bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular Morbidities in Adults Born Preterm: Getting to the Heart of the Matter!
Authors: Kumar Vasantha H. S.
Published: November 2022

Advances in perinatal and neonatal care have led to improved survival of preterm infants into adulthood. However, the shift in focus to long-term health in adults born preterm requires a clear understanding of the impact of prematurity on developing organ systems and the development of adult-oriented disease. A less well-recognized area of risk for surviving preterm infants is their cardiometabolic health. Epidemiologic evidence has linked preterm birth to the development of systemic hypertension, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease. Of more significant concern is that the risk of cardiometabolic disorders is higher in adults born preterm compared to full-term infants. The interconnected nature of the cardio-pulmonary system means worsening morbidity and mortality in adults born preterm. Addressing the problems of adults born preterm holistically would help promote cardiovascular health, wellness, and quality of life over their lifetime. Recognizing that adults born preterm are a unique subset of the population is a challenge in the current healthcare environment. Addressing issues relevant to adults born preterm in the clinically and research domain, using technology to characterize cardiopulmonary physiology and exercise tolerance, developing screening tools for early diagnosis and treatment, and robust follow-up of these infants with access to longitudinal data would improve both the quality and longevity of life in adults born preterm.
The Association between Somatotropin Therapy and the Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children with Short Stature: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Brill Gherta , Manor Iris , Bril Paroz Roberta , Ashkenazi Shai , Cohen Shira , Golan-Cohen Avivit , Green Ilan , Israel Ariel , Vinker Shlomo , Weizman Abraham , Merzon Eugene
Published: November 2022

COVID-19 is a worldwide pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, to which adults are usually more susceptible than children. Growth hormone (GH) levels differ between children and adults and decrease with age. There is bidirectional crosstalk between the GH/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) pathway and the immune system that plays a significant role in SARS-CoV-2 infection. We evaluated the association between somatotropin treatment (GH replacement therapy) and the risk for SARS-CoV-2 positivity (a marker for COVID-19 infection) in children with growth hormone issues (GHI): growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and idiopathic short stature (ISS). A population-based cross-sectional study in Leumit Health Services (LHS) was performed using the electronic health record (EHR) database. The rates of SARS-CoV-2 positivity were evaluated among children with GHI, treated or untreated with somatotropin. Higher rates of SARS-CoV-2 positivity were found in GHI children, influenced by the same confounders reported in the pediatric population. A lower prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity was found among the somatotropin-treated children. A multivariate analysis documented that somatotropin treatment was associated with a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 positivity (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.47, Confidence Interval (CI) 0.24–0.94, p = 0.032). Thus, somatotropin might be a protective factor against SARS-CoV-2 infections, possibly related to its immunomodulatory activity.
IP–ZrO2/BC Nanofiltration Membranes: Preparation and Properties
Authors: Weng Rengui , Tian Feng , Huang Xin , Chen Guohong
Published: November 2022

In this study, by adding zirconium anhydride (ZrO2) particles to a solution of N–methylmorphorphine–N–oxide (NMMO) and bamboo cellulose (BC), we used interfacial polymerization (IP) to obtain regenerated cellulose nanofiltration membranes (IP–ZrO2/BC–NFMs) that exhibited high water flow and rejection of salts and dyes. During interfacial polymerization, anhydrous piperazine (PIP) was used as the waterborne monomer, and 1,3,5–trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and n–hexane were used as the organic phase. The procedure was adjusted by analyzing the impacts of the concentrations of the water and organic phase monomers and the reaction duration on the performance of the developed IP–ZrO2/BC–NFMs. The chemical structures and morphologies of the as–obtained IP–ZrO2/BC–NFMs were examined using various characterization techniques. The performance of these membranes for removal of inorganic salts and dyes as well as their water flow were investigated. IP–ZrO2/BC–NFMs obtained at a pressure of 0.5 MPa, PIP concentration of 1.5 wt.%, TMC concentration of 0.15 wt.%, and polymerization period of 2 min displayed the highest water flux (55.12 LMH) and the best desalination effect (NaCl rejection rate = 19.15%). Over 90% of both Methyl Blue (MB) and Congo Red (CR) dyes were intercepted. We demonstrated that the addition of ZrO2 to nanofiltration membranes significantly enhanced the water flow of the IP–ZrO2/BC–NFMs as well as the salt ion rejection rate.
Recent Advances in Graphene Epitaxial Growth: Aspects of Substrate Surface Modification Using Coatings
Authors: Ramazanov Shikhgasan
Published: November 2022

Since the discovery of graphene in 2004 [...]
Wear Characterization of Laser Cladded Ti-Nb-Ta Alloy for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Soni Raj , Pande Sarang , Kumar Santosh , Salunkhe Sachin , Natu Harshad , Hussein Hussein Mohammed Abdel Moneam
Published: November 2022

Additive manufacturing (AM) has started to unfold diverse fields of applications by providing unique solutions to manufacturing. Laser cladding is one of the prominent AM technologies that can be used to fulfill the needs of custom implants. In this study, the wear resistance of the laser cladded titanium alloy, Ti-17Nb-6Ta, has been evaluated under varied loads in Ringer’s solution. Microstructural evaluation of the alloy was performed by SEM and EDX, followed by phase analysis through XRD. The wear testing and analysis have been carried out with a tribometer under varied loads of 10, 15, and 20 N while keeping other parameters constant. Abrasion was observed to be the predominant mechanism majorly responsible for the wearing of the alloy at the interface. The average wear rate and coefficient of friction values were 0.016 mm3/Nm and 0.22, respectively. The observed values indicated that the developed alloy exhibited excellent wear resistance, which is deemed an essential property for developing biomedical materials for human body implants such as artificial hip and knee joints.
Numerical Simulation of Species Segregation and 2D Distribution in the Floating Zone Silicon Crystals
Authors: Surovovs Kirils , Surovovs Maksims , Sabanskis Andrejs , Virbulis Jānis , Dadzis Kaspars , Menzel Robert , Abrosimov Nikolay
Published: November 2022

The distribution of dopants and impurities in silicon grown with the floating zone method determines the electrical resistivity and other important properties of the crystals. A crucial process that defines the transport of these species is the segregation at the crystallization interface. To investigate the influence of the melt flow on the effective segregation coefficient as well as on the global species transport and the resulting distribution in the grown crystal, we developed a new coupled numerical model. Our simulation results include the shape of phase boundaries, melt flow velocity and temperature, species distribution in the melt and, finally, the radial and axial distributions in the grown crystal. We concluded that the effective segregation coefficient is not constant during the growth process but rather increases for larger melt diameters due to less intensive melt mixing.
Synthesis of g-C3N4 from Various Precursors for Photocatalytic H2 Evolution under the Visible Light
Authors: Xia Pengfei , Li Guojing , Li Xiaowei , Yuan Shuhua , Wang Kang , Huang Dingwang , Ji Yuanpeng , Dong Yunfa , Wu Xiaoqiang , Zhu Linyu , He Weidong , Qiao Liang
Published: November 2022

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) fabricated from different precursors exhibits unique microstructures and photocatalytic performance under visible light. Herein, we synthesized five different microstructures of g-C3N4 by the thermal poly condensation method using guanidine hydrochloride, melamine, urea, dicyandiamide and thiourea as the precursors. The results indicated that g-C3N4 prepared from urea precursor (UCN) has a nanostructure, porous layered structure, large specific surface area, and high separation efficiency of photo generated hole-electron pairs, which showed the best photocatalytic activity among all of the as-prepared samples. As for the lowest cost among the above five precursors, urea is an ideal candidate material for preparing g-C3N4 photocatalyst for a huge potential of wide industrial applications. In addition, Pt or Ni were used as the co-catalyst and loaded onto the g-C3N4 surface for photocatalytic hydrogen production. In comparison with noble metal Pt co-catalyst, Ni co-catalyst is inexpensive and has a significant effect o enhancing the photocatalytic activity under visible light. Therefore, Ni exhibits a considerable prospect to replace noble metal co-catalysts in the photocatalytic reactions.
Computational Screening and Experimental Validation on Multicomponent Crystals of a New Class of Janus Kinase (JAK) Inhibitor Drug with Improved Solubility
Authors: Xie Yujiang , Shi Genpei , Sun Jie , Li Si , Gao Wei , Hu Yimin , Zu Chang , Tang Weiwei , Gong Junbo
Published: November 2022

Developing multicomponent crystal forms, especially cocrystals and salts, is becoming a promising pathway to improve the solubility and bioavailability of drugs. Herein, new multicomponent crystals of SHR0302, a new generation of Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor that suffers from poor solubility, were developed based on a cooperative approach of computational and experimental coformer screenings. Virtual screening methods, including the conductor-like screening model for realistic solvents (COSMO-RS) and molecular complementary (MC) analysis, were employed to predict the binding affinity between SHR0302 and selected coformers. The developed screening method was capable of reducing the screening database to 30 coformers from a total of 42 proposed coformers. The proof-of-concept experimental screening study was performed to demonstrate the efficiency of computational screening, wherein three new multicomponent crystalline forms were found and fully characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Further, the measurements of the solubility property of these new multicomponent crystal forms reveal an apparent promotion compared with the drug alone. Finally, the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the prediction performance of the COSMO-RS model. It was found that the established screening model can effectively shorten the experimental screening time and efforts.
Detecting and Quantifying Structural Breaks in Climate
Authors: Ericsson Neil R. , Dore Mohammed H. I. , Butt Hassan
Published: November 2022

Structural breaks have attracted considerable attention recently, especially in light of the financial crisis, Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, and war. While structural breaks pose significant econometric challenges, machine learning provides an incisive tool for detecting and quantifying breaks. The current paper presents a unified framework for analyzing breaks; and it implements that framework to test for and quantify changes in precipitation in Mauritania over 1919–1997. These tests detect a decline of one third in mean rainfall, starting around 1970. Because water is a scarce resource in Mauritania, this decline—with adverse consequences on food production—has potential economic and policy consequences.
An Enhancement for IEEE 802.11 STA Power Saving and Access Point Memory Management Mechanism
Authors: Bhargava Vishal , Raghava Nallanthighal
Published: November 2022

Wi-Fi researchers are trying hard to extend battery life by optimizing 802.11 power save. The rising number of Wi-Fi devices and IoT devices and daily demands have reduced Station (STA) device power consumption. Better memory management at the Access Point (AP) side is also needed, so that AP can store maximum data to deliver sleepy STA devices. There are three main contributions of this study. The first one focuses on a power-saving mechanism scheme with an adaptive change to Listen Interval (LI) based on the battery status of station devices. The second contribution aims to examine better memory management for the AP buffer to store packets that will in the future deliver power-saving STA when awake. The third contribution, under the implementation of the proposed method, includes Wi-Fi corner cases covered as Beacon frames missed via STA, the keep-alive factor, and the upper-layer time taken to care for and ensure the delivery of unicast/multicast/broadcast data. The proposed approach introduced 802.11 protocols to share battery status, a protocol to announce proposed features via AP, and a protocol to change LI at runtime. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme performs better than 802.11 power saving in terms of power usage at the STA and access point memory management.
Chemometric Classification and Geochemistry of Crude Oils in the Eastern Fukang Sag, Junggar Basin, NW China
Authors: Li Erting , Li Yan , Xiang Baoli , Hou Dujie , Mi Julei , Han Xu , Zhang Yu , Gao Xiuwei
Published: November 2022

Thirty oil samples collected from the eastern Fukang Sag were analyzed geochemically for their biomarkers and carbon isotopic compositions. The chemometric methods of principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis, employed to thirteen parameters indicating source and depositional environment, classified the oil samples into three genetically distinct oil families: Family A oils were mainly derived from lower aquatic organisms deposited in a weakly reducing condition of fresh–brackish water, Family B oils came from a source containing predominantly terrigenous higher-plant organic matter laid down in an oxidizing environment of fresh water, and Family C oils received sources from both terrigenous and marine organic matter deposited in a weakly oxidizing to oxidizing environment of brackish water. Indirect oil–source correlations implied that Family A oils were probably derived from Permian source rocks, Family B oils originated mainly from Jurassic source rocks, and Family C oils had a mixed source of Carboniferous and Permian. Biomarker maturity parameters revealed that all three families of oils were in the mature stage. However, Family A oils were relatively less mature than Family B and Family C oils.
Optimized Power Distribution Technology for Fast Frequency Response in Photovoltaic Power Stations
Authors: Wang Shuchao , Duan Shenpeng , Mi Gaoxiang , Lu Yuping
Published: November 2022

The fast frequency response (FFR) function in renewable energy source (RES)-based power stations has proved to be able to improve the frequency stability of power systems with high RES penetration significantly. However, most current FFR functions in photovoltaic (PV) power stations typically show power response deviations and unnecessary power loss issues that are caused by inadequate station power distribution strategies. This is particularly important in cases where the power must be increased when the system frequency shows a downward disturbance. This paper proposes a new distribution strategy for FFR in PV power stations and studies related distribution strategies, system structures, calculation algorithms, function execution effect, and active power regulation technology. The proposed approach uses a proportional distribution strategy based on an evaluation of the real-time potential maximum power capability values of the subarrays or generation regions, which are evaluated using a few reference inverters located in every subarray or region. Real-site deployments and tests have been completed in PV power stations to verify the effectiveness of this new distribution strategy, and the proposed FFR solution using this distribution strategy has demonstrated strong performance and potential for wider application scenarios.
Dispersive Optical Solitons for Stochastic Fokas-Lenells Equation With Multiplicative White Noise
Authors: Zayed Elsayed M. E. , El-Horbaty Mahmoud , Alngar Mohamed E. M. , El-Shater Mona
Published: November 2022

For the first time, we study the Fokas–Lenells equation in polarization preserving fibers with multiplicative white noise in Itô sense. Four integration algorithms are applied, namely, the method of modified simple equation (MMSE), the method of sine-cosine (MSC), the method of Jacobi elliptic equation (MJEE) and ansatze involving hyperbolic functions. Jacobi-elliptic function solutions, bright, dark, singular, combo dark-bright and combo bright-dark solitons are presented.
Effects of Diets with Varying Astaxanthin from Yarrowia lipolytica Levels on the Growth, Feed Utilization, Metabolic Enzymes Activities, Antioxidative Status and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Litopenaeus vannamei
Authors: Liu Yuechong , Zheng Lu , Xu Bingying , Sagada Gladstone , Zhang Jinzhi , Shao Qingjun
Published: November 2022

Litopenaeus vannamei was divided into seven groups (defined as diets A0–A6) and fed with diets respectively containing 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 g/kg Yarrowia lipolytica (astaxanthin content: 1.5%) and 3 g/kg Haematococcus pluvialis (astaxanthin content: 2%). After an eight-week feeding trial, the results reflected that different levels of Y. lipolytica and H. pluvialis could significantly increase the weight gain rate of L. vannamei (p < 0.05). The condition factor and weight gain rate of group A4 were significantly higher than those of the other groups (p < 0.05); the HSI significantly decreased with the increase of Y. lipolytica (p < 0.05). The addition of Y. lipolytica to the diet had significant effects on total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malonaldehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p < 0.05). The total protein and albumin of the A5 and A6 groups were significantly higher than those of the other groups (p < 0.05). The GSH-Px activity of the A5 group was the highest and the T-AOC of the A0 group was the lowest. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (I-NOS) increased with the addition of Y. lipolytica (p < 0.05). Y. lipolytica inclusion had no negative effect on physiological and biochemical parameters and some serum immune and antioxidant indexes (p > 0.05). Astaxanthin in Y. lipolytica had an obvious effect on body color. After cooking, the body color of the shrimp deepened with increasing Y. lipolytica content. The red body color of L. vannamei was significantly improved by adding yeasts hydrolysate 2~8 g/kg to the diet. According to the regression analysis between the level of Y. lipolytica added to the diets and the weight gain rates, the optimal level of Y. lipolytica is 4.64 g/kg.
Arbitrage in the Hermite Binomial Market
Authors: Cheng Xuwen , Zheng Yiran , Zhang Xili
Published: November 2022

Much attention has been paid to the arbitrage opportunities in the Black–Scholes model when it is driven by fractional Brownian motions. It is natural to ask whether there exists arbitrage or not when we focus on other fractional processes, such as the Hermite process. We set forth an approximation of the Hermite Black–Scholes model by random walks in the Skorokhod topology, and apply the Donsker type approximation to the Hermite process as the Hurst index is greater than 12. We find that the binary model approximation of the Black–Scholes model driven by Hermite processes also admits arbitrage opportunities. Several numerical examples of the Hermite binomial model are presented as demonstration. Moreover, we provide an option pricing model when the geometric Hermite processes drives the price fluctuations of the underlying asset.
Regime-Switching Fractionally Integrated Asymmetric Power Neural Network Modeling of Nonlinear Contagion for Chaotic Oil and Precious Metal Volatilities
Authors: Bildirici Melike , Ersin Özgür Ömer
Published: November 2022

This paper aims at analyzing nonlinear dependence between fractionally integrated, chaotic precious metal and oil prices and volatilities. With this respect, the Markov regime-switching fractionally integrated asymmetric power versions of generalized autoregressive conditional volatility copula (MS-FIAPGARCH-copula) method are further extended to multi-layer perceptron (MLP)-based neural networks copula (MS-FIAPGARCH-MLP-copula). The models are utilized for modeling dependence between daily oil, copper, gold, platinum and silver prices, covering a period from 1 January 1990–25 March 2022. Kolmogorov and Shannon entropy and the largest Lyapunov exponents reveal uncertainty and chaos. Empirical findings show that: i. neural network-augmented nonlinear MS-FIAPGARCH-MLP-copula displayed significant gains in terms of forecasts; ii. asymmetric and nonlinear processes are modeled effectively with the proposed model, iii. important insights are derived with the proposed method, which highlight nonlinear tail dependence. Results suggest, given long memory and chaotic structures, that policy interventions must be kept at lowest levels.
Optimization of Hyperparameters in Object Detection Models Based on Fractal Loss Function
Authors: Zhou Ming , Li Bo , Wang Jue
Published: November 2022

Hyperparameters involved in neural networks (NNs) have a significant impact on the accuracy of model predictions. However, the values of the hyperparameters need to be manually preset, and finding the best hyperparameters has always puzzled researchers. In order to improve the accuracy and speed of target recognition by a neural network, an improved genetic algorithm is proposed to optimize the hyperparameters of the network by taking the loss function as the research object. Firstly, the role of all loss functions in object detection is analyzed, and a mathematical model is established according to the relationship between loss functions and hyperparameters. Secondly, an improved genetic algorithm is proposed, and the feasibility of the improved algorithm is verified by using complex fractal function and fractional calculus. Finally, the improved genetic algorithm is used to optimize the hyperparameters of the neural network, and the prediction accuracy of the model before and after the improvement is comprehensively analyzed. By comparing with state-of-the-art object detectors, our proposed method achieves the highest prediction accuracy in object detection. Based on an average accuracy rate of 95%, the detection speed is 20 frames per second, which shows the rationality and feasibility of the optimized model.
Prevalence of Upper Limb Musculoskeletal Disorders and Their Association with Smartphone Addiction and Smartphone Usage among University Students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Sirajudeen Mohamed Sherif , Alzhrani Msaad , Alanazi Ahmad , Alqahtani Mazen , Waly Mohamed , Manzar Md. Dilshad , Hegazy Fatma A. , Mohd Jamali Muhammad Noh Zulfikri , Reddy Ravi Shankar , Kakaraparthi Venkata Nagaraj , Unnikrishnan Radhakrishnan , Muthusamy Hariraja , Alrubaia Wafa , Alanazi Nidaa , Kashoo Faizan Zaffar , Miraj Mohammad
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and their association with smartphone addiction and smartphone usage among university students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 313 university students aged 18 years and older who owned a smartphone and used it during the preceding 12 months participated in this cross-sectional study. The prevalence of upper limb MSDs, smartphone addiction/overuse, and levels of physical activity were recorded using the standardized Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, the smartphone addiction scale (short version), and the international physical activity questionnaire (short form), respectively. Data collection was performed on campus between March and May 2021. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the association between the prevalence of upper limb MSDs and smartphone addiction/overuse and levels of physical activity. The 12-month prevalence of MSDs of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist/hand regions due to smartphone use among participants was found to be 20.13%, 5.11%, and 13.42%, respectively. Shoulder (odds ratio (OR) = 11.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.64–27.94, p < 0.001), elbow (OR = 15.38, 95% CI = 1.92–123.26, p = 0.01), and wrist/hand MSDs (OR = 7.65, 95% CI = 2.75–21.22, p < 0.001) were more prevalent among participants who were categorized as having smartphone addiction/overuse measures. Promoting awareness about the healthy use of smartphones, including postural education and decreasing screen time, is necessary to reduce smartphone-related MSDs.
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of HIV Infection among Detainees: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Russotto Ylenia , Micali Cristina , Laganà Natascia , Marino Andrea , Campanella Edoardo , Celesia Benedetto Maurizio , Pellicanò Giovanni Francesco , Venanzi Rullo Emmanuele , Nunnari Giuseppe
Published: November 2022

Detainees are one of the most vulnerable populations to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is mostly caused by the lack of knowledge on the topic among the inmates; the lack of prophylaxis; the high percentage of risky behaviors in jail, such as sexual abuse, unprotected sexual intercourses, and injective drug use; and the generally low perception of the risk of transmission. It has also been observed that the problem does not cease to exist at the moment of release, but it also may be aggravated by the weak support system or the total absence of programs for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) to avoid discontinuation of antiretroviral drugs. Difficulty in providing housing and jobs and, therefore, a form of stability for ex-detainees, also contributes to none adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Among the detainees, there are also categories of people more susceptible to discrimination and violence and, therefore, to risky behaviors, such as black people, Hispanics, transgender people, and men who have sex with men (MSM). We reviewed the literature in order to provide a more complete picture on the situation of PLWHA in jail and to also analyze the difficulties of ex-detainees in adhering to HIV therapy.
Evaluation of Iodine Supplementation in Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes: IODIAB Study
Authors: Dardari Dured , Laborne Francois-Xavier , Tourte Caroline , Henry Elodie , Penfornis Alfred
Published: November 2022

Background: Iodine supplementation is indicated by the French National Authority for Health (HAS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) during pregnancy. This study investigates whether this supplementation is consistently prescribed in line with WHO recommendations in pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus. Method: A total of 99 women with a diagnosis of gestational diabetes were included in the study and were all closely monitored. Results: Only 17 (17.2%) patients received the recommended iodine supplementation. The follow-up, whether conducted by a gynecologist or midwife, did not influence the prescription of iodine supplements. By contrast, 72 (72.7%) of patients received folic acid supplementation. Conclusions: The prescription of iodine supplementation for the pregnant women included in our study is insufficient. Few practitioners seem aware of the recommendations, even when the pregnancy is complicated by gestational diabetes.
Noncompliance with Therapeutic Guidelines for Chronic Hepatitis B Patients in Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Scarponi Cristiane Faria Oliveira , Pedrosa Marco Antônio Ferreira , Mol Marcos Paulo Gomes , Greco Dirceu Bartolomeu
Published: November 2022

Standardized treatment regimens for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are crucial in suppressing viral replication, disease progression and the development of complications. However, information on routine compliance with such therapeutic recommendations in medical practice is rare. Aim: To evaluate the application of Brazilian therapeutic guidelines for CHB within the scope of the Unified Health System in Minas Gerais state. Four key recommendations from the national guidelines were compared with data from treated patients: (i) eligibility to start treatment; (ii) type of treatment applied; (iii) rescue antiviral therapy; and (iv) monitoring of virological response. Most physicians (69.8%) declared to adopt these guidelines, while 10 of them were unaware. However, according to the criteria established by the guidelines, only 39.5% of treated patients should have been considered “truly” eligible to start treatment and only 67.6% of these underwent the recommended pharmacological treatment. The virological response was laboratory monitored in just over a third of patients. Rescue therapy was adequately supplanted in 41.2% of patients previously treated with lamivudine. There was low compliance with national guidelines by public service physicians in Brazil, highlighting the need to raise awareness of the importance of its adherence to expand the control of CHB. Thus, increasing the adherence of health professionals to this tool is a current challenge for health institutions and managers.
Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Newborn Screening Laboratories
Authors: Gelb Michael H. , Basheeruddin Khaja , Burlina Alberto , Chen Hsiao-Jan , Chien Yin-Hsiu , Dizikes George , Dorley Christine , Giugliani Roberto , Hietala Amy , Hong Xinying , Kao Shu-Min , Khaledi Hamid , Klug Tracy , Kubaski Francyne , Liao Hsuan-Chieh , Martin Monica , Manning Adrienne , Orsini Joseph , Peng Yin , Ranieri Enzo , Rohrwasser Andreas , Szabo-Fresnais Nicolas , Turgeon Coleman T. , Vaz Frédérick M. , Wang Li-yun , Matern Dietrich
Published: November 2022

Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is the most universal platform currently available for the analysis of enzymatic activities and biomarkers in dried blood spots (DBS) for applications in newborn screening (NBS). Among the MS/MS applications in NBS, the most common is flow-injection analysis (FIA-) MS/MS, where the sample is introduced as a bolus injection into the mass spectrometer without the prior fractionation of analytes. Liquid chromatography combined with MS/MS (LC-MS/MS) has been employed for second-tier tests to reduce the false-positive rate associated with several nonspecific screening markers, beginning two decades ago. More recently, LC-MS/MS has been applied to primary screening for new conditions for which FIA-MS/MS or other methods, including genomic screening, are not yet adequate. In addition to providing a list of the currently used LC-MS/MS-based assays for NBS, the authors share their experience regarding the maintenance requirements of LC-MS/MS vs. FIA-MS/MS systems. The consensus is that the maintenance of LC-MS/MS and FIA-MS/MS instrumentation is similar, and LC-MS/MS has the advantage of allowing for a larger number of diseases to be screened for in a multiplex, cost-effective fashion with a high throughput and an adequate turnaround time.
The Role of Inorganic Fillers in Electrostatic Discharge Composites
Authors: Nisticò Roberto , D’Arienzo Massimiliano , Di Credico Barbara , Mostoni Silvia , Scotti Roberto
Published: November 2022

The occurrence of uncontrolled electrostatic discharge (ESD) is among the major causes of damage in unprotected electronic components during industrial processes. To counteract this undesired phenomenon, ESD composites showing static-dissipative and antistatic responses are developed. In particular, static-dissipative materials are able to slow down the flow of electric charges, whereas antistatic materials directly suppress the initial charges induced by undesired charging by properly dispersing conductive fillers within an insulant matrix and thus forming a conductive filler network. In this context, the purpose of this review is to provide a useful resume of the main fundamentals of the technology necessary for facing electrostatic charging. The formation mechanisms of electrostatic charges at the material surface were described, providing a classification of ESD composites and useful characterization methods. Furthermore, we reported a deep analysis of the role of conductive fillers in the formation of filler networks to allow electric charge movements, along with an overview of the different classes of inorganic conductive fillers exploitable in ESD composites, evidencing pros/cons and criticalities of each category of inorganic fillers.
Aurophilic Interactions of Dimeric Bisphosphine Gold(I) Complexes Pre-Organized by the Structure of the 1,5-Diaza-3,7-Diphosphacyclooctanes
Authors: Dayanova Irina R. , Fayezova Adelina I. , Strelnik Igor D. , Litvinov Igor A. , Islamov Daut R. , Kolesnikov Ilya E. , Gerasimova Tatiana P. , Musina Elvira I. , Karasik Andrey A.
Published: November 2022

The dimeric gold(I) chloride and gold(I) iodide complexes ([L2Au]Cl2 and L2AuI2) on the scaffold of the cyclic bisphosphine, namely 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane containing α-phenylbenzyl (benzhydryl) substituents at the nitrogen atoms, were synthesized. The obtained complexes were isolated as white crystalline powders. The single crystal XRD of the obtained complexes revealed the strong aurophilic interactions between two gold(I) atoms with the Au…Au distance values of 2.9977(6) and 3.1680(5) Å. The comparison of the gold complexes, based on the N,N-diaryl- and N,N-dibenzhydryl substituted 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctanes, allowed to reveal the strong impact of the initial heterocycle conformation on the realization of the aurophilic interactions, where the geometry of N,N-dibenzhydryl substituted 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane, is pre-organized for the intramolecular aurophilic interactions of the complexes. The obtained complexes exhibit a bluish-green phosphorescence (λem 505 (-Cl) and 530(-I)) in the solid state at room temperature, originated by the metal-halide centered transitions, which was confirmed by the TDDFT calculations. It was found that the aurophilic interactions are realized in the ground and in the triplet excited states of the complexes. The slighter change of the geometry of the N,N-dibenzhydryl substituted gold(I) iodide complexes, under the transition from the ground state to the excited state, in comparison with their N,N-diaryl substituted analogues, results in the reduced values of the Stokes shift of luminescence (ca. 150 nm vs. 175 nm).
Stabilization of {Ag20(StBu)10} and {Ag19(StBu)10} Toroidal Complexes in DMSO: HPLC-ICP-AES, PL, and Structural Studies
Authors: Volchek Victoria V. , Berezin Alexey S. , Sokolov Maxim N. , Abramov Pavel A.
Published: November 2022

The presence of DMSO provides a unique ability to stabilize silver toroidal complexes in the direct reaction between AgStBu and AgNO3 at 80 °C. Slow cooling results in large crystals of [NO3@Ag19.2(StBu)10(DMSO)5.2(NO3)8.2]·3DMSO (1), which were isolated and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) analysis. The crystal structure contains both {Ag20(StBu)10} and {Ag19(StBu)10} clusters. The solution of these material in DMSO was studied with HPLC techniques, which demonstrated the presence of both complexes in solution. The use of [SiW12O40]4– as counter anion gives crystals of a double complex salt [Ag17.8(NO3)3.8(StBu)10][SiW12O40]·30DMSO (2) under the same conditions. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) was studied.
Reaching the Maximal Unquenched Orbital Angular Momentum L = 3 in Mononuclear Transition-Metal Complexes: Where, When and How?
Authors: Mironov Vladimir S.
Published: November 2022

The conditions for achieving the maximal unquenched orbital angular momentum L = 3 and the highest magnetic anisotropy in mononuclear 3d complexes with axial coordination symmetry are examined in terms of the ligand field theory. It is shown that, apart from the known linear two-coordinate 3d7 complex CoII(C(SiMe2ONaph)3)2 characterized by record magnetic anisotropy and single-molecule magnet (SMM) performance (with the largest known spin-reversal barrier Ueff = 450 cm−1), the maximal orbital angular momentum L = 3 can also be obtained in linear two-coordinate 3d2 complexes (V3+, Cr4+) and in trigonal-prismatic 3d3 (Cr3+, Mn4+) and 3d8 (Co+, Ni2+) complexes. A comparative assessment of the SMM performance of the 3d2, 3d3 and 3d8 complexes indicates that they are unlikely to compete with the record linear complex CoII(C(SiMe2ONaph)3)2, whose magnetic anisotropy is close to the physical limit for a 3d metal.
Educational Nursing Intervention in Reducing Hospital Readmission and the Mortality of Patients with Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Marques Cleidinaldo Ribeiro de Goes , de Menezes Andreia Freire , Ferrari Yasmim Anayr Costa , Oliveira Alan Santos , Tavares Arthur César Melo , Barreto André Sales , Vieira Rita de Cássia Almeida , da Fonseca Cassiane Dezoti , Santana-Santos Eduesley
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: Heart failure (HF) represents a public health problem due to its high morbidity and mortality, increased consumption of health resources, prolonged hospitalization, and frequent readmissions. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a nursing educational intervention using home visits (HV) combined with telephone contact in reducing hospital readmission and the mortality of patients with HF. (2) Methods: This is systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The databases used were CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed and SciELO. A gray literature search included Google Scholar, OpenThesis, Clinical trials and reference lists of eligible studies. RCTs of patients diagnosed with HF were included, distributed between the control group (CG) and intervention (IG), in which the IG was submitted to the nursing intervention with HV and telephone contact in association and analyzed the result of readmission and mortality. (3) Results: The search resulted in 2528 articles and, after following steps, 11 remained for final analysis. A total of 1417 patients were analyzed and distributed: 683 in the IG and 734 in the CG. As a primary outcome, the meta-analysis identified a 36% reduction in the risk of readmission [RR 0.64, 95% CI, 0.54–0.75, p < 0.01] and a 35% reduction in mortality in the IG [RR 0.65, 95% CI, 0.50–0.85, p < 0.01]. Heterogeneity was moderate for readmission and homogeneous for mortality. (4) Conclusions: HV and telephone contact are an effective intervention strategy for nurses’ educational practice.
Positive Effects of UV-Photofunctionalization of Titanium Oxide Surfaces on the Survival and Differentiation of Osteogenic Precursor Cells—An In Vitro Study
Authors: Roy Marco , Corti Alessandro , Dorocka-Bobkowska Barbara , Pompella Alfonso
Published: November 2022

Introduction: The UVC-irradiation (“UV-photofunctionalization”) of titanium dental implants has proved to be capable of removing carbon contamination and restoring the ability of titanium surfaces to attract cells involved in the process of osteointegration, thus significantly enhancing the biocompatibility of implants and favoring the post-operative healing process. To what extent the effect of UVC irradiation is dependent on the type or the topography of titanium used, is still not sufficiently established. Objective: The present study was aimed at analyzing the effects of UV-photofunctionalization on the TiO2 topography, as well as on the gene expression patterns and the biological activity of osteogenic cells, i.e., osteogenic precursors cultured in vitro in the presence of different titanium specimens. Methodology: The analysis of the surface roughness was performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) on machined surface grade 2, and sand-blasted/acid-etched surface grades 2 and 4 titanium specimens. The expression of the genes related with the process of healing and osteogenesis was studied in the MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblastic murine cells, as well as in MSC murine stem cells, before and after exposure to differently treated TiO2 surfaces. Results: The AFM determinations showed that the surface topographies of titanium after the sand-blasting and acid-etching procedures, look very similar, independently of the grade of titanium. The UVC-irradiation of the TiO2 surface was found to induce an increase in the cell survival, attachment and proliferation, which was positively correlated with an increased expression of the osteogenesis-related genes Runx2 and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Conclusion: Overall, our findings expand and further support the current view that UV-photofunctionalization can indeed restore biocompatibility and osteointegration of TiO2 implants, and suggest that this at least in part occurs through a stimulation of the osteogenic differentiation of the precursor cells.
Impact of Sex and Velocity on Plantar Pressure Distribution during Gait: A Cross-Sectional Study Using an Instrumented Pressure-Sensitive Walkway
Authors: Leyh Clara , Feipel Véronique
Published: November 2022

In-shoe systems and pressure plates are used to assess plantar pressure during gait, but additional tools are employed to evaluate other gait parameters. The GAITRite® system is a clinical gait evaluation tool. Extensive literature is available for spatiotemporal parameters, but it is scarce for relative plantar pressure data. Therefore, we investigated whether, when controlling for age, the GAITRite® system is able to distinguish the effects of walking velocity on plantar pressure parameters in six plantar regions in a large sample of adults. Participants (83 women and 87 men, aged 18–85 years) walked at three self-selected velocities (slow, preferred, fast) on a 6-m long GAITRite® walkway. Relative peak pressure, pressure-time integral, peak time and contact area were computed for six zones (lateral and medial heel, mid- and forefoot). The impact of age (covariate), sex, side, velocity, pressure zone and their interactions on pressure variables was evaluated. Velocity affected peak pressure, pressure-time integral, peak time and contact area (p < 0.001). With increasing self-selected gait velocity, medial forefoot peak pressure and pressure-time integral increased (p < 0.001), while heel and lateral forefoot regions displayed a nonlinear plantar pressure evolution. These results suggest lower (heel strike) or more equally distributed (push-off) loads at preferred gait velocity.
Imaging of Artificial Bubble Distribution Using a Multi-Sonar Array System
Authors: Bae Ho Seuk , Kim Won-Ki , Son Su-Uk , Park Joung-Soo
Published: November 2022

Bubble clusters present in seawater can cause acoustic interference and acoustic signal distortion during marine exploration. However, this interference can also be used as an acoustic masking technique, which has significant implications for military purposes. Therefore, characterizing the distribution of bubble clusters in water would allow for the development of anti-detection technologies. In this study, a sea experiment was performed using a multi-sonar array system and a bubble-generating material developed by our research group to obtain acoustic signals from an artificial bubble cluster and characterize its distribution. The acquired acoustic data were preprocessed, and reverse-time migration (RTM) was applied to the dataset. For effective RTM, an envelope waveform was used to decrease computation time and memory requirements. The envelope RTM results could be used to effectively image the distribution characteristics of the artificial bubble clusters. Compared with acoustic Doppler current profiler data, the backscattering strength of the boundary of the imaged artificial bubble cluster was estimated to range between −30 and −20 dB. Therefore, the three-dimensional distribution characteristics of bubble clusters in the open sea can be effectively determined through envelope RTM. Furthermore, the data obtained from this study can be used as a reference for future studies.
Future Projection for Wave Climate around Taiwan Using Weather-Type Statistical Downscaling Method
Authors: Lu Wei-Shiun , Tseng Chi-Hsiang , Hsiao Shih-Chun , Chiang Wen-Son , Hu Kai-Cheng
Published: November 2022

Taiwan is surrounded by sea; therefore, coastal hazards might become severe due to climate change. The analysis of wave climate characteristics at different time scales (long-term historical period, seasonal prediction, and future prediction) can be used as a reference for the impact of climate change on coastal environments. This model associates the significant wave height with the atmospheric predictor defined by the sea level pressure (SLP) field. We applied SLP based on the outputs of a global climate model (GCM) under two possible future scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) in the Fifth Assessment Report, AR5 (IPCC, 2014), then used the historical data of the predictor (sea level pressure) and predictand (sea-state parameters) from reanalysis databases to calibrate the model. The recent historical atmospheric conditions responsible for the swell wave component at the target site are included in the predictor definition. The 18 days sea level pressure fields are used as a predictor by utilizing the evaluation of source and travel-time of wave energy reaching a local area (ESTELA) method. The verification proves the model’s skill to reproduce the seasonal and interannual variability of monthly sea state parameters and can be used to further evaluate the wave climate change around Taiwan under different climate change scenarios. The prediction of wave climate on weather types provides a physical explanation for the relationship between the multivariate wave climate characterization and atmospheric forces. Through the analysis of the similarity and consistency between GCM data and reanalysis data, we can evaluate the suitability of GCM for wave climates in the Taiwan sea area. It shows how the weather type statistical method can be used to quantify the wave climate prediction results of each GCMs and to evaluate their differences and uncertainties, which will improve the estimation of the impact of wave climate change on Taiwan’s coast.
Preparation, Characterization, and Activation of Natural Glassy Carbon Paste Electrodes as New Sensors for Determining the Total Antioxidant Capacity of Plant Extracts
Authors: Królicka Agnieszka , Szczurkowska Anna , Mochalski Paweł , Malata Grzegorz
Published: November 2022

The continuous search for new sensing materials with high recognition capabilities is necessary to improve existing analytical procedures and to develop new ones. Natural glassy carbon and polydimethylsiloxane were shown to be used for the preparation of carbon paste electrodes to employ them in new, voltammetric, green-chemistry-friendly electroanalytical procedures aimed at evaluating the antioxidant capacity of plant extracts, dietary supplements, and hydrolats. The developed electrodes provided well-shaped and reproducible voltammetric signals (RSD = 1%) of the oxidation of epigallocatechin gallate, the main component of many plants and plant-based formulations with antioxidative activity, in the 1–12.5 µM range (DPV mode, LOD = 0.08 µM). If needed, the performance of new carbon paste electrodes can be further enhanced by the introduction of trivalent rare earth oxides to carbon paste to increase its active surface, facilitate electron transfer, and improve the resolution of recorded signals.