bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiac Hamp mRNA Is Predominantly Expressed in the Right Atrium and Does Not Respond to Iron
Authors: Bigorra Mir Maria , Charlebois Edouard , Tsyplenkova Sofiya , Fillebeen Carine , Pantopoulos Kostas
Published: March 2023

Hepcidin is a liver-derived hormone that controls systemic iron traffic. It is also expressed in the heart, where it acts locally. We utilized cell and mouse models to study the regulation, expression, and function of cardiac hepcidin. Hepcidin-encoding Hamp mRNA was induced upon differentiation of C2C12 cells to a cardiomyocyte-like phenotype and was not further stimulated by BMP6, BMP2, or IL-6, the major inducers of hepatic hepcidin. The mRNAs encoding hepcidin and its upstream regulator hemojuvelin (Hjv) are primarily expressed in the atria of the heart, with ~20-fold higher Hamp mRNA levels in the right vs. left atrium and negligible expression in the ventricles and apex. Hjv−/− mice, a model of hemochromatosis due to suppression of liver hepcidin, exhibit only modest cardiac Hamp deficiency and minor cardiac dysfunction. Dietary iron manipulations did not significantly affect cardiac Hamp mRNA in the atria of wild-type or Hjv−/− mice. Two weeks following myocardial infarction, Hamp was robustly induced in the liver and heart apex but not atria, possibly in response to inflammation. We conclude that cardiac Hamp is predominantly expressed in the right atrium and is partially regulated by Hjv; however, it does not respond to iron and other inducers of hepatic hepcidin.
Specificity Proteins (Sp) and Cancer
Authors: Safe Stephen
Published: March 2023

The specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors (TFs) Sp1, Sp2, Sp3 and Sp4 exhibit structural and functional similarities in cancer cells and extensive studies of Sp1 show that it is a negative prognostic factor for patients with multiple tumor types. In this review, the role of Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 in the development of cancer and their regulation of pro-oncogenic factors and pathways is reviewed. In addition, interactions with non-coding RNAs and the development of agents that target Sp transcription factors are also discussed. Studies on normal cell transformation into cancer cell lines show that this transformation process is accompanied by increased levels of Sp1 in most cell models, and in the transformation of muscle cells into rhabdomyosarcoma, both Sp1 and Sp3, but not Sp4, are increased. The pro-oncogenic functions of Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 in cancer cell lines were studied in knockdown studies where silencing of each individual Sp TF decreased cancer growth, invasion and induced apoptosis. Silencing of an individual Sp TF was not compensated for by the other two and it was concluded that Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 are examples of non-oncogene addicted genes. This conclusion was strengthened by the results of Sp TF interactions with non-coding microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs where Sp1 contributed to pro-oncogenic functions of Sp/non-coding RNAs. There are now many examples of anticancer agents and pharmaceuticals that induce downregulation/degradation of Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4, yet clinical applications of drugs specifically targeting Sp TFs are not being used. The application of agents targeting Sp TFs in combination therapies should be considered for their potential to enhance treatment efficacy and decrease toxic side effects.
Highly Efficient Cationic Polymerization of β-Pinene, a Bio-Based, Renewable Olefin, with TiCl4 Catalyst from Cryogenic to Energy-Saving Room Temperature Conditions
Authors: Verebélyi Klára , Szabó Ákos , Réti Zsombor , Szarka Györgyi , Villányi Ákos , Iván Béla
Published: March 2023

Polymers based on renewable monomers are projected to have a significant role in the sustainable economy, even in the near future. Undoubtedly, the cationically polymerizable β-pinene, available in considerable quantities, is one of the most promising bio-based monomers for such purposes. In the course of our systematic investigations related to the catalytic activity of TiCl4 on the cationic polymerization of this natural olefin, it was found that the 2-chloro-2,4,4-trimethylpentane (TMPCl)/TiCl4/N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) initiating system induced efficient polymerization in dichloromethane (DCM)/hexane (Hx) mixture at both −78 °C and room temperature. At −78 °C, 100% monomer conversion was observed within 40 min, resulting in poly(β-pinene) with relatively high Mn (5500 g/mol). The molecular weight distributions (MWD) were uniformly shifted towards higher molecular weights (MW) in these polymerizations as long as monomer was present in the reaction mixture. However, chain–chain coupling took place after reaching 100% conversion, i.e., under monomer-starved conditions, resulting in considerable molecular weight increase and MWD broadening at −78 °C. At room temperature, the polymerization rate was lower, but chain coupling did not occur. The addition of a second feed of monomer in the polymerization system led to increasing conversion and polymers with higher MWs at both temperatures. 1H NMR spectra of the formed polymers indicated high in-chain double-bond contents. To overcome the polarity decrease by raising the temperature, polymerizations were also carried out in pure DCM at room temperature and at −20 °C. In both cases, rapid polymerization occurred with nearly quantitative yields, leading to poly(β-pinene)s with Mns in the range of 2000 g/mol. Strikingly, polymerization by TiCl4 alone, i.e., without any additive, also occurred with near complete conversion at room temperature within a few minutes, attributed to initiation by adventitious protic impurities. These results convincingly prove that highly efficient carbocationic polymerization of the renewable β-pinene can be accomplished with TiCl4 as catalyst under both cryogenic conditions, applied widely for carbocationic polymerizations, and the environmentally benign, energy-saving room temperature, i.e., without any additive and cooling or heating. These findings enable TiCl4-catalyzed eco-friendly manufacturing of poly(β-pinene)s, which can be utilized in various applications, and in addition, subsequent derivatizations could result in a range of high-added-value products.
β-Carotene, a Potent Amyloid Aggregation Inhibitor, Promotes Disordered Aβ Fibrillar Structure
Authors: Banerjee Siddhartha , Baghel Divya , Pacheco de Oliveira Ana , Ghosh Ayanjeet
Published: March 2023

The aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) into fibrillar aggregates is a key feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. β-carotene and related compounds have been shown to associate with amyloid aggregates and have direct impact on the formation of amyloid fibrils. However, the precise effect of β-carotene on the structure of amyloid aggregates is not known, which poses a limitation towards developing it as a potential AD therapeutic. In this report, we use nanoscale AFM-IR spectroscopy to probe the structure of Aβ oligomers and fibrils at the single aggregate level and demonstrate that the main effect of β-carotene towards modulating Aβ aggregation is not to inhibit fibril formation but to alter the secondary structure of the fibrils and promote fibrils that lack the characteristic ordered beta structure.
Sensing and Stimulation Applications of Carbon Nanomaterials in Implantable Brain-Computer Interface
Authors: Li Jinning , Cheng Yuhang , Gu Minling , Yang Zhen , Zhan Lisi , Du Zhanhong
Published: March 2023

Implantable brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) are crucial tools for translating basic neuroscience concepts into clinical disease diagnosis and therapy. Among the various components of the technological chain that increases the sensing and stimulation functions of implanted BCI, the interface materials play a critical role. Carbon nanomaterials, with their superior electrical, structural, chemical, and biological capabilities, have become increasingly popular in this field. They have contributed significantly to advancing BCIs by improving the sensor signal quality of electrical and chemical signals, enhancing the impedance and stability of stimulating electrodes, and precisely modulating neural function or inhibiting inflammatory responses through drug release. This comprehensive review provides an overview of carbon nanomaterials’ contributions to the field of BCI and discusses their potential applications. The topic is broadened to include the use of such materials in the field of bioelectronic interfaces, as well as the potential challenges that may arise in future implantable BCI research and development. By exploring these issues, this review aims to provide insight into the exciting developments and opportunities that lie ahead in this rapidly evolving field.
Radiation and Diabetic Retinopathy: A Dark Synergy
Authors: Gardiner Tom A. , Archer Desmond B. , Silvestri Giuliana , Amoaku Winfried M.
Published: March 2023

Exacerbation of the vascular pathology in radiation retinopathy as a result of pre-existing diabetes has been recognized for many years, as reflected by clinical reports and a few early experimental studies. However, the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms for the synergistic interaction of radiation retinopathy (RR) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) have not been compared and evaluated for insight on this phenomenon. The present work draws attention to the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) as common mediators of both conditions and sources of ongoing cellular injury in the radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE) and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Chronic hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress and depleted antioxidant defense in diabetes, together with impaired DNA damage sensing and repair mechanisms, were identified as the primary elements contributing to the increased severity of RR in diabetic patients. We conclude that apart from strategic genetic mutations affecting the DNA damage response (DDR), diabetes represents the most significant common risk factor for vascular injury as a side effect of radiotherapy.
Effect of Different Host Plants on the Diversity of Gut Bacterial Communities of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797)
Authors: Han Shipeng , Zhou Yayuan , Wang Da , Qin Qiuju , Song Peng , He Yunzhuan
Published: March 2023

Intestinal symbiotic bacteria have formed an interdependent symbiotic relationship with many insect species after long-term coevolution, which plays a critical role in host growth and adaptation. Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is a worldwide significant migratory invasive pest. As a polyphagous pest, S. frugiperda can harm more than 350 plants and poses a severe threat to food security and agricultural production. In this study, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the diversity and structure of the gut bacteria of this pest feeding on six diets (maize, wheat, rice, honeysuckle flowers, honeysuckle leaves, and Chinese yam). The results showed that the S. frugiperda fed on rice had the highest bacterial richness and diversity, whereas the larvae fed on honeysuckle flowers had the lowest abundance and diversity of gut bacterial communities. Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Proteobacteria were the most dominant bacterial phyla. PICRUSt2 analysis indicated that most of the functional prediction categories were concentrated in metabolic bacteria. Our results confirmed that the gut bacterial diversity and community composition of S. frugiperda were affected significantly by host diets. This study provided a theoretical basis for clarifying the host adaptation mechanism of S. frugiperda, which also provided a new direction to improve polyphagous pest management strategies.
Ecology of Pollen Storage in Honey Bees: Sugar Tolerant Yeast and the Aerobic Social Microbiota
Authors: Anderson Kirk E. , Mott Brendon M.
Published: March 2023

Honey bee colonies are resource rich and densely populated, generating a constant battle to control microbial growth. Honey is relatively sterile in comparison with beebread: a food storage medium comprising pollen mixed with honey and worker head-gland secretions. Within colonies, the microbes that dominate aerobic niches are abundant throughout social resource space including stored pollen, honey, royal jelly, and the anterior gut segments and mouthparts of both queens and workers. Here, we identify and discuss the microbial load in stored pollen associated with non-Nosema fungi (primarily yeast) and bacteria. We also measured abiotic changes associated with pollen storage and used culturing and qPCR of both fungi and bacteria to investigate changes in stored pollen microbiology by both storage time and season. Over the first week of pollen storage, pH and water availability decreased significantly. Following an initial drop in microbial abundance at day one, both yeasts and bacteria multiply rapidly during day two. Both types of microbes then decline at 3–7 days, but the highly osmotolerant yeasts persist longer than the bacteria. Based on measures of absolute abundance, bacteria and yeast are controlled by similar factors during pollen storage. This work contributes to our understanding of host–microbial interactions in the honey bee gut and colony and the effect of pollen storage on microbial growth, nutrition, and bee health.
Patent Landscape Review on Ankle Sprain Prevention Method: Technology Updates
Authors: Francis Natrisha , Ong Aziz , Suhaimi Hazwani , Abas Pg Emeroylariffion
Published: March 2023

Ankle sprains are among the most prevalent musculoskeletal system injuries. Prevention of ankle sprains is important, given the frequency of occurrence of an ankle sprain, the risk of reinjury, and its long-term effects. A systematic patent review using the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)’s PATENTSCOPE database has been performed to study the current development of ankle sprain prevention methods. Using the PRISMA statement as a basis, a total of 426 patent documents have been selected for review, consisting of 150 granted patents and 276 patent applications. In the past decade, China and the United States of America (43% and 29% of the patent applications, respectively) have shown great interest in developing ankle sprain prevention methods. Approximately 49% (or 74) of the patents from the 150 granted are associated with braces, 46% (or 68) are related to orthosis, 3% (or 5) are related to tape, and the remaining 2% (or 3) are associated with other types of ankle sprain prevention methods. This patent review shows that inventors are leaning towards braces and orthosis as the main prevention methods for ankle sprains, with greater interest in orthosis in recent years. Additionally, patents on smart wearable devices suggest initial commercial interest in the development of smart wearable devices as an ankle sprain prevention method.
Which Factors Influence the Immensely Fluctuating CRT Implantation Rates in Europe? A Mixed Methods Approach Using Qualitative Content Analysis Based on Expert Interviews
Authors: Edlinger Christoph , Bannehr Marwin , Georgi Christian , Reiners David , Lichtenauer Michael , Haase-Fielitz Anja , Butter Christian
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is nowadays an indispensable treatment option for heart failure. Although the indication is subject to clear cross-national guidelines by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), there is immense variation in the number of implantations per 100,000 inhabitants in Europe, especially in German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). The aim of the present study was to identify possible factors for these differences using a qualitative research approach. (2) Methods: Semi-standardized interviews were conducted with 11 experts in the field of CRT therapy (3 experts from Germany, 4 from Austria and 4 from Switzerland) using a pre-prepared interview template and analysed according to Mayring’s qualitative content analysis. (3) Results: The main factors identified were the costs of purchasing the devices and the financing systems of the respective healthcare systems, although cost pressure still seems to play a subordinate role in the German-speaking countries. Moreover, “lack of implementation of ESC guidelines”, “insufficient training” and “lack of medical infrastructure” could be excluded as potential reasons. (4) Conclusions: Economic factors, but not a lack of adherence to ESC guidelines, seem to have a major influence on the fluctuating implantation figures in German-speaking countries, according to the unanimous assessment of renowned experts.
Cardiovascular Risk Factor Control in 70- to 95-Year-Old Individuals: Cross-Sectional Results from the Population-Based AugUR Study
Authors: Donhauser Ferdinand J. , Zimmermann Martina E. , Steinkirchner Anna B. , Wiegrebe Simon , Dietl Alexander , Brandl Caroline , Burkhardt Ralph , Gessner André , Schweda Frank , Bergler Tobias , Schäffner Elke , Böger Carsten A. , Kronenberg Florian , Luchner Andreas , Stark Klaus J. , Heid Iris M.
Published: March 2023

Cardiovascular risk factors such as high glucose, LDL-cholesterol, blood pressure, and impaired kidney function are particularly frequent in old-aged individuals. However, population-based data on the extent of cardiovascular risk factor control in the old-aged population is limited. AugUR is a cohort of the mobile “70+”-year-old population of/near Regensburg, recruited via population registries. We conducted cross-sectional analyses assessing the proportion of AugUR participants with LDL-cholesterol, HbA1c, or blood pressure beyond recommended levels and their association with impaired creatinine- and cystatin-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or urine albumin–creatinine ratio (UACR, ≥30 mg/g). Among 2215 AugUR participants, 74.7% were taking lipid-, glucose-, blood-pressure-lowering, or diuretic medication. High LDL-cholesterol at ≥116 mg/dL was observed for 76.1% (51.1% among those with prior cardiovascular events). We found HbA1c ≥ 7.0% for 6.3%, and high or low systolic blood pressure for 6.8% or 26.5%, respectively (≥160, <120 mmHg). Logistic regression revealed (i) high HbA1c levels associated with increased risk for impaired kidney function among those untreated, (ii) high blood pressure with increased UACR, and (iii) low blood pressure with impaired eGFR, which was confined to individuals taking diuretics. Our results provide important insights into cardiovascular risk factor control in individuals aged 70–95 years, which are understudied in most population-based studies.
The Impact of Thrombophilic Factors on Disease Progression in Children with Biliary Atresia—A Single-Centre Cohort Study
Authors: Ohlendorf Johanna , Kiene Hella , Wiegandt Jessica , Karch André , Jaeger Veronika K. , Laue Tobias , Junge Norman , Mutschler Frauke , Goldschmidt Imeke , Pfister Eva-Doreen , Leiskau Christoph , Petersen Claus , Madadi-Sanjani Omid , Kuebler Joachim Friedrich , Götz Juliane Katharina , Baumann Ulrich
Published: March 2023

Epidemiological evidence suggests that thrombophilic factors, including male sex, non-O blood type, MTHFRnt677TT mutation, factor V Leiden G1691A mutation, and prothrombin G20210A polymorphism, may contribute to the progression of fibrosis and occurrence of portal vein thrombosis in liver disease. We retrospectively investigated the effect of potentially thrombophilic factors on native liver survival as a patient-relevant endpoint of disease progression in a cohort of 142 children being followed up for biliary atresia at Hannover Medical School from April 2017 to October 2019. No significant association could be determined. There was no evidence for relevant differences in native liver survival for the Factor V Leiden G1691A mutation (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38–1.98, p = 0.73), prothrombin G20210A polymorphism (HR = 0.96, 95%CI 0.24–3.65, p = 0.96), non-O blood type (HR = 0.79, 95%CI 0.51–1.21, p = 0.28) or MTHFRnt677TT mutation (HR = 1.24, 95%CI 0.60–2.56, p = 0.56). A certain, albeit not strong, evidence of reduced native liver survival in male patients after Kasai hepatoportoenterostomy, particularly during the first 2000 days (42%; HR = 1.41, 95%CI 0.92–2.18, p = 0.11) was found. All children with pre-transplant portal vein thrombosis (n = 7) had non-O blood types. Larger multi-centre studies are necessary to show if the male sex or other thrombophilic factors could be potentially associated with reduced native liver survival.
Platelet-Rich Plasma and Acellular Dermal Matrix in the Surgical Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Comparative Retrospective Study
Authors: Gierek Marcin , Klama-Baryła Agnieszka , Łabuś Wojciech , Bergler-Czop Beata , Pietrauszka Kornelia , Niemiec Paweł
Published: March 2023

(1) Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory skin disease with recurrent, chronic, painful, and purulent skin lesions. Topical or systemic antibiotics are the most widely used treatments for the management of mild stages of the disease. In chronic cases (Hurley II/III), wide excision of lesions should be considered. During reconstructive surgery, the most problematic aspect is wound closure. Very large excisional wounds require reconstructive techniques such as skin flaps, skin grafts, or both. Surgical methods have their limitations, so reconstructive methods in HS surgery need to be continuously improved through the use of, for example, platelet-rich plasma and acellular dermal matrix; (2) Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and efficacy of surgical treatment of patients with HS using local skin flaps injected with PRP compared to a group of local skin flaps without platelet-rich plasma injection, an acellular dermal matrix, and split-thickness skin graft co-grafts. Sixty-one patients (29 males and 32 females) were included in the study. Most patients were characterized by Hurley grade III HS; (3) Results: The use of PRP injection in reconstructions (skin flaps) improved healing and reduced the number of complications, a notable trend in this study. A co-graft of acellular dermal matrix and split-thickness skin graft gave better therapeutic results than split-thickness skin graft alone (fewer days in hospital, fewer postoperative complications); (4) Conclusions: PRP injected into skin flaps, co-grafted acellular dermal matrix, and split-thickness skin grafts are good options for the surgical treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa.
State-Of-The-Art of Sandwich Composite Structures: Manufacturing—to—High Performance Applications
Authors: Kausar Ayesha , Ahmad Ishaq , Rakha Sobia A. , Eisa M. H. , Diallo Abdoulaye
Published: March 2023

This cutting-edge review highlights the fundamentals, design, and manufacturing strategies used for sandwich composites. Sandwich composite structures have the advantages of light weight, high strength, impact resistance, stability, and other superior features for advanced applications. In this regard, different core materials have been used in the sandwich composite structures, such as cellular polymer foam, metallic foam, honeycomb, balsa, tubular, and other core geometries. Among these, honeycomb sandwich composite materials have been effectively applied in space engineering, marine engineering, and construction applications. The foremost manufacturing techniques used for sandwiched composite structures include hand lay-up, press method, prepreg method, vacuum bagging/autoclave, vacuum assisted resin infusion, resin transfer molding, compression molding, pultrusion, three-dimensional (3D) printing, four-dimensional (4D) printing, etc. In advanced composite manufacturing, autoclave processes have been the method of choice for the aerospace industry due to less delamination between plies and easy control of thickness dimensions. Moreover, machining processes used for sandwich composites are discussed in this article. In addition to aerospace, the high-performance significance of sandwiched composite structures is covered mainly in relation to automobile engineering and energy absorption applications. The structure-, fabrication-, and application-related challenges and probable future research directions are also discussed in this article.
Engineering Ligament Scaffolds Based on PLA/Graphite Nanoplatelet Composites by 3D Printing or Braiding
Authors: Silva Magda , Pinho Isabel , Gonçalves Hugo , Vale Ana C. , Paiva Maria C. , Alves Natália M. , Covas José A.
Published: March 2023

The development of scaffolds for tissue-engineered growth of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a promising approach to overcome the limitations of current solutions. This work proposes novel biodegradable and biocompatible scaffolds matching the mechanical characteristics of the native human ligament. Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) scaffolds reinforced with graphite nano-platelets (PLA+EG) as received, chemically functionalized (PLA+f-EG), or functionalized and decorated with silver nanoparticles [PLA+((f-EG)+Ag)], were fabricated by conventional braiding and using 3D-printing technology. The dimensions of both braided and 3D-printed scaffolds were finely controlled. The results showed that the scaffolds exhibited high porosity (>60%), pore interconnectivity, and pore size suitable for ligament tissue ingrowth, with no relevant differences between PLA and composite scaffolds. The wet state dynamic mechanical analysis at 37 °C revealed an increase in the storage modulus of the composite constructs, compared to neat PLA scaffolds. Either braided or 3D-printed scaffolds presented storage modulus values similar to those found in soft tissues. The tailorable design of the braided structures, as well as the reproducibility, the high speed, and the simplicity of 3D-printing allowed to obtain two different scaffolds suitable for ligament tissue engineering.
Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Ni/NiO Nanoparticles Using Gymnema sylvestre Leaves Extract for Antifungal Activity
Authors: Bhoye Manish , Pansambal Shreyas , Basnet Parita , Lin Kun-Yi Andrew , Gutierrez-Mercado Karina Yanet , Pérez-Larios Alejandro , Chauhan Ankush , Oza Rajeshwari , Ghotekar Suresh
Published: March 2023

The invention of an easy synthetic approach for extremely impactful nanomaterials (NMs) is one of the crucial research areas in modern science and engineering. In the present work, we describe a cost-effective, simple, rapid and environmentally gracious biogenic fabrication of nickel/nickel oxide nanoparticles (Ni/NiO NPs) using Gymnema sylvestre as a natural fuel. The textural characteristics of as-prepared Ni/NiO NPs were explored using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). XRD affirmed the crystalline nature and phase formation of Ni/NiO NPs. The FTIR spectrum ascertains the formation of Ni/NiO NPs, and the band gap of 4.29 eV is revealed from DRS studies. Ni/NiO NPs display an intense emission peak at 576.2 nm in their PL spectrum. The fabrication of pseudo-spherical Ni/NiO NPs was displayed by FESEM and HRTEM images. The particle size obtained from HRTEM was 21 nm, which resembles the median crystallite size ascertained from the XRD data. Additionally, the plausible mechanism for Ni/NiO NPs formation is illustrated. Moreover, as-synthesized Ni/NiO NPs displayed considerable antifungal potential against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Results revealed that the Gymnema sylvestre leaves extract can synthesize Ni/NiO NPs with appealing biological effectiveness for application in the nanomedicine sector.
Comparative Evaluation of the Sealing Ability of a BioCeramic Sealer (iRoot SP) with AH Plus Sealer with Root Canal Dentin Using Three Different Techniques of Sealer Application: A Combined Dye Extraction and Scanning Electron Microscope Study
Authors: Bhor Shreya , Rao Ajay Singh , Shah Unnati , Mathur Meetu , Reda Rodolfo , Pagnoni Francesco , Testarelli Luca , Luke Alexander Maniangat , Pawar Ajinkya M.
Published: March 2023

The adaptation of a sealer along with the periphery of the dentinal tubules of the root canal is studied. Various techniques have been used for the application of these sealers onto the canal wall for better adaptation but have not been compared to date. The purpose of the study was to comparatively evaluate the sealing ability of a bioceramic sealer with AH plus sealer with root canal dentin using three different techniques for the application of sealer. One hundred twenty extracted maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth were collected, disinfected, and decoronated at the cemento-enamel junction to maintain a standard working length for all samples. The establishment of the working length (40.10) and instrumentation was performed using a rotary instrument, along with a standard irrigation regimen. The teeth were then divided into two main groups according to the sealer used, i.e., Group A (AH Plus) and Group B (iRoot SP). These two main groups were categorized into three sub-groups depending on the technique of sealer placement, i.e., Subgroup 1 (master cone gutta-percha), Subgroup 2 (bidirectional spiral), and Subgroup 3 (passive ultrasonic activation). Out of the 20 samples, 15 samples were randomly allocated for the assessment of sealing ability using the routine dye extraction method, and to verify the results of the dye extraction method, a more advanced evaluation method, i.e., SEM evaluation, was utilized further. To this end, five random samples from each subgroup were allocated for SEM analysis. The obtained scores were then statistically analyzed using an ANOVA test and Post Hoc Tukey’s test. In the current study, statistical significance was seen among the three main groups and six subgroups with p-values < 0.005. Subgroup B3 performed significantly better than the other subgroups in both the dye extraction method as well as in SEM analysis. The highest microleakage was shown by subgroup A1; it also exhibited poor penetration of sealer in SEM evaluation. The bioceramic sealer (iRoot SP), when applied using passive ultrasonic activation, showed the best results in both the dye extraction method and the SEM evaluation.
Development and Characterization of Bioplastic Synthesized from Ginger and Green Tea for Packaging Applications
Authors: Kowser Md. Arefin , Hossain Sikder Muhammad Khalid , Amin Md. Ruhul , Chowdhury Mohammad Asaduzzaman , Hossain Nayem , Madkhali Osama , Rahman Md. Rezaur , Chani Muhammad Tariq Saeed , Asiri Abdullah M. , Uddin Jamal , Rahman Mohammed M.
Published: March 2023

The world is suffering from heavy pollution because of synthetic petrochemical plastic used in our daily activities. A possible solution is the use of bioplastic synthesized from natural renewable resources. The present work investigates the development and characterization of polymer bioplastic using ginger tea and green tea to decrease the adverse effect of petrochemical plastic waste for versatile applications. Two kinds of bioplastic samples were produced with two types of tea, ginger tea and green tea, using glycerol, vinegar, starch, and water. SEM (scanning electron microscopy), FTIR (Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy), mechanical (tensile), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), DSC (differential scanning calorimetry), and time tests of bioplastic degradation analysis were carried out to evaluate the morphological, mechanical, and thermal behaviors of the synthesized tea bioplastics. The research result showed ginger tea bioplastic had a maximum tensile strength of 2.9 MPa and a minimum elongation of 7.46 mm. More than 78% of degradation occurred in ginger bioplastic within 30 days. Compatible thermal and morphological characteristics are also observed in the prepared bioplastic samples.
DCTable: A Dilated CNN with Optimizing Anchors for Accurate Table Detection
Authors: Kazdar Takwa , Mseddi Wided Souidene , Akhloufi Moulay A. , Agrebi Ala , Jmal Marwa , Attia Rabah
Published: March 2023

With the widespread use of deep learning in leading systems, it has become the mainstream in the table detection field. Some tables are difficult to detect because of the likely figure layout or the small size. As a solution to the underlined problem, we propose a novel method, called DCTable, to improve Faster R-CNN for table detection. DCTable came up to extract more discriminative features using a backbone with dilated convolutions in order to improve the quality of region proposals. Another main contribution of this paper is the anchors optimization using the Intersection over Union (IoU)-balanced loss to train the RPN and reduce the false positive rate. This is followed by a RoI Align layer, instead of the ROI pooling, to improve the accuracy during mapping table proposal candidates by eliminating the coarse misalignment and introducing the bilinear interpolation in mapping region proposal candidates. Training and testing on a public dataset showed the effectiveness of the algorithm and a considerable improvement of the F1-score on ICDAR 2017-Pod, ICDAR-2019, Marmot and RVL CDIP datasets.
Environment-Aware Rendering and Interaction in Web-Based Augmented Reality
Authors: Ferrão José , Dias Paulo , Santos Beatriz Sousa , Oliveira Miguel
Published: March 2023

This work presents a novel framework for web-based environment-aware rendering and interaction in augmented reality based on WebXR and three.js. It aims at accelerating the development of device-agnostic Augmented Reality (AR) applications. The solution allows for a realistic rendering of 3D elements, handles geometry occlusion, casts shadows of virtual objects onto real surfaces, and provides physics interaction with real-world objects. Unlike most existing state-of-the-art systems that are built to run on a specific hardware configuration, the proposed solution targets the web environment and is designed to work on a vast range of devices and configurations. Our solution can use monocular camera setups with depth data estimated by deep neural networks or, when available, use higher-quality depth sensors (e.g., LIDAR, structured light) that provide a more accurate perception of the environment. To ensure consistency in the rendering of the virtual scene a physically based rendering pipeline is used, in which physically correct attributes are associated with each 3D object, which, combined with lighting information captured by the device, enables the rendering of AR content matching the environment illumination. All these concepts are integrated and optimized into a pipeline capable of providing a fluid user experience even on middle-range devices. The solution is distributed as an open-source library that can be integrated into existing and new web-based AR projects. The proposed framework was evaluated and compared in terms of performance and visual features with two state-of-the-art alternatives.
Individualizing Fluid Management in Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and with Reduced Lung Tissue Due to Surgery—A Narrative Review
Authors: Benes Jan , Kasperek Jiri , Smekalova Olga , Tegl Vaclav , Kletecka Jakub , Zatloukal Jan
Published: March 2023

Fluids are the cornerstone of therapy in all critically ill patients. During the last decades, we have made many steps to get fluid therapy personalized and based on individual needs. In patients with lung involvement—acute respiratory distress syndrome—finding the right amount of fluids after lung surgery may be extremely important because lung tissue is one of the most vulnerable to fluid accumulation. In the current narrative review, we focus on the actual perspectives of fluid therapy with the aim of showing the possibilities to tailor the treatment to a patient’s individual needs using fluid responsiveness parameters and other therapeutic modalities.
Visual Telerehabilitation with Visually Impaired Children: From the Pandemic Emergency to a Stand-Alone Method
Authors: Perasso Giulia , Baghino Chiara , Cocchi Elena , Dini Silvia , Panizzi Antonella , Salvagno Valentina , Santarello Margherita , Vagge Aldo
Published: March 2023

In the last two years, orthoptists have counteracted patient drop-out through visual telerehabilitation. Efforts were made to transfer the in-person visual rehabilitation setting to the telematic environment in response to the worldwide crisis. Nowadays, statistical evidence on the effects of visual telerehabilitation is still scarce. The present research is the first, in Italy, to offer a pre-post assessment of the impact of visual telerehabilitation. Twenty-four (n = 24) children (64% male, 14% monocles) aged 4 to 15 years (mean age = 9.21 years, SD = 3.36, mean residual vision 1.3/10) were randomly assigned to three different group types for rehabilitation: a telematic rehabilitation group (n = 7), a mixed rehabilitation group (n = 8), and an in-person rehabilitation group (n = 9). Each group underwent a six-week visual rehabilitation. Ergo-perimetric evaluation before and after the rehabilitation was administered to the three groups. t-tests showed a significant improvement in ergo-perimetric outcomes in the visual telerehabilitation group (p < 0.05) and in the mixed rehabilitation group (p < 0.01), via a shortening of the response times. The findings suggest that visual telerehabilitation and mixed rehabilitation can lead to an ergo-perimetric improvement in visually impaired children within six weeks. Further research is needed, both to corroborate the findings with a larger sample size and to attain a follow-up measurement in order to clarify whether visual telerehabilitation could represent a stand-alone method.
Tempol Alters Antioxidant Enzyme Function, Modulates Multiple Genes Expression, and Ameliorates Hepatic and Renal Impairment in Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4)-Intoxicated Rats
Authors: Jahan Ishrat , Islam Md. Didarul , Sarif Sumaia , Amena Israt Jahan , Shuvo Asif Ul Haque , Akter Noushin , Chowdhury Faizul Islam , Akter Raushanara , Ahmed Iqbal , Khan Ferdous , Subhan Nusrat , Alam Md. Ashraful
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the superoxide dismutase mimic compound “tempol” on liver and renal damage in Long Evans male rats administered with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Methods: The antioxidant enzyme activity and oxidative stress parameters were investigated in the liver, kidney, and plasma tissues. Histological examination of the liver and kidney sections affirmed inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen deposition, and iron deposition. RT-PCR was also employed to evaluate the expression of oxidative stress and inflammatory genes. Results: The CCl4-administered rats exhibited increased plasma activities of ALT, AST, and ALP compared to the control rats. The tempol treatment in the CCl4-administered rats significantly lowered ALT, AST, and ALP enzyme activities compared to the CCl4 group. Oxidative stress parameters, such as the MDA, NO, and APOP levels in various tissues of the CCl4-administered rats, showed increased concentrations, whereas tempol significantly lowered the level of oxidative stress. Moreover, CCl4 administration decreased the antioxidant enzyme activities, which were further significantly restored by the tempol treatment. The control rats that underwent treatment with tempol did not present with any abnormality or toxicity. Furthermore, the tempol treatment in the CCl4-administered rats increased Nrf-2-HO-1-mediated gene expression and enhanced related antioxidant enzyme gene expressions. The tempol treatment in the CCl4-administered rats also decreased anti-inflammatory gene expressions in the liver. In histological sections of the liver, CCl4 increased inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen deposition, and iron deposition, which were reduced significantly due to the tempol treatment. Conclusion: The results of this investigation revealed that tempol could protect against liver and kidney damage in CCl4-administered rats by modulating antioxidant gene expressions and restoring antioxidant defense mechanisms.
Degradation by Electron Beam Irradiation of Some Elastomeric Composites Sulphur Vulcanized
Authors: Manaila Elena , Craciun Gabriela , Lungu Ion Bogdan , Dumitru Grivei Marius Daniel , Stelescu Stelescu
Published: March 2023

Composites based on natural rubber and plasticized starch obtained by the conventional method of sulfur cross-linking using four types of vulcanization accelerators (Diphenyl guanidine, 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole, N-Cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide, and Tetramethylthiuram disulfide) were irradiated with an electron beam in the dose range of 150 and 450 kGy for the purpose of degradation. The vulcanization accelerators were used in different percentages and combinations, resulting in four mixtures with different potential during the cross-linking process (synergistic, activator, or additive). The resulting composites were investigated before and after irradiation in order to establish a connection between the type of accelerator mixture, irradiation dose, and composite properties (gel fraction, cross-linking degree, water absorption, mass loss in water and toluene, mechanical properties, and structural and morphological properties). The results showed that the mixtures became sensitive at the irradiation dose of 300 kGy and at the irradiation dose of 450 kGy, and the consequences of the degradation processes were discussed.
Application Research on Nb Microalloying of High-Carbon Pearlite Bridge Cable Wire Rods
Authors: Zhu Xiaoxiong , Zhou Jie , Hu Chengyang , Wu Kaiming , Shen Yifu , Zhang Yongqing , Jiang Yuedong
Published: March 2023

The application of Nb microalloying to high-carbon pearlite bridge cable wire rod steel has always been controversial, especially in the actual production process, which will be affected by the cooling rate, holding temperature and final bonding temperature. In this paper, the experimental characterization, finite element simulation and phase diagram calculation of the test steel were carried out, then the microstructure and properties of different parts of Nb microalloying of bridge cable wire rods were compared and analyzed. The phase transition interval of pearlite during the water-cooling process of bridge cable wire rods is increased due to the refinement of austenite grains, and the significant increase in the end temperature of the phase transition makes the average interlamellar spacing of pearlite increase. The cooling rate of different parts of bridge cable wire rods simulated by Abaqus has little difference. At the same time, Nb microalloying effectively increases the proportion of low-angle grain boundaries, so that the overall average misorientation representing the surface defects is reduced. This helps to reduce the surface energy and increase the stability of the microstructure. Combined with the mechanical properties of microtensile rods, it is found that the grain refinement effect of Nb is greater than that of coarsening interlamellar spacing during hot rolling deformation in actual production, which makes the tensile strength at the 1/4 section increase significantly. The overall tensile strength and area shrinkage of the steel wire have also been effectively improved.
Research Progress in Nonlinear Ultrasonic Testing for Early Damage in Metal Materials
Authors: Yan Xiaoling , Wang Houpu , Fan Xiaozhi
Published: March 2023

There are some limitations when conventional ultrasonic testing methods are used for testing early damage in metal parts. With the continuous development of acoustics and materials science, nonlinear ultrasonic nondestructive testing technology has been used for testing of early damage in metal materials. In order to better understand the basic theory and research progress of the nonlinear ultrasonic testing technology, the classical nonlinear ultrasonic theoretical models, including the dislocation monopole model, dislocation dipole model, precipitate-dislocation pinning model, and contact nonlinear ultrasonic theory-microcrack model, are analyzed in depth. This paper introduces the application and research progress of nonlinear ultrasonic detection technology, which is derived from different acoustic nonlinear effects, such as higher harmonic, wave mixing and modulation, sub-harmonic, resonance frequency spectrum analysis, and non-linear ultrasonic phased array imaging. The key technologies and problems are summarized to provide a reference for the further development and promotion of nonlinear ultrasonic non-destructive testing technology.
Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of ZnAl12Mg3Si0.3 Double-Batch Hot-Dip Coatings
Authors: Kania Henryk , Marek Anżelina , Zoran Michał , Spławski Marcin , Kupczyk Przemysław , Wiewióra Mateusz , Kupczyk Aleksandra
Published: March 2023

This article presents the microstructure (SEM) and corrosion behavior of ZnAl12Mg3Si0.3 (ZAMS) coatings obtained by the double hot-dip method on Sebisty steel with increased strength. On the basis of chemical composition studies in micro-areas (EDS) and phase composition studies (XRD), structural components of the coating and corrosion products formed on the coating surface after exposure to the neutral salt spray (NSS) test (EN ISO 9227) were identified. The presence of the Fe(Al,Si,Zn)3 intermetallic phase was found in the Fe-Al intermetallic layer, while in the outer layer, dendrites rich in Al and Zn were identified. In these dendrites, the eutectics of Zn/MgZn2 and precipitates of the MgZn2 phase and Si were located. The NSS test showed better corrosion resistance of ZAMS coatings compared to conventional zinc hot-dip coatings. The increase in corrosion resistance is due to the formation of favorable corrosion products: simonkolleite—Zn5(OH)8Cl2·H2O and hydrozincite—Zn5(OH)6(CO3)2, and the presence of the MgZn2 phase in the coating, which is more anodic than other structural components.
Design and Development of Novel Composites Containing Nickel Ferrites Supported on Activated Carbon Derived from Agricultural Wastes and Its Application in Water Remediation
Authors: Saleh Tamer S. , Badawi Ahmad K. , Salama Reda S. , Mostafa Mohamed Mokhtar M.
Published: March 2023

Recently, efficient decontamination of water and wastewater have attracted global attention due to the deficiency in the world’s water sources. Herein, activated carbon (AC) derived from willow catkins (WCs) was successfully synthesized using chemical modification techniques and then loaded with different weight percentages of nickel ferrite nanocomposites (10, 25, 45, and 65 wt.%) via a one-step hydrothermal method. The morphology, chemical structure, and surface composition of the nickel ferrite supported on AC (NFAC) were analyzed by XRD, TEM, SEM, EDX, and FTIR spectroscopy. Textural properties (surface area) of the nanocomposites (NC) were investigated by using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The prepared nanocomposites were tested on different dyes to form a system for water remediation and make this photocatalyst convenient to recycle. The photodegradation of rhodamine B dye was investigated by adjusting a variety of factors such as the amount of nickel in nanocomposites, the weight of photocatalyst, reaction time, and photocatalyst reusability. The 45NFAC photocatalyst exhibits excellent degradation efficiency toward rhodamine B dye, reaching 99.7% in 90 min under a simulated source of sunlight. To summarize, NFAC nanocomposites are potential photocatalysts for water environmental remediation because they are effective, reliable, and reusable.