bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mesoaccumbal Dopamine Heterogeneity: What Do Dopamine Firing and Release Have to Do with It?
Authors: de Jong Johannes W. , Fraser Kurt M. , Lammel Stephan
Published: February 2022

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons are often thought to uniformly encode reward prediction errors. Conversely, DA release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), the prominent projection target of these neurons, has been implicated in reinforcement learning, motivation, aversion, and incentive salience. This contrast between heterogeneous functions of DA release versus a homogeneous role for DA neuron activity raises numerous questions regarding how VTA DA activity translates into NAc DA release. Further complicating this issue is increasing evidence that distinct VTA DA projections into defined NAc subregions mediate diverse behavioral functions. Here, we evaluate evidence for heterogeneity within the mesoaccumbal DA system and argue that frameworks of DA function must incorporate the precise topographic organization of VTA DA neurons to clarify their contribution to health and disease.
Electrochemistry Applied to the Evaluation of the Interaction between Coumarins and the Copper Metal Ion: An Experimental Study with a DFT-Based Analysis
Authors: Ferreira Pedro Henrique de Lima , Bettanin Fernanda , Maltarollo Vinicius G. , Honorio Kathia Maria , Ferreira Tiago Luiz , Codognoto Lucia , Valle Eliana Maíra Agostini
Published: February 2022

Coumarin belongs to the benzopyrones family commonly found in vegetables such as Guaco. These compounds have a diversity of applications, especially in medicine, because they have vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, and anti-allergic properties. In addition, metal complexes using coumarins in their structures have been widely studied for therapeutic purposes. Due to the importance of these molecules, in this work, was studied the interaction between coumarin (CM) and 7-hydroxycoumarin (7OHCM), the main metabolite of coumarin, with the metal ion copper (II), which is naturally present in the environment. Cyclic voltammetry studies showed a reduction peak at 0.39 V and an oxidation peak at 0.47 V for the Cu-CM complex under pencil graphite electrode. Cu-7OHCM showed a reduction peak at 0.40 V and an oxidation peak at 0.49 V, both with reversible process characteristics. In the presence of coumarin, Cu+is stabilized in solution. Theoretical data suggest the formation of the complex and stabilization of Cu+in solution. After the interaction, a decrease in the energy of the system occurs, as well as an overlap of the HOMO orbitals of the two species was observed. Furthermore, the studies indicated that the Cu-CM complex is more stable than the Cu-7OHCM complex.
Highly Sensitive and Selective Detection of Diabetic Nephropathy Markers by a Perovskite LaNiO3−x Based Potentiometric Sensor
Authors: Chakraborty Titisha , Das Munmun , Lin Chan Yu , Lin Ray-Ming , Kao Chyuan Haur
Published: February 2022

This work describes the fabrication of efficient biosensors to detect diabetic nephropathy markers (pH, glucose, and creatinine) by constructing a layer-wise sol-gel deposited perovskite LaNiO3−x (LNO) thin-film combined with intermedial annealing (500°C to 700°C). The structural, morphological, and compositional properties of LNO were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The bilayer-coated LNO thin film annealed at 600°C exhibited the highest pH sensitivity of 65.83 mV pH−1 with 99.36% linearity for pH 2 to pH 12, a minimum hysteresis of 0.6 mV, and an almost unvarying drift rate of 2.04 mV h−1 in an extended gate field effect transistor (EGFET). Furthermore, the optimized film was utilized to detect glucose and creatinine by immobilizing different enzymes on the LNO surface. The glucose sensor was able to detect glucose with a sensitivity of 20.5 mV mM−1, whereas the sensitivity of the creatinine sensor was 126.4 mVpCcreatinine
−1 for an acceptable linear range, with high selectivity for their respective target molecules. Hence, an LNO-based EGFET sensor can be considered a decisive solicitant for diagnosing diabetic nephropathy.
Review—Recent Progress in Highly Efficient Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts: From Structural Engineering to Performance Optimization
Authors: Xia Zhonghong , Zhu Rongying , Yu Renqin , Zhang Shiming , Jung Joey Chung-Yen , Zhang Jiujun
Published: February 2022

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the most important reactions in practical electrochemical energy devices such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. In this paper, the recent advancements in platinum-group-metals-based alloys including Pt and/or Pd alloys with the late transitional metals for ORR electrocatalysis are reviewed in terms of catalyst synthesis, characterization, functional mechanism and the validation of performance (activities and stabilities) in both acidic and alkaline electrolytes. The electronic tuning and structural design/engineering for inducing lattice strain, favorable coordination environment, defects, vacancies, etc. for catalytic ORR active sites are emphasized. Morphologically, zero- to three-dimensional ORR catalysts with remarkable performances are introduced. For facilitating further research and development, several challenges are analyzed and the corresponding research directions for overcoming the challenges are also proposed.
Operation Risk Structural Analysis and Evaluation System Construction for Multistation Integration Project
Authors: Cui Weiwei , Liu Pingkuo
Published: February 2022

Digitalization in the power grid sector will become a strong support in the future for the upgrading of the power industry. And, multistation integration has become a leading project in the process. However, there are some hidden risks to its security with the boom of new technologies. Risk analysis and evolution of the multistation integration have an important role in safe operation. This paper analyzes the relationship among risk factors by using both the structural equation modeling (SEM) and the chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) approach, which is more objective than subjective judgment. The result shows the following: (1) The operational risks come from 10 risk-derived sources which therefore can be qualitatively divided into 2 risk categories with 11 risk indicators. (2) Concerning the structural analysis, the main risk source of multistation integration comes from endogenous risks. (3) In terms of procedural analysis, cultural risk, information risk, and accidental risk are the most critical external risks, while performance risk and location risk are the most critical internal ones. The results of models provide a reference for engineering management in digitalization in the power grid sector.
Rhodiola rosea: A Therapeutic Candidate on Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Chen Yingqing , Tang Minli , Yuan Shuo , Fu Shuang , Li Yifei , Li You , Wang Qi , Cao Yuying , Liu Liping , Zhang Qinggao
Published: February 2022

Cardiovascular diseases, also known as circulatory diseases, are diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and its etiology is hyperlipidemia, thick blood, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. Due to its high prevalence, disability, and mortality, it seriously threatens human health. According to reports, the incidence of cardiovascular disease is still on the rise. Rhodiola rosea is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine, which has the effects of antimyocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, lowering blood fat, antithrombosis, and antiarrhythmia. Rhodiola rosea has various chemical components, and different chemical elements have the same pharmacological effects and medicinal values for various cardiovascular diseases. This article reviews the research on the pharmacological effects of Rhodiola rosea on cardiovascular diseases and provides references for the clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Evaluation of Grain/Seed Yield and Yield Components of Finger Millet and Three Vetch Species Intercropped at Various Seeding Ratios at Bako, Ethiopia
Authors: Keba Wakgari , Tolemariam Taye , Mohammed Abdo
Published: February 2022

Production of finger millet and vetch species in Ethiopia targets mostly on sole cropping system without considering the relative performance of varieties of varying seeding ratios under finger millet/vetch intercropping. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate grain yield and yield components of three vetch species and finger millet intercropped at different seeding ratios. Factorial combination of three vetch species and five seeding ratios (0 : 100, 25 : 75, 50 : 50, 75 : 25, and 100 : 0% finger millet: vetch) were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Analysis of variance showed that intercropping had a significant (P<0.05) effect on plant height, heads per plant, fingers per head, and grain yield of finger millet. The highest grain yield (2058.75 kg ha−1) of finger millet was harvested from a treatment combination of 75% finger millet + 25% Vicia villosa. Analysis of variance also showed that plant height, leaves per plant, branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, and seed yield of vetch species had significantly varied (P<0.05) for the tested treatments. Maximum and minimum seed yields (236.19 and 106.45 kg ha−1) of vetch were harvested from 25% finger millet + 75% Vicia sativa and 75% finger millet + 25% Vicia villosa, respectively. LER and RCC were improved due to intercropping different species of vetch with finger millet at various seeding ratios. The highest total LER (1.146) and RCC (3.00) were obtained from 75% finger millet + 25% Vicia villosa. Thus, it can be concluded that in Bako and similar agroecologies, where feed shortage is a critical problem, intercropping of 75% finger millet + 25% Vicia villosa can be used to alleviate the existing feed shortage in smallholder farming system.
Adaptability Analysis of Four-Leg Hydraulic Support with Large Mining Height under Impact Dynamic Load
Authors: Wang Dalong , Zeng Xiaoteng , Wang Guofa , Li Ran
Published: February 2022

In order to comprehensively analyze the adaptability of four-leg hydraulic support with large mining height under impact dynamic load, this paper adopts HyperMesh software to conduct a flexible pretreatment for the top beam, shield beam, and front and rear rods. The numerical simulation model of four-leg hydraulic support is established with ADAMS, where variable stiffness spring is used to replace columns to simulate their elastic characteristics. Building on analysis of the specific parameters of the support, this paper attempts to study the adaptability of the hydraulic support with impact dynamic load acting on the top beam. Additionally, the impact coefficient I and the excitation coefficient E have been introduced to transform the analysis results and optimize the evaluation method of the response degree of the top beam under impact load. Consequently, the response characteristics of the columns and pins at the hinged joints under various coupling states of the surrounding rock are found. Meanwhile, the paper has made a detailed comparison on the stress state of hydraulic support with different impact loads acting on the top beam. The adaptability change rule of the impact dynamic load under various impact conditions has been explored, which is of great significance to the optimization and strength design of four-leg hydraulic support with large mining height.
Antimicrobial and Cytotoxicity Activities of Medicinal Plants against Salmonella gallinarum Isolated from Chickens
Authors: Mkangara Mwanaisha , Mpenda Fulgence N.
Published: February 2022

Medicinal plants have been the good source of treatment for different ailments of humans as well as animals for centuries. However, in Tanzania, few plants were investigated for their efficacy against various diseases of chickens. In the present study, four medicinal plants were investigated against Salmonella gallinarum isolated from chickens. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using the broth microdilution methods and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBCs) were used to evaluate the activities of plants against chicken salmonellosis. For the safety of chickens against the toxicity of plants, the cytotoxicity assay was determined using a brine shrimp lethality test. Aloe secundiflora leaf ethyl acetate (ALEA), Aloe rabaiensis leaf methanolic (ArM), Aloe rabaiensis leaf ethyl acetate (ArLEA), and Punica granatum leaf ethyl acetate (PGLEA) extracts exhibited the highest MIC (0.3906 mg/mL) and MBC (3.125 mg/mL), respectively. The Dolichos kilimandscharicus tuber ethyl acetate (DTEA) and Dolichos kilimandscharicus tuber pet ether (DTPE) extracts displayed MIC of 1.563 mg/mL and 12.50 mg/mL and MBC of 12.50 mg/mL and 25.50 mg/mL, respectively. The highest LC50 values exhibited in Dolichos kilimandscharicus ranged from 7.937 × 10−4 mg/mL to 7.242 × 10−2 mg/mL for pet ether and methanolic extracts, respectively, while ALEA extract exhibited LC50 of 7.645 × 10−3 mg/mL. Generally, the extracts with MIC 0.3906 mg/mL and MBC 3.125 mg/mL demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity with low toxicity efficient to manage chicken salmonellosis. Dolichos kilimandscharicus, which exhibited higher toxicity, warrants further investigation on insecticidal and anticancer agents.
Research on Optimal Access Point and Capacity of Multiscenario Wind Turbine Based on Voltage Sag
Authors: Ma Li , Zhang Chao , Liu TaoFeng , Tian DingRong , Zhang Wei , Gao ShuPing
Published: February 2022

Aiming at reducing the impact on sensitive loads and the economic losses caused by voltage sags in the distribution network containing wind turbines, a multiobjective mathematical model of the optimal access point and access capacity is established from the three perspectives of the basic costs of wind turbines, the economic losses of voltage sags, and the economic losses of the power grid. A scene generation method based on the similarity of wind curve changes and a scene reduction algorithm based on DPC & k-means are proposed to solve the mathematical problem of wind turbine uncertainty. Based on the analysis of the voltage sag of the distribution network containing wind turbines, the evaluation indicator of the voltage sag depth of the bus and the evaluation indicator of the economic loss of the voltage sag of the sensitive load are proposed. The simulation results of the IEEE 33-bus system show that the reasonable access of wind turbines can help reduce the power loss and voltage sag of the distribution network, thereby ensuring the safe and economical operation of the system.
High Pollution Loadings Influence the Reliability of Himawari-8 Cloud-Mask in Comparison with Space-Based Lidar and Surface Observations
Authors: Wang Wei , Tong Pengfei , Feng Huihui , Xu Weiwei
Published: February 2022

Cloud identification methods of passive sensors are usually on the basis of different thresholds at different wavelengths. However, the high pollution levels may contribute to the misidentification of cloud mask of Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) carried on Himawari-8. This study comprehensively analyses and demonstrates this possibility by comparing the AHI cloud-masks and space-based lidar observations based on surface observations of air-polluted loadings from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019. Therefore, this study comprehensively explores this impact by comparing the AHI cloud-masks and space-based lidar observations by using surface observations of air-polluted loadings from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019. Case studies that compare the two sensors indicate that the performance of AHI cloud detection is degenerative during aerosol events. Long-term statistical analysis demonstrates that the average hit ratio of clear (cloud) between the two sensors during the period is 79% (63%) and the consistency (hit rate) of cloud-mask between AHI and CALIOP decreases with increasing pollution levels. On the contrary, the low uncertainty ratios with 15% of cloud and 3% of clear exist in low PM2.5 levels (lower than 40 μg/m3), while the high uncertainty ratios with 47% of cloud and 15% of clear exist in high PM2.5 levels (higher than 130 μg/m3). Therefore, results demonstrate that the reliability of AHI cloud-mask is weakened by high air-polluted levels. Further improvement of AHI cloud-mask algorithm is desired because AHI products with high temporal resolution are vital in several related fields, such as climate change, aerosol-cloud interaction, and air-polluted mapping.
Multimodality Treatment of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations with One-Staged Hybrid Operation: Clinical Characteristics and Long-Term Prognosis
Authors: Jiang Yuanfeng , Zeng Chaofan , Zhang Yiqun , Xu Xiaobo , Qiu Hancheng , Jiang Weijian
Published: February 2022

Objective. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) treated with multimodality management of one-staged hybrid operation. Methods. We identified bAVM patients treated with one-staged hybrid operation from a multicenter prospective cohort study (NCT03774017) between January 2016 and June 2020. Patients were divided into unruptured and ruptured groups by the hemorrhagic presentation. Long-term (>12 months) neurological disability, postoperative complications of stroke, and nidus obliteration were evaluated and compared between groups. Prognostic predictors associated with outcomes were analyzed. Results. A total of 130 patients were identified in the study receiving one-staged hybrid operations, including 61 unruptured cases and 69 ruptured cases. Mean age was 29.1 years old, with 78 (60.0%) being male. Patients included in the study were followed up for a mean period of 37.4 (11.07) months. The annual hemorrhagic risk was 4.2% per year. Thirteen postoperative stroke events were detected in 11 patients (8.5%). Long-term disability occurred in 6.9% of cases, and 86.2% of patients experienced an unchanged or improved neurological status at the last follow-up. All patients achieved complete obliteration on follow-up angiographies. Increased AVM volume was associated with a higher risk of postoperative stroke (odds ratio (OR) 1.021, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.006-1.037, and

P
=
0.006

). Poor neurological status (OR 6.461, 95% CI 1.309-31.889, and

P
=
0.022

) and infratentorial location (OR 5.618, 95% CI 1.158-27.246, and

P
=
0.032

) were independent predictors for long-term disability. Conclusions. One-staged hybrid operation of embolization combined microsurgical resection can be performed as a safe and effective strategy for bAVM treatments. Long-term prognosis of complete obliteration with low rates of morbidity and mortality can be achieved. Unruptured and ruptured bAVMs acquired similar favorable outcomes after the multimodality treatment.
Investigation on Mechanical and Microstructure Properties of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Zhang Qinyuan , Xu Wenwen , Sun Yichen , Ji Yongcheng
Published: February 2022

This paper studied the microscopic and mechanical property degradation of axially compressed concrete with different steel fiber content under chemical erosion and freeze-thaw environment. Concrete cylinders with three types of steel fiber contents (0%, 1%, 2%) were selected to study the durability behavior concerning different environmental effects up to 28 days, which included tap water, 3.5% sodium chloride solution, 10% sodium sulfate solution, 5% sulfuric acid solution, 2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution, and 100 freeze-thaw cycles. The variation of specimens’ microstructure and axial bearing capacity with different fiber content was studied with the chemical erosion cycle increase, and the mass and pH variations of the specimen were measured. According to the law of micro-cracks, the deterioration degree was judged, and a numerical analysis model was established to quantify the reliability of the structure with different fiber content. The results show that the addition of steel fiber can effectively improve the axial bearing capacity of concrete, and a freeze-thaw environment and chemical erosion can accelerate fiber-reinforced concrete’s failure. The optimal content of steel fiber was determined, which is 1% for sodium chloride and sodium sulfate environments, and 2% for the freeze-thaw cycle, dilute sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide environments. The finite element software Abaqus was used to simulate and analyze the freeze-thaw cycle and mechanical test of concrete, which verified the rationality of the test results. Research results will provide a theoretical basis for predicting the performance deterioration of steel fiber reinforced concrete under different erosion conditions and periods.
Research on the Inflow Performance of the Plunger Lift in the Shale Gas Horizontal Well
Authors: Ye Changqing , Tang Hanbing , Cai Daogang , Xie Nanxing , Wang Qingrong , Liu Jianyi , Jiang Lu
Published: February 2022

Shale gas wells in the Changning block of Weiyuan, Sichuan, China, experience water production problems throughout their life cycles. In actual field production, plunger lift is typically used to discharge liquid from a shale gas well. However, it is difficult to test the formation inflow performance relationship curve (IPR) of a plunger lift well. Hence, data on the formulation and optimization of plunger lift well systems are lacking. Based on actual measured data related to casing pressure changes at the wellhead and the gas-liquid distribution characteristics in a wellbore during the shut-in phase, this paper establishes a method for calculating the formation IPR curve of a shale gas plunger lift well by calculating changes in wellbore gas volume continuously. This method has a fast calculation speed. The gas-water interface distribution can be obtained in 3–5 iterations, and the inflow dynamic curve can be calculated in less than 5 seconds. This method tested the IPR curves of gas wells in the Changning block. The IPR curves of plunger lift wells showed concave characteristics contrary to the conventional upward convex curves. This is because the bottom hole flowing pressure changes caused variations in the water saturation of the near-wellbore zone. Consequently, the productivity equation of the plunger lift well is established by introducing the variation coefficient of water saturation expressed by bottom hole flow pressure. This equation fits with the measured IPR curve with an average R2 of approximately 0.9989.
Research on Word Vector Training Method Based on Improved Skip-Gram Algorithm
Authors: Tang Yachun
Published: February 2022

Through the effective word vector training method, we can obtain semantic-rich word vectors and can achieve better results on the same task. In view of the shortcomings of the traditional skip-gram model in coding and modeling the processing of context words, this study proposes an improved word vector-training method based on skip-gram algorithm. Based on the analysis of the existing skip-gram model, the concept of distribution hypothesis is introduced. The distribution of each word in the word context is taken as the representation of the word, the word is put into the semantic space of the word, and then the word is modelled, which is better modelled by the smoothing of words and the semantic space of words. In the training process, the random gradient descent method is used to solve the vector representation of each word and each Chinese character. The proposed training method is compared with skip gram,

CWE
+
P

, and SEING by using word sense similarity task and text classification task in the experiment. Experimental results showed that the proposed method had significant advantages in the Chinese-word segmentation task with a performance gain rate of about 30%. The method proposed in this study provides a reference for the in-depth study of word vector and text mining.
Endothelial Cells Potentially Participate in the Metastasis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Ma Yanfei , Li Yanghong , Guo Pengwei , Zhao Jingjie , Qin Qiang , Wang Jiajia , Liang Zhengfang , Wei Dalong , Wang Zechen , Shen Jiajia , He Siyuan , Tang Qianli , Lu Guanming , Shi Guiling , Meng Lingzhang
Published: February 2022

Inhibition of triple-negative breast cancer metastasis has long been a challenge, mainly due to the difficulty in identifying factors that contribute to this process. In this study, freshly isolated triple-negative breast cancer biopsied cells obtained from consenting patients were subjected to flow cytometry and bioinformatic analysis to identify three endothelial cell subclusters: EC (ATP1B3), EC (HSPA1B), and EC (KRT7) in the tumor microenvironment. These endothelial cell subclusters exhibited distinguishing biological features. Based on differentially expressed genes derived from the subclusters, gene set enrichment analysis showed that EC (ATP1B3) and EC (HSPA1B) contribute to the process of metastasis, for example, in fibrosarcoma and anaplastic carcinoma. In this study, we identified the heterogeneity of endothelial cells in the human breast cancer and have provided insights into its role in metastasis.
Role of Mitophagy in the Pathogenesis of Stroke: From Mechanism to Therapy
Authors: Zhong Wei-Jie , Yang Xiao-Sheng , Zhou Han , Xie Bing-Ran , Liu Wen-Wu , Li Yi
Published: February 2022

Mitochondria can supply adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to the tissue, which can regulate metabolism during the pathologic process and is also involved in the pathophysiology of neuronal injury after stroke. Recent studies have suggested that selective autophagy could play important roles in the pathophysiological process of stroke, especially mitophagy. It is usually mediated by the PINK1/Parkin-independent pathway or PINK1/Parkin-dependent pathway. Moreover, mitophagy may be a potential target in the therapy of stroke because the control of mitophagy is neuroprotective in stroke in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we briefly summarize recent researches in mitophagy, introduce the role of mitophagy in the pathogenesis of stroke, then highlight the strategies targeting mitophagy in the treatment of stroke, and finally propose several issues in the treatment of stroke by targeting mitophagy.
Identification of Potentially Hazardous Microorganisms and Assessment of Physicochemical Deterioration of Thermally Processed King Coconut (Cocos nucifera var. aurantiaca) Water under Different Processing Conditions in Sri Lanka
Authors: Jayasinghe Maheshika Dilrukshi , Madage Samantha Sanath Kumara , Hewajulige Ilmi Ganga Namali , Jayawardana Thalawaththe Muhandiramlage Dilini Ayesha , Halmillawewa Anupama Prabashini , Divisekera Divisekera Mudiyanselage Wasundara Devanmini
Published: February 2022

King coconut water (KCW) is a sweet relish product that is more prone to rapid quality deterioration, and several safety concerns are emerging due to its inappropriate thermal processing. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the potential spoilage/pathogenic microorganisms associated with the processing of KCW, with the assessment of possible physicochemical changes as providing preliminary information required for the thermal process validation of bottled KCW. Samples (n = 6, 150 ml/sample) were collected from three different KCW processing facilities at five critical processing stepsP1−P5. A facility survey, physicochemical analyses, and microbial enumeration and isolation, along with their molecular identifications, were conducted. It was found that all tested physicochemical properties were significantly changedp<0.05among sampling points at each processing facility. The colour of thermally processed KCW samples has significantly changedp<0.05compared to the fresh KCW, which causes a distinct effect on the appealing quality of the final product. A pattern of initial lower counts with gradually increased microbial counts at intermediate processing steps (1.0 × 103–5.3 × 106 CFU/ml) and significantly loweredp<0.05counts after thermal treatment was observed. Among the bacterial and fungal isolates identified, several potential pathogenic bacterial species, such as Pantoea dispersa, Bacillus siamensis, Pseudomonas stutzeri, and Acinetobacter lactucae; a few thermal resistant yeasts, Pichia kudriavzevii, Debaryomyces nepalensis, and Candida carpophila; and moulds, Penicillium citrinum, Microdochium fisheri, and Trichosporon asahii, have survived in the thermally processed KCW. Based on the results of the study, it is suggested that the thermal process validation of KCW should be targeted according to the revealed knowledge on the identified hazardous microorganisms, while adhering to Good Manufacturing and Hygienic Practices with minimized handling time to avoid rapid quality deterioration.
Effect of Ultrasonic Penetration with Volatile Oil of Olibanum and Chuanxiong Rhizoma on Acute Knee Synovitis Induced by Sports Training: An Open-Label Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Xuan Qiwen , Ruan Yi , Cao Chengbing , Yin Zifei , Du Juan , Lv Can , Fang Fanfu , Gu Wei
Published: February 2022

Background. Knee synovitis is a common sports injury. We proposed the use of UTVOR, which is a combination of the use of volatile oil of Olibanum (VOO) and volatile oil of Chuanxiong Rhizoma (VOCR) and conventional ultrasound (US) therapy, to treat knee synovitis. Design, Setting, Participants, and Interventions. Participants were randomly assigned into a control group (conventional US therapy group) and a test group (UTVOR group). The control group received conventional US therapy with a coupling agent as the medium. The test group received a revised US therapy with VOO and VOCR as media. Both groups were treated once per day for three consecutive days. Main Outcome Measures. The subjects’ Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score, Lysholm knee score, knee swelling degree, circumference, and range of motion of the knee joint were evaluated before the first treatment and 24 h after the third treatment. The VAS pain score was considered the primary outcome, while the three other measurements were regarded as the secondary outcomes. An adverse event was reported subjectively and recorded. Results. A total of 116 participants were included in the analysis (test group: n = 64; control group: n = 52). The evaluation results showed that the VAS pain scores of the male and female participants in both groups decreased after treatment (

P
<
0.001

), but only the difference among the male sub-group had significant between-group difference (

P
<
0.001

). After treatment, the Lysholm scores in both groups increased significantly (all

P
<
0.001

), the range of motion and the circumference of the injured knee decreased significantly (

P
<
0.001

), while no between-group difference was observed in general or in the gender sub-groups (all

P
>
0.025

). No side effect or complication was reported during the treatment. Conclusion. UTVOR had a superior analgesic effect to conventional US therapy in the male population, but its effects on alleviating joint function, swelling, and range of motion were comparable to that of conventional US therapy. Our study found that UTVOR can be an effective method to reduce pain and treat knee synovitis, and it is subjectively safe. Trial registration. This study was registered under the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR2000035671).
The Value of Three-Dimensional Tomographic Ultrasound Imaging under Backpropagation Algorithm in the Local Staging Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer
Authors: Li Chenjie , Zhang Ziwen , Tian Yingying , Liu Bingjie
Published: February 2022

Based on three-dimensional tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI) of the backpropagation algorithm, this study evaluated the consistency of three-dimensional TUI technology, pelvic examination, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology in the local staging diagnosis of cervical cancer, aiming to explore the application value of TUI technology in local staging diagnosis of cervical cancer. The backpropagation algorithm was adopted to segment images, and 35 patients who were confirmed to be cervical cancer by tissue biopsy were included in this study. All selected patients underwent transvaginal TUI examination and pelvic MRI examination. Then, the 2010 Federation Internationale of Gynecologie and Obstetrigue (FIGO) was adopted to determine the clinical stage, and the K index and the percentage of consistency were calculated to evaluate the consistency between TUI and MRI. Comparison of tumor size measurements showed that obvious correlation could be found between MRI and three-dimensional TUI (r = 0.842;

P

 < 0.001), MRI, and clinical examination (r = 0.654;

P

 < 0.001) to the assessment of tumor size. In terms of parauterine invasion, there was a moderate consistency between pelvic examination and MRI (K = 0.413; 95% confidential interval (CI) = 0.085–0.762; the overall coincidence rate (OCR) = 78.0%), and there was good consistency between three-dimensional TUI and MRI (K = 0.655, 95% CI = 0.335–0.949; overall coincidence rate = 87.8%). In terms of vaginal infiltration, pelvic examination and MRI showed moderate consistency (K = 0.434; 95% CI = 0.119–0.733; the OCR = 74.2%), and three-dimensional TUI examination and MRI showed excellent consistency (K = 0.568, 95% CI = 0.274–0.881; the OCR = 81.9%). The accuracy of the backpropagation segmentation algorithm was 82%. The results revealed that the three-dimensional TUI technology and MRI showed a good consistency in assessing parauterine invasion of cervical cancer. When the tumor size was evaluated, there was a clear correlation between three-dimensional TUI scans and MRI. Therefore, three-dimensional TUI technology showed relatively high application value for the local stage of cervical cancer.
Approaches for the Elimination of Microbial Contaminants from Lippia multiflora Mold. Leaves Intended for Tea Bagging and Evaluation of Formulation
Authors: Kumadoh Doris , Archer Mary-Ann , Kyene Michael O. , Yeboah Genevieve N. , Adi-Dako Ofosua , Osei-Asare Christina , Adase Emmanuel , Mintah Susana Oteng , Amekyeh Hilda , Appiah Alfred A.
Published: February 2022

Elimination of microorganisms from herbal products has been a major concern due to its implicated health risk to consumers. Drying of herbal materials has been employed for centuries to reduce the risk of contamination and spoilage. The present study adopted three drying approaches in an attempt to eliminate microorganisms from Lippia multiflora tea bag formulation. This study also evaluated the tea bags and optimized the extraction procedure. The L. multiflora leaves for tea bagging were air-dried and milled (A), oven-dried and milled (B), and microwaved (the milled air-dried leaves) (C). The moisture contents were determined at 105°C ± 2°C for 2 hours to constant weight. Phytochemical parameters such as phytochemical constituents, total water extractive, and pH were assessed. The microbial safety and quality of the L. multiflora tea bags were evaluated using the British Pharmacopoeia 2019 specifications. The uniformity of the mass of the formulated tea bags was also determined. Extraction from the Lippia tea bags was optimized. The results showed that using the approaches (A, B, and C) adopted for drying and processing, the moisture contents of the formulated tea bags were in the range of 9.75–10.71% w/w. All the formulated tea bags contained reducing sugars, phenolic compounds, polyuronides, flavonoids, anthracenosides, alkaloids, saponins, and phytosterols. The pH range of the formulations was 7.11–7.54, whereas the total water extractive values were in the range of 19.12–20.41% w/w. The one-way analysis of variance demonstrated no significant difference in the data obtained from the results from A, B, and C. The formulation from A was found to be unsafe for consumption due to unacceptable microbial contamination limits. Microbial load of the formulations from B and C were within the BP specifications. All the batches of the formulations passed the uniformity of mass test. An optimized extraction procedure was obtained when one tea bag was extracted in 250 mL of hot water within the specified time. L. multiflora leaves meant for tea bagging should be oven-dried or microwaved before tea bagging for safe consumption.
Characterization of Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Cement-Based Grouting Material Blended with High Volume Industrial Wastes
Authors: Zhang Luchen , Jia Xuena , Wang Chao , Jiang Quanguo , Sun Chaoqun
Published: February 2022

In the present research, industrial wastes, e.g., fly ash (FA), lithium slag (LS), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), and red mud (RM) were utilized to prepare the magnesium phosphate cement (MPC)-based grouting material by a two-component grouting method. Successive additions of GGBS within 40% (C1–C5) led to reduced fluidity, increased pH value, and shortened setting time. The compressive strength increased first and then decreased. The strength value reached the maximum at a 20% dosage (C3). Increasing the content of RM from 0% (C4) to 25% (C9) resulted in prolonged setting time and an increased pH value. The fluidity and compressive strength increased first and then decreased. The fluidity and strength value became the highest at a 15% additive ratio (C7). GGBS can significantly improve the strength and water resistance at 7 days and 28 days by the potential hydraulic property. RM has a smaller particle size than MP, making the microstructure denser by the pore-filling effect. Thus, the drying shrinkage was increased after adding GGBS, while it was decreased when incorporating RM. The MPC-based grouting material has a controllable short setting of 3–21 min, self-leveling fluidity above 200 mm, a near-neutral pH value, high early strength (1 day compressive strength of 5 MPa), minor drying shrinkage (one-tenth of OPC), and excellent water resistance (over 85%), which is much superior to traditional grouting materials.
Oleic Acid and Succinic Acid Synergistically Mitigate Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Lattibeaudiere K. G. , Alexander-Lindo R. L.
Published: February 2022

Succinic acid (SA) and oleic acid (OA) are the primary hypoglycaemic agents in Desmodium canum, a plant traditionally employed for its potential health benefits. The synergy of the two organic acids exhibits potency in retarding blood glucose levels (BGL) in euglycaemic Sprague Dawley (S-D) rats following a single-dose administration. A cocktail of the two compounds is being investigated for its antidiabetic properties in fructose-fed streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Eighteen type 2 diabetic S-D rats were divided into 3 groups and treated for 28 d with either the cocktail (OA + SA, 800 mg/kg body weight [BW]), glibenclamide (10 mg/kg BW), or vehicle (10% polysorbate 20). Another 12 S-D rats served as euglycaemic animals and were divided into two groups, fed either the cocktail (OA + SA, 800 mg/kg BW) or vehicle. Changes in BW, blood pressure (BP), BGL, water and food consumption, serum insulin, serum glucagon and insulin resistance (IR) were monitored. Treatment with the cocktail showed no change in euglycaemic animals; however, there was a significant reduction in the BGL of diabetic treated animals when compared with diabetic control (14.48 ± 1.92 vs. 25.56 ± 1.38 mM;

p
=
0.012

). Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and glucose/insulin (G/I) scores for IR indicated an improvement in insulin response in the diabetic treated animals. Additionally, there was a noticeable reduction in food and water consumption when compared with diabetic control animals, which was accompanied by a reduction in weight. Overall, the cocktail elicited antidiabetic properties and may serve an important therapeutic role as a nutritional supplement in type 2 diabetics.
Comprehensive Characterization of Metabolism-Associated Subtypes of Renal Cell Carcinoma to Aid Clinical Therapy
Authors: Yao Zhixian , Zheng Zhong , Zheng Xinyi , Wu Hantao , Zhao Weiguang , Mu Xingyu , Sun Feng , Wu Ke , Zheng Junhua
Published: February 2022

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a disease characterized by excessive administration complexity because it exhibits extraordinary nonuniformity among distinct molecular subtypes. We herein intended to delineate the metabolic aspects of clear cell RCC (ccRCC) in terms of the gene expression profile. Recent studies have revealed that metabolic variations within tumors are related to the responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy and patient prognosis. We used 100 previously reported metabolic (MTB) pathways to quantify the metabolic landscape of the 729 ccRCC patients. Three MTB subtypes were established, and the MTB scores were calculated using principal component analysis (PCA). The high MTB score group had better overall survival (OS) and was associated with higher expression of immune-checkpoint and immune-activity signatures. The opposite was true of the low MTB score group, which may explain the poor prognosis of these patients. Three ICI-treated cohorts or tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treated cohort proved that patients with higher MTB scores exhibited notable therapeutic benefits and clinical gains. This research explained that the MTB score could be applied as a powerful prognostic indicator and predictive of ICI or TKI therapy. Assessing the MTB scores in a more extended group will facilitate our perception of tumor metabolism and provide guidance for studies on targeted approaches for ccRCC patients.
Factors Determining Suitable Landfill Sites for Energy Generation from Municipal Solid Waste: A Case Study of Jabodetabek Area, Indonesia
Authors: Nanda Muhammad Achirul , Wijayanto Arif Kurnia , Imantho Harry , Nelwan Leopold Oscar , Budiastra I Wayan , Seminar Kudang Boro
Published: February 2022

Most municipal solid waste (MSW) is found to be dominated by organic debris, which has excellent potential as an energy source. However, the main problems of this material are poor planning, urban expansion, and lack of management skills. All these problems are presently being encountered by the regional governments of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi city (known locally as Jabodetabek), Indonesia. In the MSW management system, a vital planning protocol is reportedly assessing suitable landfill sites for energy generation, although this selection process is still a complex task that should consider various factors, such as environmental, social and safety, and economic variables. Therefore, this study aims to examine various factors in determining a suitable location for landfills. It also aims to identify the various factors required for MSW energy generation. Based on this study, a multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach was applied to weigh the factors determining the appropriate location. This approach is popular in decision-making due to evaluating the complexity of multidimensionality factors. The results showed that 3 factors and 14 subfactors were formulated and structured in the MCDA hierarchy, with their information obtained to create pairwise comparisons by 10 involved experts. In this study, the MCDA output was the weight value associated with a systematic priority level, indicating that the environment was the highest factor in determining a suitable landfill site for energy generation. In addition, the weight factors were used for overlay analysis, in determining the suitable site for future energy generation studies.
Identifying Potential New Gene Expression-Based Biomarkers in the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Hepatitis B-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Poortahmasebi Vahdat , Nejati Ahmad , Abazari Mohammad Foad , Nasiri Toosi Mohsen , Ghaziasadi Azam , Mohammadzadeh Nader , Tavakoli Ahmad , Khamseh Azam , Momenifar Navid , Gholizadeh Omid , Norouzi Mehdi , Jazayeri Seyed Mohammad
Published: February 2022

Objective. The analysis of the gene expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) is important to clarify the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the detection of suitable biomarkers. The purpose of this investigation was to use RNA-sequencing to screen the appropriate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the PBMCs for the HCC. Methods. The comprehensive transcriptome of extracted RNA of PBMC (n = 20) from patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis, and early stage of HCC (5 samples per group) was carried out using RNA-sequencing. All raw RNA-sequencing data analyses were performed using conventional RNA-sequencing analysis tools. Next, gene ontology (GO) analyses were carried out to elucidate the biological processes of DEGs. Finally, relative transcript abundance of selected DEGs was verified using qRT-PCR on additional validation groups. Results. Specifically, 13, 1262, and 1450 DEGs were identified for CHB, liver cirrhosis, and HCC, when compared with the healthy controls. GO enrichment analysis indicated that HCC is closely related to the immune response. Seven DEGs (TYMP, TYROBP, CD14, TGFBI, LILRA2, GNLY, and GZMB) were common to HCC, cirrhosis, and CHB when compared to healthy controls. The data revealed that the expressions of these 7 DEGs were consistent with those from the RNA-sequencing results. Also, the expressions of 7 representative genes that had higher sensitivity were obtained by receiver operating characteristic analysis, which indicated their important diagnostic accuracy for HBV-HCC. Conclusion. This study provides us with new horizons into the biological process and potential prospective clinical diagnosis and prognosis of HCC in the near future.
Canine Rise Method: A Conservative Approach for Worn Teeth Rehabilitation with Different Adhesive Restorative Materials
Authors: Kermanshah Hamid , Alzwghaibi Aws , Al-Tufaili Maitham , Ghabraei Sholeh
Published: February 2022

Background. In this article, two cases with generalized dental wear and four cases with localized dental wear are reported. In some of the cases, the worn teeth were restored with direct composite techniques with no mock-up and articulator mounting according to the canine rise method. This method is used without any change in the intercuspation of posterior teeth without a muscle relaxation appliance. It introduces a stable occlusal condition that can alter neuromuscular reflex activity, leading to improvements in certain muscle pain disorders. It is also used to protect the teeth and supporting structures from abnormal forces that might create a further breakdown and/or tooth wear. Methods. The first step of treatment in all the cases was a composite build-up for maxillary and mandibular canines to restrict and guide the horizontal and vertical jaw movements and create adequate space for restorations. The second step was the placement of direct or indirect restorations on upper and lower anterior teeth efficiently and accurately. Results. This method enhanced the esthetic outcomes in a conservative approach with no reduction in tooth material or time-consuming treatments. Conclusions. This technique can be suggested for the treatment of worn teeth in patients with Angle’s Cl I and Cl II classifications of malocclusion based on the follow-up results. It is not applicable for the treatment of worn teeth in patients with Angle’s class III because occlusion is reversed, and canine teeth do not have guidance role. Practical Implications. This method significantly reduces the overall treatment time, and additional steps are required to restore the worn-out teeth and/or occlusion using the canine rise method.