bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paracoccidioidomycosis Protective Immunity
Authors: Burger Eva
Published: February 2021

Protective immunity against Paracoccidioides consists of a stepwise activation of numerous effector mechanisms that comprise many cellular and soluble components. At the initial phase of non-specific innate immunity, resistance against Paracoccidioides comes from phagocytic polymorphonuclear neutrophils, natural killer (NK) cells and monocytes, supplemented by soluble factors such as cytokines and complement system components. Invariant receptors (Toll-like receptors (TLRs), Dectins) which are present in cells of the immune system, detect patterns present in Paracoccidioides (but not in the host) informing the hosts cells that there is an infection in progress, and that the acquired immunity must be activated. The role of components involved in the innate immunity of paracoccidioidomycosis is herein presented. Humoral immunity, represented by specific antibodies which control the fungi in the blood and body fluids, and its role in paracoccidioidomycosis (which was previously considered controversial) is also discussed. The protective mechanisms (involving various components) of cellular immunity are also discussed, covering topics such as: lysis by activated macrophages and cytotoxic T lymphocytes, the participation of lytic products, and the role of cytokines secreted by T helper lymphocytes in increasing the efficiency of Paracoccidioides, lysis.
Lower Hippocampal Volume in Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: A Quantitative MRI Study
Authors: Sato Jinya , Hirano Yoji , Hirakawa Noriaki , Takahashi Junichi , Oribe Naoya , Kuga Hironori , Nakamura Itta , Hirano Shogo , Ueno Takefumi , Togao Osamu , Hiwatashi Akio , Nakao Tomohiro , Onitsuka Toshiaki
Published: February 2021

Since patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) share many biological features, detecting biomarkers that differentiate SZ and BD patients is crucial for optimized treatments. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is suitable for detecting subtle brain structural differences in patients with psychiatric disorders. In the present study, we adopted a neuroanatomically defined and manually delineated region of interest (ROI) method to evaluate the amygdalae, hippocampi, Heschl’s gyrus (HG), and planum temporale (PT), because these regions are crucial in the development of SZ and BD. ROI volumes were measured using high resolution MRI in 31 healthy subjects (HS), 23 SZ patients, and 21 BD patients. Right hippocampal volumes differed significantly among groups (HS > BD > SZ), whereas left hippocampal volumes were lower in SZ patients than in HS and BD patients (HS = BD > SZ). Volumes of the amygdalae, HG, and PT did not differ among the three groups. For clinical correlations, there were no significant associations between ROI volumes and demographics/clinical symptoms. Our study revealed significant lower hippocampal volume in patients with SZ and BD, and we suggest that the right hippocampal volume is a potential biomarker for differentiation between SZ and BD.
Low Expression of IL-15 and NKT in Tumor Microenvironment Predicts Poor Outcome of MYCN-Non-Amplified Neuroblastoma
Authors: Liao Yu-Mei , Hung Tsai-Hsien , Tung John K. , Yu John , Hsu Ya-Ling , Hung Jung-Tung , Yu Alice L.
Published: February 2021

Immune tumor microenvironment (TME) in neuroblastoma (NBL) contributes to tumor behavior and treatment response. T cells and natural killer (NK) cells have been shown to play important roles in the neuroblastoma TME. However, few reports address the clinical relevance of natural killer T cells (NKTs) and interleukin-15 (IL-15), one of the crucial cytokines controlling the activation and expansion of NK/NKT cells, in NBL. In this study, we examined NKT immunoscores and IL-15 expression in both MYCN-amplified and MYCN-non-amplified NBL to correlate with clinical outcomes such as event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). From Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets GSE45480 (n = 643) and GSE49711 (n = 493), we found that NKT immunoscore and IL-15 expression were both significantly lower in MYCN-amplified NBL, and similar results were observed using our clinical NBL samples (n = 53). Moreover, NBL patients (GEO dataset GSE49711 and our clinical samples) with both lower NKT immunoscore and IL-15 expression exhibited decreased EFS and OS regardless of MYCN gene amplification status. Multivariate analysis further showed that the combination of low NKT immunoscore and low IL-15 expression level was an independent prognostic factor for poor EFS and OS in our NBL patients. These findings provide the rationale for the development of strategy to incorporate IL-15 and NKT cell therapy into the treatment regimen for neuroblastoma.
18F-FDG PET/CT Cannot Substitute Endoscopy in the Staging of Gastrointestinal Involvement in Mantle Cell Lymphoma. A Retrospective Multi-Center Cohort Analysis
Authors: Skrypets Tetiana , Ferrari Cristina , Nassi Luca , Margiotta Casaluci Gloria , Puccini Benedetta , Mannelli Lara , Filonenko Kateryna , Kryachok Irina , Clemente Felice , Vegliante Maria , Daniele Antonella , Sacchetti Gianmauro , Guarini Attilio , Minoia Carla
Published: February 2021

The detection of gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in Mantle Cell Lymphoma is often underestimated and may have an impact on outcome and clinical management. We aimed to evaluate whether baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT presents comparable results to endoscopic biopsy in the diagnosis of GI localizations. In our retrospective cohort of 79 patients, sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FDG PET/CT were low for the stomach, with a fair concordance (k = 0.32), while higher concordance with pathologic results (k = 0.65) was detected in the colorectal tract. Thus, gastric biopsy remains helpful in the staging of MCL despite 18F-FDG PET/CT, while colonoscopy could be omitted in asymptomatic patients. The validation of our data in prospective cohorts is desirable
Nanodrug Delivery Systems Modulate Tumor Vessels to Increase the Enhanced Permeability and Retention Effect
Authors: Huang Dong , Sun Lingna , Huang Leaf , Chen Yanzuo
Published: February 2021

The use of nanomedicine for antitumor therapy has been extensively investigated for a long time. Enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect-mediated drug delivery is currently regarded as an effective way to bring drugs to tumors, especially macromolecular drugs and drug-loaded pharmaceutical nanocarriers. However, a disordered vessel network, and occluded or embolized tumor blood vessels seriously limit the EPR effect. To augment the EPR effect and improve curative effects, in this review, we focused on the perspective of tumor blood vessels, and analyzed the relationship among abnormal angiogenesis, abnormal vascular structure, irregular blood flow, extensive permeability of tumor vessels, and the EPR effect. In this commentary, nanoparticles including liposomes, micelles, and polymers extravasate through the tumor vasculature, which are based on modulating tumor vessels, to increase the EPR effect, thereby increasing their therapeutic effect.
Blood Pressure Patterns in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Tulbă Delia , Cozma Liviu , Bălănescu Paul , Buzea Adrian , Băicuș Cristian , Popescu Bogdan Ovidiu
Published: February 2021

(1) Background: Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction is a non-motor feature in Parkinson’s disease with negative impact on functionality and life expectancy, prompting early detection and proper management. We aimed to describe the blood pressure patterns reported in patients with Parkinson’s disease, as measured by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. (2) Methods: We conducted a systematic search on the PubMed database. Studies enrolling patients with Parkinson’s disease undergoing 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were included. Data regarding study population, Parkinson’s disease course, vasoactive drugs, blood pressure profiles, and measurements were recorded. (3) Results: The search identified 172 studies. Forty studies eventually fulfilled the inclusion criteria, with 3090 patients enrolled. Abnormal blood pressure profiles were commonly encountered: high blood pressure in 38.13% of patients (938/2460), orthostatic hypotension in 38.68% (941/2433), supine hypertension in 27.76% (445/1603) and nocturnal hypertension in 38.91% (737/1894). Dipping status was also altered often, 40.46% of patients (477/1179) being reverse dippers and 35.67% (310/869) reduced dippers. All these patterns were correlated with negative clinical and imaging outcomes. (4) Conclusion: Patients with Parkinson’s disease have significantly altered blood pressure patterns that carry a negative prognosis. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be validated as a biomarker of PD-associated cardiovascular dysautonomia and a tool for assisting therapeutic interventions.
Virtualizing AI at the Distributed Edge towards Intelligent IoT Applications
Authors: Campolo Claudia , Genovese Giacomo , Iera Antonio , Molinaro Antonella
Published: February 2021

Several Internet of Things (IoT) applications are booming which rely on advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and, in particular, machine learning (ML) algorithms to assist the users and make decisions on their behalf in a large variety of contexts, such as smart homes, smart cities, smart factories. Although the traditional approach is to deploy such compute-intensive algorithms into the centralized cloud, the recent proliferation of low-cost, AI-powered microcontrollers and consumer devices paves the way for having the intelligence pervasively spread along the cloud-to-things continuum. The take off of such a promising vision may be hurdled by the resource constraints of IoT devices and by the heterogeneity of (mostly proprietary) AI-embedded software and hardware platforms. In this paper, we propose a solution for the AI distributed deployment at the deep edge, which lays its foundation in the IoT virtualization concept. We design a virtualization layer hosted at the network edge that is in charge of the semantic description of AI-embedded IoT devices, and, hence, it can expose as well as augment their cognitive capabilities in order to feed intelligent IoT applications. The proposal has been mainly devised with the twofold aim of (i) relieving the pressure on constrained devices that are solicited by multiple parties interested in accessing their generated data and inference, and (ii) and targeting interoperability among AI-powered platforms. A Proof-of-Concept (PoC) is provided to showcase the viability and advantages of the proposed solution.
Investigation of Dynamic Coupling Coordination between Urbanization and the Eco-Environment—A Case Study in the Pearl River Delta Area
Authors: Sun Caige , Zhang Shengyong , Song Chuncheng , Xu Jianhui , Fan Fenglei
Published: February 2021

The interaction between urbanization and the eco-environment is usually viewed as an effect–feedback framework. Its coupling system is composed of urbanization and eco-environment subsystems. In this paper, the coupling degree (CD) and the coupling coordinated degree (CCD) are used to reflect the coupling interaction and coupling coordination between the urbanization subsystem and the eco-environment subsystem. Based on the dynamic relative quantities of urbanization and eco-environment data in the Pearl River Delta, CD and CCD values were calculated, and the spatiotemporal evolution trend of coordination was analyzed. The results show that (1) from 2000 to 2015, the nine cities in the Pearl River Delta had high CD values and CCD values. Though they had different performances in different periods, they were all in a coordinated class, including good coordination (GC), moderate coordination (MC), and bare coordination (BC). (2) In terms of temporal evolution, the coupling coordination between urbanization and the eco-environment in the entire Pearl River Delta greatly improved. (3) From the perspective of spatial distribution, the coupling coordination of the central region was higher than that of the peripheral regions, and that of the west bank of the Pearl River was higher than that of the east bank of the Pearl River. These results can help local policy makers enact appropriate measures for sustainable development.
An Assessment of Forest Cover Change and Its Driving Forces in the Syrian Coastal Region during a Period of Conflict, 2010 to 2020
Authors: Mohamed Mohamed Ali
Published: February 2021

In Syria, 76% of the forests are located in the Syrian coast region. This region is witnessing a rapid depletion of forest cover during the conflict that broke out in mid-2011. To date, there have been no studies providing accurate, reliable, and comprehensive data on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of forest change dynamics and the underlying drivers behind this change. In this study, changes in the dynamics of forest cover and its density between 2010 and 2020 were detected and analyzed using multi-temporal Landsat images. This study also analyzed the relationship between changes in forest cover and selected physical and socio-demographic variables associated with the drivers of change. The results revealed that the study area witnessed a significant decrease in the total forest area (31,116.0 ha, 24.3%) accompanied by a considerable decrease in density, as the area of dense forests decreased by 11,778.0 ha (9.2%) between 2010 and 2020. The change in forest cover was driven by a variety of different factors related to the conflict. The main drivers were changes in economic and social activities, extensive exploitation of forest resources, frequent forest fires, and weakness of state institutions in managing natural resources and environmental development. Forest loss was also linked to the expansion of cultivated area, increase in population and urban area. Fluctuating climatic conditions are not a major driver of forest cover dynamics in the study area. This decrease in forest area and density reflects sharp shifts in the natural environment during the study period. In the foreseeable future, it is not possible to determine whether the changes in forest cover and its density will be permanent or temporary. Monitoring changes in forest cover and understanding the driving forces behind this change provides quantitative and qualitative information to improve planning and decision-making. The results of this study may draw the attention of decision-makers to take immediate actions and identify areas of initial intervention to protect current the forests of the Syrian coast region from loss and degradation, as well as develop policies for the sustainable management of forest resources in the long term.
FIB-4 First in the Diagnostic Algorithm of Metabolic-Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease in the Era of the Global Metabodemic
Authors: Sumida Yoshio , Yoneda Masashi , Tokushige Katsutoshi , Kawanaka Miwa , Fujii Hideki , Yoneda Masato , Imajo Kento , Takahashi Hirokazu , Eguchi Yuichiro , Ono Masafumi , Nozaki Yuichi , Hyogo Hideyuki , Koseki Masahiro , Yoshida Yuichi , Kawaguchi Takumi , Kamada Yoshihiro , Okanoue Takeshi , Nakajima Atsushi ,   Japan Study Group of NAFLD (JSG-NAFLD)
Published: February 2021

The prevalence of obesity or metabolic syndrome is increasing worldwide (globally metabodemic). Approximately 25% of the adult general population is suffering from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which has become a serious health problem. In 2020, global experts suggested that the nomenclature of NAFLD should be updated to metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Hepatic fibrosis is the most significant determinant of all cause- and liver -related mortality in MAFLD. The non-invasive test (NIT) is urgently required to evaluate hepatic fibrosis in MAFLD. The fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index is the first triaging tool for excluding advanced fibrosis because of its accuracy, simplicity, and cheapness, especially for general physicians or endocrinologists, although the FIB-4 index has several drawbacks. Accumulating evidence has suggested that vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) and the enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) test may become useful as the second step after triaging by the FIB-4 index. The leading cause of mortality in MAFLD is cardiovascular disease (CVD), extrahepatic malignancy, and liver-related diseases. MAFLD often complicates chronic kidney disease (CKD), resulting in increased simultaneous liver kidney transplantation. The FIB-4 index could be a predictor of not only liver-related mortality and incident hepatocellular carcinoma, but also prevalent and incident CKD, CVD, and extrahepatic malignancy. Although NITs as milestones for evaluating treatment efficacy have never been established, the FIB-4 index is expected to reflect histological hepatic fibrosis after treatment in several longitudinal studies. We here review the role of the FIB-4 index in the management of MAFLD.
The Road towards Polyclonal Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulins (Hyperimmune Serum) for Passive Immunization in COVID-19
Authors: Focosi Daniele , Tuccori Marco , Franchini Massimo
Published: February 2021

Effective treatments specific for COVID-19 are still lacking. In the setting of passive immunotherapies based on neutralizing antibodies (nAbs), randomized controlled trials of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein monoclonal antibodies (mAb), which have been granted emergency use authorization, have suggested benefit in early disease course (less than 72 hours from symptoms and seronegative). Meanwhile, polyclonal immunoglobulins (i.e., hyperimmune serum), derived either from CCP donations or from animals immunized with SARS-CoV-2 antigens, are likely to become the next nAb-derived candidate. We here discuss the pros and cons of hyperimmune serum versus CCP and mAb, and summarize the ongoing clinical trials of COVID-19 hyperimmune sera.
Quantitative Analysis of the Recovery Process in Pure Iron Using X-ray Diffraction Line Profile Analysis
Authors: Sugiyama Shota , Ogawa Toshio , He Lei , Wang Zhilei , Adachi Yoshitaka
Published: February 2021

We conducted quantitative analysis of the recovery process during pure iron annealing using the modified Williamson-Hall and Warren-Averbach methods. We prepared four types of specimens with different dislocation substructures. By increasing the annealing temperature, we confirmed a decrease in dislocation density. In particular, screw-dislocation density substantially decreased in the early stage of the recovery process, while edge-dislocation density gradually decreased as annealing temperature increased. Moreover, changes in hardness during the recovery process mainly depended on edge-dislocation density. Increases in annealing temperature weakly affected the dislocation arrangement parameter and crystallite size. Recovery-process modeling demonstrated that the decrease in screw-dislocation density during the recovery process was mainly dominated by glide and/or cross-slip with dislocation core diffusion. In contrast, the decrease in edge-dislocation density during the recovery process was governed by a climbing motion with both dislocation core diffusion and lattice self-diffusion. From the above results, we succeeded in quantitatively distinguishing between edge- and screw-dislocation density during the recovery process, which are difficult to distinguish using transmission electron microscope and electron backscatter diffraction.
Stress-Dependent Particle Interactions of Magnesium Aluminometasilicates as Their Performance Factor in Powder Flow and Compaction Applications
Authors: Komínová Pavlína , Kulaviak Lukáš , Zámostný Petr
Published: February 2021

In the pharmaceutical industry, silicates are commonly used excipients with different application possibilities. They are especially utilized as glidants in low concentrations, but they can be used in high concentrations as porous carriers and coating materials in oral solid drug delivery systems. The desirable formulations of such systems must exhibit good powder flow but also good compactibility, which brings opposing requirements on inter-particle interactions. Since magnesium aluminometasilicates (MAS) are known for their interesting flow behavior reported as “negative cohesivity” yet they can be used as binders for tablet compression, the objective of this experimental study was to investigate their particle interactions within a broad range of mechanical stress from several kPa to hundreds of MPa. Magnesium aluminometasilicate (Neusilin® US2 and Neusilin® S2)-microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel® PH102) physical powder mixtures with varying silicate concentrations were prepared and examined during their exposure to different pressures using powder rheology and compaction analysis. The results revealed that MAS particles retain their repulsive character and small contact surface area under normal conditions. If threshold pressure is applied, the destruction of MAS particles and formation of new surfaces leading to particle interactions are observed. The ability of MAS particles to form interactions intensifies with increasing pressure and their amount in a mixture. This “function switching” makes MAS suitable for use as multifunctional excipients since they can act as a glidant or a binder depending on the applied pressure.
Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing Using Critical Raw Materials: A Review
Authors: Popov Vladimir V. , Grilli Maria Luisa , Koptyug Andrey , Jaworska Lucyna , Katz-Demyanetz Alexander , Klobčar Damjan , Balos Sebastian , Postolnyi Bogdan O. , Goel Saurav
Published: February 2021

The term “critical raw materials” (CRMs) refers to various metals and nonmetals that are crucial to Europe’s economic progress. Modern technologies enabling effective use and recyclability of CRMs are in critical demand for the EU industries. The use of CRMs, especially in the fields of biomedicine, aerospace, electric vehicles, and energy applications, is almost irreplaceable. Additive manufacturing (also referred to as 3D printing) is one of the key enabling technologies in the field of manufacturing which underpins the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 3D printing not only suppresses waste but also provides an efficient buy-to-fly ratio and possesses the potential to entirely change supply and distribution chains, significantly reducing costs and revolutionizing all logistics. This review provides comprehensive new insights into CRM-containing materials processed by modern additive manufacturing techniques and outlines the potential for increasing the efficiency of CRMs utilization and reducing the dependence on CRMs through wider industrial incorporation of AM and specifics of powder bed AM methods making them prime candidates for such developments.
Segmented Embedded Rapid Defect Detection Method for Bearing Surface Defects
Authors: Lei Linjian , Sun Shengli , Zhang Yue , Liu Huikai , Xie Hui
Published: February 2021

The rapid development of machine vision has prompted the continuous emergence of new detection systems and algorithms in surface defect detection. However, most of the existing methods establish their systems with few comparisons and verifications, and the methods described still have various problems. Thus, an original defect detection method: Segmented Embedded Rapid Defect Detection Method for Surface Defects (SERDD) is proposed in this paper. This method realizes the two-way fusion of image processing and defect detection, which can efficiently and accurately detect surface defects such as depression, scratches, notches, oil, shallow characters, abnormal dimensions, etc. Besides, the character recognition method based on Spatial Pyramid Character Proportion Matching (SPCPM) is used to identify the engraved characters on the bearing dust cover. Moreover, the problem of characters being cut in coordinate transformation is solved through Image Self-Stitching-and-Cropping (ISSC). This paper adopts adequate real image data to verify and compare the methods and proves the effectiveness and advancement through detection accuracy, missing alarm rate, and false alarm rate. This method can provide machine vision technical support for bearing surface defect detection in its real sense.
Multi-Objective Optimization Models for Sustainable Perishable Intermodal Multi-Product Networks with Delivery Time Window
Authors: Wang Chia-Nan , Nhieu Nhat-Luong , Chung Yu-Chi , Pham Huynh-Tram
Published: February 2021

Supply chain network design problem is increasingly showing its importance, especially the perishable supply chain. This research develops a multi-objective mathematical model to design four-echelon intermodal multi-product perishable supply chain configuration in order to ensure a balance of the three pillars of sustainable development: economy, environment, and society. The optimization objective functions of the model are, respectively, minimizing costs, delivery time, emissions, and the supply-demand mismatch in time. The model addresses particular problems in the supply chain of fresh fruits, which is more challenging compared to other types of perishable products due to its seasonal characteristics. The study proposes a new approach that combines and standardizes the above objective functions into a single weighted objective function. The solution from the model supports the decision-making process at both strategic and tactical levels. Strategically, the model supports decisions about the location, size of facilities, product flows, and workforce level. Tactically, the decision variables provide information on harvest time, delivery time, the delivery route, and mode of transport. To demonstrate its practical applicability, the model is applied to Mekong Delta region, Vietnam, where a variety of fruit types, large yields, and high distribution demand in this region make designing a shared supply chain desirable for its overall economic, environmental, and social concerns. Moreover, sensitivity analysis regarding weights of different objectives is performed to assess possible changes in supply chain configurations. Application of this model to other perishable products, the addition of modes of transport, social policy, and uncertainty parameters may be suggested for future research.
Nocturnal Hypoglycaemia in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: Database Analysis of a Cohort Using Telemedicine Support for Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose over a 10-Year-Long Period
Authors: Jermendy Gyorgy , Kecskes Agnes , Nagy Attila
Published: February 2021

Background and Objectives: In patients with diabetes mellitus, hypoglycaemic episodes, especially during night hours, carry a significant risk. Data about the occurrence of nocturnal hypoglycaemia in real-world settings are of clinical importance. The aim of our study was to evaluate the occurrence of nocturnal hypoglycaemia among patients with diabetes using self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) with telemedicine support. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analysed the central database of an internet-based supportive system between 2010 and 2020 when 8190 SMBG users uploaded nearly 10 million capillary blood glucose values. Nocturnal hypoglycaemia was defined as capillary blood glucose < 3.0 mmol/L measured between 00:00 and 05:59 h. Results: The database contained 914,146 nocturnal blood glucose values from 7298 users; 24,623 (2.7%) glucose values were below the hypoglycaemic threshold and 2363 patients (32.4%) had at least one hypoglycaemic glucose value. Nocturnal hypoglycaemia was more often found in patients with type 1 vs. type 2 diabetes (n = 1890 (80.0%) vs. n = 387 (16.4%), respectively). Hypoglycaemic blood glucose values were most frequently observed in the age group of 10.0–19.9 years (n = 481 (20.4%)). Patients with nocturnal hypoglycaemia were mostly on insulin treatment (1854 (78.5%) patients with 20,727 (84.1%) hypoglycaemic glucose values). Only 356 patients (15.1%) with nocturnal hypoglycaemia performed a retest within 120 min. Within a one-day-long (1440 min) timeframe, the elapsed median time until a retest, yielding a safe blood glucose value (>3.9 mml/L), was 273 min (interquartile range: 157–300 min). Conclusions: Nocturnal hypoglycaemia should be considered as a persisting challenge to antihyperglycaemic treatment in patients living with diabetes. Continuous efforts are needed to improve both antihyperglycaemic treatment and patient education for preventing nocturnal hypoglycaemia, and to act adequately if hypoglycaemic values are detected.
Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes: From the Basics to the Practical Work-Up
Authors: Kochi Adriano Nunes , Vettor Giulia , Dessanai Maria Antonietta , Pizzamiglio Francesca , Tondo Claudio
Published: February 2021

Sudden cardiac death in athletes is a relatively rare event, but due to the increasing number of individuals practicing high-performance sports, in absolute terms, it has become an important issue to be addressed. Since etiologies are many and the occurrence is rare, tracing the ideal preparticipation screening program is challenging. So far, as screening tools, a comprehensive clinical evaluation and a simple 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) seem to be the most cost-effective strategy. Recent technological advances came to significantly help as second-line investigation tools, especially the cardiac magnetic resonance, which allows for a more detailed ventricular evaluation, cardiac tissue characterization, and eliminates the poor acoustic window problem. This article aims to review all aspects related to sudden cardiac death in athletes, beginning with definitions and epidemiology, passing through etiology and clinical characteristics, then finishing with a discussion about the best ambulatory investigational approach.
Natural Products and Nutrients against Different Viral Diseases: Prospects in Prevention and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Ali Syed Ghazanfar , Ansari Mohammad Azam , Alzohairy Mohammad A. , Almatroudi Ahmad , Alomary Mohammad N. , Alghamdi Saad , Rehman Suriya , Khan Haris M.
Published: February 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic and is posing a serious challenge to mankind. As per the current scenario, there is an urgent need for antiviral that could act as a protective and therapeutic against SARS-CoV-2. Previous studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 is much similar to the SARS-CoV bat that occurred in 2002-03. Since it is a zoonotic virus, the exact source is still unknown, but it is believed bats may be the primary reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 through which it has been transferred to humans. In this review, we have tried to summarize some of the approaches that could be effective against SARS-CoV-2. Firstly, plants or plant-based products have been effective against different viral diseases, and secondly, plants or plant-based natural products have the minimum adverse effect. We have also highlighted a few vitamins and minerals that could be beneficial against SARS-CoV-2.
Cleaning Methods for Ceramic Ultrafiltration Membranes Affected by Organic Fouling
Authors: Gruskevica Kamila , Mezule Linda
Published: February 2021

The use of ceramic membranes in the treatment and processing of various liquids, including those of organic origin, has increased tremendously at the industrial level. Apart from the selection of the most appropriate membrane materials and operational conditions, suitable membrane cleaning procedures are a must to minimize fouling and increase membrane lifespan. The review summarizes currently available and practiced non-reagent and cleaning-in-place methods for ceramic membranes that are used in the treatment of organic liquids, thus causing organic fouling. Backflushing, backwashing, and ultrasound represent the most often used physical methods for reversible fouling treatment. At the same time, the use of alkalis, e.g, sodium hydroxide, acids, or strong oxidants are recommended for cleaning of irreversible fouling treatment.
Study of Resveratrol’s Interaction with Planar Lipid Models: Insights into Its Location in Lipid Bilayers
Authors: Meleleo Daniela
Published: February 2021

Resveratrol, a polyphenolic molecule found in edible fruits and vegetables, shows a wide range of beneficial effects on human health, including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-aging properties. Due to its poor water solubility and high liposome-water partition coefficient, the biomembrane seems to be the main target of resveratrol, although the mode of interaction with membrane lipids and its location within the cell membrane are still unclear. In this study, using electrophysiological measurements, we study the interaction of resveratrol with planar lipid membranes (PLMs) of different composition. We found that resveratrol incorporates into palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) and POPC:Ch PLMs and forms conductive units unlike those found in dioleoyl-phosphatidylserine (DOPS):dioleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) PLMs. The variation of the biophysical parameters of PLMs in the presence of resveratrol provides information on its location within a lipid double layer, thus contributing to an understanding of its mechanism of action.
Higher Acid Recovery Efficiency of Novel Functionalized Inorganic/Organic Composite Anion Exchange Membranes from Acidic Wastewater
Authors: Khan Muhammad Imran , Shanableh Abdallah , Elboughdiri Noureddine , Kriaa Karim , Ghernaout Djamel , Ghareba Saad , Khraisheh Majeda , Lashari Mushtaq Hussain
Published: February 2021

In this work, the synthesis of a series of the functionalized inorganic/organic composite anion exchange membranes (AEMs) was carried out by employing the varying amount of inorganic filler consist of N-(trimethoxysilylpropyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (TMSP-TMA+Cl−) into the quaternized poly (2, 6-dimethyl-1, 4-phenylene oxide) (QPPO) matrix for acid recovery via diffusion dialysis (DD) process. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy clearly demonstrated the fabrication of the functionalized inorganic/organic composite AEMs and the subsequent membrane characteristic measurements such as ion exchange capacity (IEC), linear swelling ratio (LSR), and water uptake (WR) gave us the optimum loading condition of the filler without undesirable filler particle aggregation. These composite AEMs exhibited IEC of 2.18 to 2.29 meq/g, LSR of 13.33 to 18.52%, and WR of 46.11 to 81.66% with sufficient thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. The diffusion dialysis (DD) test for acid recovery from artificial acid wastewater of HCl/FeCl2 showed high acid DD coefficient (UH+) (0.022 to 0.025 m/h) and high separation factor (S) (139-260) compared with the commercial membrane. Furthermore, the developed AEMs was acceptably stable (weight loss < 20%) in the acid wastewater at 60 °C as an accelerated severe condition for 2 weeks. These results clearly indicated that the developed AEMs have sufficient potential for acid recovery application by DD process.
Study of Hillock and Zinc Whisker Evolution in Five Different Cable Tray Coatings
Authors: Arroyo Borja , Roth Marion , Álvarez José Alberto , Cimentada Ana Isabel , Cicero Sergio , Seco Jaime , Becedoniz Guillermo
Published: February 2021

The main objective of this work is the study of the hillock and zinc whisker evolution of five different commercial zinc coatings applied on the same base steel wires of the patented EASYCONNECT system cable trays manufactured by VALDINOX Ltd.: white zinc alkaline electrolyte, yellow zinc trivalent electrolyte, acid zinc electrolyte, hot dip galvanized, and zinc nickel coating. The limited literature on the subject is summarized, and then the coating thickness, chemical composition, hardness and surface rugosity are characterized. The hillock and whisker density evolution are evaluated over a period of 12 months, considering the presence of compression bending stresses. It is concluded that the white alkaline and yellow trivalent coatings are the most affected, while the zinc-nickel shows the best behavior with no presence of whiskers; the acid zinc electrolyte also shows good results despite the delayed appearance of whiskers from the ninth month; the hot-dip galvanized coating does not show any presence of zinc whiskers or hillocks.
Dissolution and Online Monitoring of Nd and Pr Oxides in NdF3–PrF3–LiF Electrolytes
Authors: Senanu Samuel , Ratvik Arne , Gudbrandsen Henrik , Martinez Ana , Støre Anne , Gebarowski Wojciech
Published: February 2021

Concentrations of dissolved rare earth metal oxides, Nd2O3, and Pr2O3 or their mixtures in different fluoride electrolytes composed of NdF3, PrF3, and LiF at ca. 1040 °C were monitored using a graphite probe inserted into the electrolyte during the dissolution process. Fast voltage sweeps of 100 V/s were applied to the graphite probe, and the current response was measured. As the oxide concentration in the diffusion layer towards the electrode depletes, a passive layer is, at a certain point, formed on the probe, resulting in a current drop. The magnitude of the peak current attained before the formation of the passive layer reflects the concentration of the dissolved oxide and, thus, is applied to determine the oxide concentration. The oxide concentration in the electrolyte samples determined using the inert gas fusion technique showed a good correlation to the peak current determined by the probe.
Design of Novel Flash Ironmaking Reactors for Greatly Reduced Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions
Authors: Sohn Hong Yong , Fan De-Qiu , Abdelghany Amr
Published: February 2021

The development of a novel ironmaking technology based on fine iron ore concentrate in a flash reactor is summarized. The design of potential industrial reactors for flash ironmaking based on the computational fluid dynamics technique is described. Overall, this simulation work has shown that the size of the reactor used in the novel flash ironmaking technology (FIT) can be quite reasonable vis-à-vis the blast furnaces. A flash reactor of 12 m diameter and 35 m height with a single burner operating at atmospheric pressure would produce 1.0 million tons of iron per year. The height can be further reduced by either using multiple burners, preheating the feed gas, or both. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based design of potential industrial reactors for flash ironmaking pointed to a number of features that should be incorporated. The flow field should be designed in such a way that a larger portion of the reactor is used for the reduction reaction but at the same time excessive collision of particles with the wall must be avoided. Further, a large diameter-to-height ratio that still allows a high reduction degree should be used from the viewpoint of decreased heat loss. This may require the incorporation of multiple burners and solid feeding ports.
Early Noninvasive Metabolic Biomarkers of Mutant IDH Inhibition in Glioma
Authors: Radoul Marina , Hong Donghyun , Gillespie Anne Marie , Najac Chloé , Viswanath Pavithra , Pieper Russell O. , Costello Joseph F. , Luchman Hema Artee , Ronen Sabrina M.
Published: February 2021

Approximately 80% of low-grade glioma (LGGs) harbor mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH1/2) driver mutations leading to accumulation of the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG). Thus, inhibition of mutant IDH is considered a potential therapeutic target. Several mutant IDH inhibitors are currently in clinical trials, including AG-881 and BAY-1436032. However, to date, early detection of response remains a challenge. In this study we used high resolution 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to identify early noninvasive MR (Magnetic Resonance)-detectable metabolic biomarkers of response to mutant IDH inhibition. In vivo 1H-MRS was performed on mice orthotopically-implanted with either genetically engineered (U87IDHmut) or patient-derived (BT257 and SF10417) mutant IDH1 cells. Treatment with either AG-881 or BAY-1436032 induced a significant reduction in 2-HG. Moreover, both inhibitors led to a significant early and sustained increase in glutamate and the sum of glutamate and glutamine (GLX) in all three models. A transient early increase in N-acetylaspartate (NAA) was also observed. Importantly, all models demonstrated enhanced animal survival following both treatments and the metabolic alterations were observed prior to any detectable differences in tumor volume between control and treated tumors. Our study therefore identifies potential translatable early metabolic biomarkers of drug delivery, mutant IDH inhibition and glioma response to treatment with emerging clinically relevant therapies.
Metabolomics of Pigmented Rice Coproducts Applying Conventional or Deep Eutectic Extraction Solvents Reveal a Potential Antioxidant Source for Human Nutrition
Authors: Santos Millena Cristina Barros , Barouh Nathalie , Durand Erwann , Baréa Bruno , Robert Mélina , Micard Valérie , Lullien-Pellerin Valérie , Villeneuve Pierre , Cameron Luiz Claudio , Ryan Elizabeth P. , Ferreira Mariana Simões Larraz , Bourlieu-Lacanal Claire
Published: February 2021

Rice bran (RB) corresponds to the outer layers of whole grain rice and contains several phenolic compounds (PCs) that make it an interesting functional food ingredient. PC richness is enhanced in pigmented RB varieties and requires effective ways of extraction of these compounds. Therefore, we investigated conventional and deep eutectic solvents (DES) extraction methods to recover a wide array of PCs from red and black RB. The RB were extracted with ethanol/water (60:40, v/v) and two DES (choline chloride/1.2-propanediol/water, 1:1:1 and choline chloride/lactic acid, 1:10, mole ratios), based on Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) components. Besides the quantification of the most typical phenolic acids of cereals, nontargeted metabolomic approaches were applied to PCs profiling in the extracts. Globally, metabolomics revealed 89 PCs belonging to flavonoids (52%), phenolic acids (33%), other polyphenols (8%), lignans (6%) and stilbenes (1%) classes. All extracts, whatever the solvents, were highly concentrated in the main phenolic acids found in cereals (37–66 mg/100 g in black RB extracts vs. 6–20 mg/100 g in red RB extracts). However, the PC profile was highly dependent on the extraction solvent and specific PCs were extracted using the acidic DES. The PC-enriched DES extracts demonstrated interesting DPPH scavenging activity, which makes them candidates for novel antioxidant formulations.
Performance Analysis of Surface Reconstruction Algorithms in Vertical Scanning Interferometry Based on Coherence Envelope Detection
Authors: Wu Dongxu , Liang Fusheng , Kang Chengwei , Fang Fengzhou
Published: February 2021

Optical interferometry plays an important role in the topographical surface measurement and characterization in precision/ultra-precision manufacturing. An appropriate surface reconstruction algorithm is essential in obtaining accurate topography information from the digitized interferograms. However, the performance of a surface reconstruction algorithm in interferometric measurements is influenced by environmental disturbances and system noise. This paper presents a comparative analysis of three algorithms commonly used for coherence envelope detection in vertical scanning interferometry, including the centroid method, fast Fourier transform (FFT), and Hilbert transform (HT). Numerical analysis and experimental studies were carried out to evaluate the performance of different envelope detection algorithms in terms of measurement accuracy, speed, and noise resistance. Step height standards were measured using a developed interferometer and the step profiles were reconstructed by different algorithms. The results show that the centroid method has a higher measurement speed than the FFT and HT methods, but it can only provide acceptable measurement accuracy at a low noise level. The FFT and HT methods outperform the centroid method in terms of noise immunity and measurement accuracy. Even if the FFT and HT methods provide similar measurement accuracy, the HT method has a superior measurement speed compared to the FFT method.
A RF Redundant TSV Interconnection for High Resistance Si Interposer
Authors: Wang Mengcheng , Ma Shenglin , Jin Yufeng , Wang Wei , Chen Jing , Hu Liulin , He Shuwei
Published: February 2021

Through Silicon Via (TSV) technology is capable meeting effective, compact, high density, high integration, and high-performance requirements. In high-frequency applications, with the rapid development of 5G and millimeter-wave radar, the TSV interposer will become a competitive choice for radio frequency system-in-package (RF SIP) substrates. This paper presents a redundant TSV interconnect design for high resistivity Si interposers for millimeter-wave applications. To verify its feasibility, a set of test structures capable of working at millimeter waves are designed, which are composed of three pieces of CPW (coplanar waveguide) lines connected by single TSV, dual redundant TSV, and quad redundant TSV interconnects. First, HFSS software is used for modeling and simulation, then, a modified equivalent circuit model is established to analysis the effect of the redundant TSVs on the high-frequency transmission performance to solidify the HFSS based simulation. At the same time, a failure simulation was carried out and results prove that redundant TSV can still work normally at 44 GHz frequency when failure occurs. Using the developed TSV process, the sample is then fabricated and tested. Using L-2L de-embedding method to extract S-parameters of the TSV interconnection. The insertion loss of dual and quad redundant TSVs are 0.19 dB and 0.46 dB at 40 GHz, respectively.
Comparative Study of Traveling and Standing Wave-Based Locomotion of Legged Bidirectional Miniature Piezoelectric Robots
Authors: Hernando-García Jorge , García-Caraballo Jose Luis , Ruiz-Díez Víctor , Sánchez-Rojas Jose Luis
Published: February 2021

The use of wave-based locomotion mechanisms is already well established in the field of robotics, using either standing waves (SW) or traveling waves (TW). The motivation of this work was to compare both the SW- and the TW-based motion of a 20-mm long sub-gram glass plate, with attached 3D printed legs, and piezoelectric patches for the actuation. The fabrication of the robot did not require sophisticated techniques and the speed of motion was measured under different loading conditions. In the case of the TW mechanism, the influence of using different pairs of modes to generate the TW on the locomotion speed has been studied, as well as the effect of the coupling of the TW motion and the first flexural vibration mode of the legs. This analysis resulted in a maximum unloaded speed of 6 bodylengths/s (BL/s) at 65 V peak-to-peak (Vpp). The SW approach also examined different modes of vibration and a speed of locomotion as high as 14 BL/s was achieved, requiring, unlike the TW case, a highly precise location of the legs on the glass supporting platform and a precise tuning of the excitation frequency.
An In-Depth Assessment of the Electronic and Magnetic Properties of a Highly Ordered Hybrid Interface: The Case of Nickel Tetra-Phenyl-Porphyrins on Fe(001)–p(1 × 1)O
Authors: Albani Guglielmo , Calloni Alberto , Picone Andrea , Brambilla Alberto , Capra Michele , Lodesani Alessandro , Duò Lamberto , Finazzi Marco , Ciccacci Franco , Bussetti Gianlorenzo
Published: February 2021

In this paper we focus on the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of Ni tetra-phenyl-porphyrins (NiTPP) grown on top of Fe(001)–p(1 × 1)O. Ordered thin films of metal TPP molecules are potentially interesting for organic electronic and spintronic applications, especially when they are coupled to a ferromagnetic substrate. Unfortunately, porphyrin layers deposited on top of ferromagnetic substrates do not generally show long-range order. In this work, we provide evidence of an ordered disposition of the organic film above the iron surface and we prove that the thin layer of iron oxide decouples the molecules from the substrate, thus preserving the molecular electronic features, especially the HOMO-LUMO gap, even when just a few organic layers are deposited. The effect of the exposure to molecular oxygen is also investigated and an increased robustness against oxidation with respect to the bare substrate is detected. Finally, we present our results for the magnetic analysis performed by spin resolved spectroscopy, finding a null magnetic coupling between the molecules and the substrate.