bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fungal Pathogens as Causes of Acute Respiratory Illness in Hospitalized Veterans: Frequency of Fungal Positive Test Results Using Rapid Immunodiagnostic Assays
Authors: Caceres Diego H. , Rodriguez-Barradas Maria C. , Whitaker Michael , Jackson Brendan R. , Kim Lindsay , Surie Diya , Cikesh Bryanna , Lindsley Mark D. , McCotter Orion Z. , Berkow Elizabeth L. , Toda Mitsuru
Published: April 2023

Fungal respiratory illnesses caused by endemic mycoses can be nonspecific and are often mistaken for viral or bacterial infections. We performed fungal testing on serum specimens from patients hospitalized with acute respiratory illness (ARI) to assess the possible role of endemic fungi as etiologic agents. Patients hospitalized with ARI at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Houston, Texas, during November 2016–August 2017 were enrolled. Epidemiologic and clinical data, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples for viral testing (PCR), and serum specimens were collected at admission. We retrospectively tested remnant sera from a subset of patients with negative initial viral testing using immunoassays for the detection of Coccidioides and Histoplasma antibodies (Ab) and Cryptococcus, Aspergillus, and Histoplasma antigens (Ag). Of 224 patient serum specimens tested, 49 (22%) had positive results for fungal pathogens, including 30 (13%) by Coccidioides immunodiagnostic assays, 19 (8%) by Histoplasma immunodiagnostic assays, 2 (1%) by Aspergillus Ag, and none by Cryptococcus Ag testing. A high proportion of veterans hospitalized with ARI had positive serological results for fungal pathogens, primarily endemic mycoses, which cause fungal pneumonia. The high proportion of Coccidioides positivity is unexpected as this fungus is not thought to be common in southeastern Texas or metropolitan Houston, though is known to be endemic in southwestern Texas. Although serological testing suffers from low specificity, these results suggest that these fungi may be more common causes of ARI in southeast Texas than commonly appreciated and more increased clinical evaluation may be warranted.
Secondary Metabolites Produced by the Blue-Cheese Ripening Mold Penicillium roqueforti; Biosynthesis and Regulation Mechanisms
Authors: Chávez Renato , Vaca Inmaculada , García-Estrada Carlos
Published: April 2023

Filamentous fungi are an important source of natural products. The mold Penicillium roqueforti, which is well-known for being responsible for the characteristic texture, blue-green spots, and aroma of the so-called blue-veined cheeses (French Bleu, Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Stilton, Cabrales, and Valdeón, among others), is able to synthesize different secondary metabolites, including andrastins and mycophenolic acid, as well as several mycotoxins, such as Roquefortines C and D, PR-toxin and eremofortins, Isofumigaclavines A and B, festuclavine, and Annullatins D and F. This review provides a detailed description of the biosynthetic gene clusters and pathways of the main secondary metabolites produced by P. roqueforti, as well as an overview of the regulatory mechanisms controlling secondary metabolism in this filamentous fungus.
What Makes for Robust Local News Provision? Structural Correlates of Local News Coverage for an Entire U.S. State, and Mapping Local News Using a New Method
Authors: Stonbely Sarah
Published: April 2023

This research addresses current gaps in knowledge about local news provision: it considers the method for best understanding the robustness of a local news ecosystem, and it identifies the structural features of a community that are correlated with its level of local news provision. Most local news assessments to date have used the geographic location of the news provider as a proxy for coverage; here, I use (self-reported) coverage area as the marker of local news provision, allowing a more accurate representation of the communities being served. I find that median household income, population density, and the percentage of the population that is Hispanic are positively correlated with the number of outlets that cover a municipality, and are therefore significant indicators of local news provision. I further identify certain local news providers as “local news originators,” and map the number of LNOs for the 565 municipalities that make up the state of New Jersey, making this the first study to map local news provision at this level of detail for an entire state.
Personalized Prediction of Patient Radiation Exposure for Therapy of Urolithiasis: An Application and Comparison of Six Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Huettenbrink Clemens , Hitzl Wolfgang , Distler Florian , Ell Jascha , Ammon Josefin , Pahernik Sascha
Published: April 2023

The prediction of radiation exposure is an important tool for the choice of therapy modality and becomes, as a component of patient-informed consent, increasingly important for both surgeon and patient. The final goal is the implementation of a trained and tested machine learning model in a real-time computer system allowing the surgeon and patient to better assess patient’s personal radiation risk. In summary, 995 patients with ureterorenoscopy over a period from May 2016 to December 2019 were included. According to the suggestions based on actual literature evidence, dose area product (DAP) was categorized into ‘low doses’ ≤ 2.8 Gy·cm2 and ‘high doses’ > 2.8 Gy·cm2 for ureterorenoscopy (URS). To forecast the level of radiation exposure during treatment, six different machine learning models were trained, and 10-fold crossvalidated and their model performances evaluated in training and independent test samples. The negative predictive value for low DAP during ureterorenoscopy was 94% (95% CI: 92–96%). Factors influencing the radiation exposure were: age (p = 0.0002), gender (p = 0.011), weight (p < 0.0001), stone size (p < 0.000001), surgeon experience (p = 0.039), number of stones (p = 0.0007), stone density (p = 0.023), use of flexible endoscope (p < 0.0001) and preoperative stone position (p < 0.00001). The machine learning algorithm identified a subgroup of patients of 81% of the total sample, for which highly accurate predictions (94%) were possible allowing the surgeon to assess patient’s personal radiation risk. Patients without prediction (19%), the medical expert can make decisions as usual. Next step will be the implementation of the trained model in real-time computer systems for clinical decision processes in daily practice.
Is Ozone a Valid Adjuvant Therapy for Periodontitis and Peri-Implantitis? A Systematic Review
Authors: D′Ambrosio Francesco , Caggiano Mario , Acerra Alfonso , Pisano Massimo , Giordano Francesco
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Ozone is a naturally occurring unstable compound with three oxygen atoms that generally transforms into an oxygen molecule, releasing one oxygen atom. This feature has been exploited in dentistry for numerous applications, including for periodontal diseases and peri-implantitis. Methods: This review was performed in relation to the PRISMA flow chart and was annotated in the PROSPERO register. PICO questions were used as research questions. The risk of bias in the non-randomized clinical trials was appraised using the ROBINS-I tool. Results: An electronic search found a total of 1073 records, in particular, 842 from MEDLINE/PubMed, 13 from Bio Med Central, 160 from Scopus, 1 from the Cochrane library databases, and 57 from the PROSPERO register. A total of 17 studies were included in the present systematic review. Information regarding the characteristics of the periodontal clinical and radiographic parameters for gaseous ozone, ozonate water, ozonate oil, and ozone gel, including clinical attachment loss (CAL) probing depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BoP), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and marginal bone levels (MBL), were obtained. Conclusions: The studies included in this systematic review show different results regarding the ozone in periodontal treatment in association with or without SRP.
Chlorogenic Acid Attenuates Doxorubicin-Induced Oxidative Stress and Markers of Apoptosis in Cardiomyocytes via Nrf2/HO-1 and Dityrosine Signaling
Authors: Cicek Betul , Hacimuftuoglu Ahmet , Yeni Yesim , Danisman Betul , Ozkaraca Mustafa , Mokhtare Behzad , Kantarci Mecit , Spanakis Marios , Nikitovic Dragana , Lazopoulos Georgios , Tsarouhas Konstantinos , Tsatsakis Aristidis , Taghizadehghalehjoughi Ali
Published: April 2023

(1) Background: Doxorubicin (DOX) is extensively used for cancer treatments; however, its clinical application is limited because of its cardiotoxic adverse effects. A combination of DOX and agents with cardioprotective properties is an effective strategy to ameliorate DOX-related cardiotoxicity. Polyphenolic compounds are ideal for the investigation of novel cardioprotective agents. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), an essential dietary polyphenol found in plants, has been previously reported to exert antioxidant, cardioprotective, and antiapoptotic properties. The current research evaluated CGA’s in vivo cardioprotective properties in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and the probable mechanisms underlying this protection. (2) Methods: CGA’s cardioprotective properties were investigated in rats that were treated with CGA (100 mg/kg, p.o.) for fourteen days. The experimental model of cardiotoxicity was induced with a single intraperitoneal (15 mg/kg i.p.) injection of DOX on the 10th day. (3) Results: Treatment with CGA significantly improved the DOX-caused altered cardiac damage markers (LDH, CK-MB, and cTn-T), and a marked improvement in cardiac histopathological features accompanied this. DOX downregulated the expression of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways, and the CGA reversed this effect. Consistently, caspase-3, an apoptotic-related marker, and dityrosine expression were suppressed, while Nrf2 and HO-1 expressions were elevated in the cardiac tissues of DOX-treated rats after treatment with the CGA. Furthermore, the recovery was confirmed by the downregulation of 8-OHdG and dityrosine (DT) expressions in immunohistochemical findings. (4) Conclusions: CGA demonstrated a considerable cardioprotective effect against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. One of the possible mechanisms for these protective properties was the upregulation of the Nrf2/HO-1-dependent pathway and the downregulation of DT, which may ameliorate oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. These findings suggest that CGA may be cardioprotective, particularly in patients receiving DOX-based chemotherapy.
Augmentative Plating versus Exchange Intramedullary Nailing for the Treatment of Aseptic Non-Unions of the Femoral Shaft—A Biomechanical Study in a SawboneTM Model
Authors: Walcher Matthias Georg , Day Robert E. , Gesslein Markus , Bail Hermann Josef , Kuster Markus S.
Published: April 2023

Background: Non-unions after intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures are a significant problem. Treatment options such as augmenting with plates or exchange nailing have been proposed. The ideal treatment remains controversial. Methods: Augmentative plating using a 4.5 mm LCP or a 3.2 mm LCP leaving the nail in situ was tested biomechanically and compared to exchange intramedullary nailing in a SawboneTM model of a femoral shaft non-union. Results: The difference of fracture gap motion in axial testing was small. In rotational testing, the exchange nail allowed for the largest amount of motion. The 4.5 mm augmentative plate was the most stable construct in all loading conditions. Conclusions: Augmentative plating using a 4.5 mm LCP plate while leaving the nail in situ is biomechanically superior to exchange intramedullary nailing. A small fragment 3.2 mm LCP is undersized and does not reduce fracture motion sufficiently in a femoral shaft non-union.
The Changes in the Perceptions of Women towards the Symbolic Value of Gold: Marketing and Financial Implications
Authors: Andrlić Berislav , Hak Mario , Pathy Girish S.
Published: April 2023

Gold is a sought-after good across the globe, particularly among Asian countries. The demand for gold is influenced by symbolic, utilitarian, and hedonic values. One of the critical values among these is symbolic value, which refers to the meanings associated with a commodity. This study attempts to identify the impact of cultural dynamism on the perceptions of women towards the symbolic value of gold. Cultural dynamism is a definite outcome of globalization; it refers to the changes in cultural beliefs and practices as an outcome of exposure to the elements of other cultures. These cultural changes will have an impact on the consumption of all types of goods, particularly those goods that are demanded due to a region’s culture. The present study attempts to identify the direction of cultural dynamics and its impact on gold in India as an outcome of the economy opening up in 1990. The perceptions of two sets of samples have been compared and contrasted in this study: one is a set of females born and married (this is because marriage has a vital role in determining perceptions towards gold) before the advent of globalization and its impacts in India, and the second set is the daughters (to ensure that other elements, such as socioeconomic aspects, are not affecting the perception) of the first set of customers. This study adopts a multidimensional scaling technique to analyze the data; this is due to the sound method that it is, and also due to the ability to provide a visual depiction of the outcomes. It could reveal evidence of polarization regarding perceptions towards the symbolic value of gold; it opened a research gap. A similar study with which to identify perceptions towards hedonic and symbolic values is suggested as an outcome of the study.
Reliability Evaluation for Chain Routing Protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Reliability Block Diagram
Authors: Alfawaz Oruba , Khedr Ahmed M. , Alwasel Bader , Osamy Walid
Published: April 2023

There are many different fields in which wireless sensor networks (WSNs) can be used such as environmental monitoring, healthcare, military, and security. Due to the vulnerability of WSNs, reliability is a critical concern. Evaluation of a WSN’s reliability is essential during the design process and when evaluating WSNs’ performance. Current research uses the reliability block diagram (RBD) technique, based on component functioning or failure state, to evaluate reliability. In this study, a new methodology-based RBD, to calculate the energy reliability of various proposed chain models in WSNs, is presented. A new method called D-Chain is proposed, to form the chain starting from the nearest node to the base station (BS) and to choose the chain head based on the minimum distance D, and Q-Chain is proposed, to form the chain starting from the farthest node from the BS and select the head based on the maximum weight, Q. Each chain has three different arrangements: single chain/single-hop, multi-chain/single-hop, and multi-chain/multi-hop. Moreover, we applied dynamic leader nodes to all of the models mentioned. The simulation results indicate that the multi Q-Chain/single-hop has the best performance, while the single D-Chain has the least reliability in all situations. In the grid scenario, multi Q-Chain/single-hop achieved better average reliability, 11.12 times greater than multi D-Chain/single-hop. On the other hand, multi Q-Chain/single-hop achieved 6.38 times better average reliability than multi D-Chain/single-hop, in a random scenario.
The Role of L-Carnitine in Kidney Disease and Related Metabolic Dysfunctions
Authors: Ulinski Tim , Cirulli Maria , Virmani Mohamed Ashraf
Published: April 2023

Kidney disease is associated with a wide variety of metabolic abnormalities that accompany the uremic state and the state of dialysis dependence. These include altered L-carnitine homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunctions, and abnormalities in fatty acid metabolism. L-carnitine is essential for fatty acid metabolism and proper mitochondrial function. Deficiency in kidney disease and dialysis is caused by a reduction in endogenous renal synthesis, impaired fatty acid metabolism, a lower intake due to dietary restrictions, and nonselective clearance by the dialysis procedure. Free carnitine levels <40 µmol/L in dialysis patients can lead to dialysis-related complications, such as anemia that is hyporesponsive to erythropoietin therapy, intradialytic hypotension, cardiovascular disease, and skeletal muscle dysfunction manifested as muscle weakness and fatigue. L-carnitine deficiency is also seen in acute kidney injury (AKI) resulting from trauma and/or ischemia, drugs such as cisplatin, and from infections such as covid. A persistent state of L-carnitine deficiency can further damage kidneys and lead to multi-organ failure. Carnitine supplementation has been shown to be safe and effective in improving kidney disease-related complications resulting from drug-induced toxicity, trauma, ischemic injury, infection, and dialysis, by replenishing adequate carnitine levels and rebalancing carnitine homeostasis. In this review, we will examine the protective role of L-carnitine in reducing cellular oxidative damage and maintaining mitochondrial function together with the clinical evidence for its potential use in the management of kidney disease.
Diagnosis of Rural Development Processes Based on the Stock of Social Capital and Social Networks: Approach from E-I Index
Authors: Serrano J. , Esparcia Javier
Published: April 2023

Europe’s rural areas have suffered a continuous loss of human and economic capital from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. In an attempt to alleviate the effects of this dynamic, the European Union has implemented the LEADER rural development programme since the 1990s (Liaisons Entre Actions de Développement de L’Economie Rurale). Among the many objectives of this policy, the social articulation of its populations stood out as a way of strengthening development processes. This article aims to provide a methodological approach to analyse and quantify the stock of social capital (SC) present in the social networks of rural areas after more than thirty years of European rural policy. Based on 160 interviews with stakeholders linked to rural development processes in rural areas of Spain and England from institutional, economic, social and technical sectors. The methodological approach of Social Network Analysis (SNA) has been used, and within this, the study of SNA indicators and the analysis of the E-I index have been integrated in order to analyse the stock of internal (bonding) and external (bridging) SC. The conclusions of this study clarify the role of stakeholders and their contribution to the stock of SC. The studied rural areas present a balance in internal and external relations, which shows a high stock of SC and an encouraging scenario for the development processes and, thus, for the success of the LEADER programme. Nevertheless, the participation of the actors in the LEADER programme in Spain still shows a worrying project class.
Analysis of the Evolution Characteristics and Impact Factors of Green Production Efficiency of Grain in China
Authors: Zhang Hexiong , Qin Yun , Xu Jinlong , Ren Wenqin
Published: April 2023

Ensuring sufficient food production and guaranteeing the safety and quality of food are crucial aspects of food security, how to achieve the balance between food production efficiency and environmental protection is an urgent problem and challenge to be solved. This study introduced an assessment system for the green production efficiency of grain, and measured China’s green production efficiency of grain by using the slacks-based measurement (SBM) model, kernel density estimation, and Tobit regression model. The findings show the following: (1) From 2000 to 2019, China’s green production efficiency of grain showed an overall upward trend, while in different regions it was shrinking. The central region has the fastest growth rate, the western region and the northeast region have the same growth rate, and the eastern region has the slowest growth rate. (2) According to the kernel density estimation, China’s green production efficiency of grain increased year by year, and the national development was relatively balanced from 2000 to 2104. However, there are obvious regional differences from 2014 to 2019; the eastern and northeastern regions are relatively balanced, and the central and western regions have further expanded over time. (3) From the perspective of whole country, the regional financial support for agriculture and the urbanization rate have a significant positive impact on the green production efficiency of grain, while the crop disaster affected area and agricultural output value have a significant negative impact on green production efficiency. (4) From the regional perspective, the impact of different factors on the level of green production efficiency of grain varies.
Determining the Extent of Soil Degradation Processes Using Trend Analyses at a Regional Multispectral Scale
Authors: AbdelRahman Mohamed A. E. , Metwalli Mohamed R. , Gao Maofang , Toscano Francesco , Fiorentino Costanza , Scopa Antonio , D’Antonio Paola
Published: April 2023

In order to ensure the sustainability of production from agricultural lands, the degradation processes surrounding the fertile land environment must be monitored. Human-induced risk and status of soil degradation (SD) were assessed in the Northern-Eastern part of the Nile delta using trend analyses for years 2013 to 2023. SD hotspot areas were identified using time-series analysis of satellite-derived indices as a small fraction of the difference between the observed indices and the geostatistical analyses projected from the soil data. The method operated on the assumption that the negative trend of photosynthetic capacity of plants is an indicator of SD independently of climate variability. Combinations of soil, water, and vegetation’s indices were integrated to achieve the goals of the study. Thirteen soil profiles were dug in the hotspots areas. The soil was affected by salinity and alkalinity risks ranging from slight to strong, while compaction and waterlogging ranged from slight to moderate. According to the GIS-model results, 30% of the soils were subject to slight degradation threats, 50% were subject to strong risks, and 20% were subject to moderate risks. The primary human-caused sources of SD are excessive irrigation, poor conservation practices, improper utilisation of heavy machines, and insufficient drainage. Electrical conductivity (EC), exchangeable soil percentage (ESP), bulk density (BD), and water table depth were the main causes of SD in the area. Generally, chemical degradation risks were low, while physical risks were very high in the area. Trend analyses of remote sensing indices (RSI) proved to be effective and accurate tools to monitor environmental dynamic changes. Principal components analyses were used to compare and prioritise among the used RSI. RSI pixel-wise residual trend indicated SD areas were related to soil data. The spatial and temporal trends of the indices in the region followed the patterns of drought, salinity, soil moisture, and the difficulties in separating the impacts of drought and submerged on SD on vegetation photosynthetic capacity. Therefore, future studies of land degradation and desertification should proceed using indices as a factor predictor of SD analysis.
The Climate of My Neighborhood: Households’ Willingness to Adapt to Urban Climate Change
Authors: Matias Márcia , Lopes Sara , Lopes António
Published: April 2023

Regarding the predisposition of individuals to change when confronted with future climate scenarios, it is necessary to understand the perception of the groups under analysis and how to engage with society to collectively act toward climate change mitigation. A question remains to be answered: how to ensure that people engage, participate, and gain awareness of the undergoing problem that urban climate change poses for the future of cities’ management? This research intends to contribute to solving this question by raising another question: “How willing are residents of the Alvalade neighborhood (Lisbon) to change their behavior and way of life when faced with climate change scenarios?” We present a methodology using microclimatic modeling with ENVI-met and questionnaires for the resident community. The present and future local climate scenarios (representing a present hot day versus the extreme IPCC RCP 8.5 scenario) were presented to a set of residents. These figures show the projected UTCI (Universal Thermal Climate Index) in a dramatic but accurate aggravated way. The inquiries allowed us to conclude that people are more aware of local climate change and health risks from extremely hot summer weather, but they continue to resist adopting behavior change for adaptation, although most of them declared this could be important to tackle climate change. The second conclusion is that people think that local authorities should be more active than themselves and will have greater responsibility for climate change adaptation and interventions. In times of climate crisis, the participation of the resident community can be an important help in decision making and finding measures to mitigate adverse climate effects in urban environments.
The Replicative DnaE Polymerase of Bacillus subtilis Recruits the Glycolytic Pyruvate Kinase (PykA) When Bound to Primed DNA Templates
Authors: Holland Alexandria , Pitoulias Matthaios , Soultanas Panos , Janniere Laurent
Published: April 2023

The glycolytic enzyme PykA has been reported to drive the metabolic control of replication through a mechanism involving PykA moonlighting functions on the essential DnaE polymerase, the DnaC helicase and regulatory determinants of PykA catalytic activity in Bacillus subtilis. The mutants of this control suffer from critical replication and cell cycle defects, showing that the metabolic control of replication plays important functions in the overall rate of replication. Using biochemical approaches, we demonstrate here that PykA interacts with DnaE for modulating its activity when the replication enzyme is bound to a primed DNA template. This interaction is mediated by the CAT domain of PykA and possibly allosterically regulated by its PEPut domain, which also operates as a potent regulator of PykA catalytic activity. Furthermore, using fluorescence microscopy we show that the CAT and PEPut domains are important for the spatial localization of origins and replication forks, independently of their function in PykA catalytic activity. Collectively, our data suggest that the metabolic control of replication depends on the recruitment of PykA by DnaE at sites of DNA synthesis. This recruitment is likely highly dynamic, as DnaE is frequently recruited to and released from replication machineries to extend the several thousand RNA primers generated from replication initiation to termination. This implies that PykA and DnaE continuously associate and dissociate at replication machineries for ensuring a highly dynamic coordination of the replication rate with metabolism.
Trichinellosis in Hospitalized Children and Adults from Western Romania: A 11-Year Retrospective Study
Authors: Pavel Radu , Ursoniu Sorin , Lupu Maria Alina , Olariu Tudor Rares
Published: April 2023

Trichinellosis, a serious and sometimes fatal human disease, is a consequence of consuming raw or improperly cooked meat containing the infective larvae of Trichinella spp. The aim of this observational cohort retrospective study is to compare the epidemiological, laboratory, clinical and therapeutic aspects of trichinellosis in children and adults from Western Romania. We investigated the medical records of patients who were diagnosed with trichinellosis and hospitalized between 17 January 2010 and 31 December 2020. One hundred thirty-three patients were identified according to the electronic databases of infectious disease hospitals, located in four counties from Western Romania. A total of 19 patients (14.28%) were children and 114 patients (85.71%) were adults. In children, the most frequent symptoms were digestive in 78.94%, followed by fever in 57.89%, eyelid or facial edema in 57.89% and myalgia in 52.63% of cases, while adults presented mainly myalgia in 87.71%, followed by fever in 77.19%, digestive symptoms in 68.42% and eyelid or facial edema in 66.66% of cases. The source of infection was pork meat products in the majority of patients (89.47%). Our results revealed a general declining trend in infection rates for both children and adults during the studied period. The vast majority of cases were severe and all required hospitalization. Education of the population along with public health strategies should be improved and maintained to fully prevent trichinellosis in Western Romania.
The Role of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s: Molecular Defects and Mitophagy-Enhancing Approaches
Authors: Farsi Reem M.
Published: April 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a progressive and chronic neurodegenerative syndrome, is categorized by cognitive and memory damage caused by the aggregations of abnormal proteins, specifically including Tau proteins and β-amyloid in brain tissue. Moreover, mitochondrial dysfunctions are the principal causes of AD, which is associated with mitophagy impairment. Investigations exploring pharmacological therapies alongside AD have explicitly concentrated on molecules accomplished in preventing/abolishing the gatherings of the abovementioned proteins and mitochondria damages. Mitophagy is the removal of dead mitochondria by the autophagy process. Damages in mitophagy, the manner of diversified mitochondrial degeneracy by autophagy resulting in an ongoing aggregation of malfunctioning mitochondria, were also suggested to support AD. Recently, plentiful reports have suggested a link between defective mitophagy and AD. This treaty highlights updated outlines of modern innovations and developments on mitophagy machinery dysfunctions in AD brains. Moreover, therapeutic and nanotherapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial dysfunction are also presented in this review. Based on the significant role of diminished mitophagy in AD, we suggest that the application of different therapeutic approaches aimed at stimulating mitophagy in AD would be beneficial for targeting or reducing the mitochondrial dysfunction induced by AD.
Advances in Early Detection of Melanoma and the Future of At-Home Testing
Authors: Garrison Zachary R. , Hall Connor M. , Fey Rosalyn M. , Clister Terri , Khan Nabeela , Nichols Rebecca , Kulkarni Rajan P.
Published: April 2023

The past decade has seen numerous advancements in approaches to melanoma detection, each with the common goal to stem the growing incidence of melanoma and its mortality rate. These advancements, while well documented to increase early melanoma detection, have also garnered considerable criticism of their efficacy for improving survival rates. In this review, we discuss the current state of such early detection approaches that do not require direct dermatologist intervention. Our findings suggest that a number of at-home and non-specialist methods exist with high accuracy for detecting melanoma, albeit with a few notable concerns worth further investigation. Additionally, research continues to find new approaches using artificial intelligence which have promise for the future.
Detecting True Change in Keratoconus after Intracorneal Ring Segment Implantation
Authors: Arnalich-Montiel Francisco , Fuente Carlota , Auladell Clara , Ortiz-Toquero Sara
Published: April 2023

Confirming the progression of keratoconus is of paramount relevance to providing the appropriate treatment. Real change should be considered consistent over time. It must be greater than the variability of the measurement of the device used to monitor the cornea. The present study aimed to assess the intraobserver repeatability and intersession reproducibility of a Scheimpflug camera in measuring corneal parameters in virgin keratoconus and intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) implantation eyes to discriminate real change from measurement noise. Sixty keratoconus and 30 ICRS eyes were included. Corneal parameters were determined in three consecutive measurements and were repeated 2 weeks later. The precision within the same session for all parameters was better in the keratoconic eyes, with mean repeatability limits 33% narrower (range 13% to 55%) compared with ICRS eyes. Mean reproducibility limits were 16% narrower (range +48% to −45%) compared with ICRS eyes. The cutoff values to consider a real corneal shape change were lower for virgin keratoconic than for ICRS, except for the thinnest corneal thickness and Stage C (ABCD system), which were the opposite. Corneal tomography measurements in ICRS eyes showed worse accuracy than in virgin keratoconus, which should be taken into account by practitioners in patients’ follow up.
Centralized and Interdisciplinary Therapy Management in the Treatment of Sarcomas
Authors: Strönisch Annika , Märdian Sven , Flörcken Anne
Published: April 2023

Sarcoma treatment requires a high level of expertise due to its rarity and heterogeneity. Sarcoma patients should, therefore, be referred to an expert centre as early as possible to ensure optimal treatment. Numerous studies have been carried out to provide evidence for this strategy. In compliance with the 2020 PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Ovid Medline, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Library databases. The subject of these studies was the centralised treatment of adult sarcoma patients at expert centres and the use of interdisciplinary tumour boards. Uncertainty in therapy, delays in referral to expert centres, and limited access to therapeutic modalities continue to be a challenge in sarcoma therapy. At expert centres, diagnostic procedures were more frequently and adequately performed, and treatment was associated with an improvement in outcomes in the majority of studies: patients benefited from longer survival, lower local recurrence rates and a better postoperative outcome. The implementation of an interdisciplinary tumour board was associated with discrepant results. In a greater number of studies, it was associated with a lower local relapse rate, better overall survival and surgical outcome. In two studies, however, a shorter overall survival was observed. The establishment of expert centres and the consistent use of interdisciplinary tumour boards are important structures for ensuring multidisciplinary therapy approaches. There is growing evidence that this holds great potential for optimising sarcoma therapy.
Successful Production of Offspring Derived from Phospholipase C Zeta-Deficient Sperm by Additional Artificial Activation
Authors: Hirose Naoki , Kikuchi Yasuyuki , Kageyama Atsuko , Sugita Hibiki , Sakurai Miu , Kawata Yui , Terakawa Jumpei , Wakayama Teruhiko , Ito Junya , Kashiwazaki Naomi
Published: April 2023

During mammalian fertilization, repetitive rises of intracellular calcium called calcium oscillations are required for full activation of oocytes. Therefore, oocytes such as round spermatid injected or somatic cell nuclear transferred require additional artificial activation which mimics the calcium oscillations. It is well recognized that sperm specific phospholipase C (PLCζ) is a strong candidate as the sperm factor which can induce calcium oscillations and, at least in mammals, the genetic mutation of PLCζ in human causes male infertility due to the lack of calcium oscillations in the oocytes. Recent studies showed that the sperm lacking PLCζ (Plcz1−/−) still could induce rise(s) of intracellular calcium in the oocytes after IVF but not intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In the ICSI oocytes, no pronuclear formation or development to the two-cell stage was observed. However, it is still unclear whether additional activation treatment can rescue the low developmental ability of Plcz1−/−-sperm-derived oocytes after ICSI. In this study, we examined whether oocytes injected with a Plcz1−/− sperm can develop to term by additional artificial activation. In oocytes injected a Plcz1−/− sperm and Plcz1−/− and eCS (another candidate of the sperm factor) double knockout sperm (Plcz1−/−eCS−/−), the rates of pronuclear formation were very low (2.0 ± 2.3% and 6.1 ± 3.7%, respectively) compared to control (92.1 ± 2.6%). However, these rates were dramatically improved by additional procedures of PLCζ-mRNA injection or SrCl2 treatment (Plcz1−/− sperm + PLCζ mRNA, Plcz1−/− sperm + SrCl2 and Plcz1−/−eCS−/− sperm + PLCζ mRNA; 64.2 ± 10.8%, 89.2 ± 2.4% and 72.6 ± 5.4%, respectively). Most of the oocytes were developed to the two-cell stage. After embryo transfer, healthy pups were obtained in all these groups (Plcz1−/− sperm + PLCζ mRNA:10.0 ± 2.8%, Plcz1−/− sperm + SrCl2:4.0 ± 4.3% and Plcz1−/−eCS−/− sperm + PLCζ mRNA: 10.0 ± 5.7%). The rate in Plcz1−/− sperm + SrCl2 group was significantly lower than that in control (26.0 ± 2.4%). Taken together, our present results show that additional activation treatment such as SrCl2 and PLCζ mRNA can fully support to develop to term even in oocyte injected Plcz1−/− sperm. In addition, PLCζ-induced oocyte activation is more suitable for successful development to term compared to that such as phenomenon induced by SrCl2. These findings will contribute to improvement for male-dependent human infertility and reproductive technologies in other mammalian species.
Micropulse Laser Trabeculoplasty with 577 nm Wavelength at 1500 or 1000 mW for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Pilot Study
Authors: Verdina Tommaso , Gironi Matteo , Battaglia Bruno , Gentile Michele , Chester Johanna , Kaleci Shaniko , Scatigna Gianluca , Mastropasqua Rodolfo , Cavallini Gian Maria
Published: April 2023

Aim: To investigate the efficacy and safety of micropulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT) using a 577 nm yellow wavelength laser randomly assigned to either 1500 or 1000 mW in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: A prospective, double-blinded study of POAG patients was performed in a single center. MLT treatment included a 577 nm micropulse laser (IRIDEX IQ 577TM, IRIDEX, Mountain View, CA, USA) to 360° of the trabecular meshwork at randomly assigned varying powers: 1500 mW in one eye (MLT 1500 group) and 1000 mW in the other (MLT 1000 group). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal central thickness (CCT), and endothelial cell count (ECC) were evaluated at baseline (T0), post-operative 1 h (T1), 24 h (T2), 1 month (T3), 3 months (T4), and 6 months (T5) after laser treatment. Topical medications were assessed pre-treatment and at T4. Results: Among the 18 eyes included, we achieved a success rate (IOP reduced > 20%) in 77% of sampled eyes. In particular, IOP reduced at T2 and T3 with both MLT 1500 and 1000 without any significant differences (IOP reduction 22.9% vs. 17.3%, respectively, MLT1500 vs. MLT1000 at T2). The IOP returned to baseline values at T4 and T5 in both groups, with a reduction in topical medications administered from 2.5 ± 1.1 to 2.0 ± 1.2 to the 1500 mW group and from 2.4 ± 1.0 to 1.9 ± 1.0 to the 1000 mW group. At 1 h post-laser treatment, a transient IOP spike was registered among the MLT1500 group. There were no differences in CCT and ECC at any timepoint according to the laser powers. Conclusions: Over a 6-month follow-up period, 577 nm MLT at either 1500 or 1000 mW reduces IOP, enabling a stable reduction in the number of topical medications required for patients treated for POAG without any significant difference in terms of effectiveness and safety.
Books to the Masses! An Investigation of Russian WWI ‘Dime Stories’
Authors: Cortesi Luca
Published: April 2023

The impact of WWI on Russian society was immediately disruptive. This effect affected every sphere of social and cultural environs. Although previous research has established that WWI was a major topic of the cultural discourse of that time, the way in which WWI literature, and in particular consumer literature, contributed to the representation of war among the mass population deserves further research. By drawing a parallel with the phenomenon of the American dime novel, this study is grounded on the analysis of the style, content, structure, and even of the ‘mere’ appearance of some 1914–1916 ‘mass’ publications aimed at the broader public. The goal of this article, therefore, is to stimulate a consistent re-evaluation of this strand of ‘consumer’ war literature and to focus on its importance as a culturological tool to have a better understanding of the cultural environment of that time.
Mitochondria in Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury and Recovery: A Concise Review
Authors: Ramachandran Anup , Jaeschke Hartmut
Published: April 2023

Mitochondria are critical organelles responsible for the maintenance of cellular energy homeostasis. Thus, their dysfunction can have severe consequences in cells responsible for energy-intensive metabolic function, such as hepatocytes. Extensive research over the last decades have identified compromised mitochondrial function as a central feature in the pathophysiology of liver injury induced by an acetaminophen (APAP) overdose, the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States. While hepatocyte mitochondrial oxidative and nitrosative stress coupled with induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition are well recognized after an APAP overdose, recent studies have revealed additional details about the organelle’s role in APAP pathophysiology. This concise review highlights these new advances, which establish the central role of the mitochondria in APAP pathophysiology, and places them in the context of earlier information in the literature. Adaptive alterations in mitochondrial morphology as well as the role of cellular iron in mitochondrial dysfunction and the organelle’s importance in liver recovery after APAP-induced injury will be discussed.
Numerical Analysis of the Mixed-Lubrication Performance of Staved Stern Tube Bearings Lubricated with Water
Authors: Tang Dongxing , Han Yanfeng , Yin Lei , Chen Yi
Published: April 2023

The present study aims to establish a mixed lubrication model for staved stern tube bearings lubricated with water, in which the average Reynolds equation and a KE elastic–plastic contact model are introduced to calculate the hydrodynamic pressure and contact pressure, respectively. The difference in the mixed lubrication behaviors between circular- and flat-staved bearings is compared; moreover, the effects of the number of staves on the mixed-lubrication performance of these two kinds of staved bearing are investigated. The mechanism of action of the number of staves in staved bearings on the mixed-lubrication performance is revealed. The numerical results show that the number of staves has a significant effect on the mixed-lubrication performance in circular- and flat-staved bearings. Furthermore, there is an optimal value for the number of staves, shown to be 30 in the current simulation, for improving the mixed-lubrication performance of flat-staved stern tube bearings lubricated with water.
The Effect of Mechanical Activation of Fly Ash on Cement-Based Materials Hydration and Hardened State Properties
Authors: Akmalaiuly Kenzhebek , Berdikul Nazerke , Pundienė Ina , Pranckevičienė Jolanta
Published: April 2023

Fly ash from coal represents the foremost waste product of fossil fuel combustion. These waste materials are most widely utilised in the cement and concrete industries, but the extent of their use is insufficient. This study investigated the physical, mineralogical, and morphological characteristics of non-treated and mechanically activated fly ash. The possibility of enhancing the hydration rate of the fresh cement paste by replacing part of the cement with non-treated and mechanically activated fly ash, and the hardened cement paste’s structure and early compressive strength performance, were evaluated. At the first stage of the study, up to 20% mass of cement was replaced by untreated and mechanically activated fly ash to understand the impact of the mechanical activation on the hydration course; rheological properties, such as spread and setting time; hydration products; mechanical properties; and microstructure of fresh and hardened cement paste. The results show that a higher amount of untreated fly ash significantly prolongs the cement hydration process, decreases hydration temperature, deteriorates the structure and decreases compressive strength. Mechanical activation caused the breakdown of large porous aggregates in fly ash, enhancing the physical properties and reactivity of fly ash particles. Due to increased fineness and pozzolanic activity by up to 15%, mechanically activated fly ash shortens the time of maximum exothermic temperature and increases this temperature by up to 16%. Due to nanosized particles and higher pozzolanic activity, mechanically activated fly ash facilitates a denser structure, improves the contact zone between the cement matrix, and increases compressive strength up to 30%.
A Low-Stress Method for Determining Static and Dynamic Material Parameters for Vibration Isolation with the Use of VMQ Silicone
Authors: Nering Krzysztof , Nering Konrad
Published: April 2023

Progressive urbanisation causes building users to be affected by increasing amounts of noise and vibrations that come from transportation and other building users. This article presents a test method that can be used to identify quantities of methyl vinyl silicone rubber (VMQ) necessary to carry out solid mechanics finite element method simulations such as Young’s modulus, Poisson ratio, and damping parameters. These parameters are necessary to model the vibration isolation used for protection against noise and vibration. The article uses an original combination of dynamic response spectrum and image processing methods to determine these quantities. The tests were carried out using one machine for the range of normal compressive stresses of 64–255 kPa with cylindrical samples of various shape factors in the range of 1–0.25. The parameters for the simulation of solid mechanics in statics were obtained from image processing based on the deformation of the sample under load; for dynamic solid mechanics, the parameters were obtained from the response spectrum of the tested system. The article shows the possibility of determining the given quantities using the original method of the synthesis of dynamic response and FEM-supported image analysis, which states the article’s novelty. Additionally, limitations and preferred ranges of sample deformation in terms of load stress and shape factor are presented.
Removal of Cesium and Strontium Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Thermally Treated Natural Zeolite
Authors: Șenilă Marin , Neag Emilia , Tănăselia Claudiu , Șenilă Lacrimioara
Published: April 2023

The radionuclides of cesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr) are dangerous products of nuclear fission that can be accidentally released into wastewater. In the present work, the capacity of thermally treated natural zeolite (NZ) from Macicasu (Romania) to remove Cs+ and Sr2+ ions from aqueous solutions in batch mode was investigated by contacting different zeolite quantities (0.5, 1, and 2 g) of 0.5–1.25 mm (NZ1) and 0.1–0.5 mm (NZ2) particle size fractions with 50 mL working solutions of Cs+ and Sr2+ (10, 50, and 100 mg L−1 initial concentrations) for 180 min. The concentration of Cs in the aqueous solutions was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), whereas the Sr concentration was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The removal efficiency of Cs+ varied between 62.8 and 99.3%, whereas Sr2+ ranged between 51.3 and 94.5%, depending on the initial concentrations, the contact time, the amount, and particle size of the adsorbent material. The sorption of Cs+ and Sr2+ was analyzed using the nonlinear form of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models and pseudo-first-order (PFO) and pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic models. The results indicated that the sorption kinetics of Cs+ and Sr2+ on thermally treated natural zeolite was described by the PSO kinetic model. Chemisorption dominates the retention of both Cs+ and Sr2+ by strong coordinate bonds with an aluminosilicate zeolite skeleton.