bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Omarigliptin Mitigates 6-Hydroxydopamine- or Rotenone-Induced Oxidative Toxicity in PC12 Cells by Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anti-Apoptotic Actions
Authors: Gouda Noha A. , Cho Jungsook
Published: September 2022

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are reported to exhibit promising effects on several pathological processes associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). To explore its repositioning potential as an antiparkinsonian agent, we evaluated the effects of omarigliptin (OMG), a DPP-4 inhibitor recently approved as a hypoglycemic drug, on neurotoxin-induced toxicity, using PC12 cells as a cellular model of PD. The molecular mechanism(s) underlying its protective activity was also investigated. OMG alleviated oxidative toxicity and the production of reactive oxygen species induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or rotenone. It also partially attenuated the formation of DPPH radicals and lipid peroxidation, demonstrating the antioxidant properties of OMG. OMG upregulated Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Notably, treatment with a selective HO-1 inhibitor and Nrf2 knockdown by siRNA abolished the beneficial effects of OMG, indicating that the activated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling was responsible for the protective activity. Moreover, OMG exhibited anti-inflammatory activity, blocking inflammatory molecules, such as nitric oxide (NO) and inducible NO synthase, through inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation and NF-κB activation in an Akt-dependent fashion. Finally, OMG decreased the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax and increased the level of Bcl-2, indicating its anti-apoptotic properties. Collectively, these results demonstrate that OMG alleviates the neurotoxin-induced oxidative toxicity through Nrf2/HO-1-mediated antioxidant, NF-κB-mediated anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms in PC12 cells. Our findings elucidating multiple mechanisms of antiparkinsonian activity strongly support the therapeutic potential of OMG in the treatment of PD.
Clionasterol-Rich Fraction of Caulerpa racemosa against Particulate Matter-Induced Skin Damage via Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis-Related Signaling Pathway
Authors: Liyanage N. M. , Nagahawatta D. P. , Jayawardena Thilina U. , Jayawardhana H. H. A. C. K. , Lee Hyo-Geun , Kim Young-Sang , Jeon You-Jin
Published: September 2022

The increasing airborne particulate matter (PM) consisting of environmental contaminants such as dust, aerosols, and fibers has become a global concern by causing oxidative stress that leads to apoptosis and skin damage. The current study evaluated the protective effect of Caulerpa racemosa (CR) against PM-induced skin damage using human keratinocytes and a zebrafish model. The clionasterol-rich hexane fraction (CRHF2) of CR exhibited superior protective activity through downregulating intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and mitochondrial ROS levels, as well as the PM-induced increase in apoptotic body formation and upregulation of apoptotic signaling pathway proteins, along with sub-G1 cell accumulation dose-dependently. Furthermore, in vivo results showed that CRHF2 potentially downregulates PM-induced cell death, ROS, and NO production in the zebrafish model. Hence, the results evidenced that the protective effect of CRHF2 is caused by inhibiting oxidative stress and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in cells. Therefore, C. racemosa has the potential to be used in the development of pharmaceuticals to attenuate PM-induced skin diseases.
Fatigue Effects on the Lower Leg Muscle Architecture Using Diffusion Tensor MRI
Authors: João Filipa , Alves Sérgio , Secca Mário , Noseworthy Michael , Veloso António
Published: September 2022

Proton density (PD) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) are imaging techniques that enable the acquisition of data from living subjects that can be used in the fine-tuning of subject-specific models’ architectural parameters. The aim of this study was to determine the in vivo 3D architectural parameters (volume, pennation angle, fiber length and physiological cross-sectional area) of the gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, soleus and tibialis anterior muscles using proton density and diffusion tensor imaging data before and after an exhaustive one-legged jump exercise. These methods were used in the in vivo 3D data acquisition of six young and physically active female subjects’ lower legs, followed by a fiber-tracking algorithm and analysis tools. No significant differences were found in the muscles’ architecture after the exercise, with the following exceptions: the anatomical cross-section area of the gastrocnemius medialis increased (p-value 0.001, effect size 0.18) after exercise; the fiber lengths of the gastrocnemius medialis, lateralis and soleus muscles were higher after exercise (p-value 0.002, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively, and effect size 2.03, 1.29 and 0.85, respectively); and the soleus mean pennation angle decreased after exercise (p-value 0.0015, effect size 2.31). These changes (or lack thereof) could be attributed to the extended acquisition time of the MRI scans to minimize noise: by increasing the acquisition time, the effect of the exercise may have been partially lost due to muscle recovery.
Property Analysis of Double-Sided Composite Waterproofing Sheet for Simultaneous Application on Asphalt Concrete and Latex-Modified Concrete Pavements for Bridge Decks
Authors: Kang Hyojin , Oh Kyuhwan , Ahn Kiwon , Jiang Bo , He Xingyang , Oh Sangkeun
Published: September 2022

Waterproofing in pavements can determine the waterproofing performance of the entire bridge structure. In this study, two types of pavement layers, asphalt concrete (APC) and latex-modified concrete (LMC), are investigated as options to improve the waterproofing performance of bridge structures with either APC or LMC-type pavement by installing a double-sided adhesive waterproofing sheet. The material performance of the proposed waterproofing sheet was evaluated for deterioration factors such as temperature change, chemical erosion, cracking behavior, and water pressure as stipulated in the Korean industrial standards (hereinafter referred to as KS) for bridge waterproofing materials. The waterproof sheet was directly installed on to specimens with the respective two pavement types to evaluate the field application performance. As a result of the evaluation, the physical waterproofing performance of the proposed waterproofing sheet satisfies all standard quality conditions, and as a result of direct application to APC and LMC pavement, the waterproof performance is at least 8% to 130% higher than the standard quality standard in APC pavement, and LMC pavement shows high performance, up to about 320%. Therefore, it is expected that the newly proposed waterproofing sheet as a bridge deck surface waterproofing material can be considered as a feasible option to improve the waterproofing performance for both APC and LMC pavement.
ObFuzzer: Object-Oriented Hybrid Fuzzer for Binaries
Authors: He Xinglu , Wang Pengfei , Lu Kai , Zhou Xu
Published: September 2022

In recent years, coverage-guided technology has become the mainstream method of fuzzing. A coverage-guided fuzzer can guide a program to a new path (edge) so that previously untested code can be tested. As coverage-guided fuzzers have become more popular, the difficulty of discovering vulnerabilities has increased significantly. This paper proposes ObFuzzer, an object-oriented binary hybrid fuzzer based on a new assumption. Namely, the object which has been operated more times and operated in more positions is more likely to have defects. Our ObFuzzer consists of the following steps. First, ObFuzzer obtains the inner relations of object operations in the target program through static analysis and analyzes the riskiness of the basic blocks containing such operations. Then, ObFuzzer generates test cases that can guide the program to the basic blocks that this paper considers to be the most dangerous by symbolic execution. Finally, fuzzing is performed using the riskiness of the object operations rather than code coverage. To demonstrate the effectiveness of ObFuzzer over a traditional coverage-guided fuzzer, this paper evaluates its performance in a real program. When facing object-oriented programs, ObFuzzer has a 29% to 40% increase in object operation complexity during execution. These more complex object operations can enhance the ability to discover vulnerabilities related to object operations. Eventually, ObFuzzer found five unique vulnerabilities and one logic error without a crash in “xpdf”.
Tabu Search Aided Multi-Track Detection Scheme for Bit-Patterned Media Recording
Authors: Kong Gyuyeol , Jung Minchae
Published: September 2022

A tabu search (TS) aided multi-track detection scheme for bit patterned magnetic recording is proposed. The proposed detection scheme adopts the simplified multi-track detector with a two-dimensional generalized partial response (GPR) target, uses a priori information, and employs a reliability test and a TS detector. The proposed detection scheme processes signals in three stages. First, the single-track detector with a one-dimensional GPR target detects the data for the main-track and side-tracks. Second, the reliability test is performed to detect bits with low reliability in the side-tracks by comparing the distance between the readback signal and the estimated and reconstructed readback signal. If the distance is greater than a specific value, the TS detector is conducted to improve the reliability of bits with low reliability in the side-tracks. Lastly, the simplified multi-track detector detects the main-track data using a priori information from the outputs of the TS or single-track detectors for the side-track data. The proposed and conventional detection schemes are compared in terms of the bit error rate performances. Simulation results show that the proposed detection scheme with slightly additional complexity has more than 3 dB gains compared to the conventional detection schemes.
A Study on the Applicability of Bio-Sulfur as a Cement Admixture
Authors: Kim Dowan , Lim Byungran , Lee Jonggyu , Phae Cheagun
Published: September 2022

A large amount of bio-sulfur is generated during the process of refining landfill gas generated from landfills in metropolitan areas in Korea. Sulfurized concrete offers the advantages of reducing the amounts of CO2 generated, typically in large quantities, during the cement manufacturing process and accommodating a large amount of bio-sulfur generated during the process of refining landfill gas in the form of concrete, with a sulfur-modified binder replacing the commonly used cement paste. In this study, the potential of bio-sulfur as an additive was assessed by analyzing the compressive strength, sulfuric acid resistance, and hydration product generation metrics of cement manufactured using bio-sulfur as a cement additive. It was concluded as a result of the analysis that, when using bio-sulfur mixed into cement composites, if the addition is less than 2% a strength improvement is unlikely. In addition, it is suggested that it is necessary to closely review and analyze the economic feasibility and commercialization potential through research on prototype production with concrete producers.
Structural Augmentation in Seismic Data for Fault Prediction
Authors: Wang Shenghou , Si Xu , Cai Zhongxian , Cui Yatong
Published: September 2022

Fault interpretation tasks become more and more difficult as the complexity of seismic exploration increases, especially for ultra-deep seismic data. Recently, numerous researchers have utilized automatic interpretation techniques based on deep learning to improve the efficiency and accuracy of fault prediction. Although deep learning methods have powerful data information processing capabilities, the applicability of deep neural networks may still be limited by the range of learned information. Therefore, we develop a new technique called structural data augmentation to enhance the diversity of the datasets. Concretely, we utilize different geological structure theories to incorporate virtual folds and faults in the field seismic data to improve the diversity and generalization ability of the training datasets. To cope with the multi-stage and multi-scale complex structures developed in ultra-deep strata, the proposed augmentation workflow increases data diversity by generating various virtual structures containing multi-scale folds, listric faults, oblique-slip displacement fields, and multi-directional fault drags. Tests on the field seismic data show that our method not only outperforms conventional seismic attributes but also has advantages over other machine learning methods.
Safety of Control Systems with Dual Architecture Based on PLCs
Authors: Medvedík Milan , Ždánsky Juraj , Rástočný Karol , Hrbček Jozef , Gregor Michal
Published: September 2022

The implementation of safety functions, in contrast to ordinary control functions, requires a different approach to the design of the hardware and software of the control system. The reason for the different approaches is that each safety function must meet the required Safety Integrity Level (SIL). This has two aspects: safety integrity against random failures and safety integrity against systematic failures. Hardware is primarily related to random failure safety integrity, and software primarily to systematic failure safety integrity. The focus of this contribution lies in the design of a method that will allow the software of a safety function for industrial applications to be designed using a model of the functional behavior of this function. Since commercially available programmable logic controllers (PLCs) with a defined SIL level (so-called safety PLC) do not support such solutions, a dual architecture based on standard PLCs, including their software control, is proposed in the paper. Such an approach will make it possible to significantly limit the occurrence of systematic errors in the creation of application software, as well as to test the created application software and reveal deficiencies that arose in previous phases of the life cycle (e.g., when specifying safety functions). To implement the method proposed in this paper, a dual architecture created from the safety PLC Simatic series S7-1500 is used. With the help of this architecture, the safety function “Muting” is implemented.
Isotopic Niche Analysis of Long-Finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melas edwardii) in Aotearoa New Zealand Waters
Authors: Hinton Bethany , Stockin Karen A. , Bury Sarah J. , Peters Katharina J. , Betty Emma L.
Published: September 2022

The quantification of a species’ trophic niche is important to understand the species ecology and its interactions with the ecosystem it resides in. Despite the high frequency of long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas edwardii) strandings on the Aotearoa New Zealand coast, their trophic niche remains poorly understood. To assess the isotopic niche of G. m. edwardii within New Zealand, ontogenetic (sex, total body length, age, maturity status, reproductive group) and spatiotemporal (stranding location, stranding event, and stranding year) variation were investigated. Stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) were examined from skin samples of 125 G. m. edwardii (67 females and 58 males) collected at mass-stranding events at Onetahua Farewell Spit in 2009 (n = 20), 2011 (n = 20), 2014 (n = 27) and 2017 (n = 20) and at Rakiura Stewart Island in 2010 (n = 19) and 2011 (n = 19). Variations in δ34S values were examined for a subset of 36 individuals. General additive models revealed that stranding event was the strongest predictor for δ13C and δ15N values, whilst sex was the strongest predictor of δ34S isotopic values. Although similar within years, δ13C values were lower in 2014 and 2017 compared to all other years. Furthermore, δ15N values were higher within Farewell Spit 2017 compared to any other stranding event. This suggests that the individuals stranded in Farewell Spit in 2017 may have been feeding at a higher trophic level, or that the nitrogen baseline may have been higher in 2017 than in other years. Spatiotemporal differences explained isotopic variation of G. m. edwardii in New Zealand waters better than ontogenetic factors.
Gram-Scale Preparation of Cannflavin A from Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and Its Inhibitory Effect on Tryptophan Catabolism Enzyme Kynurenine-3-Monooxygenase
Authors: Puopolo Tess , Chang Tanran , Liu Chang , Li Huifang , Liu Xu , Wu Xian , Ma Hang , Seeram Navindra P.
Published: September 2022

Inhibitors targeting kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO), an enzyme in the neurotoxic kynurenine pathway (KP), are potential therapeutics for KP metabolites-mediated neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders. Although phytochemicals from Cannabis (C. sativa L.) have been reported to show modulating effects on enzymes involved in the KP metabolism, the inhibitory effects of C. sativa compounds, including phytocannabinoids and non-phytocannabinoids (i.e., cannflavin A; CFA), on KMO remain unknown. Herein, CFA (purified from hemp aerial material at a gram-scale) and a series of phytocannabinoids were evaluated for their anti-KMO activity. CFA showed the most active inhibitory effect on KMO, which was comparable to the positive control Ro 61-8048 (IC50 = 29.4 vs. 5.1 μM, respectively). Furthermore, a molecular docking study depicted the molecular interactions between CFA and the KMO protein and a biophysical binding assay with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique revealed that CFA bound to the protein with a binding affinity of 4.1×10−5 M. A competitive SPR binding analysis suggested that CFA and Ro 61-8048 bind to the KMO protein in a competitive manner. Our findings show that C. sativa derived phytochemicals, including CFA, are potential KMO inhibitors, which provides insight into the development of therapeutics targeting the KP and its related pathological conditions.
Heterologous Expression of Cyanobacterial Cyanase Gene (CYN) in Microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for Bioremediation of Cyanide Pollution
Authors: Sobieh Shaimaa S. , Abed El-Gammal Rasha , El-Kheir Wafaa S. Abu , El-Sheimy Alia A. , Said Alaa A. , El-Ayouty Yassein M.
Published: September 2022

Recombinant DNA technology offered the creation of new combinations of DNA segments that are not found together in nature. The present study aimed to produce an ecofriendly bioremediation model to remediate cyanide pollution from a polluted marine system. Cyanide is a known toxic compound produced through natural and anthropogenic activities. An Agrobacterium-tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation technique was used to generate transformed Chlamydomonas reinhardtii using plant expression vector pTRA-K-cTp carries isolated coding sequence of the cyanobacterial cyanase gene (CYN) isolated from Synechococcus elongatus (PCC6803). qRT-PCR analysis showed the overexpression of CYN in transgenic C. reinhardtii, as compared with the respective wild type. Growth parameters and biochemical analyses were performed under cyanide stress conditions using transgenic and wild C. reinhardtii for evaluating the effect of the presence of the cyanobacterial cyanase gene in algae. The transgenic C. reinhardtii strain (TC. reinhardtii-2) showed promising results for cyanide bioremediation in polluted water samples. Cyanide depletion assays and algal growth showed a significant resistance in the transgenic type against cyanide stress, as compared to the wild type. Genetically modified alga showed the ability to phytoremediate a high level of potassium cyanide (up to150 mg/L), as compared to the wild type. The presence of the CYN gene has induced a protection response in TC. Reinhardtii-2, which was shown in the results of growth parameter analyses. Therefore, the present study affirms that transgenic C. reinhardtii by the CYN coding gene is a potential effective ecofriendly bioremediator model for the remediation of cyanide pollutants in fresh water.
MicroRNA Associated with the Invasive Phenotype in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Let-7c-5p Inhibits Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion by Targeting Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Receptor
Authors: Kalantzakos Thomas J. , Sebel Luke E. , Trussler James , Sullivan Travis B. , Burks Eric J. , Sarita-Reyes Carmen D. , Canes David , Moinzadeh Alireza , Rieger-Christ Kimberly M.
Published: September 2022

Differential microRNA (miRNA) expression can portend clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) progression. In a previous study, we identified a subset of dysregulated miRNA in small renal masses, pT1 ccRCC (≤5 cm) that are associated with an aggressive phenotype. The present study investigated miRNA expression in clinical stage I (cT1) tumors (≤5 cm), comparing pathologic stage I (pT1) tumors to those upstaged to pathologic stage 3 (pT3) after surgery following identification of renal vein invasion or invasion into adjacent fat tissue within Gerota’s fascia. Twenty cT1 tumors were examined in an miRNA screening, 10 pT1 and 10 pT3 tumors. The ccRCC cell lines 786-O and Caki-1 were used to assess the impact of let-7c-5p and its protein target insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R). Cells were transfected with pre-let-7c-5p and assessed through cell proliferation, migration, and invasion assays. IGF1R expression was evaluated through Simple Western, and interaction between let-7c-5p and IGF1R was confirmed via luciferase reporter assay. Screening identified 20 miRNA, including let-7c-5p, that were dysregulated between pT1 and pT3 upstaged tumors. This miRNA was also downregulated in our previous study of pT1 tumors that progressed to metastatic disease. Transfection of ccRCC cells with pre-let-7c-5p significantly inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, and IGF1R expression. These findings suggest that miRNA dysregulation is involved in ccRCC progression, specifically through invasion, and that let-7c-5p downregulation contributes to the aggressiveness of small ccRCC tumors, in part, through its regulation of IGF1R.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of BNT162b2 Primary Vaccination and Booster Dose to SARS-CoV-2 in Eliciting Stable Mucosal Immunity
Authors: Lambiase Alessandro , Sacchetti Marta , Mallone Fabiana , Tirassa Paola , Greco Antonio , Angeloni Antonio , Polimeni Antonella
Published: September 2022

The waning effectiveness of the primary vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 led to administration of an additional booster dose (BD). The efficacy of the BD in stimulating humoral systemic immune response is well established, but its effectiveness on inducing mucosal immune reaction has not yet been reported. To address this issue, we evaluated SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses in the serum, saliva, and tears after BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech, New York, NY, USA) vaccination and BD, as well as after SARS-CoV-2 infection. After two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine, we observed specific serum IgG in 100% and IgA in 97.2% of subjects, associated with mucosal response in both salivary samples (sIgA in 97.2% and IgG(S) in 58.8%) and in tears (sIgA in 77.8% and IgG(S) in 67.7%). BD induced a recovery of the systemic humoral response and of tear sIgA when compared to 6 months of follow-up titers (p < 0.001; p = 0.012). However, sIgA levels in both tears and saliva were significantly lower following BD when compared to patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (p = 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). Our results demonstrated that administration of BD restored high serum levels of both IgG and IgA but had a poor effect in stimulating mucosal immunity when compared to prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Formation Mechanisms of Rural Summer Health Destination Loyalty: Exploration and Comparison of Low- and High-Aged Elderly Leisure Vacation Tourists
Authors: Zhang Puwei , Guo Shuaifeng , Zeng Li , Li Xiaoyun
Published: September 2022

Destination loyalty is a key indicator of the competitiveness of tourist destinations. Rural summer health leisure vacations for urban elderly (RSHLVUE) tourists span a wide range of ages. Destination operators need to understand the loyalty formation mechanisms of different aged tourists. RSHLVUE tourists were divided into a low-aged group (LA) and a high-aged group (HA) to examine and modify the hypothesis of the relationship between perceived value, tourist well-being, place attachment, and destination loyalty based on affect, behavior, and cognition (ABC) theory. The test results of the measurement model indicate that the HA showed stronger responses in terms of cost value, sense of meaning, and place dependency. The formation mechanism of destination loyalty for the LA is tourist well-being → perceived value → place attachment → destination loyalty, and for the HA is perceived value → tourist well-being → place attachment → destination loyalty. The findings deepen the understanding of destination loyalty among elderly leisure vacation tourists and can guide RSHLVUE destination managers to enhance destination competitiveness.
Research on a U-Net Bridge Crack Identification and Feature-Calculation Methods Based on a CBAM Attention Mechanism
Authors: Su Huifeng , Wang Xiang , Han Tao , Wang Ziyi , Zhao Zhongxiao , Zhang Pengfei
Published: September 2022

Crack detection on bridges is an important part of assessing whether a bridge is safe for service. The methods using manual inspection and bridge-inspection vehicles have disadvantages, such as low efficiency and affecting road traffic. We have conducted an in-depth study of bridge-crack detection methods and have proposed a bridge crack identification algorithm for Unet, called the CBAM-Unet algorithm. CBAM (Convolutional Block Attention Module) is a lightweight convolutional attention module that combines a channel attention module (CAM) and a spatial attention module (SAM), which use an attention mechanism on a channel and spatially, respectively. CBAM takes into account the characteristics of bridge cracks. When the attention mechanism is used, the ability to express shallow feature information is enhanced, making the identified cracks more complete and accurate. Experimental results show that the algorithm can achieve an accuracy of 92.66% for crack identification. We used Gaussian fuzzy, Otsu and medial skeletonization algorithms to realise the post-processing of an image and obtain a medial skeleton map. A crack feature measurement algorithm based on the skeletonised image is proposed, which completes the measurement of the maximum width and length of the crack with errors of 1–6% and 1–8%, respectively, meeting the detection standard. The bridge crack feature extraction algorithm we present, CBAM-Unet, can effectively complete the crack-identification task, and the obtained image segmentation accuracy and parameter calculation meet the standards and requirements. This method greatly improves detection efficiency and accuracy, reduces detection costs and improves detection efficiency.
Insights into the Redox and Structural Properties of CoOx and MnOx: Fundamental Factors Affecting the Catalytic Performance in the Oxidation Process of VOCs
Authors: Bratan Veronica , Vasile Anca , Chesler Paul , Hornoiu Cristian
Published: September 2022

Volatile organic compound (VOC) abatement has become imperative nowadays due to their harmful effect on human health and on the environment. Catalytic oxidation has appeared as an innovative and promising approach, as the pollutants can be totally oxidized at moderate operating temperatures under 500 °C. The most active single oxides in the total oxidation of hydrocarbons have been shown to be manganese and cobalt oxides. The main factors affecting the catalytic performances of several metal-oxide catalysts, including CoOx and MnOx, in relation to the total oxidation of hydrocarbons have been reviewed. The influence of these factors is directly related to the Mars–van Krevelen mechanism, which is known to be applied in the case of the oxidation of VOCs in general and hydrocarbons in particular, using transitional metal oxides as catalysts. The catalytic behaviors of the studied oxides could be closely related to their redox properties, their nonstoichiometric, defective structure, and their lattice oxygen mobility. The control of the structural and textural properties of the studied metal oxides, such as specific surface area and specific morphology, plays an important role in catalytic applications. A fundamental challenge in the development of efficient and low-cost catalysts is to choose the criteria for selecting them. Therefore, this research could be useful for tailoring advanced and high-performance catalysts for the total oxidation of VOCs.
g-C3N4-Based Direct Z-Scheme Photocatalysts for Environmental Applications
Authors: Fernández-Catalá Javier , Greco Rossella , Navlani-García Miriam , Cao Wei , Berenguer-Murcia Ángel , Cazorla-Amorós Diego
Published: September 2022

Photocatalysis represents a promising technology that might alleviate the current environmental crisis. One of the most representative photocatalysts is graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) due to its stability, cost-effectiveness, facile synthesis procedure, and absorption properties in visible light. Nevertheless, pristine g-C3N4 still exhibits low photoactivity due to the rapid recombination of photo-induced electron-hole (e−-h+) pairs. To solve this drawback, Z-scheme photocatalysts based on g-C3N4 are superior alternatives since these systems present the same band configuration but follow a different charge carrier recombination mechanism. To contextualize the topic, the main drawbacks of using g-C3N4 as a photocatalyst in environmental applications are mentioned in this review. Then, the basic concepts of the Z-scheme and the synthesis and characterization of the Z-scheme based on g-C3N4 are addressed to obtain novel systems with suitable photocatalytic activity in environmental applications (pollutant abatement, H2 production, and CO2 reduction). Focusing on the applications of the Z-scheme based on g-C3N4, the most representative examples of these systems are referred to, analyzed, and commented on in the main text. To conclude this review, an outlook of the future challenges and prospects of g-C3N4-based Z-scheme photocatalysts is addressed.
Balance Rehabilitation Approach by Bobath and Vojta Methods in Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study
Authors: Ungureanu Andreea , Rusu Ligia , Rusu Mihai Robert , Marin Mihnea Ion
Published: September 2022

In cerebral palsy (CP) the basis for rehabilitation comes from neuroplasticity. One of the leading therapeutic approaches used in the management of CP is the NDT Bobath therapy and Vojta therapy consists in trying to program the ideal movement patterns for the age. The aim of our research was to analyze, from a functional point of view, the evolution of the biomechanical parameters characterizing the balance, in children with CP. The group of 12 subjects average age of 7 ± 3.28 years. The subject’s evaluation included a functional clinical evaluation by Berg pediatric scale and a biomechanical evaluation performed using the “Stabilometry footboard PoData 2.00” for evaluation the body weight distribution on the foot level. The rehabilitation program was developed based on two methods, NDT Bobath and Vojta. A 90-min physiotherapy session starts with a Vojta therapy activation, for 20 min. Between the two therapies there is a 10-min break, then the session continues with NDT Bobath exercises within the 3 physical exercises proposed for 60 min. 5 days per week, 6 months. The analysis of the data collected before and after the application of the rehabilitation program, regarding the using the Berg scale indicates a progress of 32.35%, (p = 0.0001 < 0.05) and the effect size is large. The evolution of the data that indicate the distribution of body weight at the level of the two lower limbs, at the two moments pre/post, evaluation. For left side a progress of 8.39%, (p = 0.027 < 0.05) but a small effect size of 0.86. For right side a progress of 10.36% (p = 0.027 < 0.05) and also a small effect size of 0.86. Analyzing the results, we find that there is a left-right rebalancing in most patients. The favorable results that were obtained by drawing up a physiotherapy program composed of the combination of the two Vojta and NDT Bobath methods are proof of the fact that both methods are based on the creation of a stimulating peripheral pressure, which, if maintained, generates an extended stereotyped motor response. A pattern of symmetrical muscle contraction is thus created and thus balance and postural control can be achieved. The left-right rebalancing, proven by the percentage distribution analysis of the weight at the lower segmental level, demonstrated that the body alignment approach through the Vojta method on the one hand and the inhibitory facilitating postures/exercises promoted by the NDT Bobath method, allows obtaining a symmetry.
Advances in Pediatric Fracture Diagnosis and Treatment Are Numerous but Great Challenges Remain
Authors: van Bergen Christiaan J. A.
Published: September 2022

Broken bones are very common during childhood [...]
Creating Data Standards to Support the Electronic Transmission of Compounded Nonsterile Preparations (CNSPs): Perspectives of a United States Pharmacopeia Expert Panel
Authors: Parrish Richard H. , Ciarkowski Scott , Aguero David , Benavides Sandra , Bohannon Donna Z. , Guharoy Roy ,   on behalf of the United States Pharmacopeia Compounded Drug Preparation Information Exchange Expert Panel
Published: September 2022

The perspectives of the Compounded Drug Preparation Information Exchange Expert Panel of the United States Pharmacopeia (CDPIE-EP) on the urgent need to create and maintain data standards to support the electronic transmission of an interoperable dataset for compounded nonsterile preparations (CNSPs) for children and the elderly is presented. The CDPIE-EP encourages all stakeholders associated with the generation, transmission, and preparation of CNSPs, including standards-setting and informatics organizations, to discern the critical importance of accurate transmission of prescription to dispensing the final product and an urgent need to create and adopt a seamless, transparent, interoperable, digitally integrated prescribing and dispensing system benefiting of all patients that need CNSPs, especially for children with special healthcare needs and medical complexity (CSHCN-CMC) and for adults with swallowing difficulties. Lay summary: Current electronic prescription processing standards do not permit the complete transmission of compounded nonsterile preparations (CNSPs) from a prescriber to dispenser. This lack creates multiple opportunities for medication errors, especially at transitions of care for children with medical complexity and adults that cannot swallow tablets and capsules. The United States Pharmacopeia Expert Panel on Compounded Drug Preparation Information Exchange aims to reduce this source of error by creating ways and means for CNSPs to be transmitted within computer systems across the continuum of care. Twitter: Digitizing compounded preparation monographs and NDC-like formulation identifiers in computerized prescription systems will minimize error.
Thunderstorm Activity and Extremes in Vietnam for the Period 2015–2019
Authors: Van Mai Khiem , Laurila Terhi K. , Hoang Lam Phuc , Duc Du Tien , Mäkelä Antti , Kiesiläinen Sami
Published: September 2022

Within a meteorological capacity building project in Vietnam, lightning location data and manual (human-observed) thunderstorm day observations were analyzed for the period 2015–2019. The lightning location dataset, based on the global lightning detection system Vaisala GLD360, consists of a total of 315,522,761 lightning strokes. The results indicate that, on average, 6.9 million lightning flashes per year occur in the land areas of Vietnam; this equals a lightning flash density of 20 flashes km−2 yr−1. The largest average annual flash density values occur in three regions in North, Central and South Vietnam. The majority of lightning occurs in the monsoon season (April–September), peaking in May, while in October–March, the lightning activity is very modest. During individual intense thunderstorm days, the flash density may exceed 12 flashes km−2 day−1. Thunderstorms in Central Vietnam are generally more intense, i.e., more lightning is expected on average per one thunderstorm day in Central Vietnam than in other regions. This study is a continuation of several years of meteorological capacity building in Vietnam, and the results suggest that large socio-economic benefits can be received by understanding the local thunderstorm climatology in high detail, especially in a country such as Vietnam, where lightning causes substantial socio-economic losses annually.
Numerical Study of the Influence of the Geometrical Irregularities on Bodies of Revolution at High Angles of Attack
Authors: Jiménez-Varona José , Liaño Gabriel
Published: September 2022

The flow at high angles of attack over axisymmetric configurations is not symmetric. The mechanism that triggers the asymmetry may be a combination of a global or hydrodynamic instability (temporal instability) combined with a convective instability (spatial instability) due to microscopic irregularities of the configuration. Poor repeatability of experiments and large differences in the global forces have been obtained with very small changes of the nose tip. In order to study theoretically this phenomenon, numerical simulations have been conducted for an ogive-cylinder configuration at subsonic flow and high angle of attack. For the numerical prediction of the flow about a missile type configuration, an assessment of the effect of structured and unstructured meshes is very important. How the body surface is modelled is very relevant; especially the tip zone of the body. Either configuration resembles a smooth or a rough model. The effect of the turbulence models is also decisive. The analysis has led to the conclusion that only Reynolds stress turbulence models (RSM) combined with Scale Adaptive Simulation (SAS), are the appropriate theoretical tools for the characterization of this flow. The geometrical similarity is very important. There is a roll or orientation angle effect for the unstructured grid, while the structured grid presents a bi-stable solution, one mirror of each other.
Review on Magnesium Hydride and Sodium Borohydride Hydrolysis for Hydrogen Production
Authors: Ruslan Nuraini , Yahya Muhammad Syarifuddin , Siddique Md. Nurul Islam , Yengantiwar Ashish Prabhakar , Ismail Mohammad , Awal Md. Rabiul , Mohd Yusoff Mohd Zaki , Abdul Halim Yap Muhammad Firdaus Asyraf , Mustafa Nurul Shafikah
Published: September 2022

Metal hydrides such as MgH2 and NaBH4 are among the materials for with the highest potential solid-state hydrogen storage. However, unlike gas and liquid storage, a dehydrogenation process has to be done prior to hydrogen utilization. In this context, the hydrolysis method is one of the possible methods to extract or generate hydrogen from the materials. However, problems like the MgH2 passivation layer, high cost and sluggish self-hydrolysis of NaBH4 are the known limiting factors for this process, but they can be overcome with the help of catalysts. In this works, selected studies have been reviewed on the performance of catalysts like chloride, oxide, fluoride, platinum, ruthenium, cobalt and nickel-based on the MgH2 and NaBH4 system. These studies show a significant enhancement in the amount of hydrogen released as compared to the hydrolysis of the pure MgH2 and NaBH4. Therefore, the addition of catalysts is proven as one of the options in improving hydrogen generation via the hydrolysis of MgH2 and NaBH4.
Preoperative Omega-6/Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ratio Could Predict Postoperative Outcomes in Patients with Surgically Resected Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Déniz Carlos , Raba-Parodi Carla , García-Raimundo Eva , Macía Iván , Rivas Francisco , Ureña Anna , Muñoz Anna , Moreno Camilo , Serratosa Ines , Masuet-Aumatell Cristina , Escobar Ignacio , Ramos Ricard
Published: September 2022

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine whether preoperative nutritional status and inflammatory status, specifically polyunsaturated acids and the omega 6/3 ratio, would affect postoperative outcomes and complications in patients with lung cancer undergoing lung resection. Methods: This prospective observational study included 68 patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer who were candidates for radical surgery. A complete nutritional assessment was performed. The primary study variable was postoperative complications and mortality in the first 30 days. Descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression analyses were carried out. Results: A total of 50 men (73.53%) and 18 women (26.47%) underwent surgery, with a median age of 64.2 (±9.74) years. The mean omega 6/3 ratio was 17.39 (±9.45). A complication occurred in 39.7% of the study sample (n = 27), the most common being persistent air leak in 23.53% (n = 16). After performing the bivariate analysis, the only variable that remained significant was the omega 6/3 ratio; we observed that it had a prognostic value for persistent air leak (p = 0.001) independent of age, sex, comorbidity, preoperative respiratory function, and approach or type of surgery. The remaining nutritional and inflammatory markers did not have a statistically significant association (p > 0.05) with postoperative complications. However, this significance was not maintained in the multivariate analysis by a small margin (p = 0.052; 95% CI: 0.77–1.41). Conclusions: Omega 6/3 ratio may be a prognostic factor for air leak, independent of the patient’s clinical and pathological characteristics.
A Canadian Perspective on the Treatment of Waldenström Macroglobulinemia
Authors: Kaedbey Rayan , Forward Nicholas , Sehn Laurie H. , Shafey Mona , Doucette Sarah , Chen Christine I.
Published: September 2022

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a slowly progressing B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by monoclonal IgM gammopathy in the blood and infiltration of the bone marrow by clonal lymphoplasmacytic cells. As an incurable disease, the goals for therapy for WM are to relieve symptoms, slow disease progression, prevent organ damage, and maintain quality of life. However, given the rarity of WM, clinical trials comparing treatments for WM are limited and there is no definitive standard of care. The selection of first-line WM therapy is thus based on patient factors, disease characteristics, and drug access, with bendamustine-rituximab and Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor therapy considered preferred treatments. Other treatments such as proteasome inhibitor- or purine analogue-based therapy, alternative chemoimmunotherapy, and autologous stem cell transplantation are generally reserved for the relapsed setting but may be used in rare circumstances in earlier lines of therapy. This paper summarizes the efficacy and safety of these WM therapies and discusses considerations for treatment from a Canadian perspective.
Radiomic Analysis for Pretreatment Prediction of Recurrence Post-Radiotherapy in Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cancer
Authors: Kawahara Daisuke , Nishibuchi Ikuno , Kawamura Masashi , Yoshida Takahito , Koh Iemasa , Tomono Katsuyuki , Sekine Masaki , Takahashi Haruko , Kikuchi Yutaka , Kudo Yoshiki , Nagata Yasushi
Published: September 2022

Background: The current study aims to predict the recurrence of cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy from radiomics features on pretreatment T1- and T2-weighted MR images. Methods: A total of 89 patients were split into model training (63 patients) and model testing (26 patients). The predictors of recurrence were selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. The machine learning used neural network classifiers. Results: Using LASSO analysis of radiomics, we found 25 features from the T1-weighted and 4 features from T2-weighted MR images, respectively. The accuracy was highest with the combination of T1- and T2-weighted MR images. The model performances with T1- or T2-weighted MR images were 86.4% or 89.4% accuracy, 74.9% or 38.1% sensitivity, 81.8% or 72.2% specificity, and 0.89 or 0.69 of the area under the curve (AUC). The model performance with the combination of T1- and T2-weighted MR images was 93.1% accuracy, 81.6% sensitivity, 88.7% specificity, and 0.94 of AUC. Conclusions: The radiomics analysis with T1- and T2-weighted MR images could highly predict the recurrence of cervix cancer after radiotherapy. The variation of the distribution and the difference in the pixel number at the peripheral and the center were important predictors.
Ultrasonographical Evaluation of the Median Nerve Mobility in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Huang Yu-Ting , Chen Chii-Jen , Wang You-Wei , Peng Po-Lin , Luo Yan-Ting , Horng Yi-Shiung
Published: September 2022

Diagnostic ultrasound is widely used for evaluating carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), an entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve (MN). Decreased mobility of the MN inside the carpal tunnel has been reported in CTS, and various methods have been used to evaluate MN mobility; however, there is still no conclusive understanding of its connection with CTS. The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the current published literature on ultrasonographic evaluations of transverse and longitudinal MN displacement and to identify the relationship between MN mobility and CTS. This study was conducted in accordance with the 2020 PRISMA statement and the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook. Comparative studies that investigated differences in MN displacement between CTS patients and healthy controls were retrieved by searching the Cochrane Library, Embase and PubMed. A total of 15 case–control studies were included. Nine of 12 studies evaluating transverse MN displacement and 4 of 5 studies evaluating longitudinal MN gliding showed that the MN was less mobile in CTS patients than in healthy subjects. Despite the large heterogeneity among the 15 included studies, this systematic review and meta-analysis provide evidence that the mobility of the MN is significantly reduced in both transverse and longitudinal planes in CTS patients compared to healthy controls. Five of the 15 included studies reported that a decrease in transverse or longitudinal MN displacement in CTS was correlated with clinical symptoms or with severity as measured by a nerve conduction study (NCS).
Trusted Threat Intelligence Sharing in Practice and Performance Benchmarking through the Hyperledger Fabric Platform
Authors: Ali Hisham , Ahmad Jawad , Jaroucheh Zakwan , Papadopoulos Pavlos , Pitropakis Nikolaos , Lo Owen , Abramson Will , Buchanan William J.
Published: September 2022

Historically, threat information sharing has relied on manual modelling and centralised network systems, which can be inefficient, insecure, and prone to errors. Alternatively, private blockchains are now widely used to address these issues and improve overall organisational security. An organisation’s vulnerabilities to attacks might change over time. It is utterly important to find a balance among a current threat, the potential countermeasures, their consequences and costs, and the estimation of the overall risk that this provides to the organisation. For enhancing organisational security and automation, applying threat intelligence technology is critical for detecting, classifying, analysing, and sharing new cyberattack tactics. Trusted partner organisations can then share newly identified threats to improve their defensive capabilities against unknown attacks. On this basis, organisations can help reduce the risk of a cyberattack by providing access to past and current cybersecurity events through blockchain smart contracts and the Interplanetary File System (IPFS). The suggested combination of technologies can make organisational systems more reliable and secure, improving system automation and data quality. This paper outlines a privacy-preserving mechanism for threat information sharing in a trusted way. It proposes a reliable and secure architecture for data automation, quality, and traceability based on the Hyperledger Fabric private-permissioned distributed ledger technology and the MITRE ATT&CK threat intelligence framework. This methodology can also be applied to combat intellectual property theft and industrial espionage.