bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
UroVysionTM Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization in Urological Cancers: A Narrative Review and Future Perspectives
Authors: Ke Chunjin , Hu Zhiquan , Yang Chunguang
Published: November 2022

UroVysionTM is a fluorescence in situ hybridization assay that was developed for the detection of bladder cancer (UC accounted for 90%) in urine specimens. It consists of fluorescently labeled DNA probes to the pericentromeric regions of chromosomes 3, 7, 17 and to the 9p21 band location of the P16 tumor suppressor gene, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001 and 2005, respectively, for urine detection in patients with suspected bladder cancer and postoperative recurrence monitoring. Furthermore, recent studies also demonstrated that U-FISH was useful for assessing superficial bladder cancer patients’ response to Bacillus Calmette–Guérin therapy and in detecting upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Therefore, positive U-FISH was well known to urologists as a molecular cytogenetic technique for the detection of UC. However, with the continuous enrichment of clinical studies at home and abroad, U-FISH has shown a broader application space in the detection of various urinary primary tumors and even metastatic tumors. This review focuses on summarizing the research status of U-FISH in UC, non-urothelial carcinoma and metastatic tumor, so as to strengthen urologists’ more comprehensive understanding of the application value of U-FISH and better complete the accurate diagnosis and treatment of urological cancers.
Generalization of Deep Learning in Digital Pathology: Experience in Breast Cancer Metastasis Detection
Authors: Jarkman Sofia , Karlberg Micael , Pocevičiūtė Milda , Bodén Anna , Bándi Péter , Litjens Geert , Lundström Claes , Treanor Darren , van der Laak Jeroen
Published: November 2022

Poor generalizability is a major barrier to clinical implementation of artificial intelligence in digital pathology. The aim of this study was to test the generalizability of a pretrained deep learning model to a new diagnostic setting and to a small change in surgical indication. A deep learning model for breast cancer metastases detection in sentinel lymph nodes, trained on CAMELYON multicenter data, was used as a base model, and achieved an AUC of 0.969 (95% CI 0.926–0.998) and FROC of 0.838 (95% CI 0.757–0.913) on CAMELYON16 test data. On local sentinel node data, the base model performance dropped to AUC 0.929 (95% CI 0.800–0.998) and FROC 0.744 (95% CI 0.566–0.912). On data with a change in surgical indication (axillary dissections) the base model performance indicated an even larger drop with a FROC of 0.503 (95%CI 0.201–0.911). The model was retrained with addition of local data, resulting in about a 4% increase for both AUC and FROC for sentinel nodes, and an increase of 11% in AUC and 49% in FROC for axillary nodes. Pathologist qualitative evaluation of the retrained model´s output showed no missed positive slides. False positives, false negatives and one previously undetected micro-metastasis were observed. The study highlights the generalization challenge even when using a multicenter trained model, and that a small change in indication can considerably impact the model´s performance.
Protein Kinase C (PKC) Isozymes as Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Cancer
Authors: Kawano Takahito , Inokuchi Junichi , Eto Masatoshi , Murata Masaharu , Kang Jeong-Hun
Published: November 2022

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a large family of calcium- and phospholipid-dependent serine/threonine kinases that consists of at least 11 isozymes. Based on their structural characteristics and mode of activation, the PKC family is classified into three subfamilies: conventional or classic (cPKCs; α, βI, βII, and γ), novel or non-classic (nPKCs; δ, ε, η, and θ), and atypical (aPKCs; ζ, ι, and λ) (PKCλ is the mouse homolog of PKCι) PKC isozymes. PKC isozymes play important roles in proliferation, differentiation, survival, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and anticancer drug resistance in cancer cells. Several studies have shown a positive relationship between PKC isozymes and poor disease-free survival, poor survival following anticancer drug treatment, and increased recurrence. Furthermore, a higher level of PKC activation has been reported in cancer tissues compared to that in normal tissues. These data suggest that PKC isozymes represent potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancer. This review summarizes the current knowledge and discusses the potential of PKC isozymes as biomarkers in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancers.
Application of Electronic Health Record Text Mining: Real-World Tolerability, Safety, and Efficacy of Adjuvant Melanoma Treatments
Authors: van Laar Sylvia A. , Kapiteijn Ellen , Gombert-Handoko Kim B. , Guchelaar Henk-Jan , Zwaveling Juliette
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Nivolumab (N), pembrolizumab (P), and dabrafenib plus trametinib (D + T) have been registered as adjuvant treatments for resected stage III and IV melanoma since 2018. Electronic health records (EHRs) are a real-world data source that can be used to review treatments in clinical practice. In this study, we applied EHR text-mining software to evaluate the real-world tolerability, safety, and efficacy of adjuvant melanoma treatments. Methods: Adult melanoma patients receiving adjuvant treatment between January 2019 and October 2021 at the Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands, were included. CTcue text-mining software (v3.1.0, CTcue B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands) was used to construct rule-based queries and perform context analysis for patient inclusion and data collection from structured and unstructured EHR data. Results: In total, 122 patients were included: 54 patients treated with nivolumab, 48 with pembrolizumab, and 20 with D + T. Significantly more patients discontinued treatment due to toxicity on D + T (N: 16%, P: 6%, D + T: 40%), and X2 (6, n = 122) = 14.6 and p = 0.024. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) mainly showed immune-related treatment-limiting adverse events (AEs), and chronic thyroid-related AE occurred frequently (hyperthyroidism: N: 15%, P: 13%, hypothyroidism: N: 20%, P: 19%). Treatment-limiting toxicity from D + T was primarily a combination of reversible AEs, including pyrexia and fatigue. The 1-year recurrence-free survival was 70.3% after nivolumab, 72.4% after pembrolizumab, and 83.0% after D + T. Conclusions: Text-mining EHR is a valuable method to collect real-world data to evaluate adjuvant melanoma treatments. ICIs were better tolerated than D + T, in line with RCT results. For BRAF+ patients, physicians must weigh the higher risk of reversible treatment-limiting AEs of D + T against the risk of long-term immune-related AEs.
Feasibility and Safety of Single-Probe Cryoablation with Liquid Nitrogen: An Initial Experience in 24 Various Tumor Lesions
Authors: Kammoun Tarek , Prévot Elodie , Serrand Chris , Perolat Romain , de Forges Hélène , Houédé Nadine , Beregi Jean-Paul , Frandon Julien
Published: November 2022

Background: Percutaneous cryoablation with liquid nitrogen is a new technique being used in the treatment of some malignant tumors. Our objective was to assess its feasibility in the ablation of tumor lesions of various sizes and locations. Methods: This retrospective, monocentric study included all consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous cryoablation with liquid nitrogen between December 2019 and March 2021. Cryoablation was performed using 10G or 13G cryoprobes. The ablation volume was measured on post-treatment CT or MRI. Results: 22 patients (24 lesions) were included, 16 of whom were men (73%), while median age was 66 years. The lesions were located in the bone (42%), kidney (29%), soft tissue (17%), lung (8%), or liver (4%). It was feasible in all tumor locations and produced median ablation zones 25 mm in width and 35 mm in length, with a 23 min median freezing time. Freezing duration was correlated with the ice volume (p Spearman = 0.02), but not with the ablation volume (p = 0.11). The average difference between the ablation zone and ice ball sizes were −6.4 mm in width and −7.7 mm in length. Both ice and ablation volumes were larger when using the 10G probe as compared to when the 13G was used. No complications were reported. Discussion: We showed that this technique was safe and feasible in all organs tested. The freezing duration was correlated with the ice ball size, but not with the ablation zone.
Insights into Cu–Amorphous Silica–Alumina as a Bifunctional Catalyst for the Steam Reforming of Dimethyl Ether
Authors: Shao Zhi-Cui , Wang Lei , Zhu Min-Li , Liu Chang , Liu Zhong-Wen
Published: November 2022

The steam reforming of dimethyl ether (SRD) has been proved to be one of the most promising routes for on-site H2 production. However, the two-step consecutive nature of the SRD reaction makes the design of an efficient bifunctional catalyst a challenge. Herein, a series of Cu incorporated into amorphous silica–alumina (Cu–ASA) as integrated bifunctional catalysts for SRD were synthesized by the single-step complex decomposition method, and ammonium carbonate was confirmed to be an effective complex agent for dispersing Cu in ASA. The results indicated that the initial conversion of dimethyl ether and a H2 yield higher than 90% were achieved at 300 °C over the optimal catalyst. More importantly, a slightly decreased SRD performance with increasing time-on-stream was mainly caused by Cu sintering, and the synergetic effect between ASA and Cu played a crucial role in determining the activity, hydrogen yield, and stability of the integrated Cu–ASA bifunctional catalyst for SRD. These findings are helpful to develop a high-performance integrated bifunctional catalyst for the SRD reaction.
Solid–Waste–Derived Geopolymer–Type Zeolite–like High Functional Catalytic Materials Catalyze Efficient Hydrogenation of Levulinic Acid
Authors: Feng Wenli , Lu Xuebin , Xiong Jian , Yu Zhihao , Wang Yilin , Cui Jianguo , Zhang Rui , Weng Rengui
Published: November 2022

Three common solid wastes (waste incineration fly ash, sewage sludge, and polluted soil) were the raw materials used in the synthesis of a geopolymer–type zeolite–like product, which was then used as a catalyst carrier to prepare a nickel hydrogenation catalyst for the catalytic hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ–valerolactone. Under optimum synthesis conditions, the synthesized geopolymer zeolite has excellent structure and performance. The characterization results show that the composites have a three–dimensional network structure, and the pore structure is homogeneous mesoporous or microporous. In this work, the results of catalytic hydrogenation show that the yield of γ–valerolactone can achieve up to 94% using the synthesized catalyst, which is comparable to that of commercial catalysts and the concentrations of typical polluting heavy metals of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in the reaction solution were all below the emission concentration limit (Class I standard) after five cycles of reaction. In summary, this geopolymer–type zeolite–like catalyst is cheap and has excellent performance; it is, therefore, expected to be widely used in catalysis instead of commercial carriers.
Ratiometric Electrochemical Biosensing of Methyltransferase Activity
Authors: Wang Cong , Guo Zhihua , Tian Ruifen , Zhang Keying , Wang Hongyan , Li Fajun , Shi Hongwei , Wang Zhicheng
Published: November 2022

In this work, a novel ratiometric electrochemical readout platform was proposed and developed for the fast and flexible analysis of M.SssI methyltransferase (MTase) activity. In this platform, two hairpin DNAs (H1 and H2) were designed. H1 contains the palindromic sequence of 5′-CCGG-3′ in its stem which could be methylated and hybridize with H2 labeled by methylene blue (MB) as one of the signal reporters on a gold electrode (GE) in the presence of M.SssI MTase. Additionally, a specific immunoreaction was introduced by conjugating an anti-5-methylcytosine antibody, a DNA CpG methylation recognition unit, with 1,3-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid (Fc) as the second signal reporter. The results showed that when the Fc tag approaches, the MB tag was far from the gold electrode surface, resulting in a decrease in the oxidation peak current of MB (IMB) and an increase in the oxidation peak current of Fc (IFc). The ratiometric electrochemical method above shows the linear range of detection was 0 U/mL 40 U/mL with a detection limit of 0.083 U/mL (the mean signal of blank measures þ3s).
Core-Shell Hierarchical Fe/Cu Bimetallic Fenton Catalyst with Improved Adsorption and Catalytic Performance for Congo Red Degradation
Authors: Chen Haimei , Wang Shaofei , Huang Lilan , Zhang Leitao , Han Jin , Ren Wanzheng , Pan Jian , Li Jiao
Published: November 2022

The preparation of heterogeneous Fenton catalysts with both adsorption and catalytic properties has become an effective strategy for the treatment of refractory organic wastewater. In this work, 4A-Fe@Cu bimetallic Fenton catalysts with a three-dimensional core-shell structure were prepared by a simple, template-free, and surfactant-free methodology and used in the adsorption and degradation of Congo red (CR). The results showed that the open three-dimensional network structure and the positive charge of the surface of the 4A-Fe@Cu catalyst could endow a high adsorption capacity for CR, reaching 432.9 mg/g. The good adsorption property of 4A-Fe@Cu for CR not only did not inactivate the catalytic site on 4A-Fe@Cu but also could promote the contact between CR and the active sites on the catalyst surface and accelerate the degradation process. The 4A-Fe@Cu bimetallic catalyst exhibited higher catalytic activity than monometallic 4A@Cu and/or 4A-Fe catalysts due to low work function value. The effects of different pH, H2O2 dosages, and catalyst dosages on the catalytic performance of 4A-Fe@Cu were explored. In the conditions of 7.2 mM H2O2, 2 g/L 4A-Fe@Cu, and 1 g/L CR solution, the degradation ratio of CR by 4A-Fe@Cu could reach 99.2% at pH 8. This strategy provided guidance to the design of high-performance Fenton-like catalysts with both adsorption and catalysis properties for dye wastewater treatment.
Normal Cortical Myelination in Galectin-4-Deficient Mice
Authors: Brocca María Elvira , Mora-Rubio Arancha , Alonso-Calviño Elena , Fernández-López Elena , Díez-Revuelta Natalia , Martos-Puñal David , Aguilar Juan , Higuero Alonso M. , Abad-Rodríguez José
Published: November 2022

Myelin, critical for the correct function of the nervous system, is organized in different patterns that can include long non-myelinated axonal segments. How myelin patterning is regulated remains unexplained. The carbohydrate-binding protein galectin-4 (Gal-4) influences oligodendrocyte differentiation in vitro and is associated with non-myelinable axon segments (NMS) in cultured neurons. In consequence, Gal-4 has been proposed as a myelin patterning regulator, although no in vivo studies have corroborated this hypothesis. We used Gal-4-deficient mice (Lgals4-KO) to study the role of Gal-4 in cortical myelination in vivo. We show that cultured neurons of Lgals4-KO mice form NMS that are regulated as in control neurons. In addition, oligodendrocyte/myelin markers expression measured by biochemical and immunochemical means, and cortical myelin microstructure studied by in-depth image analysis appear unaltered in these animals. Consistently, myelin displays an essentially normal function assessed by in vivo electrophysiology and locomotion analyses. In conclusion, cortical myelin of Lgals4-KO mice does not show any significant defect in composition, organization or function, pointing to a negligible role of Gal-4 in myelination in vivo or, as discussed, to unknown mechanisms that compensate its absence.
Concentration-Dependent Global Quantitative Proteome Response of Staphylococcus epidermidis RP62A Biofilms to Subinhibitory Tigecycline
Authors: Sung Kidon , Park Miseon , Chon Jungwhan , Kweon Ohgew , Khan Saeed A. , Shen Andrew , Paredes Angel
Published: November 2022

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a leading cause of biofilm-associated infections on implanted medical devices. During the treatment of an infection, bacterial cells inside biofilms may be exposed to sublethal concentrations of the antimicrobial agents. In the present study, the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of tigecycline (TC) on biofilms formed by S. epidermidis strain RP62A was investigated using a quantitative global proteomic technique. Sublethal concentrations of TC [1/8 (T1) and 1/4 minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (T2)] promoted biofilm production in strain RP62A, but 1/2 MIC TC (T3) significantly inhibited biofilm production. Overall, 413, 429, and 518 proteins were differentially expressed in biofilms grown with 1/8 (T1), 1/4 (T2), and 1/2 (T3) MIC of TC, respectively. As the TC concentration increased, the number of induced proteins in each Cluster of Orthologous Groups (COG) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway increased. The TC concentration dependence of the proteome response highlights the diverse mechanisms of adaptive responses in strain RP62A biofilms. In both COG and KEGG functional analyses, most upregulated proteins belong to the metabolism pathway, suggesting that it may play an important role in the defense of strain RP62A biofilm cells against TC stress. Sub-MIC TC treatment of strain RP62A biofilms led to significant changes of protein expression related to biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, virulence, quorum sensing, ABC transporters, protein export, purine/pyrimidine biosynthesis, ribosomes, and essential proteins. Interestingly, in addition to tetracycline resistance, proteins involved in resistance of various antibiotics, including aminoglycosides, antimicrobial peptides, β-lactams, erythromycin, fluoroquinolones, fusidic acid, glycopeptides, lipopeptides, mupirocin, rifampicin and trimethoprim were differentially expressed. Our study demonstrates that global protein expression profiling of biofilm cells to antibiotic pressure may improve our understanding of the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in biofilms.
Duodenal Dual-Wavelength Photobiomodulation Improves Hyperglycemia and Hepatic Parameters with Alteration of Gut Microbiome in Type 2 Diabetes Animal Model
Authors: Min Se Hee , Kwon Jinhee , Do Eun-Ju , Kim So Hee , Kim Eun Sil , Jeong Jin-Yong , Bae Sang Mun , Kim Sang-Yeob , Park Do Hyun
Published: November 2022

Background: Recently, the duodenum has garnered interest for its role in treating metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Multiple sessions of external photobiomodulation (PBM) in previous animal studies suggested it resulted in improved hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance with a multifactorial mechanism of action, despite the target organ of PBM not being clearly proven. This study aimed to determine whether a single session of a duodenal light-emitting diode (LED) PBM may impact the T2DM treatment in an animal model. Methods: Goto–Kakizaki rats as T2DM models were subjected to PBM through duodenal lumen irradiation, sham procedure, or control in 1-week pilot (630 nm, 850 nm, or 630/850 nm) and 4-week follow-up (630 nm or 630/850 nm) studies. Oral glucose tolerance tests; serum glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, and insulin levels; liver chemistry and histology; and gut microbiome in the PBM, sham control, and control groups were evaluated. Results: In the 1-week study, duodenal dual-wavelength (D, 630/850 nm) LED PBM showed improved glucose intolerance, alkaline phosphatase and cholesterol levels, and weight gain than other groups. The D-LED PBM group in the 4-week study also showed improved hyperglycemia and liver enzyme levels, with relatively preserved pancreatic islets and increased serum insulin and GLP-1 levels. Five genera (Bacteroides, Escherichia, Parabacteroides, Allobaculum, and Faecalibaculum) were significantly enriched 1 week after the D-LED PBM. Bacteroides acidifaciens significantly increased, while Lachnospiraceae significantly decreased after 1 week. Conclusion: A single session of D-LED PBM improved hyperglycemia and hepatic parameters through the change of serum insulin, insulin resistance, insulin expression in the pancreatic β-cells, and gut microbiome in T2DM animal models.
Bioinspired Chemical Sensors and Micro-Nano Devices
Authors: Wang Ping , Wu Chunsheng , Zhuang Liujing
Published: November 2022

Biological smell and taste systems can recognize the specific chemical signals presented by various odorants and taste substances with extremely high performance, which cannot be achieved by current artificial devices [...]
Self-Healing Organic-Inorganic Coatings
Authors: Hammer Peter , Uvida Mayara Carla , Trentin Andressa
Published: November 2022

Nowadays, steel and light alloys, such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium, represent most of the primary components of metallic structures in many applications [...]
Corrosion of Laser Cladding High-Entropy Alloy Coatings: A Review
Authors: Liu Yusheng , Xiang Dingding , Wang Kaiming , Yu Tianbiao
Published: November 2022

Material corrosion is a common phenomenon. Severe corrosion not only causes material failure, but may also lead to unexpected catastrophic accidents. Therefore, reducing the loss caused by corrosion has become a problem faced by countries around the world. As a surface modification technology, laser cladding (LC) can be used to prepare coatings that can achieve metallurgical bonding with the substrate. High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are a new material with superior anti-corrosion ability. Therefore, HEA coatings prepared by LC have become a research hotspot to improve the anti-corrosive ability of material surfaces. In this work, the effects of LC process parameters, post-processing, and the HEA material system on the anti-corrosion ability of HEA coatings and their mechanisms are reviewed. Among them, the LC process parameters influence the anti-corrosion ability by affecting the macroscopic quality, dilution rate, and uniformity of the coatings. The post-processing enhances the anti-corrosion ability of the coatings by improving the internal defects and refining the grain structure. The anti-corrosion ability of the coatings can be improved by appropriately adding transition metal elements such as Ni, Cr, Co, and rare earth elements such as Ce and Y. However, the lattice distortion, diversification of phase composition, and uneven distribution caused by excess elements will weaken the corrosion protection of the coatings. We reviewed the impact of corrosion medium on the anti-corrosion ability of coatings, in which the temperature and pH value of the corrosion medium affect the quality of the passive film on the surface of the coatings, thereby affecting the anti-corrosion ability of the coatings. Finally, to provide references for future research, the development trend of preparing HEA coatings by LC technology is prospected.
Biological Corrosion Resistance and Osteoblast Response of 316LVM Polished Using Electrolytic Plasma
Authors: Duan Haidong , Sun Huanwu , Ji Gangqiang , Yang Dongliang , Li Sixue , Wang Juan , Xiang Yuxia
Published: November 2022

As electrolytic plasma polishing (EPP) offers the advantages of strong shape adaptability, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness, it has great application prospects in biomedical material processing. However, the effect of EPP on the biological performance of the treated surfaces remains unclear. In the present study, the effects of EPP on the surface roughness, micro-morphology, corrosion behavior, and cell response of 316LVM were investigated. The results revealed that the surface roughness (Ra) was reduced from 0.3108 to 0.0454 µm upon EPP, and the sharp peaks and protrusions produced as a result of mechanical grinding were removed. The corrosion current density decreased from 1.129 to 0.164 µA/cm2, while the charge transfer resistance increased from 513.3 to 17,430 kΩ·cm2, which implied that EPP treatment could significantly improve the corrosion resistance of 316LVM. Furthermore, affected by the sharp ridges on both sides of the groove, the outward spreading of osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) on the untreated samples was inhibited, and the edges were curled. The cells grew along the direction of the mechanical processing texture on the untreated samples, while they grew randomly in all directions on the surface treated using EPP, which adversely affected the growth, spreading, and migration of the cells.
Thermal and Quantum Fluctuation Effects on Non-Spherical Nuclei: The Case of Spin-1 System
Authors: Mahmud Mohammed , Bekele Mulugeta , Bassie Yigermal
Published: November 2022

In this work, we investigate the collective role of thermal and quantum fluctuations on non-equilibrium thermodynamics of a quantum system, specifically, the quantum-thermodynamic description of spin-1 nuclei based on the concepts of quantum and statistical mechanics. We explore the dynamical response of the system when driven out of equilibrium by a work parameter and compute analytically the full distribution of the work generated by the process. Considering work performed on the system as a random variable, we collect data for a large number of repeated cyclic processes of finite time. These data of finite time non-equilibrium processes will permit us to derive equilibrium values in quantities such as the free energy difference between the final and initial states of the system. Various properties of the system’s work distribution are explored.
Nanocrystal-Based Topical Gels for Improving Wound Healing Efficacy of Curcumin
Authors: Kotian Vinith , Koland Marina , Mutalik Srinivas
Published: November 2022

Topical curcumin shows poor local availability because of its low aqueous solubility and inadequate tissue absorption. Curcumin nanocrystals were prepared by sonoprecipitation followed by lyophilization to improve surface area and solubility. The formulation was optimized by the Design of Experiment (DoE) approach. The nanocrystals were characterized for particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD), practical yield and in vitro drug release studies. The nanocrystal-incorporated gel was evaluated for drug content, ex vivo permeation, in vivo skin irritation, and in vivo wound healing activity. Time of sonication and amplitude influenced the optimization of curcumin nanocrystals, but the effect of stabilizer concentrations was not significant beyond 0.5% w/w. SEM images of curcumin nanocrystals revealed irregular and plate-shaped particles with rough surfaces. PXRD patterns of curcumin nanocrystals showed low crystallinity compared to unprocessed curcumin powder. An in vitro drug release study demonstrated significant improvement in the percentage cumulative drug release in the form of nanocrystals compared to the unprocessed curcumin, and the release profile exhibited first-order kinetics. Curcumin nanocrystal gel showed 93.86% drug content and was free of skin irritation potential. Excision wound healing activity in albino rats showed that the curcumin nanocrystal gel exhibited significantly faster wound contraction than curcumin powder-incorporated gel.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of the Ternary Gas Shielded Narrow-Gap GMA Welded Joint of High-Strength Steel
Authors: Ni Zhida , Hu Fengya , Li Yunhe , Lin Sanbao , Cai Xiaoyu
Published: November 2022

An 80%Ar-10%CO2-10%He ternary gas mixture was used as the shielding gas during the narrow-gap welding of thick Q690E high-strength steel plates. Complete and defect-free welded joints were obtained, and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joint were investigated. The weld zone consists of a solidification area and interlayer zone, and the heat-affected zone consists of a coarse-grain heat-affected zone (CG-HAZ) and a fine-grain heat-affected zone (FG-HAZ). The microstructures of the weld zone are mainly lath bainite (LB), acicular ferrite (AF), and granular bainite (GB). The microstructure of the CG-HAZ is lath martensite (LM) and the microstructure of FG-HAZ is GB. Methods with different heat inputs were used to study their effects on the mechanical properties of the welded joint. It was found that the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joints are better with lower heat input. With tandem wire narrow-gap GMA welding, the tensile strength of the joints declined from 795.3 to 718.3 MPa and the impact toughness at −40 °C resulted in a weak position in the weld zone, which declined from 76~81 J to 55~69 J, when the welding speed reduced from 350 to 250 mm/min. With oscillating-arc narrow-gap GMA welding, the tensile strength achieved 853.4 MPa and the impact toughness at −40 °C was around 69~87 J. The results indicated that, under the appropriate heat input, the tensile strength of the joint exceeds 770 MPa and the low temperature impact toughness at −40 °C exceeds 69 J. A 155 mm-thick Q690E steel welded joint was obtained and the mechanical properties of the welded joint meets the requirements of the offshore drilling platforms.
Predicting the Crystal Structure and Lattice Parameters of the Perovskite Materials via Different Machine Learning Models Based on Basic Atom Properties
Authors: Jarin Sams , Yuan Yufan , Zhang Mingxing , Hu Mingwei , Rana Masud , Wang Sen , Knibbe Ruth
Published: November 2022

Perovskite materials have high potential for the renewable energy sources such as solar PV cells, fuel cells, etc. Different structural distortions such as crystal structure and lattice parameters have a critical impact on the determination of the perovskite’s structure strength, stability, and overall performance of the materials in the applications. To improve the perovskite performance and accelerate the prediction of different structural distortions, few ML models have been established to predict the type of crystal structures and their lattice parameters using the basic atom characteristics of the perovskite materials. In this work, different ML models such as random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), neural network (NN), and genetic algorithm (GA) supported neural network (GA-NN) have been established, whereas support vector regression (SVR) and genetic algorithm-supported support vector regression (GA-SVR) models have been assessed for the prediction of the lattice parameters. The prediction model accuracy for the crystal structure classification is almost 88% in average for GA-NN whereas for the lattice constants regression model GA-SVR model gives ~95% in average which can be further improved by accumulating more robust datasets into the database. These ML models can be used as an alternative process to accelerate the development of finding out new perovskite material by providing valuable insight for the behaviours of the perovskite materials.
Determination of Secondary Cooling Zone Heat Transfer Coefficient with Different Alloy Types and Roughness in DC Casting by Inverse Heat Conduction Method
Authors: Hu Wenyi , Jia Yonghui , Chen Xingrui , Le Qichi , Chen Liang , Chen Songhua
Published: November 2022

The cooling characteristic curves in a heated ingot with a diameter of 100 mm quenched by a water jet were measured under different conditions. A two-dimensional calculation model was established to calculate the HTC of magnesium alloy ingot with water spray cooling. Data from cast-in thermocouples trail were input into the model and the HTCs were back-calculated for the water quench region. The HTCs were calculated under different alloy types and roughness conditions, and the relationship between the ingot surface temperature, roughness, and the HTC was established accordingly. The results show that the greater the thermal conductivity of the alloy, the greater the heat transfer coefficient (HTC). The HTCs of AZ80, AZ31, and ZK60 alloys increase successively. With the decrease in the surface temperature, the HTC in both the impingement zone and the free−falling zone shows a trend of a rapid increase at first, then slowly increasing to the maximum value, and finally, a rapid decrease, with the peak value appearing at about 400 K. Considering the influence of the ingot surface temperature and the surface roughness on the HTC, the mathematical relationships between them are established.
Microstructure Design and Performance Optimization of Constant Modulus Pentamode Materials Acoustic Cloak
Authors: Luo Ziyin , Zhou Qizheng , Guo Peng
Published: November 2022

Underwater acoustic stealth has great scientific research value. According to acoustic coordinate transformation theory, the acoustic stealth cloak based on pentamode materials can realize underwater broadband acoustic stealth. However, due to the correlation between the density and modulus of pentamode materials and the changes in the parameters of each layer of the acoustic stealth cloak, a large amount of structural optimization work is required for the pentamode material to meet the specific parameter requirements, which significantly increases the difficulty of the pentamode acoustic stealth cloak design. To simplify the design process, inspired by the calculation of equivalent modulus by representation volume element, this article proposed a pentamode material configuration with independent variation of density and modulus and designed a 1 m radius acoustic stealth cloak with a specific structure of pentamode materials matching the coordinate transformation equation of constant modal mapping. After simulation calculation and optimization design, in the range of a/λ from 0 to 1, the average total scattering cross-section of the cavity with a radius of 0.5 m covered by the acoustic stealth cloak is 0.858; the average total scattering cross-section of the cavity is 19.718 after removing the pentamode material acoustic stealth cloak. The results of the study are expected to provide some method references for simplifying the design process of the pentamode material acoustic stealth cloak and the microstructure design of the pentamode materials.
Crystal Structure of a New 1:1 Acridine-Diclofenac Salt, Obtained with High Yield by a Mechanochemical Approach
Authors: Mirocki Artur , Conterosito Eleonora , Palin Luca , Sikorski Artur , Milanesio Marco , Lopresti Mattia
Published: November 2022

The liquid-assisted grinding (LAG) approach was exploited to efficiently produce a new salt cocrystal with a minimum expenditure of reagents and energy, with possible application in the pharmaceutical field. LAG was applied to the acridine/diclofenac couple, and a new cocrystal was obtained with a 1:1 ratio of reagents and its structure resolved by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The XRPD analysis confirmed that the yield is higher than 90% and the limited use of solvents and the absence of waste generally makes the synthesis very efficient and with the minimum possible environmental impact. The crystal structure of the title compound was compared to a previously solved 1:2 cocrystal, also with the aid of Hirshfeld’s surface analysis and calculations of the energy framework. The packing of the 1:1 structure is stabilized by a strong H-bond and partial π⋯π-stacking interactions. It differs considerably from that of the previously identified cocrystal, in which two strong hydrogen bonds and a perfect interlocking of the molecules thanks to the the π⋯π stacking induce a much higher stability, as confirmed by energy framework calculations. DSC analysis confirmed its purity and a melting point at 140 °C, which is different from those of the two reactants.
Marinobacterium sedimentorum sp. nov., Isolated from the Bottom Sediments of the Okhotsk Sea
Authors: Romanenko Lyudmila , Otstavnykh Nadezhda , Kurilenko Valeriya , Velansky Peter , Baldaev Sergey , Mikhailov Valery , Isaeva Marina
Published: November 2022

A Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, motile bacterium designated KMM 9957T was isolated from a bottom sediment sample obtained from the Okhotsk Sea, Russia. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene and concatenated conserved protein-coding sequences positioned the novel strain KMM 9957T in the genus Marinobacterium as a distinct line adjacent to Marinobacterium rhizophilum CL-YJ9T, Marinobacterium profundum PAMC 27536T, and Marinobacterium aestuarii KCTC 52193T with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 99%, 98.3%, and 98.2%, respectively. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain KMM 9957T and M. aestuarii KCTC 52193T, M. profundum PAMC 27536T, and M. rhizophilum DSM 18822T were 89.4%, 87.9%, and 84.7% and 38.6%, 34.8%, and 28.4%, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain KMM 9957T was 58.4 mol%. The dominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-8, and the major fatty acids were C18:1, C10:0 3-OH, C16:0, and C16:1ω7c. The polar lipids of strain KMM 9957T consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminophospholipid, two unidentified aminolipids, eight unidentified phospholipids, and three unidentified lipids. Based on the combination of phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain KMM 9957T represents a novel species of the genus Marinobacterium, for which the name Marinobacterium sedimentorum sp. nov. is proposed.
The Construction and Evaluation of a Multi-Task Convolutional Neural Network for a Cone-Beam Computed-Tomography-Based Assessment of Implant Stability
Authors: Huang Zelun , Zheng Haoran , Huang Junqiang , Yang Yang , Wu Yupeng , Ge Linhu , Wang Liping
Published: November 2022

Objectives: Assessing implant stability is integral to dental implant therapy. This study aimed to construct a multi-task cascade convolution neural network to evaluate implant stability using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: A dataset of 779 implant coronal section images was obtained from CBCT scans, and matching clinical information was used for the training and test datasets. We developed a multi-task cascade network based on CBCT to assess implant stability. We used the MobilenetV2-DeeplabV3+ semantic segmentation network, combined with an image processing algorithm in conjunction with prior knowledge, to generate the volume of interest (VOI) that was eventually used for the ResNet-50 classification of implant stability. The performance of the multitask cascade network was evaluated in a test set by comparing the implant stability quotient (ISQ), measured using an Osstell device. Results: The cascade network established in this study showed good prediction performance for implant stability classification. The binary, ternary, and quaternary ISQ classification test set accuracies were 96.13%, 95.33%, and 92.90%, with mean precisions of 96.20%, 95.33%, and 93.71%, respectively. In addition, this cascade network evaluated each implant’s stability in only 3.76 s, indicating high efficiency. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to present a CBCT-based deep learning approach CBCT to assess implant stability. The multi-task cascade network accomplishes a series of tasks related to implant denture segmentation, VOI extraction, and implant stability classification, and has good concordance with the ISQ.
Immunological Interactions between Intestinal Helminth Infections and Tuberculosis
Authors: Bhengu Khethiwe Nomcebo , Naidoo Pragalathan , Singh Ravesh , Mpaka-Mbatha Miranda N. , Nembe Nomzamo , Duma Zamathombeni , Pillay Roxanne , Mkhize-Kwitshana Zilungile L.
Published: November 2022

Helminth infections are among the neglected tropical diseases affecting billions of people globally, predominantly in developing countries. Helminths’ effects are augmented by coincident tuberculosis disease, which infects a third of the world’s population. The role of helminth infections on the pathogenesis and pathology of active tuberculosis (T.B.) remains controversial. Parasite-induced suppression of the efficacy of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has been widely reported in helminth-endemic areas worldwide. T.B. immune response is predominantly proinflammatory T-helper type 1 (Th1)-dependent. On the other hand, helminth infections induce an opposing anti-inflammatory Th2 and Th3 immune-regulatory response. This review summarizes the literature focusing on host immune response profiles during single-helminth, T.B. and dual infections. It also aims to necessitate investigations into the complexity of immunity in helminth/T.B. coinfected patients since the research data are limited and contradictory. Helminths overlap geographically with T.B., particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Each disease elicits a response which may skew the immune responses. However, these effects are helminth species-dependent, where some parasites have no impact on the immune responses to concurrent T.B. The implications for the complex immunological interactions that occur during coinfection are highlighted to inform government treatment policies and encourage the development of high-efficacy T.B. vaccines in areas where helminths are prevalent.
PR3-ANCAs Detected by Third-Generation ELISA Predicts Severe Disease and Poor Survival in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Authors: Lopens Steffi , Wunsch Ewa , Milkiewicz Malgorzata , Röber Nadja , Zarske Grit , Nasser Abdullah , Conrad Karsten , Laass Martin , Rödiger Stefan , Krawczyk Marcin , Roggenbuck Dirk , Milkiewicz Piotr
Published: November 2022

A highly sensitive detection of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies to serine proteinase-3 (PR3-ANCAs) aids in the serological diagnosis of autoimmune liver disorders and the prediction of severity in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Here, we evaluate a novel third-generation ELISA for the detection of PR3-ANCAs. In total, 309 patients with PSC, 51 with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and 120 healthy blood donors (BD) were analyzed. For the survival analysis in PSC, the outcome was defined as liver-transplantation-free survival during the follow-up. Positive PR3-ANCA levels were found in 74/309 (24.0%) of patients with PSC. No BDs and one patient with PBC demonstrated PR3-ANCA positivity. PR3-ANCAs were revealed as independent predictors for a poor PSC outcome (study endpoint: liver transplantation/death, log-rank test, p = 0.02). PR3-ANCA positivity, lower albumin levels, and higher bilirubin concentrations were independent risks of a poor survival (Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis, p < 0.05). The Mayo risk score for PSC was associated with PR3-ANCA positivity (p = 0.01) and the disease severity assessed with a model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) and extended MELD-Na (p < 0.05). PR3-ANCAs detected by a third-generation ELISA are diagnostic and prognostic markers for PSC. Their wider use could help to identify patients who are at-risk of a more severe disease.
Aggressive Pyogenic Spondylitis Caused by S. constellatus: A Case Report
Authors: Koruga Nenad , Rončević Alen , Soldo Koruga Anamarija , Sabadi Dario , Drenjančević Domagoj , Prica Ana , Rotim Tatjana , Turk Tajana , Kretić Domagoj
Published: November 2022

Streptococcus constellatus (SC) is a species of Streptococcus belonging to the Streptococcus anginosus group, along with Streptococcus anginosus and Streptococcus intermedius. Despite its commensal nature, underlying risk factors and medical conditions might lead to various anatomic site infections caused by this opportunistic pathogen. Although SC infections have mostly been associated with bacteremia, some case reports of abscess and empyema formation have been documented. Herein, we report a case of a middle-aged female patient who initially presented with radiculopathy symptoms. Subsequent neurologic imaging revealed a pyogenic abscess along paravertebral muscles, which was found to be caused by SC. The patient was successfully treated with abscess drainage from the lumbar zone and antibiotics, and the symptoms of radiculopathy have completely resolved.
A Machine Learning Approach for Detecting Idiopathic REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
Authors: Salsone Maria , Quattrone Andrea , Vescio Basilio , Ferini-Strambi Luigi , Quattrone Aldo
Published: November 2022

Background and purpose: Growing evidence suggests that Machine Learning (ML) models can assist the diagnosis of neurological disorders. However, little is known about the potential application of ML in diagnosing idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), a parasomnia characterized by a high risk of phenoconversion to synucleinopathies. This study aimed to develop a model using ML algorithms to identify iRBD patients and test its accuracy. Methods: Data were acquired from 32 participants (20 iRBD patients and 12 controls). All subjects underwent a video-polysomnography. In all subjects, we measured the components of heart rate variability (HRV) during 24 h recordings and calculated night-to-day ratios (cardiac autonomic indices). Discriminating performances of single HRV features were assessed. ML models based on Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) were trained on HRV data. The utility of HRV features and ML models for detecting iRBD was evaluated by area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity and accuracy corresponding to optimal models. Results: Cardiac autonomic indices had low performances (accuracy 63–69%) in distinguishing iRBD from control subjects. By contrast, the RF model performed the best, with excellent accuracy (94%), sensitivity (95%) and specificity (92%), while XGBoost showed accuracy (91%), specificity (83%) and sensitivity (95%). The mean triangular index during wake (TIw) was the best discriminating feature between iRBD and HC, with 81% accuracy, reaching 84% accuracy when combined with VLF power during sleep using an LR model. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that ML algorithms can accurately identify iRBD patients. Our model could be used in clinical practice to facilitate the early detection of this form of RBD.
Development of a Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based DNA Lateral Flow Assay as a Point-of-Care Diagnostic for Fast and Simultaneous Detection of MRSA and Vancomycin Resistance in Bacteremia
Authors: Kashef Mona T. , Helmy Omneya M.
Published: November 2022

To reduce high mortality and morbidity rates, timely and proper treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infection is required. A multiplex polymerase reaction (mPCR)-based DNA lateral flow assay (MBDLFA) was developed as a point-of-care diagnostic for simultaneous identification of S. aureus, methicillin resistance, and vancomycin resistance directly from blood or blood cultures. A mPCR was developed to detect nuc, mecA, and vanA/B; its sensitivity, specificity, and limit of detection (LOD) were determined. The developed reaction was further modified for use in MBDLFA and its sensitivity for detection of target genes from artificially inoculated blood samples was checked. The optimized mPCR successfully detected nuc, mecA, and vanA/B from genomic DNA of bacterial colonies with LODs of 107, 107, and 105 CFU/mL, respectively. The reaction was sensitive and specific. The optimized mPCR was used in MBDLFA that detected nuc, mecA, and vanA/B with LODs of 107, 108, and 104 CFU/mL, respectively, directly from artificially inoculated blood. The developed MBDLFA can be used as a rapid, cheap point-of-care diagnostic for detecting S. aureus, MRSA, and vancomycin resistance directly from blood and blood cultures in ~2 h with the naked eye. This will reduce morbidity, mortality, and treatment cost in S. aureus bacteremia.