bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of a Wave Power Park with No-Take Zone on Decapod Abundance and Size
Authors: Bender Anke , Langhamer Olivia , Molis Markus , Sundberg Jan
Published: August 2021

Past studies have revealed higher levels of biodiversity, total abundance, and size of individuals around offshore installations of renewable energy. This study investigated the effects of Lysekil wave power park (area 0.5 km2) on the abundance and carapace size of decapods at the Swedish west coast. For that purpose, decapods were caught with cages during four consecutive summers. Two types of cages were applied to catch a wide range of decapod species and sizes. The abundance and size of decapods were not significantly different within the wave power park and up to a distance of 360 m outside of it. The catch rate, i.e., number of decapods caught in 24 h, was not significantly different among sampling locations but revealed inter-annual variation for both cage types. The results suggest a limited role of the incidental no-take zone of the small Lysekil wave power park on the abundance and size of local decapods. However, neither were negative impacts, such as decreasing abundances or smaller carapace sizes, discovered. As an increase in the number of marine renewable energy production sites is foreseen, a scaled-up and larger study addressing MPA networks and other environmental interactions should be considered.
Low Albumin, Low Bilirubin, and High Alfa-Fetoprotein Are Associated with a Rapid Renal Function Decline in a Large Population Follow-Up Study
Authors: Su Wei-Yu , Chu Neng-Sheng , Huang Jiun-Chi , Wu Pei-Yu , Lee Wen-Hsien , Liu Yi-Hsueh , Chen Szu-Chia , Su Ho-Ming
Published: August 2021

A rapid decline in renal function is associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and therefore it is important to identify those at high-risk of rapid renal function decline. The relationship between liver function and renal function is unclear. Therefore, in this longitudinal study, we aimed to investigate associations between liver function and rapid renal function decline. A total of 27,116 participants were enrolled from the Taiwan Biobank and followed for 3.8 years. A rapid decline in renal function was defined as a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≥25%. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify associations between liver function parameters (glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, albumin, α-fetoprotein [AFP], total bilirubin, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) and eGFR decline ≥ 25%. The rate of eGFR decline of ≥25% was 4.7%. Multivariable analysis showed that low albumin (odds ratio [OR], 0.173; p < 0.001), high AFP (OR, 1.006; p = 0.010), and low total bilirubin (OR, 0.588; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with eGFR decline ≥ 25% in all study participants. After excluding abnormal liver function, low albumin (OR, 0.189; p < 0.001), high AFP (OR, 1.007; p = 0.011), and low total bilirubin (OR, 0.569; p = 0.001) were still significantly associated with an eGFR decline of ≥25%. The results of this large population-based cohort study showed associations between low albumin, low bilirubin, and high AFP with a rapid renal function decline. A greater understanding of potential risk factors for a rapid decline in renal function may help to reduce the burden of renal failure in this high-risk population.
Impact of Land Use Change Due to Urbanisation on Surface Runoff Using GIS-Based SCS–CN Method: A Case Study of Xiamen City, China
Authors: Shrestha Sabita , Cui Shenghui , Xu Lilai , Wang Lihong , Manandhar Bikram , Ding Shengping
Published: August 2021

Rapid urban development results in visible changes in land use due to increase in impervious surfaces from human construction and decrease in pervious areas. Urbanisation influences the hydrological cycle of an area, resulting in less infiltration, higher flood peak, and surface runoff. This study analysed the impact of land use change due to urbanisation on surface runoff, using the geographic information system (GIS)-based soil conservation service curve number (SCS–CN) method, during the period of rapid urban development from 1980 to 2015 in Xiamen, located in south-eastern China. Land use change was analysed from the data obtained by classifying Landsat images from 1980, 1990, 2005, and 2015. Results indicated that farmland decreased the most by 14.01%, while built-up areas increased the most by 15.7%, from 1980 to 2015. Surface runoff was simulated using the GIS-based SCS–CN method for the rainfall return periods of 5, 10, 20, and 50 years. The spatial and temporal variation of runoff was obtained for each land use period. Results indicate that the increase in surface runoff was highest in the period of 1990–2005, with an increase of 10.63%. The effect of urbanisation can be realised from the amount of runoff, contributed by built-up land use type in the study area, that increased from 14.2% to 27.9% with the rise of urban expansion from 1980 to 2015. The relationship between land use and surface runoff showed that the rapid increase in constructed land has significantly influenced the surface runoff of the area. Therefore, the introduction of nature-based solutions such as green infrastructure could be a potential solution for runoff mitigation and reducing urban flood risks in the context of increasing urbanization.
Research Status and Prospect of Additive Manufactured Nickel-Titanium Shape Memory Alloys
Authors: Wen Shifeng , Gan Jie , Li Fei , Zhou Yan , Yan Chunze , Shi Yusheng
Published: August 2021

Nickel-titanium alloys have been widely used in biomedical, aerospace and other fields due to their shape memory effect, superelastic effect, as well as biocompatible and elasto-thermal properties. Additive manufacturing (AM) technology can form complex and fine structures, which greatly expands the application range of Ni-Ti alloy. In this study, the development trend of additive manufactured Ni-Ti alloy was analyzed. Subsequently, the most widely used selective laser melting (SLM) process for forming Ni-Ti alloy was summarized. Especially, the relationship between Ni-Ti alloy materials, SLM processing parameters, microstructure and properties of Ni-Ti alloy formed by SLM was revealed. The research status of Ni-Ti alloy formed by wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), electron beam melting (EBM), directional energy dedication (DED), selective laser sintering (SLS) and other AM processes was briefly described, and its mechanical properties were emphatically expounded. Finally, several suggestions concerning Ni-Ti alloy material preparation, structure design, forming technology and forming equipment in the future were put forward in order to accelerate the engineering application process of additive manufactured Ni-Ti alloy. This study provides a useful reference for scientific research and engineering application of additive manufactured Ni-Ti alloys.
Enriched Synthesis of Magnetosomes by Expanding the Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 Culture at Optimal Iron Concentration
Authors: Hong Yazhen , Kankala Ranjith Kumar , Yu Ruqi , Liu Huaqing , Liu Yuangang
Published: August 2021

The Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 species is one of the most widely used magnetotactic bacterial strains for producing magnetosomes under laboratory conditions. Nevertheless, there exist several challenges in expanding and purifying the AMB-1 culture due to the restricted culture conditions. In an attempt to enrich the production of magnetosomes, this study reports the utilization of fermenter culture, which substantially promotes the cell densities at different concentrations of iron content. The experimental results confirmed magnetosomes’ high yield (production rate of 21.1 mg L−1) at the iron content of 0.2 μmol L−1. Moreover, different characterization techniques systematically confirmed the coated lipid membrane, particle size, dispersity, stability, and elemental composition of magnetosomes. Notably, the fermenter culture-based process resulted in highly discrete, dispersed, and stable magnetosomes with an average particle diameter of 50 nm and presented the integrated lipid membrane around the surface. The chemical composition by EDS of magnetosomes represented the presence of various elements, i.e., C, O, Na, P, and Fe, at appropriate proportions. In conclusion, the culture method in our study effectively provides a promising approach towards the culture of the magnetotactic bacterium for the enriched production of magnetosomes.
State Space Modeling with Non-Negativity Constraints Using Quadratic Forms
Authors: Theodosiadou Ourania , Tsaklidis George
Published: August 2021

State space model representation is widely used for the estimation of nonobservable (hidden) random variables when noisy observations of the associated stochastic process are available. In case the state vector is subject to constraints, the standard Kalman filtering algorithm can no longer be used in the estimation procedure, since it assumes the linearity of the model. This kind of issue is considered in what follows for the case of hidden variables that have to be non-negative. This restriction, which is common in many real applications, can be faced by describing the dynamic system of the hidden variables through non-negative definite quadratic forms. Such a model could describe any process where a positive component represents “gain”, while the negative one represents “loss”; the observation is derived from the difference between the two components, which stands for the “surplus”. Here, a thorough analysis of the conditions that have to be satisfied regarding the existence of non-negative estimations of the hidden variables is presented via the use of the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions.
Laboratory Scale Evaluation of Fertiliser Factory Wastewater Treatment through Membrane Distillation and Reverse Osmosis
Authors: Tagliabue M. , Tonziello J. , Bottino A. , Capannelli G. , Comite A. , Pagliero M. , Boero F. , Cattaneo C.
Published: August 2021

The incumbent water stress scenario imposes wastewater valorisation to freshwater, promoting technology for its effective treatment. Wastewater from fertiliser factories is quite problematic because of its relevant acidity and solute content. Its treatment through vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) was evaluated through laboratory scale tests at 40 °C and 25 mbar vacuum pressure with polytetrafluoroethylene and polypropylene flat-sheet porous membranes. The wastewater from a partially disused Italian industrial site was considered. VMD distillate fluxes between 22 and 57.4 L m−2 h−1 (LMH), depending on the pore size of the membranes, along with very high retention (R > 99%) for anions (Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, PO43−), NH4+, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were observed. Laboratory scale reverse osmosis (RO) tests at 25 °C and increasing of the operating pressure (from 20 bar to 40 bar) were carried out with a seawater desalination membrane for comparison purposes. Permeability values around 1.1 LMH/bar almost independently of the operating pressure were observed. Lower retentions than those measured from VMD tests were found. Finally, for any given RO operating pressure, the flux recovery ratio (FRR) calculated from permeate fluxes measured with pure water before and after wastewater treatment was always much lower that evaluated for VMD membranes.
In Vitro Biocompatibility Evaluation of a New Co-Cr-B Alloy with Potential Biomedical Application
Authors: Garcia-Mendez María Cristina , Urrutia-Baca Victor Hugo , Cuao-Moreu Carlos A. , Lorenzo-Bonet Ernesto , Alvarez-Vera Melvyn , Ortiz-Martinez David Mizael , de la Garza-Ramos Myriam Angelica
Published: August 2021

Cobalt–chromium (Co-Cr) alloys have been used in a wide variety of biomedical applications, including dental, cardiovascular, and orthopedic devices. In vitro studies have shown that the mineralization of cells involved in osteogenesis is regulated by boron. The development of a new cobalt-chromium-boron (Co-Cr-B) alloy improves the mechanical properties of the metal, such as wear resistance, and meets biocompatibility requirements. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation and biocompatibility in in vitro assays. Human dental pulp mesenchymal cells (hDPSCs) were isolated from volunteers and then co-cultured with the Co-Cr plus boron alloy from 0.3% to 1% for 15 days, while the formation of calcium deposits was quantified by Alizarin red staining and the expression of genes was related to osteodifferentiation by RT-qPCR. Simultaneously, the cytotoxicity of our alloy was evaluated by MTT assay and the change in the gene expression of cytokines commonly associated with inflammatory processes. The results showed low cytotoxicity when cells were treated with the Co-Cr-B alloy, and no change in the gene expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 was observed compared to the untreated control (p > 0.05). The osteoinduction results shown an increase in mineralization in hDPSCs treated with Co-Cr-B alloy with 1.0% B. In addition, a significant increase in mRNA levels for collagen type 1 in with 0.3% boron and alkaline phosphatase and Runx2 with 0.6% boron were observed. The addition of Boron to the ASTM F75 Co-Cr base alloy improves the biocompatible characteristics. No cytotoxicity and any change of the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells treated with the cobalt-chromium-boron alloy was observed in vitro assays. Furthermore, our alloy acts as an osteoinductive in osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Therefore, our results could set the standard for the development of in vivo trials and in the future, it could be considered as an alternative for regenerative therapy.
Anti-Proliferative Potential of Secondary Metabolites from the Marine Sponge Theonella sp.: Moving from Correlation toward Causation
Authors: Lai Kuei-Hung , Peng Bo-Rong , Su Chun-Han , El-Shazly Mohamed , Sun Yi-Long , Shih Ming-Cheng , Huang Yu-Ting , Yen Pei-Tzu , Wang Lung-Shuo , Su Jui-Hsin
Published: August 2021

Marine sponges have been recognized as a rich source of potential anti-proliferative metabolites. Currently, there are two sponge-derived anti-cancer agents (a macrolide and a nucleoside) isolated from the Porifera phylum, suggesting the great potential of this sponge as a rich source for anti-neoplastic agents. To search for more bioactive metabolites from this phylum, we examined the EtOAc extract of Theonella sp. sponge. We isolated seven compounds (1–7), including four 4-methylene sterols (1–4), two nucleosides (5 and 6), and one macrolide (7). Among them, theonellasterol L (1) was identified for the first time, while 5′-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (5) and 5′-O-acetylthymidine (6) were the first identified deoxyuridine and thymidine derivatives from the sponge Theonella sp. These structures were elucidated based on their spectroscopic data. The anti-proliferation activity of compounds 1–7 against the MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, T-47D, HCT-116, DLD-1, K562, and Molt 4 cancer cell lines was determined. The results indicated that the 14-/15-oxygenated moiety played an important role in the antiproliferative activity and the macrolide derivatives dominated the anti-proliferative effect of the sponge Theonella sp. The in silico analysis, using a chemical global positioning system for natural products (ChemGPS-NP), indicated an anti-proliferative mode of actions (MOA) suggesting the potential applications of the isolated active metabolites as anti-proliferative agents.
A Novel Microfluidic Device for the Neutrophil Functional Phenotype Analysis: Effects of Glucose and Its Derivatives AGEs
Authors: Yang Ke , Yang Xiao , Gao Chaoru , Hua Changyi , Hong Chenggang , Zhu Ling
Published: August 2021

Neutrophil dysfunction is closely related to the pathophysiology of patients with diabetes mellitus, but existing immunoassays are difficult to implement in clinical applications, and neutrophil’s chemotaxis as a functional biomarker for diabetes mellitus prognostic remains largely unexplored. Herein, a novel microfluidic device consisted of four independent test units with four cell docking structures was developed to study the neutrophil chemotaxis, which allowed multiple cell migration observations under a single field of view (FOV) and guaranteed more reliable results. In vitro studies, the chemotaxis of healthy neutrophils to N-Formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) gradient (0, 10, 100, and 1000 nM) was concentration-dependent. The distinct promotion or suppression in the chemotaxis of metformin or pravastatin pretreated cells were observed after exposure to 100 nM fMLP gradient, indicating the feasibility and efficiency of this novel microfluidic device for clinically relevant evaluation of neutrophil functional phenotype. Further, the chemotaxis of neutrophils pretreated with 25, 50, or 70 mM of glucose was quantitatively lower than that of the control groups (i.e., 5 mM normal serum level). Neutrophils exposed to highly concentrated advanced glycation end products (AGEs) (0.2, 0.5, or 1.0 μM; 0.13 μM normal serum AGEs level), a product of prolonged hyperglycemia, showed that the higher the AGEs concentration was, the weaker the migration speed became. Specifically, neutrophils exposed to high concentrations of glucose or AGEs also showed a stronger drifting along with the flow, further demonstrating the change of neutrophil chemotaxis. Interestingly, adding the N-benzyl-4-chloro-N-cyclohexylbenzamide (FPS-ZM1) (i.e., high-affinity RAGE inhibitor) into the migration medium with AGEs could hinder the binding between AGEs and AGE receptor (RAGE) located on the neutrophil, thereby keeping the normal chemotaxis of neutrophils than the ones incubated with AGEs alone. These results revealed the negative effects of high concentrations of glucose and AGEs on the neutrophil chemotaxis, suggesting that patients with diabetes should manage serum AGEs and also pay attention to blood glucose indexes. Overall, this novel microfluidic device could significantly characterize the chemotaxis of neutrophils and have the potential to be further improved into a tool for risk stratification of diabetes mellitus.
Evidence of Extended Thermo-Stability of Typhoid Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccines
Authors: Gao Fang , Lockyer Kay , Logan Alastair , Davis Sarah , Bolgiano Barbara , Rijpkema Sjoerd , Singh Gopal , Prasad Sai D. , Dondapati Samuel Pradeep , Sounkhla Gurbaksh Singh
Published: August 2021

Typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCV) are effective in preventing enteric fever caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi in Southeast Asia and Africa. To facilitate vaccination with the Vi capsular polysaccharide–tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine, Typbar TCV, and allow it to be transported and stored outside a cold chain just prior to administration, an extended controlled-temperature conditions (ECTC) study was performed to confirm the quality of the vaccine at 40 °C for 3 days at the end of its shelf-life (36 months at 2–8 °C). Studies performed in parallel by the vaccine manufacturer, Bharat Biotech International Limited, and an independent national control laboratory (NIBSC) monitored its stability-indicating parameters: O-acetylation of the Vi polysaccharide, integrity of the polysaccharide–protein conjugate, and its molecular size and pH. ECTC samples stored at 40 °C and 45 °C in comparison with control samples stored at 4 °C and 55 or 56 °C, were shown to have stable O-acetylation and pH; only very slight increases in the percentage of free saccharide and corresponding decreases in molecular size were observed. The deoxycholate method for precipitating conjugated polysaccharide was very sensitive to small incremental increases in percentage of free saccharide, in line with storage temperature and duration. This extended ECTC study demonstrated minimal structural changes to the Vi polysaccharide and conjugate vaccine and a stable formulation following extended exposure to elevated temperatures for the desired durations. This outcome supports the manufacturer’s ECTC claim for the vaccine to be allowed to be taken outside the cold chain before its administration.
Potential for Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Mineralization at the A6 Anomaly, North-West British Columbia, Canada: Stratigraphy, Lithogeochemistry, and Alteration Mineralogy and Chemistry
Authors: Brueckner Stefanie M. , Johnson Gregory , Wafforn Stephanie , Gibson Harold , Sherlock Ross , Anstey Christina , McNaughton Ken
Published: August 2021

The Middle Jurassic A6 Anomaly is located 30 km southeast of Eskay Creek, north-central British Columbia and consists of thick, altered felsic igneous rocks overlain by a mafic volcano-sedimentary package. Lithogeochemistry on igneous rocks, X-ray diffraction on altered felsic units, and electron probe microanalysis and secondary ion mass spectrometry on illite and quartz were applied to explore the volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) potential, characterize alteration, and determine fluid conditions at the A6 Anomaly. Lithogeochemistry revealed calc-alkaline rhyodacite to trachyte of predominantly FII type, tholeiitic basalts with Nb/Yb < 1.6 (i.e., Group A), and transitional to calc-alkaline basalts and andesites with Nb/Yb > 2.2 (i.e., Group B). The felsic units showed weakly to moderately phyllic alteration (quartz–illite with minor orthoclase and trace chlorite–pyrite–calcite–barite–rutile). Illite ranged in composition from illite/smectite (K = 0.5–0.69 apfu) to almost endmember illite (K = 0.69–0.8 apfu), and formed from feldspar destruction by mildly acidic, relatively low temperature, oxidized hydrothermal fluids. The average δ18O composition was 10.7 ± 3.0‰ and 13.4 ± 1.3‰ relative to Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water for illite and quartz, respectively. Geothermometry involving illite composition and oxygen isotope composition on illite and quartz yielded average fluid temperatures of predominantly 200–250 °C. Lithogeochemical results showed that the A6 Anomaly occurred in a late-Early to Middle Jurassic evolving back-arc basin, further east then previously recognized and in which transitional to calc-alkaline units formed by crustal assimilation to enriched Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt (EMORB) (i.e., felsic units, Group B), followed by thinning of the crust resulting in tholeiitic normalized MORB basalts (i.e., Group A) with a minor crustal component. The alteration assemblage is representative of distal footwall alteration, and metal transport in this zone was limited despite favorable temperature, pH, and redox state, indicating a metal depleted source (i.e., felsic units).
Antihypertensive Effect of Galegine from Biebersteinia heterostemon in Rats
Authors: Wang Weien , Zhang Xiaofeng
Published: August 2021

The aerial part of Biebersteinia heterostemon Maxim. (Geraniaceae Biebersteiniaceae) known as ming jian na bao in Chinese, has been traditionally used in Tibetan folk medicine for treatment of diabetes and hypertension. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of galegine obtained from an ethanol extract of the entire Biebersteinia heterostemon plant on the rat’s cardiovascular system in order to characterize its contributions as an antihypertensive agent. The antihypertensive effect of galegine was investigated in pentobarbital-anesthetized hypertensive rats at three dose levels based on the LD50 of galegine. Meanwhile a positive control group received dimaprit with the same procedure. Dimaprit infusion induced a significant hypotension which declined by an average margin of 20%. Simultaneously, single administration of galegine at the doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection induced an immediate and dose-dependent decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) by an average margin of 40% with a rapid increase in heart rate (HR). We demonstrated that galegine is effective in reducing blood pressure in anesthetized hypertensive rats with rapid onset and a dose-related duration of the effects. The results indicate that galegine was the bioactive compound which can be used as a pharmacophore to design new hypertensive agents.
Advanced Oxidation Processes Coupled with Nanomaterials for Water Treatment
Authors: Cardoso Inês M. F. , Cardoso Rita M. F. , da Silva Joaquim C. G. Esteves
Published: August 2021

Water quality management will be a priority issue in the near future. Indeed, due to scarcity and/or contamination of the water, regulatory frameworks will be increasingly strict to reduce environmental impacts of wastewater and to allow water to be reused. Moreover, drinking water quality standards must be improved in order to account for the emerging pollutants that are being detected in tap water. These tasks can only be achieved if new improved and sustainable water treatment technologies are developed. Nanomaterials are improving the ongoing research on advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). This work reviews the most important AOPs, namely: persulfate, chlorine and NH2Cl based processes, UV/H2O2, Fenton processes, ozone, and heterogeneous photocatalytic processes. A critical review of the current coupling of nanomaterials to some of these AOPs is presented. Besides the active role of the nanomaterials in the degradation of water contaminants/pollutants in the AOPs, the relevance of their adsorbent/absorbent function in these processes is also discussed.
Calcium-Channel-Blocker-Influenced Gingival Enlargement: A Conundrum Demystified
Authors: Tonsekar Pallavi , Tonsekar Vidya
Published: August 2021

The aim of the article is to discuss the development of calcium channel blocker (CCB) influenced gingival enlargement. Data and Sources: MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Search databases. The article reviews contemporary and classic literature with a focus on pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and risk factors associated with this condition. The application of various treatment options is also discussed. Study selection: Clinical studies, systematic reviews, in vitro studies, and case reports. Conclusion: Dental plaque, genetic predisposition, and type of drug used are critical in the development of drug-influenced gingival enlargement (DIGE). The surgical technique employed to treat the pathosis plays an important role in long term success of therapy. There has been an upward trend in occurrence of CCB-influenced gingival enlargement due to the unbridled use of CCBs. Due to the cosmetic and functional ramifications; the review underscores the importance of clinical research on prevention, treatment, and causes of recurrence of CCB-influenced gingival enlargement.
Aelurostrongylus abstrusus Antibody Seroprevalence Reveals That Cats Are at Risk of Infection throughout Germany
Authors: Schnyder Manuela , Schaper Roland , Gori Francesca , Hafner Carola , Strube Christina
Published: August 2021

Cats infected with the metastrongylid nematode Aelurostrongylus abstrusus may show clinical signs ranging from mild to severe respiratory disease or remain unobserved, despite damages present in the lung tissue. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and distribution of A. abstrusus in cats by testing serum samples from all over Germany to identify potential risk areas and strengthen disease awareness accordingly. Sera of 2998 cats were screened for the presence of antibodies against A. abstrusus by ELISA, and the data were evaluated by a geographic information system to visualise the regional distribution of the analysed samples. Overall, 12.0% of the samples tested positive (361/2998 cats, 95% confidence interval: 10.9–13.3%). Seropositive cats were identified throughout the country, suggesting that all cats in Germany with outdoor access are at risk of A. abstrusus infection and that the infection is overall underdiagnosed. Increased testing for A. abstrusus infection would allow earlier detection of infected animals, hence improving the life quality and health of cats and preventing potential death under anaesthesia.
Purinergic P2Y2 and P2X4 Receptors Are Involved in the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Metastatic Potential of Gastric Cancer Derived Cell Lines
Authors: Reyna-Jeldes Mauricio , De la Fuente-Ortega Erwin , Cerda Daniela , Velázquez-Miranda Erandi , Pinto Katherine , Vázquez-Cuevas Francisco G. , Coddou Claudio
Published: August 2021

Gastric cancer (GC) is a major health concern worldwide, presenting a complex pathophysiology that has hindered many therapeutic efforts so far. In this context, purinergic signaling emerges as a promising pathway for intervention due to its known role in cancer cell proliferation and migration. In this work, we explored in more detail the role of purinergic signaling in GC with several experimental approaches. First, we measured extracellular ATP concentrations on GC-derived cell lines (AGS, MKN-45, and MKN-74), finding higher levels of extracellular ATP than those obtained for the non-tumoral gastric cell line GES-1. Next, we established the P2Y2 and P2X4 receptors (P2Y2R and P2X4R) expression profile on these cells and evaluated their role on cell proliferation and migration after applying overexpression and knockdown strategies. In general, a P2Y2R overexpression and P2X4R downregulation pattern were observed on GC cell lines, and when these patterns were modified, concomitant changes in cell viability were observed. These modifications on gene expression also modified transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), showing that higher P2Y2R levels decreased TEER, and high P2X4R expression had the opposite effect, suggesting that P2Y2R and P2X4R activation could promote and suppress epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), respectively. These effects were confirmed after treating AGS cells with UTP, a P2Y2R-agonist that modified the expression patterns towards mesenchymal markers. To further characterize the effects of P2Y2R activation on EMT, we used cDNA microarrays and observed that UTP induced important transcriptional changes on several cell processes like cell proliferation induction, apoptosis inhibition, cell differentiation induction, and cell adhesion reduction. These results suggest that purinergic signaling plays a complex role in GC pathophysiology, and changes in purinergic balance can trigger tumorigenesis in non-tumoral gastric cells.
Hyaluronic Acid Coating Reduces the Leakage of Melittin Encapsulated in Liposomes and Increases Targeted Delivery to Melanoma Cells
Authors: Li Yanyan , Ruan Shuyao , Wang Zhi , Feng Nianping , Zhang Yongtai
Published: August 2021

Melittin is a promising antitumor substance; however, it is a nonspecific cytolytic peptide, which limits its clinical application. In this study, melittin liposomes (Mel-Lip) and hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified Mel-Lip (Mel-HA-Lip) were designed to reduce the toxicity and increase the anti-tumor effects of melittin. The optimal preparation procedure was evaluated using a uniform design based on the single factor method, and the concentration of HA was determined based on the cellular uptake of coumarin 6 labeled HA-Lip. Liposomes and HA-modified liposomes were evaluated in vitro by assessing cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and release behavior. Liposomes prepared in the optimum formulation improved stability, with a particle size of 132.7 ± 1.55 nm, zeta potential of −11.5 ± 1.51 mV, entrapment efficiency of 86.25 ± 1.28%, and drug-loading efficiency of 3.91 ± 0.49%. Cellular uptake tests revealed that the uptake of nanoparticles significantly increased with HA modification, suggesting that HA modification enhanced the internalization of liposomes within cells, which was consistent with the results of the cytotoxicity analysis. Furthermore, in vitro release experiments showed that Mel-HA-Lip possessed a stronger sustained-release effect compared with Mel-Lip. The results of this experiment provide insight into the potential tumor-targeting effects of melittin.
Development of Arteannuin B Sustained-Release Microspheres for Anti-Tumor Therapy by Integrated Experimental and Molecular Modeling Approaches
Authors: Wang Yanqing , Huang Weijuan , Wang Nannan , Ouyang Defang , Xiao Lifeng , Zhang Sirui , Ou Xiaozheng , He Tingsha , Yu Rongmin , Song Liyan
Published: August 2021

Arteannuin B (AB) has been found to demonstrate obvious anti-tumor activity. However, AB is not available for clinical use due to its very low solubility and very short half-life. This study aimed to develop AB long sustained-release microspheres (ABMs) to improve the feasibility of clinical applications. Firstly, AB-polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microspheres were prepared by a single emulsification method. In vitro characterization studies showed that ABMs had a low burst release and stable in vitro release for up to one week. The particle size of microspheres was 69.10 μm (D50). The drug loading is 37.8%, and the encapsulation rate is 85%. Moreover, molecular dynamics modeling was firstly used to simulate the preparation process of microspheres, which clearly indicated the molecular image of microspheres and provided in-depth insights for understanding several key preparation parameters. Next, in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK) study was carried out to evaluate its sustained release effect in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Subsequently, the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method with human lung cancer cells (A549) was used to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of ABMs, which showed the IC50 of ABMs (3.82 μM) to be lower than that of AB (16.03 μM) at day four. Finally, in vivo anti-tumor activity and basic toxicity studies were performed on BALB/c nude mice by subcutaneous injection once a week, four times in total. The relative tumor proliferation rate T/C of AMBs was lower than 40% and lasted for 21 days after administration. The organ index, organ staining, and tumor cell staining indicated the excellent safety of ABMs than Cis-platinum. In summary, the ABMs were successfully developed and evaluated with a low burst release and a stable release within a week. Molecular dynamics modeling was firstly applied to investigate the molecular mechanism of the microsphere preparation. Moreover, the ABMs possess excellent in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity and low toxicity, showing great potential for clinical applications.
Treatment of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria after Implementation of an Inpatient Urine Culture Algorithm in the Electronic Medical Record
Authors: Osiemo Dianne , Schroeder Danny K. , Klepser Donald G. , Van Schooneveld Trevor C. , Watkins Andrew B. , Bergman Scott J.
Published: August 2021

Ordering urine cultures in patients without pyuria is associated with the inappropriate treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB). In 2015, our institution implemented recommendations based on practice guidelines for the management of ASB and revised the urine culture ordering process to limit cultures in immunocompetent patients without pyuria. The purpose of this study was to determine how the treatment of ASB has changed over time since altering the urine culture ordering process to reduce unnecessary cultures at an academic medical center. A quasi-experimental study was conducted for inpatients with urine cultures from January to March of 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020. The primary outcome was the antibiotic treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria for over 24 h. The secondary outcomes were the total days of antibiotic therapy, type of antibiotic prescribed and overall urine culture rates at the hospital. A total of 200 inpatients with ASB were included, 50 at random from each year. In both 2014 and 2015, 70% of the patients with ASB received antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics were prescribed to 68% and 54% of patients with ASB in 2016 and 2020, respectively. The average duration of therapy decreased from 5.12 days in 2014 to 3.46 days in 2020. Although the urine cultures were reduced, there was no immediate impact in the prescribing rates for patients with ASB after implementing this institutional guidance and an altered urine culture ordering process. Over time, there was an observed improvement in prescribing and the total days of antibiotic therapy. This could be attributed to increased familiarity with the guidelines, culture ordering practices or improved documentation. Based on these findings, additional provider education is needed to reinforce the guideline recommendations on the management of ASB.
Soft Polymer-Based Technique for Cellular Force Sensing
Authors: Yu Zhuonan , Liu Kuo-Kang
Published: August 2021

Soft polymers have emerged as a vital type of material adopted in biomedical engineering to perform various biomechanical characterisations such as sensing cellular forces. Distinct advantages of these materials used in cellular force sensing include maintaining normal functions of cells, resembling in vivo mechanical characteristics, and adapting to the customised functionality demanded in individual applications. A wide range of techniques has been developed with various designs and fabrication processes for the desired soft polymeric structures, as well as measurement methodologies in sensing cellular forces. This review highlights the merits and demerits of these soft polymer-based techniques for measuring cellular contraction force with emphasis on their quantitativeness and cell-friendliness. Moreover, how the viscoelastic properties of soft polymers influence the force measurement is addressed. More importantly, the future trends and advancements of soft polymer-based techniques, such as new designs and fabrication processes for cellular force sensing, are also addressed in this review.
Poly(butylene succinate-co-ε-caprolactone) Copolyesters: Enzymatic Synthesis in Bulk and Thermal Properties
Authors: Núñez María , Muñoz-Guerra Sebastián , Martínez de Ilarduya Antxon
Published: August 2021

This work explores for the first time the enzymatic synthesis of poly(butylene-co-ε-caprolactone) (PBSCL) copolyesters in bulk using commercially available monomers (dimethyl succinate (DMS), 1,4-butanediol (BD), and ε-caprolactone (CL)). A preliminary kinetic study was carried out which demonstrated the higher reactivity of DMS over CL in the condensation/ring opening polymerization reaction, catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B. PBSCL copolyesters were obtained with high molecular weights and a random microstructure, as determined by 13C NMR. They were thermally stable up to 300 °C, with thermal stability increasing with the content of CL in the copolyester. All of them were semicrystalline, with melting temperatures and enthalpies decreasing up to the eutectic point observed at intermediate compositions, and glass transition temperatures decreasing with the content of CL in the copolyester. The use of CALB provided copolyesters free from toxic metallic catalyst, which is very useful if the polymer is intended to be used for biomedical applications.
Optimization of a Multi-Energy Complementary Distributed Energy System Based on Comparisons of Two Genetic Optimization Algorithms
Authors: Liu Changrong , Wang Hanqing , Tang Yifang , Wang Zhiyong
Published: August 2021

The development and utilization of low-carbon energy systems has become a hot topic of energy research in the international community. The construction of a multi-energy complementary distributed energy system (MCDES) is researched in this paper. Based on the multi-objective optimization theory, the planning optimization of an MCDES is studied, and a three-dimensional objective-optimization model is constructed by considering the constraints of the objective function and decision variables. Aiming at the optimization problem of building terminals for the MCDES studied in the paper, two genetic optimization algorithms—Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) and Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III (NSGA-III)—are used for calculation based on an example analysis. The constraint conditions of practical problems were added to the existing algorithms. Combined with the comparison of the solution quality and the optimal compromise solution of the two algorithms, a multi-decision method is proposed to obtain the optimal solution based on the Pareto optimal frontier of the two algorithms. Finally, the optimal decision scheme of the example is determined and the effectiveness and reliability of the optimization model are verified. Under the application of the MCDES optimization model studied in this paper, the iteration speed and hypervolume index of NSGA-III are found to be better than those of NSGA-II. The values of the life cycle cost and life cycle carbon emission objectives after the optimization of NSGA-III are indicated as 2% and 14% lower, respectively, than those of NSGA-II. The primary energy efficiency of NSGA-III is shown to be 20% higher than that of NSGA-II. According to the optimal decision, the energy operation strategies of the example MCDES with each typical day in the four seasons indicate that good integrated energy application and low-carbon operation performance are shown during the four-seasons operation process. The consumption of renewable energy is significant, which effectively reduces the application of high-grade energy. Thus, the theoretical guidance and engineering application reference are provided for MCDES design planning and operation optimization.
Platform Motions and Mooring System Coupled Solver for a Moored Floating Platform in a Wave
Authors: Lee Sang Chul , Song Seongjin , Park Sunho
Published: August 2021

In advance of building moored floating offshore platforms, in recent years, there has been a greater demand for two-way coupled simulations between a motion solver based on the viscous flow theory and a mooring line model, including cable dynamics. This paper introduces open-source libraries such as MoorDyn (the lumped-mass mooring line model) and OpenFOAM (the computational fluid dynamics libraries). It describes the methods by which they can be coupled bi-directionally. In each time step, the platform motions calculated by OpenFOAM are transferred to MoorDyn as the boundary conditions for the mooring system analysis. In contrast, MoorDyn calculates the restoring force and moment due to the mooring system and transfers them to OpenFOAM. The restoring force and moment act on the platform as the external force and moment for the platform motions in the next time step. The static tension and profile of the mooring system, dynamic tension of the mooring system, and free decay motions of the floating buoy in the still water were simulated to check the accuracy of OpenFOAM and MoorDyn. The coupled solver was used to produce simulations of the moored decay motions of the floating buoy in the still water and the moored motions with the Stokes 5th order wave. All simulation results were compared and showed good agreement with the numerical solution and experiment results. In addition, the characteristics of each solver were investigated.
Neoliberalism, Postsecularism, and the End of Religion
Authors: Crockett Clayton
Published: August 2021

This article examines the situation of religion in the context of contemporary neoliberalism. I argue that neoliberalism is a symptom of a fatal crisis in modern liberalism, which is brought about by geophysical planetary limits to growth. The concept of religion is a modern one that emerges from a secularized Christianity, and as liberalism declines, religion as a category is also declining. This phenomenon can be analyzed in terms of what I call postsecularism. Postsecularism indicates the breakdown of the modern divide within liberalism that assigns religion to a private sphere of belief that is separate from political-civil reason. Postsecularism attends to the ways that what we call religion exceed their modern frames and become deprivatized and politicized. In this process, spiritual-political forces are liberated from the modern framework of religion. Recent movements called New Materialism and New Animism can be seen as attempts to conceptualize this development. Finally, as an example, I turn to a recent book by Elizabeth Povinelli called Geontopower to show how religion fails to capture a profound entanglement of spiritual and political phenomena in neoliberalism, or what she calls late liberalism.
GMSRI: A Texture-Based Martian Surface Rock Image Dataset
Authors: Wang Cong , Zhang Zian , Zhang Yongqiang , Tian Rui , Ding Mingli
Published: August 2021

CNN-based Martian rock image processing has attracted much attention in Mars missions lately, since it can help planetary rover autonomously recognize and collect high value science targets. However, due to the difficulty of Martian rock image acquisition, the accuracy of the processing model is affected. In this paper, we introduce a new dataset called “GMSRI” that is a mixture of real Mars images and synthetic counterparts which are generated by GAN. GMSRI aims to provide a set of Martian rock images sorted by the texture and spatial structure of rocks. This paper offers a detailed analysis of GMSRI in its current state: Five sub-trees with 28 leaf nodes and 30,000 images in total. We show that GMSRI is much larger in scale and diversity than the current same kinds of datasets. Constructing such a database is a challenging task, and we describe the data collection, selection and generation processes carefully in this paper. Moreover, we evaluate the effectiveness of the GMSRI by an image super-resolution task. We hope that the scale, diversity and hierarchical structure of GMSRI can offer opportunities to researchers in the Mars exploration community and beyond.
Design, Development, and Testing of an Intelligent Wearable Robotic Exoskeleton Prototype for Upper Limb Rehabilitation
Authors: Vélez-Guerrero Manuel Andrés , Callejas-Cuervo Mauro , Mazzoleni Stefano
Published: August 2021

Neuromotor rehabilitation and recovery of upper limb functions are essential to improve the life quality of patients who have suffered injuries or have pathological sequels, where it is desirable to enhance the development of activities of daily living (ADLs). Modern approaches such as robotic-assisted rehabilitation provide decisive factors for effective motor recovery, such as objective assessment of the progress of the patient and the potential for the implementation of personalized training plans. This paper focuses on the design, development, and preliminary testing of a wearable robotic exoskeleton prototype with autonomous Artificial Intelligence-based control, processing, and safety algorithms that are fully embedded in the device. The proposed exoskeleton is a 1-DoF system that allows flexion-extension at the elbow joint, where the chosen materials render it compact. Different operation modes are supported by a hierarchical control strategy, allowing operation in autonomous mode, remote control mode, or in a leader-follower mode. Laboratory tests validate the proper operation of the integrated technologies, highlighting a low latency and reasonable accuracy. The experimental result shows that the device can be suitable for use in providing support for diagnostic and rehabilitation processes of neuromotor functions, although optimizations and rigorous clinical validation are required beforehand.