bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of Tendon Repair Using Tendon-Derived Stem Cells in Small Intestinal Submucosa via M2 Macrophage Polarization
Authors: Mao Xufeng , Yao Liwei , Li Mei , Zhang Xiqian , Weng Bowen , Zhu Weilai , Ni Renhao , Chen Kanan , Yi Linhua , Zhao Jiyuan , Mao Haijiao
Published: September 2022

(1) Background: Reconstruction of Achilles tendon defects and prevention of postoperative tendon adhesions were two serious clinical problems. In the treatment of Achilles tendon defects, decellularized matrix materials and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were thought to address both problems. (2) Methods: In vitro, cell adhesion, proliferation, and tenogenic differentiation of tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) on small intestinal submucosa (SIS) were evaluated. RAW264.7 was induced by culture medium of TDSCs and TDSCs–SIS scaffold groups. A rat Achilles tendon defect model was used to assess effects on tendon regeneration and antiadhesion in vivo. (3) Results: SIS scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and tenogenic differentiation of TDSCs, while SIS hydrogel coating promoted proliferation of TDSCs. The expression of TGF-β and ARG-1 in the TDSCs-SIS scaffold group were higher than that in the TDSCs group on day 3 and 7. In vivo, the tendon regeneration and antiadhesion capacity of the implanted TDSCs–SIS scaffold was significantly enhanced. The expression of CD163 was significantly highest in the TDSCs–SIS scaffold group; meanwhile, the expression of CD68 decreased more significantly in the TDSCs–SIS scaffold group than the other two groups. (4) Conclusion: This study showed that biologically prepared SIS scaffolds synergistically promote tendon regeneration with TDSCs and achieve antiadhesion through M2 polarization of macrophages.
Forskolin, an Adenylcyclase/cAMP/CREB Signaling Activator Restoring Myelin-Associated Oligodendrocyte Destruction in Experimental Ethidium Bromide Model of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Kapoor Tarun , Mehan Sidharth , Suri Manisha , Sharma Nidhi , Kumar Nitish , Narula Acharan S. , Alshammari Abdulrahman , Alasmari Abdullah F. , Alharbi Metab , Assiri Mohammed A. , Kalfin Reni
Published: September 2022

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease marked by oligodendrocyte loss, which results in central neuronal demyelination. AC/cAMP/CREB signaling dysregulation is involved in the progression of MS, including mitochondrial dysfunctions, reduction in nerve growth factors, neuronal inflammation, apoptosis, and white matter degeneration. Our previous research has shown that Forskolin (FSK), a naturally occurring direct adenylyl cyclase (AC)/cAMP/CREB activator, has neuroprotective potential to alleviate pathogenic factors linked with numerous neurological abnormalities. The current study intends to explore the neuroprotective potential of FSK at doses of 40 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg alone, as well as in combination with conventional medicines, such as Fingolimod (FNG), Donepezil (DON), Memantine (MEM), and Simvastatin (SIM) in EB-induced demyelinated experimental MS rats. Adult Wistar rats were divided into nine groups, and EB was infused stereotaxically in the rat brain’s intracerebropeduncle (ICP) area. Chronic gliotoxin EB treatment results in demyelination as well as motor and cognitive dysfunctions. FSK, combined with standard medications, improves behavioral dysfunctions, such as neuromuscular and motor deficits and memory and cognitive abnormalities. Following pharmacological treatments improved remyelination by enhancing myelin basic protein and increasing AC, cAMP, and CREB levels in brain homogenates. Furthermore, FSK therapy restored brain mitochondrial-ETC complex enzymes and neurotransmitter levels while decreasing inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers. The Luxol fast blue (LFB) stain results further indicate FSK’s neuroprotective potential in preventing oligodendrocyte death. Therefore, the results of these studies contribute to a better understanding of the possible role that natural phytochemicals FSK could have in preventing motor neuron diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.
Learning from the Past: Lessons from the First United Nations Report on Problems of the Human-Environment
Authors: Amiraslani Farshad , Cooper Andrew
Published: September 2022

The 1969 UN Report “Problems of the Human Environment” was a seminal work that first highlighted environmental problems at a global scale. This report underpinned a series of subsequent international summits and conventions of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and the subsequent three global conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification. We assessed the report half a century after its publication to track changes in vocabulary and highlight critical lessons that could have been learned. The assessment contains several strengths and weaknesses that are pertinent to modern global-scale analyses. Many issues of that day have declined in importance or been superseded, and several major environmental problems (including climate change and plastic pollution) were not foreseen. Most of the report’s predictions proved to be much more conservative than proved by reality (a criticism that has also been levelled at contemporary IPCC reports). The report, however, did forewarn of global pandemics and stimulated thinking on a global scale that led to identification of the current climate crisis.
Natural Products as Mcl-1 Inhibitors: A Comparative Study of Experimental and Computational Modelling Data
Authors: Negi Arvind , Murphy Paul V.
Published: September 2022

The human myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein (hMcl-1) is an anti-apoptotic multi-partner protein, belonging to the B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins. Studies have linked hMcl-1 alleviated expression with resistance to hemopoietic chemotherapeutics, which makes it a key drug target in blood cancers. However, most of the developed small- to medium-sized hMcl-1 inhibitors have typical off-target activity towards other members of the Bcl-2 family. To improve the hMcl-1 inhibitor design, especially exploring a suitable scaffold with pharmacophoric features, we focused on natural hMcl-1 inhibitors. To date, seven classes of natural compounds have been isolated, which display a low micromolar affinity for hMcl-1 and have limited biophysical studies. We screened hMcl-1 co-crystal structures, and identified nine co-crystal structures of hMcl-1 protein, which were later evaluated by multiple receptor conformations (which indicates that the differences between hMcl-1 in crystal structures are low (RMSD values between 0.52 and 1.13 Å, average RMSD of 0.638–0.888 Å, with a standard deviation of 0.102–0.185Å)), and multiple ligand conformations (which led to the selection of the PDB structure, 3WIX (RMSD value = 0.879 Å, standard deviation 0.116 Å), to accommodate various Mcl-1 ligands from a range of co-crystal PDB files) methods. Later, the three adopted docking methods were assessed for their ability to reproduce the conformation bound to the crystal as well as predict trends in Ki values based on calculated RMSD and docking energies. Iterative docking and clustering of the docked pose within ≤1.0 Å was used to evaluate the reproducibility of the adopted docking methods and compared with their experimentally determined hMcl-1 affinity data.
Pubo-Femoral Distances Measured Reliably by Midwives in Hip Dysplasia Ultrasound
Authors: Husum Hans-Christen , Bach Hellfritzsch Michel , Maimburg Rikke Damkjær , Henriksen Mads , Lapitskaya Natallia , Møller-Madsen Bjarne , Rahbek Ole
Published: September 2022

The pubo-femoral distance (PFD) has been suggested as an ultrasound screening tool for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). The aim of this study was to examine if midwives undergoing minimal training could reliably perform pediatric hip ultrasound and PFD measurements. Eight recruited midwives performed two rounds of independent blinded PFD measurements on 15 static ultrasound images and participated in four supervised live-scanning sessions. The midwives were compared to a group of three experienced musculoskeletal radiologists. Reliability was evaluated using inter-rater correlation coefficients (ICC). Linear regression was used to quantify the learning curve of the midwives as a group. There was near complete intra- and inter-rater agreement (ICC > 0.89) on static ultrasound images across both rounds of rating for midwives and radiologists. The midwives performed a mean of 29 live hip scans (range 24–35). The mean difference between midwives and supervising radiologists was 0.36 mm, 95% CI (0.12–0.61) for the first session, which decreased to 0.20 mm, 95% CI (0.04–0.37) in the fourth session. ICC for PFD measurements increased from 0.59 mm, 95% CI (0.37–0.75) to 0.78 mm, 95% CI (0.66–0.86) with progression in sessions. We conclude that midwives reliably perform PFD measurements of pediatric hips with minimal training.
The Economic Burden of Pneumococcal Disease in Children: A Population-Based Investigation in the Veneto Region of Italy
Authors: Barbieri Elisa , Porcu Gloria , Petigara Tanaz , Senese Francesca , Prandi Gian Marco , Scamarcia Antonio , Cantarutti Luigi , Cantarutti Anna , Giaquinto Carlo
Published: September 2022

Despite widespread childhood immunization programs, pneumococcal disease (PD) continues to be associated with significant clinical and economic burden worldwide. This retrospective study assessed the PD-related economic burden in children from the Veneto region of Italy following the introduction of a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) to the Italian immunization schedule in 2010. Between 2010 and 2017, the annual incidences of pneumonia, acute otitis media (AOM), and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), as well as syndromic-disease-related episodes, declined. In our analysis of data from regional expenditure and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) databases related to children < 15 years of age, we found that regional expenditures decreased between 2010 and 2017 for pneumonia (EUR 8.88 to EUR 3.59 million), AOM (EUR 3.78 to EUR 2.76 million), and IPD (EUR 1.40 to EUR 1.00 million). Despite reductions in PD-related expenditure following the introduction of PCV13, there continues to be an economic burden associated with PD in Veneto, Italy.
Helicobacter pylori-Related Extraintestinal Manifestations—Myth or Reality
Authors: Mărginean Cristian Dan , Mărginean Cristina Oana , Meliț Lorena Elena
Published: September 2022

It is well documented that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can cause both gastrointestinal and extraintestinal manifestations. The latter one represents a major burden in terms of diagnosis and treatment. H. pylori-associated systemic subclinical inflammation is mostly responsible for the development of extraintestinal manifestations, and its early eradication might result in preventing all adverse events related to their occurrence. Thus, it was suggested that H. pylori might be associated with iron deficiency anemia, thrombocytopenia (immune thrombocytopenic purpura), Schonlein Henoch purpura, failure to thrive, vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, cardiovascular diseases, as well as certain neurological conditions. Nevertheless, studies showed both pros and cons in terms of the role of H. pylori in the development of previously mentioned clinical entity underlining the crucial need for further studies on these topics. Although most of these extraintestinal manifestations occur during adulthood, we must not forget that H. pylori infection is acquired mainly during childhood, and thus its early diagnosis and eradication might represent the cornerstone in the prevention of H. pylori-induced inflammatory status and consequently of all related extraintestinal conditions.
Scoping Review on Play-Based Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: López-Nieto Lucía , Compañ-Gabucio Laura María , Torres-Collado Laura , Garcia-de la Hera Manuela
Published: September 2022

Play as a therapeutic strategy can help to improve daily functioning in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Play-based intervention can thus be an optimal option for treatment of this population. Our aim was to describe play-based interventions used in children and adolescents with ASD. We conducted a scoping review. A peer-reviewed literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases. We included experimental studies which analyzed play-based interventions in children and adolescents with ASD, which were published in English/Spanish with full text available. We used three tables elaborated a priori to perform data extraction by two authors. Fifteen studies were included, mostly conducted in Australia and published during the past 10 years. Play-based intervention was categorized into three groups: new technologies, symbolic play or official techniques. Interventions lasted approximately 11 weeks, contained one weekly session of 30–60 min and were delivered by parents and teachers. Play-based interventions using new technologies were the most used. Intervention duration and number of sessions varied between articles. Further studies are needed to create play-based intervention protocols which can be implemented in clinical practice with children and adolescents with ASD, thus promoting evidence-based interventions in this field.
Prophylactic Effects of Purple Shoot Green Tea on Cytokine Immunomodulation through Scavenging Free Radicals and NO in LPS-Stimulated Macrophages
Authors: Lin Chih-Cheng , Lin Hsiu-Hua , Chang Hsiang , Chuang Lu-Te , Hsieh Chih-Yu , Lu Shing-Hwa , Hung Chi-Feng , Chang Jia-Feng
Published: September 2022

Polyphenols and flavonoids from non-fermented green tea and fully-fermented black tea exhibit antioxidant abilities that function as natural health foods for daily consumption. Nonetheless, evidence regarding prophylactic effects of purple shoot tea on immunomodulation remains scarce. We compared the immunomodulatory effects of different tea processes on oxidative stress and cytokine expressions in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. Major constituents of four tea products, Taiwan Tea Experiment Station No.12 (TTES No. 12) black and green tea and purple shoot black and purple shoot green tea (TB, TG, PB and PG, respectively), were analyzed to explore the prophylactic effects on expressions of free radicals, nitric oxide (NO), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cell models. PG contained abundant levels of total polyphenols, flavonoids, condensed tannins and proanthocyanidins (371.28 ± 3.83; 86.37 ± 1.46; 234.67 ± 10.1; and 24.81 ± 0.75 mg/g, respectively) contributing to excellent free radical scavenging potency. In both the LPS-activated inflammation model and the prophylactic model, all tea extracts suppressed NO secretion in a dose-dependent manner, especially for PG. Intriguingly, most tea extracts enhanced expressions of IL-6 in LPS-stimulated macrophages, except PG. However, all teas disrupted downstream transduction of chemoattractant MCP-1 for immune cell trafficking. In the prophylactic model, all teas inhibited inflammatory responses by attenuating expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner, especially for TG and PG. Our prophylactic model demonstrated PG exerts robust effects on modulating LPS-induced cytokine expressions of MCP-1, IL-6 and TNF-α through scavenging free radicals and NO. In light of the prophylactic effects on LPS-related inflammation, PG effectively scavenges free radicals to modulate cytokine cascades that could serve as a functional beverage for immunomodulation.
Compound Extremes of Air Temperature and Precipitation in Eastern Europe
Authors: Vyshkvarkova Elena , Sukhonos Olga
Published: September 2022

The spatial distribution of compound extremes of air temperature and precipitation was studied over the territory of Eastern Europe for the period 1950–2018. Using daily data on air temperature and precipitation, we calculated the frequency and trends of the four indices—cold/dry (CD), cold/wet (CW), warm/dry (WD) and warm/wet (WW). The connection between these indices and large-scale patterns in the ocean–atmosphere system, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the East Atlantic (EA) and Scandinavia (SCAND) patterns, was also studied. The positive and statistically significant trends in the region were observed for the warm extremes (especially the WW index) in all seasons, with maximum values in the winter season, while negative trends were obtained for the cold extremes. The NAO index has a strong positive and statistically significant correlation with the warm compound indices (WD and WW) in the northern part of Eastern Europe in winter like the EA pattern, but with smaller values. The spatial distribution of the correlation coefficients between compound extremes and the SCAND index in the winter season is opposite to the correlation coefficients with the NAO index.
Factors Associated with Over-the-Counter Analgesic Overuse among Individuals Experiencing Headache
Authors: Alshareef Maram
Published: September 2022

The prevalence of chronic daily headache (CDH) worldwide is 4–5%. Treatment for CDH with prophylaxis and abortive medications is often delayed, increasing disease severity. Consequently, increased usage of over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics can lead to medication overuse headache (MOH). This study aimed to assess factors affecting OTC analgesic overuse causing headaches. Methodology: A cross-sectional structured survey was conducted using voluntary response sampling. Among 1177 respondents, 459 individuals with headache were enrolled in the study. Results: Most participants were female (73.5%), almost half were aged 20–39 years (48.1%), and over half used OTC analgesics (56%). A significant association was found between OTC analgesic overuse and factors, such as chronic disease (p = 0.007), working status (p = 0.015), smoking (p = 0.02), headache frequency >15 days per month (p = 0.000), migraine-type headache (p = 0.01), preventive medicine use (p = 0.018), and emergency department visit (p = 0.018). Conclusion: OTC analgesic overuse among individuals with headache is affected by several factors, including the presence of chronic diseases, working status, smoking, and migraine-type headaches. However, preventive medicine and emergency department visits were considered to have protective effects. Health care providers should screen patients for MOH, increase their awareness, and follow MOH guidelines to treat chronic headache.
Synthesis, Characterization and Investigation of Anticorrosion Properties of an Innovative Metal–Organic Framework, ZnMOF-BTA, on Carbon Steel in HCl Solution
Authors: Nwokolo Izuchukwu K. , Shi Hongwei , Ikeuba Alexander I. , Gao Ningjie , Li Jiwen , Ahmed Sharjeel , Liu Fuchun
Published: September 2022

An innovative metal–organic framework (ZnMOF-BTA) with corrosion inhibition properties was prepared by the solvothermal reaction of zinc nitrate, 1,2,3-benzotriazole, and 2,5-thiophene dicarboxylic acid. ZnMOF-BTA was characterized by FTIR, XRD, XPS, SEM, and thermogravimetric analyses, and the corrosion inhibition performance on Q235 carbon steel in 1 M HCl solution was evaluated by weight loss, polarization, and EIS measurements. XRD results showed that ZnMOF-BTA has a monoclinic crystal structure and belongs to C12/c1 space group, while DTA/TGA results revealed it has a good crystalline quality and excellent thermal stability with a melting point of 410 °C. FTIR and XPS results revealed that Zn2+, TDC2−, and BTA molecules were successfully used in ZnMOF-BTA synthesis. Electrochemical test results show that the obtained ZnMOF-BTA is effective in corrosion inhibition of Q235 carbon steel in acidic conditions and maximum inhibition efficiency of over 90% is obtained at 6 wt.% ZnMOF-BTA extract concentration. Adsorption studies revealed that the adsorption of BTA molecules follows the Langmuir isotherm model with an R2 value of 0.97889, while the ΔG◦ads value of −10.28 kJ mol−1 indicates that adsorption is by physisorption. The study provides a new corrosion inhibitor compound with proven corrosion inhibition properties.
Advancement of Marginal Bone and Soft Tissue Aesthetics for Slope-Configured Implants
Authors: Pietruska Małgorzata , Pietruski Jan Krzysztof
Published: September 2022

The aim of the study was to examine changes within the marginal bone and soft tissue aesthetics following placement of implants with a sloped shoulder configuration. Thirty patients with a single missing tooth who showed a palatal/lingual–buccal bone height discrepancy of 2.0–3.0 mm on CBCT were enrolled in the study. The thickness of buccal and palatal/lingual bone plates 1 and 3 mm apically from the platform; Pink Aesthetic Score and Papilla Index were evaluated. After the implant insertion the mean thickness of the buccal bone plate when measured 1 mm and 3 mm from the shoulder was 1.85 ± 0.68 mm and 1.99 ± 1.05 mm. Six months after the definitive crown delivery, the value of this parameter decreased by 0.32 ± 0.53 mm and 0.15 ± 1.05 mm, respectively. After the temporary crown delivery, the median Pink Aesthetic Score was 5, and it increased to 7.75 six months after the definitive crown delivery. Likewise, the Papilla Index median improved from 1 to 2. After the use of implants with a sloped shoulder configuration, a slight decrease in buccal bone plate thickness can be expected. However, the reduction in the thickness of this bone plate does not have a negative impact on soft tissues, as evidenced by the improvement in indices assessing aesthetics.
On Strain Gradient Theory and Its Application in Bending of Beam
Authors: Li Anqing , Wang Qing , Song Ming , Chen Jun , Su Weiguang , Zhou Shasha , Wang Li
Published: September 2022

The general strain gradient theory of Mindlin is re-visited on the basis of a new set of higher-order metrics, which includes dilatation gradient, deviatoric stretch gradient, symmetric rotation gradient and curvature. A strain gradient bending theory for plane-strain beams is proposed based on the present strain gradient theory. The stress resultants are re-defined and the corresponding equilibrium equations and boundary conditions are derived for beams. The semi-inverse solution for a pure bending beam is obtained and the influence of the Poisson’s effect and strain gradient components on bending rigidity is investigated. As a contrast, the solution of the Bernoulli–Euler beam is also presented. The results demonstrate that when Poisson’s effect is ignored, the result of the plane-strain beam is consistent with that of the Bernoulli–Euler beam in the couple stress theory. While for the strain gradient theory, the bending rigidity of a plane-strain beam ignoring the Poisson’s effect is smaller than that of the Bernoulli–Euler beam due to the influence of the dilatation gradient and the deviatoric stretch gradient along the thickness direction of the beam. In addition, the influence of a strain gradient along the length direction on a bending rigidity is negligible.
The Methods of Three-Dimensional Modeling of the Hydrogenerator Thrust Bearing
Authors: Tretiak Oleksii , Kritskiy Dmitriy , Kobzar Igor , Arefieva Mariia , Nazarenko Viacheslav
Published: September 2022

In the presented scientific work, the basic design versions of the thrust bearings of Hydrogenerators are considered. The main causes of emergencies in the thrust bearing unit of a high-power Hydrogenerator are considered. The main requirements for the operation of thrust bearings are submitted. Cause-and-effect relationships of emerging and development of defects are established. Existing methods for calculating the stressed state of a thrust bearing in the classical formulation for a stationary mode of operation are considered. The main features of the operation of the thrust bearing unit are investigated in relation to the features of the sliding bearings. The calculation of the elastic chambers of the hydraulic thrust bearing in a three-dimensional formulation is carried out, taking into account the physical properties of the oil, the material of the chambers and distribution of the acting loads. It is shown that the applied designs of Join Stock Company “Ukrainian Energy Machines” can be used in high-power Hydrogenerators.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Community Activities Restriction in Containing the Spread of COVID-19 in West Java, Indonesia Using Time-Series Clustering
Authors: Pangestu Dhika Surya , Sukono Sukono , Anggriani Nursanti
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this research is to classify time-series data on the number of daily COVID-19 cases based on the dynamics. This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of community activity restrictions in suppressing the number of new cases of COVID-19 in cities and regencies in West Java. We performed time-series clustering on daily positive case data for COVID-19 in 27 cities and regencies in West Java Province, Indonesia for this study. The k-medoids clustering algorithm was used for clustering, with shape-based lock step measures, specifically, the cross correlation-based distance. We used daily new infected cases data for COVID-19 in 27 cities and regencies in West Java Province during the worst situation. We used data from 1 July 2021 to 31 September 2021 and from 1 January 2022 to 31 May 2022, during the Emergency Community Activity Restriction period (PPKM). According to our findings, the optimal number of clusters that could be formed from the data we had was 4 clusters for the first period and 2 clusters for the second period, with silhouette value of 0.2633 and 0.6363, respectively. For the first period, we discovered that PPKM was successful in clusters 1 and 2, namely in 25 cities/districts in West Java, except for Bogor and Depok, while for the second period, we found PPKM to be effective in reducing the number of COVID-19 cases throughout cities and regencies in West Java. This shows there is an improvement from the implementation of PPKM in the first period. We also found that the cluster that was formed was not only influenced by the effectiveness of the PPKM, but also by geography. The closer a city is to a hotspot region for the spread of COVID-19, the earlier the increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases will occur.
Neuropsychological Outcomes of COVID-19: A Multicenter, Cross-Cultural Study of Patients Referred for Outpatient Assessment
Authors: Kay Christina D. , Costa Ana Sofia , Vannorsdall Tracy D. , Aduen Paula , Vila-Castelar Clara , Burstein Sarah M. , Pollak Lauren , Leibel Daniel K. , Sherman Janet C. , Bungenberg Julia , Reetz Kathrin , Quiroz Yakeel T.
Published: September 2022

Objective: Cognitive dysfunction is one of the most frequently reported symptoms in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) and has become a common reason for neuropsychological referral. While data are emerging, we aimed to address possible cross-cultural patterns of neuropsychological outcomes that remain underexplored. Methods: In this cross-sectional, retrospective study, we characterize the cognitive performance, demographic makeup, and clinical characteristics of 84 PASC patients (Mage = 57 years) referred for neuropsychological evaluation to three USA sites and one in Germany. Neuropsychological data (mean demographically adjusted z-scores and frequencies of impairment) were examined across six cognitive domains. Independent t-tests compared performances of previously hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients. Results: Patients were assessed on average seven months post-COVID-19 infection. The majority were women and non-hospitalized. Mean cognitive performance was within the normative range, but high variability existed within and between sites. Deficits were generally mild and most frequent in processing speed (range across sites: 9–57% of patients), executive functioning (range across sites: 4–43% of patients) and attention/working memory (range across sites: 0–43% of patients). Hospitalized patients showed greater cognitive impairment than those not requiring hospitalization. Mood symptoms and fatigue/sleep disturbance were more frequent than objective cognitive impairments. At the time of assessment, most patients were unable to return to work. Conclusions: Cognitive performance in clinically referred PASC patients was, overall, within the normative range. Mild deficits were most frequent in time-based attentional/executive tasks. Other factors, such as affective symptoms and fatigue, were frequent and may significantly impact functioning, perhaps more than cognition. Further work with larger samples and longitudinal measures is needed to clarify the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive function and psychiatric distress.
Modulating Light Emission Performance of PCSEL via GaN HEMT Driving Circuit
Authors: Hong Yu-Heng , Liu Ching-Yao , Chen Jun-Da , Peng Chun-Yen , Tang Li-Chuan , Lu Tien-Chang , Lin Chun-Hsiung , Chieng Wei-Hua , Chang Edward , Chen Shih-Chen , Kuo Hao-Chung
Published: September 2022

In this study, a paradigm for modulating the light emission performance of photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser (PCSEL) via GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) driving circuit is proposed for the first time. For light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system, a faster pulse repetition frequency with shorter pulse width can provide not only high resolution but also sufficiently precise range resolution. Hereupon, comprehensive analyses for such an integrated system are conducted with not only electro-optical responses but also the corresponding optical behaviors. The relevant electrical characteristics of the employed GaN HEMT are examined at first. Next, the integrated system on a matrix board with its corresponding circuit topology is discussed, illustrating the relevant operating principles. Thereby, sufficient systematical scrutinization for relevant light emissions is performed for both photodiode responses and the optical behaviors under different conditions, paving a holistic panorama for the LiDAR system. Thus, prospects for the next generation LiDAR system in high-power and high-speed operation can be expected.
Effect of Laser Energy Density on the Microstructure and Microhardness of Inconel 718 Alloy Fabricated by Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Xu Jing , Wu Zichun , Niu Jianpeng , Song Yufeng , Liang Chaoping , Yang Kai , Chen Yuqiang , Liu Yang
Published: September 2022

This work focused on the effects of laser energy density on the relative density, microstructure, and microhardness of Inconel 718 alloy manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM). The microstructural architectures, element segregation behavior in the interdendritic region and the evolution of laves phases of the as-SLMed IN718 samples were analyzed by optical metallography (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The results show that with an increase in the laser volume energy density, the relative density and the microhardness firstly increased and then decreased slightly. It also facilitates the precipitation of Laves phase. The variation of mechanical properties of the alloy can be related to the densification degree, microstructure uniformity, and precipitation phase content of Inconel 718 alloy.
Liquid Crystal Dimers and Smectic Phases from the Intercalated to the Twist-Bend
Authors: Imrie Corrie T. , Walker Rebecca , Storey John M. D. , Gorecka Ewa , Pociecha Damian
Published: September 2022

In this review we consider the relationships between molecular structure and the tendency of liquid crystal dimers to exhibit smectic phases, and show how our application of these led to the recent discovery of the twist-bend, heliconical smectic phases. Liquid crystal dimers consist of molecules containing two mesogenic groups linked through a flexible spacer, and even- and odd-membered dimers differ in terms of their average molecular shapes. The former tend to be linear whereas the latter are bent, and this difference in shape drives very different smectic behaviour. For symmetric dimers, in which the two mesogenic groups are identical, smectic phase formation may be understood in terms of a microphase separation into distinct sublayers consisting of terminal chains, mesogenic units and spacers, and monolayer smectic phases are observed. By contrast, intercalated smectic phases were discovered for nonsymmetric dimers in which the two mesogenic units differ. In these phases, the ratio of the layer spacing to the molecular length is typically around 0.5 indicating that unlike segments of the molecules overlap. The formation of intercalated phases is driven by a favourable interaction between the different liquid crystal groups. If an odd-membered dimer possesses sufficient molecular curvature, then the twist-bend nematic phase may be seen in which spontaneous chirality is observed for a system consisting of achiral molecules. Combining the empirical relationships developed for smectogenic dimers, and more recently for twist-bend nematogenic dimers, we show how dimers were designed to show the new twist-bend, heliconical smectic phases. These have been designated SmCTB phases in which the director is tilted with respect to the layer plane, and the tilt direction describes a helix on passing between layers. We describe three variants of the SmCTB phase, and in each the origin of the symmetry breaking is attributed to the anomalously low-bend elastic constant arising from the bent molecular structures.
Interpretable Machine Learning Analysis of Stress Concentration in Magnesium: An Insight beyond the Black Box of Predictive Modeling
Authors: Jaafreh Russlan , Kim Jung-Gu , Hamad Kotiba
Published: September 2022

In the present work, machine learning (ML) was employed to build a model, and through it, the microstructural features (parameters) affecting the stress concentration (SC) during plastic deformation of magnesium (Mg)-based materials are determined. As a descriptor for the SC, the kernel average misorientation (KAM) was used, and starting from the microstructural features of pure Mg and AZ31 Mg alloy, as recorded using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), the ML model was trained and constructed using various types of ML algorithms, including Logistic Regression (LR), Decision Trees (DT), Random Forest (RF), Naive Bayes Classifier (NBC), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), and Extremely Randomized Trees (ERT). The results show that the accuracy of the ERT-based model was higher compared to other models, and accordingly, the nine most-important features in the ERT-based model, those with a Gini impurity higher than 0.025, were extracted. The feature importance showed that the grain size is the most effective microstructural parameter for controlling the SC in Mg-based materials, and according to the relative Accumulated Local Effects (ALE) plot, calculated to show the relationship between KAM and grain size, it was found that SC occurs with a lower probability in the fine range of grain size. All findings from the ML-based model built in the present work were experimentally confirmed through EBSD observations.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Some Transformations of 9,12-Dichloro-ortho-Carborane
Authors: Anufriev Sergey A. , Timofeev Sergey V. , Zhidkova Olga B. , Suponitsky Kyrill Yu. , Sivaev Igor B.
Published: September 2022

Reaction of ortho-carborane with anhydrous AlCl3 in chloroform results in a mixture of 9-chloro, 9,12-dichloro, and 8,9,12-trichloro derivatives with 9,12-dichloro-ortho-carborane being the main product. Molecular crystal structure of 9,12-dichloro-ortho-carborane was determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure of 9,12-Cl2-1,2-C2B10H10 appeared to be nearly isostructural to 9,12-dibromo-ortho-carborane: the crystal packing is built of layers in which molecules are connected via weak hydrogen and halogen bonds. A synthetic scheme for preparation of the hexachloro derivative of cobalt bis(dicarbollide) Cs[8,8′,9,9′,12,12′-Cl6-3,3′-Co(1,2-C2B9H8)2] from 9,12-dichloro-ortho-carborane has been proposed.
Intercalation of Cocamide Diethanolamine into Swellable Clay by Solid-State Process
Authors: Han Yang-Su , Park In
Published: September 2022

Coconut fatty acid diethanolamine (cocamide-DEA (CDEA)), CH3(CH2)16CON(CH2CH2OH)2 was intercalated into montmorillonite using both solution and solid-state reaction methods. In a typical solution process, the CDEA aqueous solution was mixed with a montmorillonite (Kunipia-F) aqueous suspension, which resulted in a CDEA–montmorillonite layer complex with a basal spacing of 13.8 Å. A CDEA–montmorillonite complex was also easily prepared by the solid–solid reaction method. A mixture of CDEA and Na–montmorillonite was ground at ambient temperature. The basal spacing of the mixture increased to approximately 44 Å after grinding for 30 min. Upon washing, the basal spacing decreased to approximately 10 Å, which was close to that of pristine Na–montmorillonite owing to the deintercalation of the CDEA molecules. The basal spacing of the CDEA–montmorillonite composite starting from protonated montmorillonite decreased to 13.5 Å upon washing, indicating the parallel monolayer arrangement of CDEA molecules between the silicate layers. This finding strongly suggests that acid–base intralayer complexation is responsible for the solid-state intercalation reaction.
Effect of Cr Doping on the Structural, Optical and Dielectric Properties of MoO3 Microrods Synthesized by Sol-Gel Auto Combustion Method
Authors: Zaman Abid , Shukla Neeraj Kumar , Ali Asad , Alhodaib Aiyeshah , Tirth Vineet , Kareem Zahraa Hashim , Jabbar Abdullah Hasan , Mushtaq Muhammad , Abbas Mujahid , AlHarbi Mona , Aljohani Mohammed
Published: September 2022

In the present work, pure and Cr-doped MoO3 microrods were successfully prepared through the sol gel auto combustion method. The phase evaluation and microstructural, dielectric, and optical properties of synthesized samples were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and an impedance analyzer (1 MHz–3 GHz). All the samples showed hexagonal structure with space group (P63). According to Vegard’s law, lattice parameters increase with the increase in chromium (Cr3+) contents. In addition, the Williamson–Hall (W–H) plot was drawn for evaluating the micro-strain (εW-H) and crystallite size (DW-H) parameters. From microstructural analysis it was found that the size of microrods increased along with Cr3+ contents. Decreasing band gap energy was observed (from 2.98 to 2.71 eV) with increasing Cr3+ contents. The variation of the dielectric constant and tangent loss of MoO3 microrods with respect to frequency were analyzed.
Nutritional Profile, Processing and Potential Products: A Comparative Review of Goat Milk
Authors: Nayik Gulzar Ahmad , Jagdale Yash D. , Gaikwad Sailee A. , Devkatte Anupama N. , Dar Aamir Hussain , Ansari Mohammad Javed
Published: September 2022

Goat milk contains an abundance of different macro and micro-nutrients. Compared with other milk, goat milk is a viable option due to its low allergy levels and is preferred for infants with cow milk allergies. A wide variety of goat milk-based products, including yoghurt, ice cream, fermented milk, and cheese, are available on the market. They are produced using effective processing technology and are known to exhibit numerous health benefits after consumption. However, goat milk consumption is limited in many nations (compared with cow, buffalo, camel, and sheep milk) due to a lack of awareness of its nutritional composition and the significance of its different byproducts. This review provides a detailed explanation of the various macronutrients that may be present, with special attention paid to each component, its purpose, and the health benefits it offers. It also compares goat milk with milk from other species in terms of its superiority and nutritional content, as well as the types, production methods, health advantages, and other beneficial properties of the various goat milk products that are currently available on the market.
COVID-19 Lockdown Effects on Mood, Alcohol Consumption, Academic Functioning, and Perceived Immune Fitness: Data from Young Adults in Germany
Authors: Koyun Anna Helin , Hendriksen Pauline A. , Kiani Pantea , Merlo Agnese , Balikji Jessica , Stock Ann-Kathrin , Verster Joris C.
Published: September 2022

Recently, a study was conducted in the Netherlands to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its associated lockdown periods on academic functioning, mood, and health correlates, such as alcohol consumption. The Dutch study revealed that lockdowns were associated with significantly poorer mood and reductions in perceived immune fitness. Overall, a reduction in alcohol consumption during lockdown periods was shown. Academic functioning in terms of self-reported performance was unaffected. However, a significant reduction in interactions with other students and teachers was reported. However, there was considerable variability among students; both increases and reductions in alcohol consumption were reported, as well as both improvements and poorer academic functioning during periods of lockdown. The aim of the current online study was to replicate these findings in Germany. To achieve this, a slightly modified version of the survey was administered among young adults (aged 18 to 35 years old) in Germany. The survey assessed possible changes in self-reported academic functioning, mood, and health correlates, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, perceived immune functioning, and sleep quality during periods of lockdown as compared to periods with no lockdowns. Retrospective assessments were made for five periods, including (1) ‘BP’ (the period before the COVID-19 pandemic), (2) ‘L1’ (the first lockdown period, March–May 2020), (3) ‘NL1’ (the first no-lockdown period, summer 2020), (4) ‘L2’ (the second lockdown, November 2020 to May 2021), and (5) ‘NL2’ (the second no-lockdown period, summer 2021). This article describes the content of the survey and the corresponding dataset. The survey was completed by 371 participants.
Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Modeling, Simulation and Control
Authors: Botez Ruxandra Mihaela
Published: September 2022

Interest in UAS technology research is continuously increasing worldwide because of these technologies’ high potential, in terms of saving time, money and lives, for industrial and governmental users [...]
Segmentation-Based Classification Deep Learning Model Embedded with Explainable AI for COVID-19 Detection in Chest X-ray Scans
Authors: Nillmani  , Sharma Neeraj , Saba Luca , Khanna Narendra , Kalra Mannudeep , Fouda Mostafa , Suri Jasjit
Published: September 2022

Background and Motivation: COVID-19 has resulted in a massive loss of life during the last two years. The current imaging-based diagnostic methods for COVID-19 detection in multiclass pneumonia-type chest X-rays are not so successful in clinical practice due to high error rates. Our hypothesis states that if we can have a segmentation-based classification error rate <5%, typically adopted for 510 (K) regulatory purposes, the diagnostic system can be adapted in clinical settings. Method: This study proposes 16 types of segmentation-based classification deep learning-based systems for automatic, rapid, and precise detection of COVID-19. The two deep learning-based segmentation networks, namely UNet and UNet+, along with eight classification models, namely VGG16, VGG19, Xception, InceptionV3, Densenet201, NASNetMobile, Resnet50, and MobileNet, were applied to select the best-suited combination of networks. Using the cross-entropy loss function, the system performance was evaluated by Dice, Jaccard, area-under-the-curve (AUC), and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and validated using Grad-CAM in explainable AI framework. Results: The best performing segmentation model was UNet, which exhibited the accuracy, loss, Dice, Jaccard, and AUC of 96.35%, 0.15%, 94.88%, 90.38%, and 0.99 (p-value <0.0001), respectively. The best performing segmentation-based classification model was UNet+Xception, which exhibited the accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and AUC of 97.45%, 97.46%, 97.45%, 97.43%, and 0.998 (p-value <0.0001), respectively. Our system outperformed existing methods for segmentation-based classification models. The mean improvement of the UNet+Xception system over all the remaining studies was 8.27%. Conclusion: The segmentation-based classification is a viable option as the hypothesis (error rate <5%) holds true and is thus adaptable in clinical practice.
Shear-Wave Elastography and Viscosity PLUS for the Assessment of Peripheric Muscles in Healthy Subjects: A Pre- and Post-Contraction Study
Authors: Dulgheriu Ioana-Teofana , Solomon Carolina , Muntean Delia , Petea-Balea Raluca , Lenghel Manuela , Ciurea Anca , Dudea Sorin
Published: September 2022

Viscosity is a novel parameter, recently introduced in the use of elastographic techniques, correlating to shear-wave dispersion. The purpose of this study was to provide normal reference viscosity values for the peripheral muscles in healthy volunteers. This prospective study included 38 subjects who underwent US examinations between November 2021 and January 2022. Measurements were taken on the calf and the deltoid muscles in both pre- and post-contraction states. The age range was 21–29 years, with a median of 26 years. The SWE and ViPLUS values in the deltoid muscles were significantly higher than in the soleus muscles in both pre- and post-contraction sets (p = 0.002). There were statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-contraction values for both the SWE and ViPLUS values in the subgroup analysis. The ICC estimates and the 95% confidence intervals were based on a mean rating (k = 2), an absolute agreement, and a two-way random-effects model, demonstrating excellent agreement between the measurements taken by the two examiners.
Mir-29b in Breast Cancer: A Promising Target for Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Grassilli Silvia , Bertagnolo Valeria , Brugnoli Federica
Published: September 2022

The miR-29 family comprises miR-29a, miR-29b, and miR-29c, and these molecules play crucial and partially overlapped functions in solid tumors, in which the different isoforms are variously de-regulated and mainly correlated with tumor suppression. miR-29b is the most expressed family member in cancer, in which it is involved in regulating gene expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. This review focuses on the role of miR-29b in breast cancer, in which it plays a controversial role as tumor suppressor or onco-miRNA. Here we have highlighted the dual effect of miR-29b on breast tumor features, which depend on the prevailing function of this miRNA, on the mature miR-29b evaluated, and on the breast tumor characteristics. Remarkably, the analyzed miR-29b form emerged as a crucial element in the results obtained by various research groups, as the most abundant miR-29b-3p and the less expressed miR-29b1-5p seem to play distinct roles in breast tumors with different phenotypes. Of particular interest are the data showing that miR-29b1-5p counteracts cell proliferation and migration and reduces stemness in breast tumor cells with a triple negative phenotype. Even if further studies are required to define exactly the role of each miR-29b, our review highlights its possible implication in phenotype-specific management of breast tumors.