bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of dexmedetomidine on expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in spinal dorsal cord in a rat model with chronic neuropathic pain
Authors: Pang Jun , Zhang Suming , Kong Ying , Wang Zhe , Pei Ruomeng , Zhuang Ping , Wang Xiaopeng 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background Neuropathic pain typically refers to the pain caused by somatosensory system injury or diseases, which is usually characterized by ambulatory pain, allodynia, and hyperalgesia. Nitric oxide produced by neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the spinal dorsal cord might serve a predominant role in regulating the algesia of neuropathic pain. The high efficacy and safety, as well as the plausible ability in providing comfort, entitle dexmedetomidine (DEX) to an effective anesthetic adjuvant. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of DEX on the expression of nNOS in spinal dorsal cord in a rat model with chronic neuropathic pain.
Methods Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into three groups: sham operation group (sham), (of the sciatic nerve) operation (CCI) group, and dexmedetomidine (DEX) group. Chronic neuropathic pain models in the CCI and DEX groups were established by sciatic nerve ligation. The thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) was measured on day 1 before operation and on day 1, 3, 7 and 14 after operation. Six animals were sacrificed after TWL measurement on day 7, and 14 days after operation, in each group, the L4–6 segment of the spinal cords was extracted for determination of nNOS expression by immunohistochemistry.
Results Compared with the sham group, the TWL threshold was significantly decreased and the expression of nNOS was up-regulated after operation in the CCI and DEX groups. Compared with the CCI grou[, the TWL threshold was significantly increased and the expression of nNOS was significantly down-regulated on day 7 and 14 days after operation in the DEX group.
Conclusion Down-regulated nNOS in the spinal dorsal cord is involved in the attenuation of neuropathic pain by DEX.
Impact of delaying botulinum toxin treatment in patients with migraine during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Nascimento Henrique , Videira Gonçalo , Duarte Sara , Correia Carlos , Andrade Carlos 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background Due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic response measures, the administration of botulinum toxin (BTX) was delayed for many patients during the first lockdown period in Portugal.
Objectives To review the impact of postponing BTX treatment on migraine control.
Methods This was a retrospective, single-center study. Patients with chronic migraine who had done at least three previous BTX cycles and were considered responders were included. The patients were divided into two groups, one that has had their treatment delayed (group P), and one that has not (controls). The Phase III Research Evaluating Migraine Prophylaxis Therapy (PREEMPT) protocol was used. Migraine-related data were obtained at baseline and at three subsequent visits.
Results The present study included two groups, group P (n = 30; 47.0 ± 14.5 years; 27 females, interval baseline -1st visit: 5.5 [4.1–5.8] months) and the control group (n = 6; 57.7 ± 13.2 years; 6 females; interval baseline–1st visit 3.0 [3.0–3.2] months). No difference between the groups was present at baseline. When compared to baseline, the number of days/month with migraine (5 [3–6.2] vs. 8 [6–15] p < 0.001), days using triptans/month (2.5 [0–6] vs. 3 [0–8], p = 0.027) and intensity of pain (7 [5.8–10] vs. 9 [7–10], p = 0.012) were greater in the first visit for group P, while controls did not present a significant variation. The worsening of migraine-related indicators decreased in the following visits; however, even in the third visit, it had not returned to baseline. Correlations were significant between the delayed time to treatment and the increase in days/month with migraines at the first visit after lockdown (r = 0.507; p = 0.004).
Conclusions There was a deterioration of migraine control after postponed treatments, with a direct correlation between the worsening of symptoms and the number of months that the treatment was delayed.
Exploring clinical outcomes in patients with idiopathic/inherited isolated generalized dystonia and stimulation of the subthalamic region
Authors: Listik Clarice , Lapa Jorge Dornellys , Casagrande Sara Carvalho Barbosa , Barbosa Egberto Reis , Iglesio Ricardo , Godinho Fabio , Duarte Kleber Paiva , Teixeira Manoel Jacobsen , Cury Rubens Gisbert 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment option for refractory dystonia, but the improvement among the patients is variable.
Objective To describe the outcomes of DBS of the subthalamic region (STN) in dystonic patients and to determine whether the volume of tissue activated (VTA) inside the STN or the structural connectivity between the area stimulated and different regions of the brain are associated with dystonia improvement.
Methods The response to DBS was measured by the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFM) before and 7 months after surgery in patients with generalized isolated dystonia of inherited/idiopathic etiology. The sum of the two overlapping STN volumes from both hemispheres was correlated with the change in BFM scores to assess whether the area stimulated inside the STN affects the clinical outcome. Structural connectivity estimates between the VTA (of each patient) and different brain regions were computed using a normative connectome taken from healthy subjects.
Results Five patients were included. The baseline BFM motor and disability subscores were 78.30 ± 13.55 (62.00–98.00) and 20.60 ± 7.80 (13.00–32.00), respectively. Patients improved dystonic symptoms, though differently. No relationships were found between the VTA inside the STN and the BFM improvement after surgery (p = 0.463). However, the connectivity between the VTA and the cerebellum structurally correlated with dystonia improvement (p = 0.003).
Conclusions These data suggest that the volume of the stimulated STN does not explain the variance in outcomes in dystonia. Still, the connectivity pattern between the region stimulated and the cerebellum is linked to outcomes of patients.
Mesoporous silica nanoparticle-induced drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana grown under in vitro conditions
Authors: Tran Thi Linh Chi , Guirguis Albert , Jeyachandran Thanojan , Wang Yichao , Cahill David M. 
Published: April 2023

Nanoparticles of varying formats and functionalities have been shown to modify and enhance plant growth and development. Nanoparticles may also be used to improve crop production and performance, particularly under adverse environmental conditions such as drought. Nanoparticles composed of silicon dioxide, especially those that are mesoporous (mesoporous silica nanoparticles; MSNs), have been shown to be taken up by plants; yet their potential to improve tolerance to abiotic stress has not been thoroughly examined. In this study, a range of concentrations of MSNs (0–5000 mg L−1) were used to determine their effects, in vitro, on Arabidopsis plants grown under polyethylene glycol (PEG)-simulated drought conditions. Treatment of seeds with MSNs during PEG-simulated drought resulted in higher seed germination and then greater primary root length. However, at the highest tested concentration of 5000 mg L−1, reduced germination was found when seeds were subjected to drought stress. At the optimal concentration of 1500 mg L−1, plants treated with MSNs under non-stressed conditions showed significant increases in root length, number of lateral roots, leaf area and shoot biomass. These findings suggest that MSNs can be used to stimulate plant growth and drought stress tolerance.
Composite magnetic 3D-printing filament fabrication protocol opens new perspectives in magnetic hyperthermia
Authors: Makridis A , Okkalidis N , Trygoniaris D , Kazeli K , Angelakeris M 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has emerged as a promising tool for meticulously fabricated scaffolds with high precision and accuracy, resulting in intricately detailed biomimetic 3D structures. Producing magnetic scaffolds with the aid of additive processes, known as 3D printing, reveals multitude and state-of-the-art areas of application such as tissue engineering, bone repair and regeneration, drug delivery and magnetic hyperthermia. A crucial first step is the development of innovative polymeric composite magnetic materials. The current work presents a fabrication protocol of 3D printed polymer-bonded magnets using the Fused Deposition Modeling 3D printing method. Polymer-bonded magnets are defined as composites with permanent-magnet powder embedded in a polymer binder matrix. By using a low-cost mixing extruder, four (4) different filament types of 1.75 mm were fabricated using commercial magnetite magnetic nanoparticles mixed with a pure polylactic acid powder (PLA) and a ferromagnetic PLA (Iron particles included) filaments. The powder mixture of the basic filaments was compounded mixed with the nanoparticles (NPs), and extruded to fabricate the 3D printing filament, which is subsequently characterized structurally and magnetically before the printing process. Magnetic polymer scaffolds are finally printed using composite filaments of different concentration in magnetite. Our results demonstrate that the heating efficiency (expressed in W g−1) of the 3D printed magnetic polymer scaffolds (ranging from 2 to 5.5 W g−1 at magnetic field intensity of 30 mT and field frequency of 365 kHz) can be tuned by choosing either a magnetic or a non-magnetic filament mixed with an amount of magnetite NPs in different concentrations of 10 or 20 wt%. Our work opens up new perspectives for future research, such as the fabrication of complex structures with suitable ferromagnetic custom-made filaments adjusting the mixing of different filaments for the construction of scaffolds aimed at improving the accuracy of magnetic hyperthermia treatment.
Spin-induced valley polarization in heterobilayer Janus transition-metal dichalcogenides
Authors: Liu Huating , Huang Zongyu , Luo Chaobo , Guo Gencai , Peng Xiangyang , Qi Xiang , Zhong Jianxin 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Inspired by potential application prospects of spintronics and valleytronics, a novel heterobilayer Janus structure is designed by replacing the chalcogenide atomic layers in the original bilayer MoS2. Based on first-principles calculations, it is found that the SMoS/SeMoS structure exhibits a direct band-gap semiconductor and a typical type-II band alignment with longer carrier lifetime. The transition metal (TM) atom represented by V/Cr/Mn can be stably adsorbed on the heterobilayer Janus SMoS/SeMoS sheet and effectively introduce magnetic moments (m). The calculation results demonstrate that the most stable adsorption site of the TM atom is CX(A), and the TM (V/Cr/Mn) adatom modified SMoS/SeMoS system is converted into metal (V-) or half-metal (Cr/Mn-), respectively. Under the coupling of different indirect exchange interactions, the structure exhibits stable intrinsic anti-ferromagnetic interactions for V-SMoS/SeMoS and ferromagnetic ground state for Cr/Mn-SMoS/SeMoS, respectively, and the magnetic transition temperature (T
c) reaches a high temperature or even room temperature. Moreover, the robust out-of-plane magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy ensures stable long-range magnetic order. Specifically, the combination of spin injection and strong spin–orbit coupling interaction effectively breaks the time-reversal symmetry, which leads to valley polarization of the system. Based on this, the biaxial strain can effectively regulate the electronic structure, magnetic properties and valley polarization of TM-SMoS/SeMoS nanosheets with double breaking of spatial-inversion and time-reversal symmetry.
Challenges with the self-consistent implementation of closure models for anomalous electron transport in fluid simulations of Hall thrusters
Authors: Marks Thomas A , Jorns Benjamin A 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The performance of closure models for the anomalous electron transport when self-consistently implemented in a fluid model for a Hall effect thruster is investigated. This cross-field transport, which is orders of magnitude higher than classical collisional transport, is represented as an effective collision frequency. The proposed closure models relate this transport coefficient to local fluid properties of the plasma. Before implementation, the models are calibrated against values of the collision frequency inferred empirically from a 9 kW Hall thruster at 300 V and 15 A. It is found that even though closure models match the empirical collision frequency values, they diverge from these values when implemented self-consistently in a Hall thruster code. Possible drivers of this behavior are examined, including the role of non-linearity in the governing equations of the Hall thruster fluid model, artifacts from using time-averaged calibration data, and the non-uniqueness of the empirically-inferred collision frequencies. These results are discussed in the context of their implications for discovering and validating new closures necessary for enabling fully-predictive Hall thruster models.
Chirality-induced directional rotation of a symmetric gear in a bath of chiral active particles
Authors: Li Jing-Ran , Zhu Wei-jing , Li Jia-Jian , Wu Jian-Chun , Ai Bao-Quan 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
We conduct a numerical study exploring the rotation of a symmetric gear driven by chiral particles in a two-dimensional box with periodic boundary conditions. The symmetric gear is submerged in a sea of chiral active particles. Surprisingly, even though the gear is perfectly symmetric, the microscopic random motion of chiral active particles can be converted into macroscopic directional rotation of the gear. (i) In the case of zero alignment interaction, the direction of rotation of the gear is determined by the chirality of active particles. Optimal parameters (the chirality, self-propelled speed, and packing traction) exist, at which the rotational speed reaches its maximum value. (ii) When considering a finite alignment interaction, alignment interactions between particles play an important role in driving the gear to rotate. The direction of rotation is dictated by the competition between the chirality of active particles and the alignment interactions between them. By tuning the system parameters, we can observe multiple rotation reversals. Our findings are relevant to understanding how the macroscopic rotation of a gear connects to the microscopic random motion of active particles.
Topological effects on non-relativistic eigenvalue solutions under AB-flux field with pseudoharmonic- and Mie-type potentials
Authors: Ahmed Faizuddin 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
In this paper, we investigate the quantum dynamics of a non-relativistic particle confined by the Aharonov–Bohm quantum flux field with pseudoharmonic-type potential in the background of topological defect produced by a point-like global monopole. We solve the radial Schrödinger equation analytically and determine the exact eigenvalue solution of the quantum system. Afterwards, we consider a Mie-type potential in the quantum system and solve the radial equation analytically and obtain the eigenvalue solution. We analyze the effects of the topological defect and the quantum flux with these potentials on the energy eigenvalue and wave function of the non-relativistic particles. In fact, it is shown that the energy levels and wave functions are influenced by the topological defect shifted the result compared to the flat space results. In addition, the quantum flux field also shifted the eigenvalue solutions and an analogue of the Aharonov–Bohm effect for bound-states is observed. Finally, we utilize these eigenvalue solutions to some known diatomic molecular potential models and presented the energy eigenvalue and wave function.
Reducing retraction in engineered tissues through design of sequential growth factor treatment
Authors: Lei Ying , Mungai Rozanne , Li Juanyong , Billiar Kristen 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Heart valve disease is associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, resulting in hundreds of thousands of heart valve replacements each year. Tissue engineered heart valves (TEHVs) have the potential to overcome the major limitations of traditional replacement valves; however, leaflet retraction has led to the failure of TEHVs in preclinical studies. Sequentially varying growth factors over time has been utilized to promote maturation of engineered tissues and may be effective in reducing tissue retraction, yet it is difficult to predict the effects of such treatments due to complex interactions between the cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM), biochemical environment, and mechanical stimuli. We hypothesize that sequential treatments of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) can be used to minimize cell-generated tissue retraction by decreasing active cell contractile forces exerted on the ECM and by inducing the cells to increase the ECM stiffness. Using a custom culturing and monitoring system for 3D tissue constructs, we designed and tested various TGF-β1 and FGF-2 based growth factor treatments, and successfully reduced tissue retraction by 85% and increased the ECM elastic modulus by 260% compared to non-growth factor treated controls, without significantly increasing the contractile force. We also developed and verified a mathematical model to predict the effects of various temporal variations in growth factor treatments and analyzed relationships between tissue properties, the contractile forces, and retraction. These findings improve our understanding of growth factor-induced cell-ECM biomechanical interactions, which can inform the design of next generation TEHVs with reduced retraction. The mathematical models could also potentially be applied toward fast screening and optimizing growth factors for use in the treatment of diseases including fibrosis.
Experimental investigation of additive free-low-cost vinyl triarylamines based hole transport material for FAPbI3-based perovskite solar cells to enhance efficiency and stability
Authors: Kumar Anjan , Singh Sangeeta , Mohammed Mustafa K A , Ahmed Duha S 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Perovskite-based solar cells have drawn a lot of attention recently because they possess many desirable qualities, including strong photon absorption, large carrier lifetime, ambipolar transmission, and low exciton binding energy. With continual optimization of each functional layer, particularly the active layer and hole transporting layer, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite materials has reached over 25%. Spiro-OMeTAD is a widely utilized hole transport material (HTM) for efficient solar cell operation. To improve conductivity, this material is often doped with additives such as 4-tert-butylpyridine (TBP) or bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium salt (Li-TFSI). Unfortunately, these additives can weaken the perovskite layer and reduce device stability. In this work, we enhanced the efficiency as well as stability of formamidinium-based perovskite using additive-free, cost-effective HTM based on vinyl triarylamines developed by the Tokyo chemical industry. We have deposited vinyl triarylamines-based HTM on both FAPbI3 and MAPbI3 perovskite. To compare the results, we have deposited traditional additive-based as well as additive free Spiro-OMeTAD on FAPbI3 perovskite. Results are encouraging as the FAPbI3-based device showed a decent power conversion efficiency of 16.86%, which is higher than when the same HTM is deposited on the MAPbI3-based device and comparable with doped Spiro-OMeTAD and much higher than undoped Spiro-OMeTAD based HTM deposited on FAPbI3 perovskite. Enhancement in device performance is attributed to better hole mobility and favourable energy band positioning of vinyl triarylamines based hole transport layer w.r.t FAPbI3 perovskite. The PCE of a FAPbI3-based device using the suggested HTM (SHTM) suffers only a 12% decrease while following the maximum power point for 1800 h in ambient air.
Design of an adaptive power controller for improving THD performance of integrated-parallel buck-boost converter via efficient reverse power routing
Authors: Mutta Chandini , Goswami Agam Das 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Parallel buck-boost converters are high-output DC-to-DC converters. It is increased by inverting the voltage and decreasing the circuit current capacity. The duty cycle of switching transistors governs converter voltage. Output current moderates THD in these converters. Additional current losses cause output voltage and current harmonics. Inductors, capacitors, MOSFETs, and other power control filtering models reduce excessive current and THD. Complex models lose scalability and stability. Real-time buck-boost controllers can’t use them. Filtered adaptive power controller blocks reduce buck-boost converter response time and inject improper frequency components at the output. A reverse power routing model with an adaptive power controller is proposed to estimate excessive output power and improve converter performance. Reverse power control lowers THD by 20% and increases power throughput. When output power drops, the adaptive power controller (APC) changes ON/OFF duty cycles. The proposed model reduced THD and maintained high output voltage and current in both continuous and discontinuous modes. Context-aware circuit design measured output ripples, harmonics, smoothness factor, and power loss. The proposed parallel buck-boost converter had 10% lower jitters, 23% better harmonic outputs, 15% better smoothness, and 5% lower total power loss than others. The model handles high-density electrical loads with maximum power throughput.
Community-based water demand management: socio-technical strategies for improving water security in Australian Indigenous communities
Authors: Beal C D , Bailey M-S , Hohenhaus M , Jackson M 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Sustainable water management in remote Australian communities is a delicate balance between sufficient and acceptable supply options and appropriate and effective demand approaches. This paper focus on the evaluation of community-based water demand management strategies piloted in four remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities in Australia. Findings of the pilot demonstrate that from a systems perspective, community-based demand management centred around education and encouragement of residents to conserve and use water efficiently, provide greater opportunities for long-term sustainable water management outcomes that support building of social capital. To ensure truly transformative management outcomes, a toolbox of socio-technological strategies should be used including, where possible, smart metering of water consumption and use of water-efficient devices. A key element of this approach to demand management calls for a shift away from business-as-usual policy towards a flexible learning approach that involves genuine collaboration between water managers and Indigenous communities.