bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In silico study on inhibitability of flavonoidal derivatives against Helicobacter pylori and their pharmacological potentiality
Authors: Quy Phan Tu , Du Ly Nguyen Hai , Triet Nguyen Thanh , Bui Thanh Q. , Hai Nguyen Thi Thanh , Thang Le Quoc , Cuong To Dao , Van Chen Tran , Nhung Nguyen Thi Ai
Published: March 2024

Flavonoidal derivatives sinensetin (F1), isoorientin (F2), naringenin (F3), morin (F4), daidzein (F5) were experimentally demonstrated with effectiveness against Helicobacter pylori, thus speculated for their inhibitory effects towards structures of mucin‐5AC protein (UniProtKB‐P98088) and urease (PDB‐1E9Z),and subjected for in silico investigations. Their quantum properties were examined using density functional theory (DFT). The ligand‐protein inhibitability was evaluated using molecular docking simulation. Physicochemical properties were obtained from QSARIS‐based analysis in reference to Lipinski's rule of five. Pharmacokinetic parameters were assessed by ADMET‐based analysis. DFT calculations indicate that there are no abnormal bonding constraints observed. NBO analysis suggests F2 and F4 possessing favourable electric configurations for intermolecular inhibition. Regarding ligand‐P98088, the order for static inhibitability is F2‐P98088 > F4‐P98088 > F3‐P98088 > F5‐P98088 > F1‐P98088. Regarding ligand‐1E9Z, the corresponding order follows: F2‐1E9Z ≈ F4‐1E9Z > F5‐1E9Z > F3‐1E9Z ≈ F1‐1E9Z. QSARIS‐based analysis reveals that all the candidates are highly bio‐compatible. ADMET‐based analysis specifies F2 as being safe and suitable for the use as orally administrated drugs. The results encourage further investigations for more in‐depth mechanisms and experimental validations, such as in vitro enzyme assays or clinical trials.
Photocatalytic degradation of oily wastewater over ZnO‐CuO/rGO photocatalyst under visible light
Authors: Nga Phan Thi To , Duc Nguyen Minh , Van Minh Nguyen , Lien Nguyen Hong
Published: March 2024

Metal oxide composites integrating with carbon materials have attracted a great deal of attention as the potential photocatalysts for environmental treatment. The ZnO‐CuO composites intergrated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were successfully prepared via co‐precipitation method. The crystalline structure of the ZnO‐CuO/rGO ternary composites was examined by the X‐ray diffraction analysis. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis shows the distribution of metal oxides onto the plate‐like graphene. The calculated band gap values of the ZnO nanoparticles (3.16 eV) were decreased to 2.62 eV in the prepared (ZnO/CuO)/rGO ternary composites. In this work, the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO‐CuO/rGO with 15 % rGO photocatalyst was evaluated for the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of oily wastewater treatment process, which showed COD removal reaching 95 % after 6 h exposure to visible light irradiation. Moreover, the recycle and recovery test revealed the relatively good stability and repetitive use of ZnO‐CuO/rGO for high COD removal of oily wastewater.
Preconcentration of lead in water samples using combined cloud point‐solid phase extraction based on TiO2/Mn3O4/Fe3O4 nanocomposite
Authors: Thuy Tran Thi Thanh , Phong Huynh Thanh , Van Trong Nguyen , Van Dat Doan
Published: March 2024

In this work, the TiO2/Mn3O4/Fe3O4 nanocomposite was successful developed for enrichment of lead ions by using combined cloud point‐solid phase extraction. Lead ions were then determined by GF‐AAS spectroscopy. The nanocomposite was characterized by SEM, EDX, and XRD techniques. The result showed that the nanocomposite is composed of relatively uniform granules with particle size distribution in the range of 40÷80nm. The combined cloud point‐solid phase extraction procedure was optimized for lead ions with the optimal parameters as the absorbent dosage of 10 mg, the extraction time of 40 min, 10 mL of 10 % Triton X‐100, 1 mL of 1M NaCl in neutral media at 80°C. The parameters for the elution of Pb2+ ions such as concentration, volume, and the time of elution were also studied. The results showed that the elution efficiency of Pb2+ ions reached 97.0 % using 5 mL of HNO3 1M with continuous shaking for 5 minutes. Under optimized conditions, the linear range was 0.5÷80.0 μg/L of Pb2+ ions (r2 = 0.998) with a detection limit of 0.27 μg/L. The relative standard deviation was calculated to be 5.61 % and the recovery efficiency of the method was about 96.30 %. The studied method was applied for the determination of lead content in water samples.
Ammonium‐Iron(III) metallacryptate inclusion complexes based on Aroylbis(N,N‐diethylthioureas): Synthesis and structure
Authors: Huy Nguyen Hung , Abram Ulrich , Thang Pham Chien
Published: March 2024

One‐pot reactions of pyridine‐ or catechol‐scaffolding aroylbis(N,N‐diethylthioureas), H2L1 or H2L2, with methanolic solutions of FeCl3 and NH4Cl bring about novel cationic ammonium‐inclusion complexes {NH4 ⊂ [Fe2(L)3]}+ (L = L1 or L2), which could be separated as PF6– salts. The inclusion compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopic methods such as HRMS, IR and SCXRD. Ammonium ions are captured in the intramolecular voids of {2}‐metallacryptands {[Fe2(L)3]} (L = L1 or L2) resulting from the octahedral coordination of Fe3+ ions with aroylthiourea moieties of the ligands. Hydrogen bonds are established between the NH4+ ions and the donor atoms of the cages.
Preparation and modification of zeolite A from kaolin for catalytic methanation of carbon dioxide
Authors: Son Do Cao , Anh Vo Thi Kieu , Thom Nguyen Thi , Nguyen Huynh Le Thanh , Hai Le Viet , Thien Co Thanh , Hoang Nguyen Thai , Lam Tran Dai , Nam Pham Thi , Trang Nguyen Thi Thu
Published: March 2024

Different types of zeolite including Zeolite A are prepared from natural kaolin originated in Vietnam. Raw kaolin was collected from Phu Tho, Vietnam, underwent metakaolization at 650 °C within 2 hours and alkalination with NaOH to synthesize various zeolitic samples. Various characterization techniques were performed, including X‐ Ray Diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Different concentrations of NaOH were utilized to study the difference of the prepared zeolite. Nickel‐doped zeolite A samples with different nickel loading were also prepared via ion exchange method and were employed as catalyst for the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide (CO2) to obtain methane (CH4). The best catalytic activity of 55.2 %CO2 conversion and 92.7 %CH4 selectivity was achieved with 10 %Ni/ZM1 at 350 °C, 1 atm, H2:CO2 ratio of 4:1, and gas hourly space velocity of 9,000 mL.g‐1.h‐1. This study demonstrates a promising pathway of modifying Vietnamese natural kaolin as a low‐cost but an effective alternative material for the preparation of zeolite A and its application in the carbon dioxide methanation reaction.
Overview: The value chain of Tra catfish in Mekong Delta Region, Vietnam
Authors: Tan Nguyen Duy , Tuyen Vo Thi Xuan , Ha Ho Thi Ngan , Dao Dong Thi Anh
Published: March 2024

Aquaculture of Tra catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) of Mekong Delta has a record production of 1,525 million tons in 2022. It is one of the largest single‐species based farming systems that is restricted to a small geographical area, in the world. The product (frozen fillets) that has been exported to over 138 countries with a value of about 1.6 billion USD is an acceptable alternative to white fish. Tra catfish is farmed in earthen ponds, up to 4 m in deep, in nine provinces in the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam. Over the years, the Tra catfish farming and processing industry in Vietnam has been constantly developed and become a spearhead economic sector of Vietnam which has become a leading part of international economic integration. However, due to the global impact of the Covid‐19 epidemic with increasing competition pressure and product quality requirements, the Tra catfish industry is facing both challenges and opportunities. Therefore, in this paper, the Tra catfish such as species, anatomical composition, and chemical composition is briefly reviewed. After that, the value chain of Tra catfish in the Mekong Delta as well as demand forecasting and development orientation in the future is further analyzed.
Preparation of preservative coating for tomatoes based on polyphenol modified chitosan and silver nanoparticles
Authors: Huynh Mai Duc , Linh Nguyen Thi Dieu , Chinh Nguyen Thuy , Trang Nguyen Thi Thu , Manh Vu Quoc , Linh Nguyen Ngoc , Thang Dam Xuan , Anh Nguyen Thi Lan , Nam Nguyen Tuan , Giang Nguyen Vu , Trung Vu Quoc
Published: March 2024

This paper presents the modification of chitosan with polyphenols and application the modified chitosan in storage of tomatoes fruits. The ascorbic acid was used as a initiator for the modification reaction. The content of polyphenols was varied from 5 to 20 wt.% in comparison with chitosan weight. Some methods and techniques were used to characterize chitosan and modified chitosan including to infrared (IR) spectroscopy, DPPH assay and inhibition zone diameter by diffusion agar. The obtained results showed that chitosan was modified successfully with polyphenols. The modified chitosan samples have good antioxidant activity and against to E. coli, S. Aureus, and C. albicans. Based on the antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity results, the most suitable content of polyphenols was found at 10 wt.%. The chitosan modified with 10 wt.% of polyphenols in a combination with nano Ag solution exhibits a significant efficiency on preventing the weight loss as well as remaining color, the firmness, and the soluble solids content (SSC) of tomato fruits during 20 days of testing. Moreover, the modified chitosan/nano Ag also has a great ability in inhibiting the growth of microbial on the skin of tomatoes during post‐harvesting storage.
Synthesis of metal organic framework based on Cu and benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylic acid (H3BTC) by potentiodynamic method for CO2 adsorption
Authors: Phuong Nguyen Thu , Hai Do Thi , Doneux Thomas , Nam Nguyen Hong , Thanh Dinh Thi Mai
Published: March 2024

Practical CO2 adsorption processes require adsorbents that can be easily and quickly synthesized at a reasonable cost, while maintaining a significant adsorption performance. In this research, a metal organic framework based on Cu and H3BTC was synthesized by the potentiodynamic method. Results showed that the nature of the solvent strongly affected the phase structure, morphology and specific surface area of the obtained material. In methanol, a mixture of 1D structure Cu‐BTC (catena‐triaqua μ‐[1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxylato]‐copper (II) corresponding to the formula [Cu(BTC)(H2O)3)]n and micropillars structure Cu(BTC).3H2O was obtained. The 1D structure Cu‐BTC had a plate shape and a small specific surface area of 21 m2/g. In ethanol, the 3D structure Cu‐BTC (Cu3(BTC)2) was successfully synthesized. The obtained material has a cubic shape of size from 50 nm to 500 nm and a much better specific surface area of 620 m2/g. The 3D structure Cu‐BTC offered a high CO2 adsorption capacity of 3.6 mmol/g at standard conditions, and 1.6 mmol/g at more realistic conditions.
Study on α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity of isolated flavones from genus Artocarpus and their enzyme kinetics
Authors: Truong Thang Quoc , Le Tho Huu , Nguyen Minh Binh , Pham Dat Tat , Dinh Quynh Phuong Thuy , Nguyen Hai Xuan , Van Do Truong Nhat , Nguyen Mai Thanh Thi
Published: March 2024

Flavonoids are the major compounds associated with diverse bioactivities, especially with α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity related to diabetes mellitus. The study reported the α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity of seventeen flavonoids isolated from Artocarpus heterophyllus, Artocarpus rigida, and Artocarpus altilis. The results indicated that all flavones possessed an α‐glucosidase inhibitory effect, in which compounds 3, 5‐7, 9‐17 strongly inhibited α‐glucosidase enzyme with the IC50 value range from 1.5 to 6.4 μM. Based on their structure‐activity relationships, the prenylation patterns at the flavonoid skeleton gave significantly potent inhibitory abilities against α‐glucosidase. Further kinetics studies were conducted to determine the inhibition type of these prenylated flavones. This is the first time prenylflavones isolated from genus Artocarpus were reported on the α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity and its kinetics. The report suggested that prenylflavones are potential sources for diabetes mellitus treatment.
Synthesis of Al‐doped and Fe–doped ZnO nanoparticles as UV filters in sunscreens
Authors: Le Nhu Quyen Huynh , Ngoc Tram Anh Nguyen , Nguyen Ngoc Quynh Hoa , Nguyen Ngoc Bich , Le Tien Khoa
Published: March 2024

In this work, Al‐doped ZnO and Fe‐doped ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized through the coprecipitation‐annealing method to create new and safer UV filters for sunscreen. The effects of metal doping on phase composition, crystal structure, surface morphology, specific surface area, and elemental composition were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, field emission electron scanning microscopy, nitrogen adsorption‐desorption experiments and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, respectively. The optical properties and photocatalytic activity of prepared powders were studied through UV‐visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under UV radiation. According to the experimental results, Al or Fe‐doped ZnO nanoparticles showed better UV absorption but significantly lower photocatalytic activity than the undoped ZnO sample, which enables the metal doped ZnO samples to become more effective and safer UV filter in sunscreen. The decline of photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the bulk defects caused by the insertion of Al3+ or Fe3+ ions in ZnO lattice. In particular, the sunscreen formulations using the metal doped ZnO nanoparticles display high SPF values and diverse colors changing from ivory to yellow‐brown, preventing leaving white cast on the skin, which is very suitable as sunscreen for people of color.
Extraction of microcrystalline cellulose from cotton fiber, and application to block natural rubber as reinforcing agent
Authors: An Nguyen Ngoc , Le Chi Pham Thi
Published: March 2024

Crosslinked natural rubber (NR)/microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) composite was prepared by dry mixing of NR with MCC extracted from cotton fiber. MCC was first extracted from cotton fiber by acid hydrolysis processing, then applied to block natural rubber as a reinforcement. MCC grafted maleic anhydride (MA) was also synthesized and applied to the composites to improve the compatibility between natural rubber and cellulose. Obtained cellulose samples were subjected to infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to confirm the purity of cellulose structure and the presence of MA grafted on MCC chains. X‐ray spectroscopy (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were investigated as well to see if there was any important change after modification. NR containing microcrystalline cellulose was formulated with vulcanizing agents and microcrystalline cellulose grafted MA for characterization. Micro‐scale dispersion of microcrystalline cellulose was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). MCC showed positive contributions to tensile strength and thermal properties of composites as well. Mechanical properties of vulcanized rubber containing microcrystalline cellulose grafted MA gave a slightly better value compared to the reference sample without adding of the compatible agent. The presence of reinforcements helped NR composites to reduce solvent uptake, however there was no change in tensile strength after aging test.
Patient‐reported outcomes in inguinal hernia surgery—Results from the GENESIS study: A multinational multicenter study
Authors: Baig Sarfaraz , Sheth Harsh , Viswanath Nakul Gokhare , Madhok Brijesh ,   GENESIS Collaborative Group
Published: March 2024

Background

Chronic groin pain following inguinal hernia repair can be troublesome. The current literature is limited, especially from Asia and Africa. We aimed to evaluate patient‐reported outcomes using the Carolinas Comfort Scale (CCS) following inguinal hernia repair at an international level, especially to include patients from Asia and Africa.

Methods

An international cohort of surgeons was invited to collaborate and collect data of consecutive adult patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair. The data were collected to allow at least 2 years of follow‐up. A total score for CCS was calculated and compared for the following groups—patient age <30 years versus (vs.) > 30 years; open versus laparoscopic repair, emergency versus elective surgery, and unilateral versus bilateral hernia repair. The CCS scores between Asia, Africa, and Europe were also compared.

Results

The mean total CCS score of patients operated in Asia (n = 891), Europe (n = 853), and Africa (n = 157) were 7.32, 14.6, and 19.79, respectively. The total CCS score was significantly higher following open repair, emergency repair, and unilateral repair, with surgical site infections (SSI) and recurrence. In the subgroup analysis, the patients who underwent elective open repair in Europe had higher CCS scores than those in Asia.

Conclusion

About 15% of patients had a CCS score of more than 25 after a minimum follow‐up of 2 years. The factors that influence CCS scores are indication, approach, complications, and geographic location.
Calcifications in the descending thoracic aorta predict postoperative anastomotic leakages after esophagectomy for cancer
Authors: Tiainen Emma , Wirta Erkki‐Ville , Tyrväinen Tuula , Kuorilehto Tommi , Toikkanen Vesa , Laukkarinen Johanna , Ukkonen Mika
Published: March 2024

Background

Anastomotic leak is one of the most feared complications of esophagectomy. Previous studies have suggested a potential link between aortic calcifications detected on routine preoperative CT scans and increased risk of anastomotic leak after esophagectomy. This study aims to investigate whether clinicians' assessment of aortic calcifications can predict the occurrence of anastomotic leaks in patients undergoing esophagectomy for cancer.

Methods

A long‐term follow‐up was conducted on consecutive patients with esophageal cancer who underwent elective open esophagectomy at a Finnish tertiary hospital. Aortic calcifications were evaluated based on CT scans and categorized on a 0–3 scale reflecting the number of calcifications in the affected segment of the aorta. Reviewers assessing the calcifications were blinded to clinical details and postoperative outcomes.

Results

The study included 97 patients (median age: 64 years and range: 43–78; 20% female), with a median follow‐up time of 1307 (2–1540) days. Among them, 22 patients (23%) had postoperative anastomotic leak. We observed a significant association between calcifications in the descending aorta and a higher risk of anastomotic leak (p = 0.007), as well as an earlier occurrence of leak postoperatively (p = 0.013). However, there was no association between aortic calcifications and increased mortality.

Conclusions

Presence of calcifications in the descending aorta is independently associated with an increased risk of anastomotic leaks following esophagectomy for cancer. Identifying patients at higher risk for this complication could facilitate appropriate pre‐ and postoperative interventions, as well as enable earlier diagnosis and treatment to mitigate the severity of the complication.
Electromagnetic entrapment in gravity
Authors: Heidmann Pierre , Mehta Madhur
Published: March 2024

Abstract

We derive specific properties of electromagnetism when gravitational effects are not negligible and analyze their impact on new physics at the horizons of black holes. We show that a neutral configuration of charges in a region of high redshift, characterized by a large gtt, produces a highly localized electromagnetic field that vanishes just beyond that region. This phenomenon implies the existence of extensive families of spacetime structures generated by electromagnetic degrees of freedom that are as compact as black holes. We construct neutral bound states of extremal black holes in four dimensions and in five dimensions, where one direction is compact. These geometries are indistinguishable from a neutral black hole, referred to as distorted Schwarzschild, except in an infinitesimal region near its horizon where the entrapped electromagnetic structures start to manifest. The five-dimensional solutions satisfy various criteria for describing black hole microstructure: they increase in size with the Newton constant, are as compact as the Schwarzschild black hole, and have an entropy that scales like M2.
Tierschutz first? Wie wichtig sind unterschiedliche Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte in der Nutztierhaltung: Ein systematischer Vergleich
Authors: Schütz Aurelia , Faletar Ivica , Sonntag Winnie Isabel , Christoph-Schulz Inken , Spiller Achim
Published: March 2024

Die landwirtschaftliche Nutztierhaltung steht seit Jahren in der öffentlichen Kritik. Insbesondere die vorherrschenden intensiven Haltungsbedingungen werden von weiten Teilen der Gesellschaft kritisiert und sind auch aus tierwissenschaftlicher Sicht stark verbesserungsbedürftig. Mittlerweile ist aber auch hinreichend bekannt, dass die landwirtschaftliche Nutztierhaltung nicht nur negative Auswirkungen auf das Tierwohl, sondern auch auf Umwelt, Klima oder die menschliche Gesundheit hat. Vor diesem Hintergrund ergeben sich unterschiedliche Zielkonflikte, die eine nachhaltige und zukunftsorientierte Transformation des Sektors erschweren. Gerade die Verbesserung des Tierwohls stellt eine komplexe Aufgabe dar, bei der mögliche Zielkonflikte auch aus gesellschaftlicher Sicht identifiziert und bewertet werden müssen, um dem zunehmenden Akzeptanzverlust entgegenzuwirken. Daher hat die vorliegende Studie in einer Online-Befragung mit Hilfe der Methoden des Best-Worst Scaling (BWS) und Rankings untersucht, wie wichtig den Menschen in Deutschland verschiedene relevante Aspekte in der Nutztierhaltung im Konfliktfall sind. Dabei wurde nicht nur die Bewertung von Aspekten verschiedener Zielkategorien wie Tier-, Umwelt- und Klimaschutz oder menschliche Gesundheit betrachtet, sondern auch einzelne Teilaspekte innerhalb des Tierschutzes bzw. Tierwohls für Mastschweine, Milchkühe, Masthähnchen und Legehennen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Befragten unabhängig von der Tierart oder der verwendeten Methode dem Tierschutz und der menschlichen Gesundheit eine höhere Priorität einräumen als anderen Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten und insbesondere Produkteigenschaften. Hinsichtlich des Tierwohls wurden bei allen Tierarten die Aspekte gute Haltungsbedingungen, gute Versorgung mit Futter und Wasser und gute Tiergesundheit am höchsten gewichtet. Die Ergebnisse leisten einen wertvollen Beitrag zur Entwicklung politischer Rahmenbedingungen, die auf eine nachhaltige und gesellschaftlich akzeptierte Transformation der derzeitigen landwirtschaftlichen Nutztierhaltung abzielen.
Ausgewählte Sichtweisen von Landwirtinnen und Landwirten auf die Nutztierhaltung in Deutschland
Authors: Schmitz Laura , Kemnade Miriam , Mergenthaler Marcus
Published: March 2024

Die Wahrnehmung der Nutztierhaltung von landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben wird, basierend auf verschiedene Studien, durch unterschiedliche Faktoren beeinflusst. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wurden die Sichtweisen der Tierhaltenden auf die landwirtschaftliche Tierhaltung und das Tierwohl anhand von Befragungsdaten untersucht. Es zeigte sich, dass sich die Tierhaltenden selbst in der größten Verantwortung sehen, für das Tierwohl zu sorgen, wofür sie sich stabile politische Rahmenbedingungen und die Unterstützung der Gesellschaft wünschen. Ferner wurde die ökologische Tierhaltung (außer bei Milchvieh- und Mutterkuhhaltung) besser bewertet als unter konventionelle Bedingungen. Die als am wichtigsten empfundenen Aspekte für das Tierwohl variieren tierart- und managementspezifisch. Das verwendete Befragungsdesign kann als Ansatz für ein langfristiges Monitoring-Tool zur Erfassung der Situation in der tierhaltenden Landwirtschaft dienen.
Vascular ATGL-dependent lipolysis and the activation of cPLA2–PGI2 pathway protect against postprandial endothelial dysfunction
Authors: Sternak M. , Stojak M. , Banasik T. , Kij A. , Bar A. , Pacia M. Z. , Wojnar-Lason K. , Chorazy N. , Mohaissen T. , Marczyk B. , Czyzynska-Cichon I. , Berkimbayeva Z. , Mika A. , Chlopicki S.
Published: March 2024

Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) is involved in lipolysis and displays a detrimental pathophysiological role in cardio-metabolic diseases. However, the organo-protective effects of ATGL-induced lipolysis were also suggested. The aim of this work was to characterize the function of lipid droplets (LDs) and ATGL-induced lipolysis in the regulation of endothelial function. ATGL-dependent LDs hydrolysis and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2)-derived eicosanoids production were studied in the aorta, endothelial and smooth muscle cells exposed to exogenous oleic acid (OA) or arachidonic acid (AA). Functional effects of ATGL-dependent lipolysis and subsequent activation of cPLA2/PGI2 pathway were also studied in vivo in relation to postprandial endothelial dysfunction.

The formation of LDs was invariably associated with elevated production of endogenous AA-derived prostacyclin (PGI2). In the presence of the inhibitor of ATGL or the inhibitor of cytosolic phospholipase A2, the production of eicosanoids was reduced, with a concomitant increase in the number of LDs. OA administration impaired endothelial barrier integrity in vitro that was further impaired if OA was given together with ATGL inhibitor. Importantly, in vivo, olive oil induced postprandial endothelial dysfunction that was significantly deteriorated by ATGL inhibition, cPLA2 inhibition or by prostacyclin (IP) receptor blockade.

In summary, vascular LDs formation induced by exogenous AA or OA was associated with ATGL- and cPLA2-dependent PGI2 production from endogenous AA. The inhibition of ATGL resulted in an impairment of endothelial barrier function in vitro. The inhibition of ATGL-cPLA2-PGI2 dependent pathway resulted in the deterioration of endothelial function upon exposure to olive oil in vivo. In conclusion, vascular ATGL-cPLA2-PGI2 dependent pathway activated by lipid overload and linked to LDs formation in endothelium and smooth muscle cells has a vasoprotective role by counterbalancing detrimental effects of lipid overload on endothelial function.
Through hole-cutting conic posture optimization for a redundant 3D laser cutting machine
Authors: Ding Zhipeng , Soccio Pietro , Indri Marina , Rizzo Alessandro
Published: March 2024

Productively reducing the time required to cut numerous through holes in automotive workpieces is crucial for enhancing parts manufacturing in the 3D laser cutting process. However, the conventional cutting strategy, in which the laser beam maintains a stationary posture along the hole path, lacks flexibility and fails to effectively leverage processing tolerances. In this study, we conduct a thorough analysis of the kinematics of a six-axis redundant laser cutting machine and resolve through a decoupling method with singularity management. We propose an innovative conic posture cutting strategy for 3D laser hole-cutting with thin materials. This approach adopts the geometry of a cone as the posture while cutting the hole path. In order to obtain the optimal vertex of the cone while minimizing the taper error generated by the conic posture and kinetic energy consumption of the actuators during motion, we formulate a multi-objective optimization problem and solve it using a genetic algorithm. Furthermore, we enhance the optimization by adopting a time minimization approach. Through the implementation of a B-pillar workpiece cutting experiment, we have successfully validated the credibility of our proposed cutting strategy, thereby demonstrating an enhancement of time on 26 hole-cutting paths.
Identifying key factors for predicting O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase status in adult patients with diffuse glioma: a multimodal analysis of demographics, radiomics, and MRI by variable Vision Transformer
Authors: Usuzaki Takuma , Takahashi Kengo , Inamori Ryusei , Morishita Yohei , Shizukuishi Takashi , Takagi Hidenobu , Ishikuro Mami , Obara Taku , Takase Kei
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aimed to perform multimodal analysis by vision transformer (vViT) in predicting O6-methylguanine-DNA methyl transferase (MGMT) promoter status among adult patients with diffuse glioma using demographics (sex and age), radiomic features, and MRI.

Methods

The training and test datasets contained 122 patients with 1,570 images and 30 patients with 484 images, respectively. The radiomic features were extracted from enhancing tumors (ET), necrotic tumor cores (NCR), and the peritumoral edematous/infiltrated tissues (ED) using contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images (CE-T1WI) and T2-weighted images (T2WI). The vViT had 9 sectors; 1 demographic sector, 6 radiomic sectors (CE-T1WI ET, CE-T1WI NCR, CE-T1WI ED, T2WI ET, T2WI NCR, and T2WI ED), 2 image sectors (CE-T1WI, and T2WI). Accuracy and area under the curve of receiver-operating characteristics (AUC-ROC) were calculated for the test dataset. The performance of vViT was compared with AlexNet, GoogleNet, VGG16, and ResNet by McNemar and Delong test. Permutation importance (PI) analysis with the Mann–Whitney U test was performed.

Results

The accuracy was 0.833 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.714–0.877) and the area under the curve of receiver-operating characteristics was 0.840 (0.650–0.995) in the patient-based analysis. The vViT had higher accuracy than VGG16 and ResNet, and had higher AUC-ROC than GoogleNet (p<0.05). The ED radiomic features extracted from the T2-weighted image demonstrated the highest importance (PI=0.239, 95%CI: 0.237–0.240) among all other sectors (p<0.0001).

Conclusion

The vViT is a competent deep learning model in predicting MGMT status. The ED radiomic features of the T2-weighted image demonstrated the most dominant contribution.
Socioeconomic Influences on Outcomes Following Congenital Heart Disease Surgery
Authors: Schneider Kristin , de Loizaga Sarah , Beck Andrew F. , Morales David L. S. , Seo JangDong , Divanovic Allison
Published: March 2024

Associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) and adverse outcomes for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are starting to be recognized; however, such links remain understudied. We examined the relationship between community-level material deprivation on mortality, readmission, and length of stay (LOS) for children undergoing surgery for CHD. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent cardiac surgery at our institution from 2015 to 2018. A community-level deprivation index (DI), a marker of community material deprivation, was generated to contextualize the lived experience of children with CHD. Generalized mixed-effects models were used to assess links between the DI and outcomes of mortality, readmission, and LOS following cardiac surgery. The DI and components were scaled to provide mean differences for a one standard deviation (SD) increase in deprivation. We identified 1,187 unique patients with surgical admissions. The median LOS was 11 days, with an overall mortality rate of 4.6% and readmission rate of 7.6%. The DI ranged from 0.08 to 0.85 with a mean of 0.37 (SD 0.12). The DI was associated with increased LOS for patients with more complex heart disease (STAT 3, 4, and 5), which persisted after adjusting for factors that could prolong LOS (all p < 0.05). The DI approached but did not meet a significant association with mortality (p = 0.0528); it was not associated with readmission (p = 0.36). Community-level deprivation is associated with increased LOS for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Future work to identify the specific health-related social needs contributing to LOS and identify targets for intervention is needed.
Effectiveness of manual thoracic therapy in treating impingement syndrome: a systematic review
Authors: Tedeschi Roberto , Platano Daniela , Melotto Gianluca , Danilo Donati
Published: March 2024

Background

Impingement syndrome, a common cause of shoulder pain, often leads to functional limitations. Manual thoracic therapy is frequently employed as a non-surgical intervention, but its efficacy remains debated. This review assesses the impact of manual thoracic therapy on pain reduction and functional improvement in impingement syndrome.

Methods

A systematic review of randomized clinical trials was conducted, focusing on studies that applied manual thoracic therapy to patients with impingement syndrome. The primary outcomes were pain reduction and functional improvement. Studies were evaluated for methodological quality using the PEDro scale, with scores ≥ 6 indicating high quality.

Results

Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies demonstrated high methodological quality (PEDro score ≥ 6). Pain reduction was consistent across studies, with an NPRS score reduction of 0.6 to 1.5 points immediately after treatment and up to 3.2 points at follow-up. Functionality improvements were statistically significant in some studies. However, the results showed limited homogeneity, and the majority of studies did not report substantial differences between intervention and placebo groups.

Conclusion

This review suggests that manual thoracic therapy may lead to pain reduction in impingement syndrome, with some evidence of functional improvement. However, the variability in manual therapy techniques and the limitations in research methodologies indicate a need for further controlled studies. These findings underscore the potential of manual therapy as a supplementary treatment but also highlight the necessity for more robust clinical trials to fully ascertain its effectiveness in clinical practice.

Graphic abstract
Borderline personality disorder vs. schizophrenia spectrum disorders in young people recruited within an “Early Intervention in Psychosis” service: clinical and outcome comparisons
Authors: Pelizza Lorenzo , Leuci Emanuela , Quattrone Emanuela , Azzali Silvia , Paulillo Giuseppina , Pupo Simona , Pellegrini Pietro , Gammino Lorenzo , Biancalani Arianna , Menchetti Marco
Published: March 2024

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is under-recognized in First-Episode Psychosis (FEP) and its psychotic manifestations are difficult to differentiate from Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD). The aim of this investigation was to compare clinical, sociodemographic, and outcome characteristics between FEP patients with BPD vs. FEP subjects with SSD both at baseline and across a 2-year follow-up period. Participants completed the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS), the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale both at entry and every 12 months during the follow-up. A mixed-design ANOVA model was conducted to investigate the temporal stability of clinical scores within and between the two subgroups. Among 356 FEP participants, 49 had a BPD diagnosis. Compared to FEP/SSD (n = 307), FEP/BPD patients showed higher prevalence of employment, current substance use, and past attempted suicide. They had a lower equivalent dose of antipsychotic medication at entry and lower levels of negative symptoms. Finally, they had a higher 2-year drop-out rate and a significant improvement in psychopathological scores limited to the first year of treatment. BPD as categorical entity represents a FEP subgroup with specific clinical challenges. Appropriate treatment guidelines for this FEP subgroup are thus needed.
Automatic and robust estimation of sex and chronological age from panoramic radiographs using a multi-task deep learning network: a study on a South Korean population
Authors: Park Se-Jin , Yang Su , Kim Jun-Min , Kang Ju-Hee , Kim Jo-Eun , Huh Kyung-Hoe , Lee Sam-Sun , Yi Won-Jin , Heo Min-Suk
Published: March 2024

Sex and chronological age estimation are crucial in forensic investigations and research on individual identification. Although manual methods for sex and age estimation have been proposed, these processes are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and error-prone. The purpose of this study was to estimate sex and chronological age from panoramic radiographs automatically and robustly using a multi-task deep learning network (ForensicNet). ForensicNet consists of a backbone and both sex and age attention branches to learn anatomical context features of sex and chronological age from panoramic radiographs and enables the multi-task estimation of sex and chronological age in an end-to-end manner. To mitigate bias in the data distribution, our dataset was built using 13,200 images with 100 images for each sex and age range of 15–80 years. The ForensicNet with EfficientNet-B3 exhibited superior estimation performance with mean absolute errors of 2.93 ± 2.61 years and a coefficient of determination of 0.957 for chronological age, and achieved accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity values of 0.992, 0.993, and 0.990, respectively, for sex prediction. The network demonstrated that the proposed sex and age attention branches with a convolutional block attention module significantly improved the estimation performance for both sex and chronological age from panoramic radiographs of elderly patients. Consequently, we expect that ForensicNet will contribute to the automatic and accurate estimation of both sex and chronological age from panoramic radiographs.
Continuity of care for children with anorexia nervosa in the Netherlands: a modular perspective
Authors: Lennips A. J. , Peters V. J. T. , Meijboom B. R. , Nissen A. C. , Bunt J. E. H.
Published: March 2024

Care provision for children with anorexia nervosa is provided by outpatient care teams in hospitals, but the way these teams are organized differs per hospital and hampers the continuity of care. The aim of this study is to explore the organization and continuity of care for children with anorexia nervosa in the Netherlands by using a modular perspective.

We conducted a qualitative, exploratory case study and took the healthcare provision for children with anorexia nervosa, provided by outpatient care teams, as our case. We conducted nine interviews with healthcare professionals involved in outpatient care teams from six hospitals. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

The modular perspective offered insights into the work practices and working methods of outpatient care teams. We were able to identify modules (i.e. the separate consultations with the various professionals), and components (i.e. elements of these consultations). In addition, communication mechanisms (interfaces) were identified to facilitate information flow and coordination among healthcare professionals. Our modular perspective revealed gaps and overlap in outpatient care provision, consequently providing opportunities to deal with unnecessary duplications and blind spots.

   Conclusion: A modular perspective can be applied to explore the organization of outpatient care provision for children with anorexia nervosa. We specifically highlight gaps and overlap in healthcare provision, which in turn leads to recommendations on how to support the three essential parts of continuity of care: informational continuity, relational continuity, and management continuity.

What is Known:• Care provision for children with anorexia nervosa requires a network of health care professionals from different organizations, as a result the organization and provision of care faces challenges.

What is New:• Modular care provision sheds light on the complexity and organization of outpatient care provision and supports the three dimensions of continuity of care as experienced by children with anorexia nervosa and their parents/caregivers.
Why state-of-the-art analytical models for eddy current losses in PM of PMSM are insufficient for variable speed motors
Authors: Königs Mike , Löhlein Bernd
Published: March 2024

This is the third paper in a series on novel methods for calculating eddy current losses in permanent magnets (PM) and the shortcomings of previously conducted analyses. In the first paper, Ruoho’s work on homogeneous materials was discussed. The distribution of fields has been expanded to include the reaction field of the eddy currents within the permanent magnets. This approach was based on the methods of the harmonic complex AC calculation. In the second paper, the models were expanded to enable a harmonic calculation of eddy current losses in permanent magnets for homogeneous fields including the effects of eddy current losses in an adjacent ferromagnetic material, leakage flux factors, and source behavior. In this third and final publication, a look at state-of-the-art analytical models will be taken. With regard to the results of the second publication of this series, it can be shown that established analytical models are insufficient when calculating inverter-related eddy current losses in permanent magnets of permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSM). Furthermore, a short introduction to eddy current loss mechanics in permanent magnets of PMSM will be given.
Environmental harshness does not affect the propensity for social learning in great tits, Parus major
Authors: Isaksson Emil , Morand-Ferron Julie , Chaine Alexis
Published: March 2024

According to the harsh environment hypothesis, natural selection should favour cognitive mechanisms to overcome environmental challenges. Tests of this hypothesis to date have largely focused on asocial learning and memory, thus failing to account for the spread of information via social means. Tests in specialized food-hoarding birds have shown strong support for the effects of environmental harshness on both asocial and social learning. Whether the hypothesis applies to non-specialist foraging species remains largely unexplored. We evaluated the relative importance of social learning across a known harshness gradient by testing generalist great tits, Parus major, from high (harsh)- and low (mild)-elevation populations in two social learning tasks. We showed that individuals use social learning to find food in both colour-associative and spatial foraging tasks and that individuals differed consistently in their use of social learning. However, we did not detect a difference in the use or speed of implementing socially observed information across the elevational gradient. Our results do not support predictions of the harsh environment hypothesis suggesting that context-dependent costs and benefits as well as plasticity in the use of social information may play an important role in the use of social learning across environments. Finally, this study adds to the accumulating evidence that the harsh environment hypothesis appears to have more pronounced effects on specialists compared to generalist species.
Psychometrics and diagnostics of the Italian version of the Alternate Verbal Fluency Battery (AVFB) in non-demented Parkinson’s disease patients
Authors: Aiello Edoardo Nicolò , Mameli Francesca , Ruggiero Fabiana , Zirone Eleonora , Zago Stefano , Piacentini Sylvie , Poletti Barbara , Reitano Maria Rita , Santangelo Gabriella , Ticozzi Nicola , Silani Vincenzo , Priori Alberto , Ferrucci Roberta
Published: March 2024

Background

Verbal fluency (VF) tasks are known as suitable for detecting cognitive impairment (CI) in Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study thus aimed to evaluate the psychometrics and diagnostics of the Alternate Verbal Fluency Battery (AVFB) by Costa et al. (2014) in an Italian cohort of non-demented PD patients, as well as to derive disease-specific cut-offs for it.

Methods

N = 192 non-demented PD patients were screened with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and underwent the AVFB—which includes phonemic, semantic and alternate VF tests (PVF; SVF; AVF), as well as a Composite Shifting Index (CSI) reflecting the “cost” of shifting from a single- to a double-cued VF task. Construct validity and diagnostics were assessed for each AVFB measure against the MoCA. Internal reliability and factorial validity were also tested.

Results

The MoCA proved to be strongly associated with PVF, SVF and AVF scores, whilst moderately with the CSI. The AVFB was internally consistent and underpinned by a single component; however, an improvement in both internal reliability and fit to its factorial structure was observed when dropping the CSI. Demographically adjusted scores on PVF, SVF and AVF tests were diagnostically sound in detecting MoCA-defined cognitive impairment, whilst this was not true for the CSI. Disease-specific cut-offs for PVF, SVF and AVF tests were derived.

Discussion

In conclusion, PVF, SVF and AVF tests are reliable, valid and diagnostically sound instruments to detect cognitive impairment in non-demented PD patients and are therefore recommended for use in clinical practice and research.
Huang Qin decoction increases SLC6A4 expression and blocks the NFκB-mediated NLRP3/Caspase1/GSDMD pathway to disrupt colitis-associated carcinogenesis
Authors: Tao Yili , Wang Lai , Ye Xiaofeng , Qian Xin , Pan Danye , Dong Xiaoyu , Jiang Qian , Hu Po
Published: March 2024

Huang Qin decoction (HQD) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula for treating colitis, but the effects and molecular mechanism of action of HQD in colitis-associated carcinogenesis (CAC) are still unclear. Therefore, we aimed to determine the beneficial effects of HQD on CAC in mice and to reveal the underlying mechanism involved. AOM/DSS was used to induce CAC in mice, and the effects of HQD on tumorigenesis in mice were examined (with mesalazine serving as a positive control). Mesalazine or HQD treatment alleviated body weight loss and decreased the disease activity index in mice induced by AOM/DSS. Mesalazine or HQD treatment also suppressed the shortening of colon tissue length, the number of tumors, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells. The genes targeted by HQD were predicted and verified, followed by knockout experiments. Elevated SLC6A4 and inhibited serotonin production and inflammation were observed in HQD-treated mice. HQD inhibited the NFκB and NLRP3/caspase1/GSDMD pathways. The therapeutic effect of HQD was diminished in SLC6A4-deficient AOM/DSS mice. Additionally, the downregulation of SLC6A4 mitigated the inhibitory effect of HQD-containing serum on MODE-K cell pyroptosis. Our findings suggest that SLC6A4 is a pivotal regulator of HQD-alleviated CAC via its modulation of the NLRP3/caspase1/GSDMD pathway.