm based on an improved seeker optimization algorithm (ISOA) is proposed in this paper. The algorithm uses inertia weight random mutation to determine step size. An improved boundary reflection strategy avoids the defect of a large number of out-of-bound individuals gathering on the boundary in a traditional algorithm, and projects the individual reflection beyond the boundary into the boundary, which increases the diversity of the population and improves the convergence accuracy of the algorithm. To improve the system response speed and suppress the overshoot problem of the control target, coefficients related to the proportional term are introduced into the fitness function to accelerate the convergence of the algorithm. The improved algorithm is tested on three test functions such as Sphere and compared with other classical algorithms, which verify that the proposed algorithm is better in accuracy and stability. Finally, the interference and tracking performance of the ISOA-PID controller are verified in industrial experiments, which show that the PID controller optimized using the ISOA has good control quality and robustness.
A Thermodynamic Comparison of the Exergy Production from Sugarcane and Photovoltaic Modules in Brazilian Energy Transition Context
Authors: Righetto Felipe Godoy , Mady Carlos Eduardo Keutenedjian
Published: October 2024

This article applies the exergy analysis to the production and use of sugarcane, considering a model published in the literature. In this way, we compute incident solar irradiation, carbohydrate production, water consumption, and the production of stalks and straws. Following the production estimate, we analyze a biorefinery production cycle, from solar irradiation to the biorefinery products on an exergy basis, from birth to production of sugar, electrical energy, and ethanol. The calculated sugarcane production values are 80.7 tons per hectare for a 52-week cycle. As a result, the average exergy efficiency of sugarcane is 4.99%, reaching peaks of 8.3%. When considering only the useful exergy generated in the production of stalks and straw, an annual yield of 17.86 kWh/m2 represents an overall exergy efficiency of 1.31%. Considering the energy conversion processes in the biorefinery, the exergy efficiency from the radiation to the products from the biorefinery was 0.38%. The photovoltaic modules already have a well-established application in the country, though they need to increase their insertion over time, whereby the panels exhibit an average exergy efficiency of 31.6%, resulting in an annual electrical energy production of 255.84 kWh/m2. The results show that photovoltaic modules are a more efficient alternative than sugarcane regarding exergy land use. In conclusion, this study briefly discusses the use of sugarcane and photovoltaic modules in the context of Brazil’s energy transition towards a reduced dependence on fossil fuels, based on the fact that sugarcane already has a low carbon footprint for transportation using ethanol, with supply from more than 40,000 stations, and a similar or lower carbon footprint than electrical vehicles used across the country.
Orange Cookies with Type-4 Resistant Starch: Physical, Nutritional, and Sensorial Characteristics as Evaluated by Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Heredia-Sandoval Nina G. , Machado-Duarte Dulce G. , Preciado-Orozco Yolanda M. , Islas-Rubio Alma R. , Calderón de la Barca Ana M.
Published: October 2024

A low-fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharide and polyol (low-FODMAP) diet for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) should include an adequate fiber source. Our aim was to formulate orange cookies using maize flour and type-4 resistant starch (RS4) from maize and to evaluate their properties and sensorial attributes by IBS patients. We prepared two formulations: 37.7% RS4 and 14.7% maize flour and a control with normal maize starch (MS) instead of RS4. We added orange juice and zest instead of water and evaluated their properties. The viscosity, water absorption capacity, and solubility were lower for RS4 than for MS. The width, thickness, L* and a* values of both cookies were comparable (p > 0.05), although RS4-C had a decreased b* value and higher hardness (90.6 vs. 80.1 N). The nutrient content was similar between RS4-C and MS-C, but the glycemic index of RS4-C was 63 compared to 95 of MS-C. According to IBS patients, the appearance, taste, hardness, overall quality, and perception of healthiness and nutritional value of both types of cookies were similarly high (p > 0.05). Panelists recommend the cookies. Therefore, RS4 cookies could be further investigated for their ability to improve bowel habits and re-equilibrate the microbiota of IBS patients.
Assessing the Impact of Rainfall Inputs on Short-Term Flood Simulation with Cell2Flood: A Case Study of the Waryong Reservoir Basin
Authors: Kim Hyunjun , Kim Dae-Sik , Nam Won-Ho , Jang Min-Won
Published: October 2024

This study explored the impacts of various rainfall input types on short-term runoff simulations using the Cell2Flood model in the Waryong Reservoir Basin, South Korea. Six types of rainfall data were assessed: on-site gauge measurements, spatially interpolated data from 39 Automated Synoptic Observing System (ASOS) and 117 Automatic Weather System (AWS) stations using inverse distance weighting (IDW), and Hybrid Surface Rainfall (HSR) data from the Korea Meteorological Administration. The choice of rainfall input significantly affected model accuracy across the three rainfall events. The point-gauged ASOS (P-ASOS) data demonstrated the highest reliability in capturing the observed rainfall patterns, with Pearson’s r values of up to 0.84, whereas the radar-derived HSR data had the lowest correlations (Pearson’s r below 0.2), highlighting substantial discrepancies. For runoff simulation, the P-ASOS and ASOS-AWS combined interpolated dataset (R-AWS) achieved relatively accurate predictions, with P-ASOS and R-AWS exhibiting Normalized Peak Error (NPE) values of approximately 0.03 and Peak Time Error (PTE) within 20 min. In contrast, the HSR data produced large errors, with NPE up to 4.66 and PTE deviations exceeding 200 min, indicating poor temporal accuracy. Although input-specific calibration improved performance, significant errors persisted because of the inherent uncertainty of rainfall data. These findings underscore the importance of selecting and calibrating appropriate rainfall inputs to enhance the reliability of short-term flood modeling, particularly in ungauged and data-sparse basins.
Total Iridoid Glycosides from Swertia mussotii Franch. Alleviate Cholestasis Induced by α-Naphthyl Isothiocyanate through Activating the Farnesoid X Receptor and Inhibiting Oxidative Stress
Authors: Dong Qi , Wang Zhenhua , Hu Na , Tie Fangfang , Liu Zenggen , Sun Ying , Wang Yue , Tan Nixia , Wang Honglun
Published: October 2024

Cholestasis refers to a physiological and pathological process caused by bile acid (BA) overaccumulation inside the circulatory system and liver, leading to systemic and hepatocellular damage. Activating the farnesol X receptor (FXR) to restore BA homeostasis is a promising strategy for treating cholestasis. The objective of this research is to reveal solid evidence for the fact that the total iridoid glycosides from Swertia mussotii Franch. (IGSM) alleviate cholestasis. In this research, the whole plant of S. mussotii was extracted with 70% ethanol and separated by macroporous adsorption resin. A rat cholestasis model was established by the injection of α-naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT) at a dose of 75 mg/kg. Biochemical and oxidative stress indicators were determined using commercial assay kits. The mRNA abundance of FXR and target proteins was assessed using RT-qPCR. In addition, the effects of main compounds with FXR were evaluated by molecular docking after IGSM analysis using UPLC. The results indicated that IGSM alleviated ANIT-induced cholestasis through reducing serum ALT, AST, AKP, and TBA levels; increasing the mRNA levels of Fxr, Besp, Ntcp, and Mep2; and reducing oxidative stress. The proportion of iridoid compounds in IGSM exceeded 50%, which may be the active substance basis of IGSM. This study provides a theoretical reference for IGSM in the treatment of cholestasis, and future studies may delve more deeply into the FXR regulatory pathway.
Evidence of Neutrophils and Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Human NMSC with Regard to Clinical Risk Factors, Ulceration and CD8+ T Cell Infiltrate
Authors: Moeller Linda-Maria Hildegard , Weishaupt Carsten , Schedel Fiona
Published: October 2024

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), including basal cell carcinoma (BCC), cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), are increasingly common and present significant healthcare challenges. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), chromatin fibers expulsed by neutrophil granulocytes, can promote immunotherapy resistance via an impairment of CD8+ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Here, to identify a potential therapeutic target, we investigate the expulsion of NETs and their relation to CD8+ T cell infiltration in NMSC. Immunofluorescence staining for neutrophils (CD15) and NETs (H3cit), as well as immunohistochemistry for cytotoxic T cells (CD8+) on human cSCCs (n = 24), BCCs (n = 17) and MCCs (n = 12), revealed a correlation between neutrophil infiltration and ulceration diameter in BCC and MCC, but not in cSCC. In BCC and cSCC, neutrophil infiltration also correlated with the cross-sectional area (CSA). NETs were not associated with established risk factors but with the presence of an ulceration, and, in cSCC, with abscess-like structures. CD8+ T cell infiltration was not reduced in tumors that were NET-positive nor in those with a denser neutrophil infiltration. This study is the first to report and characterize NETs in NMSC. Thus, it gives an incentive for further research in this relevant yet understudied topic.
MicroRNA Inhibiting Atheroprotective Proteins in Patients with Unstable Angina Comparing to Chronic Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Kowara Michał , Kopka Michał , Kopka Karolina , Głowczyńska Renata , Mitrzak Karolina , Kim Dan-ae , Sadowski Karol Artur , Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska Agnieszka
Published: October 2024

Patients with unstable angina present clinical characteristics of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability, contrary to chronic coronary syndrome patients. The process of athersclerotic plaque destabilization is also regulated by microRNA particles. In this study, the investigation on expression levels of microRNAs inhibiting the expression of proteins that protect from atherosclerotic plaque progression (miR-92a inhibiting KLF2, miR-10b inhibiting KLF4, miR-126 inhibiting MerTK, miR-98 inhibiting IL-10, miR-29b inhibiting TGFβ1) was undertaken. A number of 62 individuals were enrolled—unstable angina (UA, n = 14), chronic coronary syndrome (CCS, n = 38), and healthy volunteers (HV, n = 10). Plasma samples were taken, and microRNAs expression levels were assessed by qRT-PCR. As a result, the UA patients presented significantly increased miR-10b levels compared to CCS patients (0.097 vs. 0.058, p = 0.033). Moreover, in additional analysis when UA patients were grouped together with stable patients with significant plaque in left main or proximal left anterior descending (“UA and LM/proxLAD” group, n = 29 patients) and compared to CCS patients with atherosclerotic lesions in other regions of coronary circulation (“CCS other” group, n = 25 patients) the expression levels of both miR-10b (0.104 vs. 0.046; p = 0.0032) and miR-92a (92.64 vs. 54.74; p = 0.0129) were significantly elevated. In conclusion, the study revealed significantly increased expression levels of miR-10b and miR-92a, a regulator of endothelial protective KLF factors (KLF4 and KLF2, respectively) in patients with more vulnerable plaque phenotypes.
Anti-Melanogenic Effects of a Polysaccharide Isolated from Undaria pinnatifida Sporophyll Extracts
Authors: Kim Jae-Hoon , Kim Jeong-Heon , Lee Jae-Hoon , Eom Su-Jin , Lee Nam-Hyouck , Lee Saerom , Lim Tae-Gyu , Song Kyung-Mo , Kang Min-Cheol
Published: October 2024

Undaria pinnatifida is a temperate brown alga known to exert free radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated the skin-whitening effects of U. pinnatifida sporophyll extracts (UPEs) in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. The crude polysaccharide fraction (UPF) was obtained via ethanol precipitation. Four polysaccharide fractions (UPF1–4) were isolated and purified using ion-exchange column chromatography, and their anti-melanogenic activity was evaluated. UPF3 exhibited the highest anti-melanogenic activity, showing the highest sulfate (39.79%), fucose (143 μg/mg), and galactose (208 μg/mg) contents. UPF3 significantly inhibited intracellular tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells. We also evaluated the melanogenic signaling pathway to determine the mechanism of action of UPF3 in melanongenesis. UPF3 reduced the expression of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), and tyrosinase, which play important roles in melanin production. Therefore, UPF3 has high potential for use in skin-whitening functional pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibition Attenuates Proteinuria by Alleviating Renal Inflammation and Podocyte Injuries in Adriamycin-Induced Nephropathy
Authors: Niu Qingyu , Guo Ziyu , Liang Yaoxian , Zuo Li
Published: October 2024

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) has previously been demonstrated to play an important part in kidney diseases by hydrolyzing renoprotective epoxyeicosatrienoic acids to their less active diols. However, little is known about the role of sEH in primary glomerular diseases. Here, we investigated the effects of sEH inhibition on proteinuria in primary glomerular diseases and the underlying mechanism. The expression of sEH in the renal tubules of patients with minimal change disease, IgA nephropathy, and membranous nephropathy was significantly increased. Renal sEH expression level was positively correlated with the 24 h urine protein excretion and negatively correlated with serum albumin. In the animal model of Adriamycin (ADR)-induced nephropathy, renal sEH mRNA and protein expression increased significantly. Pharmacological inhibition of sEH with AUDA effectively reduced urine protein excretion and attenuated renal pathological damage. Furthermore, sEH inhibition markedly abrogated the abnormal expressions of nephrin and desmin in glomerular podocytes induced by ADR. More importantly, AUDA treatment inhibited renal NF-κB activation and reduced TNF-α levels in rats with ADR-induced nephropathy. Overall, our findings suggest that sEH inhibition ameliorates renal inflammation and podocyte injury, thus reducing proteinuria and exerting renoprotective effects. Targeting sEH might be a potential strategy for the treatment of proteinuria in primary glomerular diseases.
Computational Analysis Suggests That AsnGTT 3′-tRNA-Derived Fragments Are Potential Biomarkers in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Do Annie N. , Magesh Shruti , Uzelac Matthew , Chen Tianyi , Li Wei Tse , Bouvet Michael , Brumund Kevin T. , Wang-Rodriguez Jessica , Ongkeko Weg M.
Published: October 2024

Transfer-RNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are a novel class of small non-coding RNAs that have been implicated in oncogenesis. tRFs may act as post-transcriptional regulators by recruiting AGO proteins and binding to highly complementary regions of mRNA at seed regions, resulting in the knockdown of the transcript. Therefore, tRFs may be critical to tumorigenesis and warrant investigation as potential biomarkers. Meanwhile, the incidence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has increased in recent decades and current diagnostic technology stands to benefit from new detection methods. Although small non-coding RNAs have been studied for their role in oncogenesis, there is currently no standard for their use as PTC biomarkers, and tRFs are especially underexplored. Accordingly, we aim to identify dysregulated tRFs in PTC that may serve as biomarker candidates. We identified dysregulated tRFs and driver genes between PTC primary tumor samples (n = 511) and adjacent normal tissue samples (n = 59). Expression data were obtained from MINTbase v2.0 and The Cancer Genome Atlas. Dysregulated tRFs and genes were analyzed in tandem to find pairs with anticorrelated expression. Significantly anticorrelated tRF-gene pairs were then tested for potential binding affinity using RNA22—if a heteroduplex can form via complementary binding, this would support the hypothesized RNA silencing mechanism. Four tRFs were significantly dysregulated in PTC tissue (p < 0.05), with only AsnGTT 3′-tRF being upregulated. Binding affinity analysis revealed that tRF-30-RY73W0K5KKOV (AsnGTT 3′-tRF) exhibits sufficient complementarity to potentially bind to and regulate transcripts of SLC26A4, SLC5A8, DIO2, and TPO, which were all found to be downregulated in PTC tissue. In the present study, we identified dysregulated tRFs in PTC and found that AsnGTT 3′-tRF is a potential post-transcriptional regulator and biomarker.