bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Yersiniabactin-Producing E. coli Induces the Pyroptosis of Intestinal Epithelial Cells via the NLRP3 Pathway and Promotes Gut Inflammation
Authors: Wang Hao , Shan Chun-Lang , Gao Bin , Xiao Jin-Long , Shen Jue , Zhao Jin-Gang , Han Dong-Mei , Chen Bin-Xun , Wang Shuai , Liu Gen , Xin Ai-Guo , Lv Long-Bao , Xiao Peng , Gao Hong
Published: July 2023

The high-pathogenicity island (HPI) was initially identified in Yersinia and can be horizontally transferred to Escherichia coli to produce yersiniabactin (Ybt), which enhances the pathogenicity of E. coli by competing with the host for Fe3+. Pyroptosis is gasdermin-induced necrotic cell death. It involves the permeabilization of the cell membrane and is accompanied by an inflammatory response. It is still unclear whether Ybt HPI can cause intestinal epithelial cells to undergo pyroptosis and contribute to gut inflammation during E. coli infection. In this study, we infected intestinal epithelial cells of mice with E. coli ZB-1 and the Ybt-deficient strain ZB-1Δirp2. Our findings demonstrate that Ybt-producing E. coli is more toxic and exacerbates gut inflammation during systemic infection. Mechanistically, our results suggest the involvement of the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pathway in E. coli infection. Ybt promotes the assembly and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to GSDMD cleavage into GSDMD-N and promoting the pyroptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, ultimately aggravating gut inflammation. Notably, NLRP3 knockdown alleviated these phenomena, and the binding of free Ybt to NLRP3 may be the trigger. Overall, our results show that Ybt HPI enhances the pathogenicity of E. coli and induces pyroptosis via the NLRP3 pathway, which is a new mechanism through which E. coli promotes gut inflammation. Furthermore, we screened drugs targeting NLRP3 from an existing drug library, providing a list of potential drug candidates for the treatment of gut injury caused by E. coli.
Engineering the Future of Dental Health: Exploring Molecular Advancements in Dental Pulp Regeneration
Authors: Widbiller Matthias , Galler Kerstin M.
Published: July 2023

Protected by the surrounding mineralized barriers of enamel, dentin, and cementum, dental pulp is a functionally versatile tissue that fulfills multiple roles [...]
Polyoxometalate K6[P2Mo18O62] Inactivates Escherichia coli O157:H7 by Inducing recA Expression and Apoptosis-like Bacterial Death
Authors: Lin Shaoling , Lin Zhongjing , Zhou Feng , Wang Dehua , Zheng Baodong , Hu Jiamiao
Published: July 2023

Polyoxometalates have emerged as promising bactericidal agents. In the current study, the bactericidal activity of polyoxometalate K6[P2Mo18O62] against Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 and its possible underlying mechanisms were explored. The obtained results demonstrated that K6[P2Mo18O62] could effectively kill E. coli O157:H7 at millimolar levels. Moreover, K6[P2Mo18O62] treatment also induced significant increases in recA protein expression and further triggered characteristic apoptosis-like bacterial death events such as DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine exposure. In conclusion, polyoxometalate K6[P2Mo18O62] possesses a desirable antibacterial activity, and induction of bacterial apoptosis-like death might be involved in its underlying bactericidal mechanisms.
Peripheral: Resilient Hydrological Infrastructures
Authors: Ekman Ulrik
Published: July 2023

This article addresses the issue of developing designs of resilient hydrological infrastructures for cities facing sea level rise in the Anthropocene. It undertakes short case studies of differently scaled cities, three in the Global North and three in the Global South. The aim is to investigate the current water management situations in order to reveal potentials for increased urban and environmental resilience. Cities are approached as complex adaptive systems (CAS) negotiating uncertainty that concerns designing for resilience, understood as viable transitions for their interlinked social, ecological, and technological systems (SETS). The main finding is that, despite obvious differences, the six cases are surprisingly similar. Potentials for increased hydrological resilience reside in design approaches that work differently with what is currently deprivileged and considered ‘merely’ peripheral. Peripheral cities and the peripheries of coastal cities are found to be of key rather than minor adaptive infrastructural import. To reprivilege the peripheral here means to adopt more dynamically flexible, long-term, decentralized, and nonanthropocentric urban design approaches to water and infrastructures. Specifically, this article advocates thinking about water via at least four critical displacements. These displacements point toward alternatives concerning excessively static and land-based designs, short-term planning, overly anthropocentric conceptions of the city environment distinction, and undue centrism in planetary urbanization of the Global North and Global South. In conclusion, this article presents a brief outlook to other cases which suggest that greater resilience potentials are likely to be found in planning for the complexly ecotone city. This works mostly bottom-up from the local regimes for water sensitive infrastructures to regional network designs that can engage with larger climatic and ecological landscapes.
FeNi Confined in N-Doped Carbon as a Highly Efficient Bi-Functional Catalyst for Rechargeable Zn–Air Batteries
Authors: Duan Lei , Ren Zhili , Chen Xiaoling , Zhang Ding , Xu Shoudong
Published: July 2023

Rechargeable zinc–air batteries (RZABs) are basically dependent on both affordable and long-lasting bifunctional electrocatalysts. A non-precious metal catalyst, a FeNi nanoalloy catalyst (FeNi@NC) with an extremely low metal consumption (0.06 mmol), has been successfully synthesized. It shows a high half-wave potential of 0.845 V vs. RHE for ORR and a low overpotential of 318 mV for OER at 10 mA cm−2, favoring a maximum power density of 116 mW cm−2 for the constructed RZABs. The voltage plateau is reserved even after 167 h of cell operation. The synergistic effect between the nano-sized FeNi alloy and nitrogen-doped carbon with abundant N sites mainly contributes to the electrocatalytic activity. This research can provide some useful guidelines for the development of economic and efficient bifunctional catalysts for RZABs.
Flowering Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) Strips Do Not Enhance Ecosystem Services in Azorean Orchards
Authors: Ferrante Marco , Lövei Gabor L. , Lavigne Lambert , Vicente Mario Caballero , Tarantino Elisa , Lopes David Horta , Monjardino Paulo , Borges Paulo A. V.
Published: July 2023

The effect of flower strips on ecosystem services (ESs) and disservices (EDs) is routinely assessed following changes in service provider densities without measuring the associated levels of ES/EDs. By using the sentinel approach (i.e., exposing a plant, seeds, and prey models in a standardized way), we tested how coriander (Coriandrum sativum) strips planted in mixed orchards on Terceira Island (Azores, Portugal) affected herbivory on lettuce plants, seed predation on wheat and weed seeds, and predation on artificial caterpillars. Vertebrates had more influence than invertebrates on ESs/EDs. Herbivory (ED) after 2 weeks was similar in the coriander and the control plots (mean ± SD; 2.3% ± 3.3% vs. 2.2% ± 2.9%, n = 32 for both). Seed predation was higher in the control than in the coriander plots for both grain (ED; 30.8% ± 38.9% vs. 15.3% ± 10.8%, n = 18 for both) and weed seeds (ES; 2.5% ± 4.1% vs. 0.4% ± 0.5%, n = 18 for both). Vertebrate predation (ES) rates after 48 h were significantly higher in the control (estimate 9%, 95% CI: 4–20%) than in the coriander plots (3%, 1–8%), while no difference was observed for invertebrate predation. Coriander strips did not support increased ES/reduced ED levels in this setting. The tools used can be effective to quantitatively compare multiple ESs/EDs under different farming management strategies.
Association between Cardiovascular Health, C-Reactive Protein, and Comorbidities in Spanish Urban-Dwelling Overweight/Obese Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Armas-Padrón Ana María , Sicilia-Sosvilla Miriam , Ruiz-Esteban Pedro , Torres Armando , Hernández Domingo
Published: July 2023

The relationship between poorer cardiovascular health metrics (CVHM) plus low-grade inflammation (LGI) and hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) and hypertension-related comorbidities (HRC) in hypertensive populations with an overweight/obese (Ow/Ob) hypertension-related phenotype is understudied. We examined the relationship between the CVHM score and the presence of LGI and Ow/Ob hypertension-associated phenotype morbidities and mortality in 243 hypertensive patients from an urban primary care center. We recorded the baseline CVHM score plus clinical data, including hs-C-reactive protein (CRP) and prevalent and incident HMOD-HRC and death. A total of 26 (10.7%) had a body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m2, 95 (31.1%) were overweight (BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2), and 122 (50.2%) were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). There were 264 cases of HMOD-HRC and 9 deaths. Higher hs-CRP levels were observed as BMI increased. Linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between BMI and hs-CRP, adjusted for confounders. Additionally, individuals with a higher hs-CRP tertile had a significant increase in BMI. Significantly lower log hs-CRP levels were found as the number of ideal CVHM scores rose. Multivariate binary logistic regression found the risk of HMOD-HRC increased significantly as the ideal CVHM scores decreased, and hs-CRP levels also correlated with HMOD-HRC in the whole cohort and in the Ow and Ob subpopulations. These findings highlight the need for early intervention targeting ideal CVHMs among hypertensive individuals with an Ow/Ob phenotype in order to attenuate the inflammatory state and prevent cardiovascular disease.
The Impact of Non-Motor Symptoms on Quality of Life in Cervical Dystonia
Authors: Maione Raffaela , Formica Caterina , Quartarone Angelo , Lo Buono Viviana
Published: July 2023

Cervical dystonia (CD) is characterized by cranial muscle overactivity leading to abnormal intermittent or continuous posturing of the head. Nowadays, the treatment of patients suffering from this condition focuses principally on the motor component of the disorder, certainly the invaliding part; however, it leaves out the non-motor one that has a similarly invalidated effect on the quality of the subject’s life. This review was conducted on studies investigating the impact of non-motor symptoms on levels of quality of life. We searched on the PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases and screening references of included studies and review articles for additional citations. From an initial 150 publications, we included only five studies that met the search criteria. The results showed that anxiety, depression, pain and sleep quality have a great influence on patients’ health and on the outcome of the disease. Future studies should focus more on investigating the non-motor components of CD as an integral part of the clinical management of dystonic patients in order to improve their well-being.
Crural and Plantar Fasciae Changes in Chronic Charcot Diabetic Foot: A Cross-Sectional Ultrasound Imaging Study—An Evidence of Fascial Continuity
Authors: Pirri Carmelo , Biz Carlo , Pirri Nina , Macchi Veronica , Porzionato Andrea , De Caro Raffaele , Ruggieri Pietro , Stecco Carla
Published: July 2023

Crural fascia (CF) and plantar fascia (PF) are biomechanically crucial in the gait and in the proprioception, particularly in the propulsion phase of the foot during the gait cycle and in the dissipation of forces during weight-bearing activities. Recent studies have revealed an association between increases in PF thickness and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to measure and compare by ultrasound (US) imaging the thickness of the CF and PF at different regions/levels in chronic Charcot diabetic foot patients (group 1) and in healthy volunteers (group 2). A cross-sectional study was performed using US imaging to measure the CF with Pirri et al.’s protocol and PF with a new protocol in a sample of 31 subjects (15 patients and 16 healthy participants). The findings for CF and PF revealed statistically significant differences in the poster region of CF (Post 1: group 1 vs. group 2: p = 0.03; Post 2: group 1 vs. group 2: p = 0.03) and in PF at two different levels (PF level 1: group 1 vs. group 2: p < 0.0001; PF level 2: group 1 vs. group 2: p < 0.0001). These findings suggest that chronic Charcot diabetic foot patients have CF and PF thicker compared to healthy volunteers. The US examination suggests that fascial thicknesses behavior in these patients points out altered fascial remodeling due to diabetes pathology and biomechanical changes.
Potential Utility of Cerebrospinal Fluid Glycoprotein Nonmetastatic Melanoma Protein B as a Neuroinflammatory Diagnostic Biomarker in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Doroszkiewicz Julia , Kulczyńska-Przybik Agnieszka , Dulewicz Maciej , Borawska Renata , Zajkowska Monika , Słowik Agnieszka , Mroczko Barbara
Published: July 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a very common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the gradual loss of neurons and extracellular amyloid-peptide buildup. There is compelling evidence that the disease process depends on neuroinflammatory alterations, such as the activation of astrocytes and microglia cells. A transmembrane glycoprotein known as glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) plays a neuroprotective role during the development of neurodegeneration. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation discussing the potential clinical usefulness of this protein in the AD continuum, especially in the MCI (mild cognitive impairment) stage. A total of 71 patients with AD or MCI as well as controls were enrolled in this study. The concentrations of GPNMB, YKL-40, Aβ1-42 (amyloid beta 1-42), Tau, and pTau and the Aβ1-42/1-40 ratio in the CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) were tested using immunological methods. The concentrations of both GPNMB and YKL-40 in the cerebrospinal fluid were significantly higher in patients with AD and MCI compared to the controls. Moreover, both proteins were biochemically associated with classical biomarkers of AD and were especially associated with the Aβ1-42/1-40 ratio and Tau and pTau levels in the whole study group. Elevated concentrations of GPNMB were observed in the Aβ(+) group of AD patients compared to the Aβ(−) subjects. Additionally, the diagnostic performance (AUC value) of GPNMB was higher than that of amyloid β1-42 in MCI patients compared with controls. Our study indicates that GPNMB might be a promising neuroinflammatory biomarker for the early diagnosis and prognosis of the AD continuum, with potential utility as a therapeutic target.
Differences in Involvement of Whole-Body Compensatory Alignment for Decompensated Spinopelvic Sagittal Balance
Authors: Ouchida Jun , Nakashima Hiroaki , Kanemura Tokumi , Ito Kenyu , Tsushima Mikito , Machino Masaaki , Ito Sadayuki , Segi Naoki , Ode Yukihito , Imagama Shiro
Published: July 2023

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the involvement of whole-body compensatory alignment in different conditions of spinopelvic sagittal balance (compensated/decompensated). Methods: We enrolled 330 individuals who underwent medical checkups and divided them according to sagittal vertical axis (SVA): for the compensated group, this was <4 cm, (group C) and for the decompensated group, it was ≥4 cm, (group D). The correlation between the lack of ideal lumbar lordosis (iLL), which was calculated by using the Schwab formula, and the compensatory radiographic parameters in each group was analyzed. The threshold value of knee flexion (KF) angle, which indicated spinopelvic sagittal imbalance (SVA ≥ 4), was determined by a ROC-curve analysis. Results: The correlation analysis of the lack of iLL and each compensatory parameter showed a strong correlation for pelvic tilt (PT) (r = −0.723), and a weak correlation for thoracic kyphosis (TK) (r = 275) in Group C. In Group D, the correlations were strong for PT (r = −0.796), and moderate for TK (r = 0.462) and KF (r = −0.415). The optimal cutoff value for the KF angle was determined to be 8.4 degrees (sensitivity 89%, specificity 46%). Conclusions: The present study shows differences between compensated/decompensated spinopelvic sagittal balance in the correlation strength between lack of iLL and whole-body compensatory parameters.
Long-Term Results after Bilateral Sacrospinous Colposuspension: A Prospective Study
Authors: Chene Gautier , Cerruto Emanuele , Moret Stephanie , Nohuz Erdogan
Published: July 2023

The loss of apical support is usually present in patients with pelvic organ prolapse. An effective correction for the vaginal apex may be an essential part of a durable repair for these women. Apical suspension of the sacrospinous ligament is likely one of the best treatments by the vaginal route. We proposed the evaluation of the functional and anatomical long-term results of an ultralight and macroporous sling. In this prospective study, bilateral sacrospinous colposuspension was performed in 32 patients with a specific mesh. Functional assessment with several validated quality of life questionnaires and pelvic examination was performed at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Pelvic examination using the POP-Q classification showed a very good efficacy of the BSC mesh with only three prolapse recurrences at 24 months after surgery. All the following QoL scores were significantly improved by two years: PFIQ-7 (p < 0.0001), PFDI-20 (p < 0.0001), and SF-12 (p < 0.0001). No improvement was achieved by the PISQ12 questionnaire. This vaginal minimally invasive procedure is effective, quick, reproducible, and easy. It may be a relevant option for a vaginal vault or cervical or uterine prolapse.
Electrospinning Processing of Polymer/Nanocarbon Nanocomposite Nanofibers—Design, Features, and Technical Compliances
Authors: Kausar Ayesha , Ahmad Ishaq
Published: July 2023

Polymeric nanofibers have emerged as exclusive one-dimensional nanomaterials. Various polymeric nanofibers and nanocomposite nanofibers have been processed using the thermoplastic, conducting, and thermoset matrices. This review aims to highlight the worth of electrospinning technology for the processing of polymer/nanocarbon nanocomposite nanofibers. In this regard, the design, morphology, physical properties, and applications of the nanofibers were explored. The electrospun polymer/nanocarbon nanofibers have a large surface area and fine fiber orientation, alignment, and morphology. The fiber processing technique and parameters were found to affect the nanofiber morphology, diameter, and essential physical features such as electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, thermal stability, etc. The polymer nanocomposites with nanocarbon nanofillers (carbon nanotube, graphene, fullerene, etc.) were processed into high-performance nanofibers. Successively, the electrospun nanocomposite nanofibers were found to be useful for photovoltaics, supercapacitors, radiation shielding, and biomedical applications (tissue engineering, antimicrobials, etc.).
Does Interactive Imagery Influence the Reactive Effect of Judgments of Learning on Memory?
Authors: Witherby Amber E. , Babineau Addison L. , Tauber Sarah K.
Published: July 2023

Making judgments of learning (JOLs) while studying is a useful tool for students to evaluate the status of their learning. Additionally, in associative learning contexts, JOLs can directly benefit learning when the to-be-learned information is related. One explanation for this reactive effect is that making JOLs strengthens the associative relationship, leading to enhanced memory performance when a test relies on that relationship (e.g., cued-recall tests). In the present research, we evaluated whether having students make interactive mental images—another strategy that can increase the strength of a cue–target relationship—impacts the reactive effect of JOLs on learning. Students studied word pairs that were related and unrelated. Half of the students were instructed to form a mental image of the words interacting, whereas the other half were not. Additionally, in each group half of the students made a JOL for each pair, whereas half did not. Following a short delay, students completed a cued-recall test. Consistent with prior research, students who made JOLs remembered more related word pairs than did students who did not. By contrast, students who made JOLs recalled fewer unrelated word pairs than did students who did not. Moreover, although students who formed interactive images demonstrated enhanced memory relative to students who did not, interactive imagery did not impact the reactive effect of JOLs. These outcomes are informative for existing theory of JOL reactivity. Specifically, JOLs may only benefit learning of associative information when it has a pre-existing semantic relationship (e.g., related word pairs) and not when that that relationship is created by the learner (e.g., by forming interactive images).
Theoretical and Numerical Study of Eddy Current Pulsed Thermography to Detect Damage of Deep-Sea Manned Pressure Hull
Authors: Wu Yu , Zhang Chaohua , Wang Fang , Yang Chao
Published: July 2023

At present, research on pressure hull safety is mainly focused on the constitutive model of material properties and the evaluation model of structural parameters aiming at fatigue life prediction. The damage identification and quantitative evaluation methods of pressure hulls have not been studied. In this study, an eddy current thermal imaging method is introduced to detect micro-cracks in a deep-sea spherical pressure hull. In the detection method, temperature is used as a parameter to identify and quantify cracks. The temperature distribution around the cracks is studied using theoretical analysis and finite element simulation. A theoretical model is established using electromagnetic theory and heat transfer theory. Moreover, the temperature difference between the cracked area and the non-cracked area can be obtained by solving the heat conduction equation. A pulsed eddy current thermal imaging testing system is established, and a defective titanium alloy specimen is tested. At the same time, the temperature around the cracks in the specimens is simulated. The specimens have the same material and welding as a deep-sea spherical pressure hull. This paper discusses the possibility of its use in a pressure hull, which will provide a reference for micro-crack damage identification and quantitative evaluation of a deep-sea spherical pressure hull.
Recent Advancements in Pathogenic Mechanisms, Applications and Strategies for Entomopathogenic Fungi in Mosquito Biocontrol
Authors: Qin Yujie , Liu Xiaoyu , Peng Guoxiong , Xia Yuxian , Cao Yueqing
Published: July 2023

Fungal diseases are widespread among insects and play a crucial role in naturally regulating insect populations. Mosquitoes, known as vectors for numerous infectious diseases, pose a significant threat to human health. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have emerged as highly promising alternative agents to chemical mosquitocides for controlling mosquitoes at all stages of their life cycle due to their unique infection pathway through direct contact with the insect’s cuticle. In recent years, significant advancements have been made in understanding the infection pathways and pathogenic mechanisms of EPF against mosquitoes. Various strategies involving the use of EPF alone or combinations with other approaches have been employed to target mosquitoes at various developmental stages. Moreover, the application of genetic technologies in fungi has opened up new avenues for enhancing the mosquitocidal efficacy of EPF. This review presents a comprehensive summary of recent advancements in our understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of EPF, their applications in mosquito management, and the combination of EPF with other approaches and employment of transgenic technologies. The biosafety concerns associated with their use and the corresponding approaches are also discussed. The recent progress suggests that EPF have the potential to serve as a future biorational tool for controlling mosquito vectors.
Rare Yeasts in Latin America: Uncommon Yet Meaningful
Authors: Gil Óscar , Hernández-Pabón Juan Camilo , Tabares Bryan , Lugo-Sánchez Carlos , Firacative Carolina
Published: July 2023

Systemic infections caused by rare yeasts are increasing given the rise in immunocompromised or seriously ill patients. Even though globally, the clinical significance of these emerging opportunistic yeasts is increasingly being recognized, less is known about the epidemiology of rare yeasts in Latin America. This review collects, analyzes, and contributes demographic and clinical data from 495 cases of infection caused by rare yeasts in the region. Among all cases, 32 species of rare yeasts, distributed in 12 genera, have been reported in 8 Latin American countries, with Trichosporon asahii (49.5%), Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (11.1%), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (7.8%) the most common species found. Patients were mostly male (58.3%), from neonates to 84 years of age. Statistically, surgery and antibiotic use were associated with higher rates of Trichosporon infections, while central venous catheter, leukemia, and cancer were associated with higher rates of Rhodotorula infections. From all cases, fungemia was the predominant diagnosis (50.3%). Patients were mostly treated with amphotericin B (58.7%). Crude mortality was 40.8%, with a higher risk of death from fungemia and T. asahii infections. Culture was the main diagnostic methodology. Antifungal resistance to one or more drugs was reported in various species of rare yeasts.
Bone Marrow Iron Stores Are Not Associated with Increased Risk for Invasive Fungal Infections in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Acute Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndrome in Transformation: Is There a Relationship?
Authors: Apostolidi Eirini A. , Gamaletsou Maria N. , Arapaki Maria , Asimakopoulos John V. , Diamantopoulos Panagiotis , Zafeiratou Sofia , Kofteridis Diamantis , Pagoni Maria , Kotsopoulou Maria , Voulgarelis Michael , Sipsas Nikolaos V.
Published: July 2023

Iron plays an important role in the pathogenesis of infections, including invasive fungal infections (IFIs). Studies suggested that iron overload might represent an additional risk factor for IFIs among patients with hematological malignancies. We conducted a prospective, multi-center study amongst adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in transformation to determine whether baseline iron overload as measured using the bone marrow iron store (BMIS) score is an independent risk factor for the development of IFIs. We also measured baseline serum iron and ferritin levels. A total of 98 patients were enrolled (76 with AML) and were followed for 12 months. Twenty-two patients developed IFI during the follow-up period (invasive aspergillosis n = 16, candidemia n = 5, mucormycosis n = 1). A baseline BMIS score ≥ 3 indicated that iron overload was relatively common (38/98 patients, 38%), and its frequency was comparable between patients with no IFIs (31/76, 40.7%) and in those with IFIs (8/22, 36.4%). Univariate analysis showed that only the presence of AML was associated with increased risk for IFIs [OR (95% CI) 7.40 (1.05–325.42)]. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that an increased BMIS score (≥3) at baseline was not an independent risk factor for IFIs. Similarly, there was no difference in serum iron and ferritin between the two groups that had similar demographic characteristics. Indices of iron overload were not independent risk factors for IFIs in our cohort of Greek patients with newly diagnosed AML/MDS in transformation.
Minimally Invasive Postero-Inferior Sacroiliac Joint Fusion: Surgical Technique and Procedural Details
Authors: Latif Usman , Hubbell Paul J. , Tubic Goran , Guerrero Luis A. , Skaribas Ioannis M. , Block Jon E.
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: Minimally invasive sacroiliac joint (SIJ) fusion is the preferred surgical intervention to treat chronically severe pain associated with SIJ degeneration and dysfunction. (2) Methods: This paper details the ten-step surgical procedure associated with the postero-inferior approach using the PsiF™ DNA Sacroiliac Joint Fusion System. (3) Results: The posterior surgical approach with an inferior operative trajectory (postero-inferior) utilizes easily identifiable landmarks to provide the safest, most direct access to the articular joint space for transfixing device placement. Implanting the device through the subchondral bone provides maximum fixation and stabilization of the joint by utilizing an optimal amount of cortical bone–implant interface. Approaching the joint from the inferior trajectory also places the implant perpendicular to the S1 endplate at a “pivot point” near the sacral axis of rotation, which addresses the most significant motion of the joint. (4) Conclusions: Further observational data from real-world clinical use are encouraged to further validate this procedure as the surgical preference for minimally invasive SIJ fusion.
Which Direction to Take Further Research on the Impacts of Telomere Attrition on Aging, Age-Related Diseases, and Overall Healthcare Expenditures
Authors: Narita Kristine Andrea
Published: July 2023

Given the increasing prevalence of telomere research in the healthcare field, this paper first analyzes how newfound discoveries in the domain link to aging, and then explores how research has found a correlation between telomere shortening and health complications in particular age-related diseases. Afterwards, the complications faced by elderly populations due to age-related diseases and chronic conditions are discussed, including the association between increased chronic conditions and increased out-of-pocket expenditures. Then, a general overview about how aging has impacted the US healthcare system is addressed, including aspects such as healthcare expenditures, Medicare, access to resources, and overcrowding. A brief overview of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted access to healthcare and brought about discussion of reform is also mentioned.
The Drivers of Successful Crowdfunding Projects in Africa during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Mamaro Lenny Phulong , Sibindi Athenia Bongani
Published: July 2023

The challenge of accessing finance by entrepreneurs from traditional financial sources is pervasive. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the problem of limited access to finance from banks. Against this backdrop, the objective of the study was to determine the factors driving crowdfunding success during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. The ordinary least squares (OLS) and probit regression models were estimated to analyse 215 crowdfunding projects in Africa. The results of the study documented that targeted amounts (TA), comments (CMM), and the COVID-19 pandemic were negative and significant drivers of crowdfunding success. Furthermore, duration (DRN) was negative and significantly affected crowdfunding success. Conversely, images (IM), videos (VD), backers (BCK), and updates (UPD) were positive and significantly affected crowdfunding success. The study contributes to the body of knowledge by investigating the drivers of crowdfunding success during the COVID-19 pandemic period, which hitherto had not been extensively researched.
An Overview of Islamic Accounting: The Murabaha Contract
Authors: Moosa Riyad
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study is to consider the events leading to the development of modern accounting standards for Islamic banks and, thereafter, to consider the accounting process and related impact on the financial statements for the Murabaha contract. A qualitative review of the available literature was conducted to meet this purpose. First, the influence of culture on accounting is considered, and after that, the historical development of Islamic accounting is explored. Next, the modern development in Islamic accounting is explained. The discussion then summarizes the contracts used by Islamic banks, with a particular focus on the Murabaha contract as it is the most widely used contract. The structure of the Murabaha contract is detailed, along with the criticisms found in the literature. Thereafter, the accounting treatment of the Murabaha contract is highlighted, followed by a simulation to illustrate the accounting process and its impact on the financial statements. This study contributes to the debate about the need for Islamic accounting standards as it relates to Islamic financial institutions.
Spatiotemporal Evolution of Urban Shrinkage and Its Impact on Urban Resilience in Three Provinces of Northeast China
Authors: Yu Shangkun , Wang Ruili , Zhang Xuejie , Miao Yi , Wang Chengxin
Published: July 2023

Currently, Chinese cities are experiencing both overall growth and localized shrinkage. Therefore, it becomes crucial to quantify urban shrinkage and explore the transformation and sustainable development of shrinking cities from the perspective of urban resilience. This study focuses on the three provinces of Northeast China, which are representative areas of urban shrinkage, as its research subjects. Employing the analytic hierarchy process, a comprehensive evaluation system for urban shrinkage is constructed based on three dimensions: population, economy, and space. Furthermore, urban resilience is scientifically measured from four aspects: economy, society, ecology, and infrastructure. The study analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of urban shrinkage and urban resilience in the three northeastern provinces from 2012 to 2018. It also examines the impact of urban shrinkage on urban resilience through regression analysis and mediation models. The results indicate the following: (1) Half of the cities in the three northeastern provinces experienced shrinkage, although the extent of shrinkage decreased with the implementation of the Northeast China revitalization strategy. Population-related shrinkage was the most extensive and continued to expand, while economy-related shrinkage was the most severe, and space-related shrinkage was the least severe. (2) The resilience of shrinking cities was lower than the average level. Population-shrinking cities and economy-shrinking cities exhibited low levels of economic resilience, and the gap between them continued to widen. Space-shrinking cities generally had low infrastructure resilience. (3) The urban shrinkage index had a significant positive impact on the urban resilience index, mediated through intermediary variables, such as innovation capability and cultural development. Notably, both the direct and indirect effects of innovation capability were the greatest. Population-related shrinkage had the largest impact on urban resilience, while more intermediary variables of economy-related shrinkage passed the significance test.
The Establishment of a Tobramycin-Responsive Whole-Cell Micro-Biosensor Based on an Artificial Ribozyme Switch
Authors: Wang Zhenzhen , Cheng Jiawen , Dai Guimin , Sun Xiaoqi , Yin Xueli , Zhang Yuanyuan
Published: July 2023

In this study, a tobramycin concentration-dependent whole-cell micro-biosensor (tob-HHAz) was constructed by fusing a tobramycin aptamer with a hammerhead ribozyme (HHR) from Schistosoma mansoni. The biosensor was obtained by integrating all the modules into one complete RNA sequence, which was easily introduced into E. coli without suffering from harsh external environments. Three independent tobramycin-sensitive RNA structures were identified via high-throughput screening in vivo and were further verified in vitro to undergo the desired self-cleavage reaction. The computation prediction of the RNA structure was performed to help analyze the mechanisms of various conformations by performing a qualitative and rapid detection of tobramycin in practical samples; two sensors exhibited high responsiveness to spiked milk, with a detection limit of around 40 nM, which is below the EU’s antibiotic maximum residual level. One of the structures provides a linear range from 30 to 650 nM with a minimum detection limit of 30 nM and showed relatively good selectivity in spiked urine. This study is the first in which in vivo screening was combined with computation analysis to optimize the pivotal structure of sensors. This strategy enables researchers to use artificial ribozyme-based biosensors not only for antibiotic detection but also as a generally applicable method for the further detection of substances in living cells.
The Impact of Post-Stroke Depressive Symptoms on Cognitive Performance in Women and in Men: A 4 Month Prospective Study
Authors: Sobreiro Matildes F. M. , Terroni Luisa , Guajardo Valeri Delgado , Mattos Patricia Ferreira , Leite Claudia da Costa , Amaro Edson , Tinone Gisela , Iosifescu Dan V. , Fraguas Renerio
Published: July 2023

Background: Depressive symptoms have been associated with cognitive impairment after stroke, and women may be specifically affected. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate gender-specific characteristics in the relationship between changes in depression severity and changes in cognitive performance after stroke. Methods: We prospectively evaluated 73 patients without a previous history of depression in the first and fourth months after a first ischemic stroke. The severity of depressive symptoms was assessed using the 31-item version of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and executive function, attention, working memory, and verbal fluency were assessed using a neuropsychological battery. Results: We included 46 (63.0%) men and 27 (36.9%) women, with mean ages of 55.2 (SD ± 15.1) and 46.8 (SD ± 14.7) years, respectively. We found significant improvement in the digit span forward and Stroop dots from month 1 to month 4 post stroke for both men and women. Women, but not men, presented a correlation between changes in phonemic verbal fluency and changes in the 31-item version of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores. Improvement in depression was correlated with improvement in verbal fluency, and worsening in depression was correlated with worsening in verbal fluency. Conclusions: Our results suggest that women might be more vulnerable to the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive performance, and improvement of depression may be necessary for women’s improvement in phonemic verbal fluency from the first to the fourth month after a stroke. We did not adjust the results for multiple comparisons. Thus, our findings might be considered preliminary, and confirmatory studies, also focusing on specific characteristics of women that could explain these differences, are warranted.
Variation of Circulating Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in Depression: Relationships with Inflammatory Indices, Metabolic Status and Patients’ Clinical Features
Authors: Falaschi Valentina , Palego Lionella , Marazziti Donatella , Betti Laura , Musetti Laura , Maglio Alessandra , Dell’Oste Valerio , Sagona Simona , Felicioli Antonio , Carpita Barbara , Brogi Alberto , Mucci Federico , Massimetti Enrico , Dell’Osso Liliana , Giannaccini Gino
Published: July 2023

This study seeks to offer a contribution to the method of subtyping major depressed patients by exploring the possible relationships between circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), different peripheral inflammatory/metabolic markers in the blood and clinical characteristics. Thirty-nine patients, thoroughly diagnosed according to the DSM-5 criteria, underwent a comprehensive set of evaluations encompassing structured interviews, rating scales and a panel of blood tests. Correlation and comparison analyses were carried out by means of non-parametric statistical tests. Concurrently, a principal component analysis was performed to explain biochemical variance. The findings of our research unveiled that leukocyte counts, their ratios and other inflammatory parameters are positively correlated with depression scores. Moreover, we found variations within the BDNF pools of depressed patients. Specifically, higher levels of platelet-poor plasma BDNF (PPP-BDNF) were correlated with augmented inflammatory markers in patients showing specific episode characteristics, whereas reduced platelet BDNF (PLT-BDNF) provided a better indication of the changes that were linked to a diagnosis of long-term depression. Our findings suggest that PPP-BDNF and PLT-BDNF might differentiate depression conditions. They also imply usefulness in appraising peripheral biomarker profiles in patients for a deeper characterization of major depressive episodes. At the same time, it is plausible that they might constitute novel avenues for developing more tailored therapeutic strategies for patients with MDs.
A Ferroptosis-Related lncRNAs Signature Predicts Prognosis of Colon Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Guo Ying , Wang Zehao , Tian Ye , Li Lin , Dong Jing
Published: July 2023

(1) Ferroptosis is a type of cellular death caused by lipid-dependent iron peroxide, which plays a major role in cancer. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly recognized as key regulating substances in ferroptosis; (2) RNA sequencing expressions and clinical data of 519 patients with colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The expression levels of lncRNAs related to ferroptosis were screened with Pearson correlation analysis. Differential genes were enriched with Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. LncRNAs related to ferroptosis were determined with univariate Cox regression and multivariate Cox regression analyses, and patients with COAD were classified into high- and low-risk subgroups according to their median risk score. The prognostic value was further examined, and the association between ferroptosis-related lncRNAs (frlncRNAs) and survival in patients with high and low risks of COAD was validated. A TCGA–COAD data set was used for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) to assess prediction accuracy. Finally, a nomogram was constructed to predict survival probability; (3) We obtained a model consisting of a five-frlncRNAs signature comprising AP003555.1, AP001469.3, ITGB1-DT, AC129492.1, and AC010973.2 for determining the overall survival (OS) of patients with COAD. The survival analysis and ROC curves showed that the model had good robustness and predictive performance on the TCGA training set; (4) We found that a five-frlncRNAs signature may play a potential role in anti-COAD immunity. Risk characteristics based on frlncRNAs can accurately predict the prognosis and immunotherapy response of patients with COAD.
Immobilization of Lipase B from Candida antarctica on Magnetic Nanoparticles Enhances Its Selectivity in Kinetic Resolutions of Chiral Amines with Several Acylating Agents
Authors: Silva Fausto M. W. G. , Szemes József , Mustashev Akan , Takács Orsolya , Imarah Ali O. , Poppe László
Published: July 2023

In lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolutions (KRs), the choice of immobilization support and acylating agents (AAs) is crucial. Lipase B from Candida antarctica immobilized onto magnetic nanoparticles (CaLB-MNPs) has been successfully used for diverse KRs of racemic compounds, but there is a lack of studies of the utilization of this potent biocatalyst in the KR of chiral amines, important pharmaceutical building blocks. Therefore, in this work, several racemic amines (heptane-2-amine, 1-methoxypropan-2-amine, 1-phenylethan-1-amine, and 4-phenylbutan-2-amine, (±)-1a–d, respectively) were studied in batch and continuous-flow mode utilizing different AAs, such as diisopropyl malonate 2A, isopropyl 2-cyanoacetate 2B, and isopropyl 2-ethoxyacetate 2C. The reactions performed with CaLB-MNPs were compared with Novozym 435 (N435) and the results in the literature. CaLB-MNPs were less active than N435, leading to lower conversion, but demonstrated a higher enantiomer selectivity, proving to be a good alternative to the commercial form. Compound 2C resulted in the best balance between conversion and enantiomer selectivity among the acylating agents. CaLB-MNPs proved to be efficient in the KR of chiral amines, having comparable or superior properties to other CaLB forms utilizing porous matrices for immobilization. An additional advantage of using CaLB-MNPs is that the purification and reuse processes are facilitated via magnetic retention/separation. In the continuous-flow mode, the usability and operational stability of CaLB-MNPs were reaffirmed, corroborating with previous studies, and the results overall improve our understanding of this potent biocatalyst and the convenient U-shape reactor used.
1-[(1S)-(4-Fluorophenyl)-((1′S)-1′-naphthalen-1-yl-ethylamino)-methyl]-naphthalen-2-trifluoromethanesulfonate
Authors: Cardellicchio Cosimo , Capozzi Maria Annunziata M.
Published: July 2023

The complex structure of aminobenzylnaphthols can be easily obtained with the useful Betti reaction. These valuable compounds can give rise to chiral intermediates, that found wide application in asymmetric synthesis. 1-[(1S)-(4-Fluorophenyl)-((1′S)-1′-naphthalen-1-yl-ethylamino)-methyl]-naphthalen-2-ol 1 was treated with triflic anhydride to yield the corresponding (S,S)-triflate 2, which is a valuable intermediate in the future synthesis of aminophosphine, to be used in asymmetric catalysis. Preliminarily structural considerations based upon H(1)-NMR spectroscopy are also reported.
28-O-Acetyl-3-O′-(prop-2-enoyl)betulin
Authors: Bębenek Ewa , Chrobak Elwira , Kadela-Tomanek Monika
Published: July 2023

28-Acetylbetulin is a good starting compound for the synthesis of 3- or 3,28-substituted betulin derivatives with biological activity. The final product of the reaction of 28-acetylbetulin and acrylic acid under Steglich esterification conditions produced a new 3-alkenyl betulin derivative. The structure of the obtained compound was confirmed based on the analysis of NMR, IR, EI MS, and HRMS spectra. Selected pharmacokinetic parameters related to the absorption and distribution were calculated for the new betulin derivative using in silico methods.
Interfacial Bonding and Fracture Behaviors of AZ63 Magnesium Alloy Sheet Processed by Accumulative Roll Bonding
Authors: Guo Junqing , Sun Wanting , Xiang Nan , Chen Fuxiao
Published: July 2023

In order to understand the strengthening and the failure mechanism of accumulative roll bonding (ARB)-processed AZ63 Mg alloy, the interfacial bonding and fracture behavior of an ARB-processed AZ63 sheet were studied through electron microscopic analysis. The correlation between the mechanical properties, the microstructure, and the ARB processing parameters of an AZ63 sheet were presented. The experimental results have demonstrated that the average grain size of AZ63 Mg alloy processed by ARB was remarkably refined from 12.8 μm to 5.7 μm when the ARB processing temperature was set to 623 K, indicating the occurrence and development of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) nucleation. With the increase in ARB passes, the microstructure obviously became uniform. However, after five passes of the ARB process at 623 K, grains with different crystallographic orientations at the interface can be rearranged to generate the coherent eutectic plane, which inhibits the further refinement of grain size. During the ARB process of the AZ63 Mg alloy, the grain refinement was controlled by twin-induced recrystallization and dynamic recrystallization. Microcracks at the bonded interface of the ARB1 sample were eliminated during the following 3~5 rolling passes at 623 K. After three passes of the ARB process at 623 K, the strength and elongation of the AZ63 Mg alloy increased from 232 MPa and 18.5% to 282 MPa and 26.3%, respectively. The tensile fracture morphology of the sample processed by three passes of ARB exhibited numerous dimples, and the slip lines caused by the cooperative deformation of refined grains can produce a network-like dimple structure, indicating that excellent ductile fracture characteristics could be obtained.