bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Zingerone‐encapsulated Solid Lipid Nanoparticles as Oral Drug‐delivery Systems to Potentially Target Inflammatory Diseases
Authors: Sunnap Omprakash , Subramanian Singaravadivel , Vemula Praveen Kumar , Karuppannan Sekar 
Published: October 2022

AbstractCurrently, various anti‐inflammatory drugs are used in intestinal bowel disease (IBD) treatment as first‐line management therapies. Although beneficial effects were observed with these drugs, unwanted exposure to healthy tissue causes side‐effects. Therefore, targeted delivery of anti‐inflammatory drugs to the inflamed tissue is still an unmet need. Herein, we have developed solid lipid nanoparticles with negative surface charge that can specifically adhere to transferrin, a protein that overexpressed at the inflamed tissue. Zingerone, a natural product based anti‐inflammatory agent, has been encapsulated into solid lipid nanoparticles (Zin‐SLNPs) and protected from the degradation by stomach and intestinal fluids. The Zin‐SLNPs consists of 250–350 nm in size, have negative surface charge (‐44.08 mV). These Zin‐SLNPs have shown appreciable cyto‐compatibility, they did not show any cytotoxicity even as high as 1000 μM concentration. Native zingerone and zingerone that released from Zin‐SLNPs show efficient anti‐inflammatory property by reducing the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, in vitro. Based on these results, in the future studies, Zin‐SLNPs could be tested for their potential therapeutic efficacy in ulcerative colitis in vivo model.
Fe3O4/g‐C3N4 Nanozyme for Production of L‐DOPA as Mimetics of Tyrosine Hydroxylase
Authors: Shang Qi , Zhang Ling , Chen Chan , Tang Weikang , Han Mengqi , Chen Qinfei , Liu Wenbin 
Published: October 2022

AbstractL‐DOPA is in large demand as the mainstay of therapeutic treatment for Parkinson's disease. The development of a facile route is urgently required for production of L‐DOPA. A nanozyme was developed for biomimetic synthesis of L‐DOPA by mimicking natural tyrosine hydroxylase. Fe3O4/g‐C3N4 nanocomposite was fabricated by introducing iron oxide into g‐C3N4 nanosheets. Formation of Fe−N bonds with structure resembled the active center. The nanozyme possessed superparamagnetic characteristics and wide light response range. The nanozyme exhibited similar activity as tyrosine hydroxylase by catalyzing hydroxylation of tyrosine in the presence of visible light irradiation and hydrogen peroxide. Maximum yield and titer was obtained as 15% and 1 mM for production of L‐DOPA, respectively. The nanozyme demonstrated high stability and reusability. The nanozyme catalyzed the reaction in an analogous mechanism with FeIVO2+ as the dominant active species. It might provide a promising insight to produce L‐DOPA due to advantages of easy separation and mild conditions.
Real‐time control design and implementation of ball balancer system based on machine learning and machine vision
Authors: Elshamy Mohamed R. , Abozalam Belal , Sayed Amged , Nabil Essam 
Published: October 2022

SummaryThis article addresses a hybrid pseudo‐PD/machine learning controller algorithm to improve the stabilization and trajectory tracking of the ball on the plate system (BOPS). The proposed controller design depends on a machine learning algorithm that detect the angle of the servo motor required to correct the position of the ball on the plate also the parameters of the PD controller is changed online using the fuzzy logic to enhance the performance of the trajectory and point tracking of the system. This article offers three different machine learning techniques for predicting servo motor angle that obtain higher accuracies of 99.95%, 99.908%, and 99.998% for support vector regression, decision tree regression, and random forest regression, respectively. The proposed scheme has greatly improved the system's settling time and overshoot, according to simulation and practical results. The Lagrangian formulation may be used to obtain the mathematical formulation, and a practical identification experiment can be used to determine the servo motor parameter. Simulation and practical results on a BOPS dynamic model are both demonstrated to justify the validation of the proposed design scheme. The experimental practical results justify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed controller design strategy.
Blood ritual: An indigenous approach to peacemaking among the Bimoba people of northern Ghana
Authors: Ateng Mathias Awonnatey , Nuhu Abukari , Musah Agoswin A. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThis study examined blood ritual as an indigenous peacemaking strategy among the Bimoba people of northern Ghana. Descriptive qualitative research methods were used together with in‐depth face‐to‐face interviews with eight elders of the community. The audio‐recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed with NVivo 12 software. The findings reveal that the blood ritual approach is participatory, focuses on re‐establishing relationships and emanates from the culture of the Bimoba people. It also involves the use of rituals and seeks the interest of the entire Bimoba community. The study concludes that the strategy shares commonalities with several indigenous peacemaking approaches in Africa and has the potential of facilitating sustainable resolutions of communal conflicts such as the Bimoba chieftaincy conflict. However, similar to other approaches, the blood ritual does not ensure gender equality in peacebuilding as the role of women is reduced to simply being observers. A major limitation of this study is its reliance on only the perspectives of the elders of the community without recourse to the voices of people who appear before the ritual processes, to appreciate how they feel about the blood ritual with respect to their hope and expectation when they appear before the process for solace and solution. Also, the voice of young people, women and other vulnerable groups are not reflected in the blood ritual approach.
Nonlinear ion‐acoustic waves in magnetized plasmas in presence of energetic electrons and positively charged dust
Authors: Orani Mehnaz Mostafee , Akter Jhorna , Mamun A. A. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractA theoretical investigation has been carried out for exploring different features of ion‐acoustic solitary and shock waves in a three‐component magnetized plasma containing a mixture of thermal and nonthermal (energetic) inertialess electrons, warm inertial ions, and positively charged stationary dust particles. The standard Korteweg‐de Vries (Burgers) equation has been derived by employing the reductive perturbation method, and its solitary (shock) wave solution has been derived and examined analytically as well as numerically. The latter exhibits characteristic properties (amplitude, width, speed, and polarity) of the ion‐acoustic solitary and shock waves. It has been shown that the ion‐acoustic solitary and shock waves are significantly modified by different plasma parameters (viz. parameter measuring the ratio of dust charge density to ion charge density, parameter measuring the fraction of energetic electrons, parameter measuring ion or electron temperature, and the external magnetic field). The present investigation may help in understanding the physics of various nonlinear phenomena formed in many space plasma systems, (viz. earth's mesosphere, solar wind, and cometary tails) and laboratory devices (laboratory experiments of Samarian et al., Phys. rev. E. 64, 056407 [2001] and of Fortov et al., New J. Physics 5, 102 [2003]).
Distribution of postictal slowing has an additional yield to interictal epileptiform discharge in predicting surgical outcomes in temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Shaaban Sally , Kakisaka Yosuke , Belal Tamer , Jin Kazutaka , Osawa Shin‐ichiro , Tominaga Teiji , Elmenshawi Ibrahim , Nakasato Nobukazu 
Published: October 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate whether the slowing of bilateral postictal scalp electroencephalography (EEG) after focal impaired awareness seizures is associated with poor seizure outcomes after temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) surgery.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Epileptology, Tohoku University Hospital from 2010 to 2020. The study included 42 patients with TLE who underwent a detailed presurgical evaluation and sequential resective surgery for the unilateral probable epileptogenic temporal lobe with 1 year or more of follow‐up. We reviewed the interictal epileptiform distribution and those of the ictal and postictal epochs of the first focal impaired awareness seizure recorded in presurgical scalp EEG. We classified patients either with postoperative seizure‐free status (Engel I) as group A or those with seizure persistence (Engel II‐IV) as group B.ResultsOf 42 patients, 29 (69%) were classified into group A. Compared with group B, group A had a lower number of bilateral postictal polymorphic delta activity (PPDA) (10.3%: 61.5%) and bilateral interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) (13.8%: 69.2%) (P = 0.003, P = 0.001, respectively). A combined analysis of bilateral PPDA and IEDs per individual patient showed significantly more frequent seizure persistence after surgery (P < 0.0001) than a single analysis of bilateral IEDs or PPDA alone (P = 0.001). The regression analysis revealed that bilaterally distributed PPDA or IEDs had 13.50 or 13.72 times higher odds of persisting seizures within 1 year of surgery (95% confidence interval: 1.90–95.88; 2.12–88.87, respectively) (P = 0.009, 0.006).SignificanceThe results of this study revealed that the bilateral distribution of PPDA was associated with poor postoperative seizure outcomes in patients with TLE, as well as bilateral IEDs. Additionally, the concomitant bilateral distribution of interictal and postictal changes is a strong indicator of poor surgical outcomes.
Choosing to Die
Authors: Kaebnick Gregory E. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractTwo articles in the September–October 2022 issue of the Hastings Center Report discuss health‐related reasons that people might have to actively bring their lives to an end. In one, Brent Kious considers the situation of a person who, because of illness, becomes a burden on loved ones. A person in such a situation might prefer to die, and Kious argues that, while there is no obligation to hasten one's death, the choice to do so could sometimes be reasonable. In a second article, Henri Wijsbek and Thomas Nys discuss a case in the Netherlands in which a woman with severe dementia was euthanized at a point when her advance euthanasia directive did not align with what she said, when asked, about death. Wijsbek and Nys defend the authority of her advance directive against a range of objections.In a third article, Henry Silverman and Patrick Odonkor, physicians at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where the first pig‐to‐human heart transplantation was performed in early 2022, develop recommendations for clinical trials of porcine heart transplantation. And an essay in the issue criticizes the allocation recommendations developed for Covid‐19 vaccines by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
A rare case of a clear cell carcinoma in a female urethral diverticulum
Authors: Gonda Masakazu , Etani Toshiki , Isogai Masahiko , Kawase Kengo , Nagai Takashi , Sugino Teruaki , Naiki Taku , Hamamoto Shuzo , Kawai Noriyasu , Yasui Takahiro 
Published: October 2022

IntroductionUrethral clear cell carcinoma is rare and often arises from a urethral diverticulum and rarely from the Müllerian duct. However, an explanation for this correlation remains unknown.Case presentationWe report the case of a 46‐year‐old woman who presented with hypermenorrhea. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a papillary tumor in a cystic lesion in the dorsal urethra. We performed a robot‐assisted radical cystourethrectomy and created an ileal conduit. Since pathological findings revealed microvascular and lymphovascular invasions around the urethra, adjuvant radiation therapy was administered. The patient showed no signs of recurrence or metastasis after treatment.ConclusionWe report a case of clear cell carcinoma in a female urethral diverticulum originating from a Müllerian duct cyst. While postoperative radiation therapy has been shown to produce a good outcome in carcinoma cases similar to this one, we recommend that a radical cystourethrectomy be performed.
Caring for the whole person: transgender‐competent HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis as part of integrated primary healthcare services in Vietnam
Authors: Doan Anh H. , Vu Chau M. H. , Nguyen Thu T. , Green Kimberly E. , Phan Huong T. T. , Janamnuaysook Rena , Vu Bao N. , Le Thanh M. , Do Khang Q. , Tran Tham T. , Ngo Trang M. , Basu Lopa , Tran Long K. , Humeau Zoe 
Published: October 2022

AbstractIntroductionAlthough HIV prevalence among transgender women who have sex with men in Vietnam is high (16–18%), uptake of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is low compared to other populations. When PrEP was initiated in 2017, gender‐affirming healthcare was largely unavailable. Lack of access to competent, stigma‐free healthcare is a well‐documented barrier to transgender women's uptake of PrEP and primary healthcare (PHC). We aimed to demonstrate the utility of a PrEP quality improvement intervention in pinpointing and addressing barriers to PrEP use among transgender women in Vietnam.MethodsWe applied a real‐world participatory continuous quality improvement (CQI) and Plan‐Do‐Study‐Act (PDSA) methodology to ascertain barriers to PrEP uptake among transgender women and determine priority actions for quality improvement. A CQI team representing transgender women leaders, key population (KP)‐clinic staff, public‐sector HIV managers and project staff applied PDSA to test solutions to identified barriers that addressed the primary quality improvement outcome of the monthly change in PrEP uptake among transgender women and secondary outcomes, including month‐3 PrEP continuation, the impact of offering PHC on PrEP uptake and unmet PrEP need. We utilized routine programmatic data and a descriptive cross‐sectional study enrolling 124 transgender women to measure these outcomes from October 2018 to September 2021.ResultsFive key barriers to PrEP uptake among transgender women were identified and corresponding solutions were put in place: (1) offering gender‐affirming care training to KP‐clinics and community‐based organizations; (2) integrating gender‐affirming services into 10 KP‐clinics; (3) offering PHC through five one‐stop shop (OSS) clinics; (4) implementing a campaign addressing concerns related to hormone use and PrEP interactions; and (5) developing national HIV and transgender healthcare guidelines. New PrEP enrolment and month‐3 PrEP continuation increased significantly among transgender women. Of 235 transgender women who initially sought healthcare other than PrEP at OSS clinics, 26.4% subsequently enrolled in PrEP. About one‐third of transgender women reported unmet PrEP need, while two‐thirds indicated an interest in long‐acting cabotegravir.ConclusionsOffering gender‐competent, integrated PHC can increase PrEP enrolment and continuation, and can be an entry‐point for PrEP among those seeking care within PHC clinics. More work is needed to expand access to transgender women‐led and ‐competent healthcare in Vietnam.
Noninvasive shape‐fitting method quantifies cam morphology in femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: Implications for diagnosis and surgical planning
Authors: Guidetti Martina , Malloy Philip , Alter Thomas D. , Newhouse Alexander C. , Nho Shane J. , Espinoza Orías Alejandro A. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThere are considerable limitations associated with the standard 2D imaging currently used for the diagnosis and surgical planning of cam‐type femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of a new patient‐specific shape‐fitting method that quantifies cam morphology in 3D based solely on preoperative MRI imaging. Preoperative and postoperative 1.5T MRI scans were performed on n = 15 patients to generate 3D models of the proximal femur, in turn used to create the actual and the virtual cam. The actual cams were reconstructed by subtracting the postoperative from the preoperative 3D model and used as reference, while the virtual cams were generated by subtracting the preoperative 3D model from the virtual shape template produced with the shape‐fitting method based solely on preoperative MRI scans. The accuracy of the shape‐fitting method was tested on all patients by evaluating the agreement between the metrics of height, surface area, and volume that quantified virtual and actual cams. Accuracy of the shape‐fitting method was demonstrated obtaining a 97.8% average level of agreement between these metrics. In conclusion, the shape‐fitting technique is a noninvasive and patient‐specific tool for the quantification and localization of cam morphology. Future studies will include the implementation of the technique within a clinically based software for diagnosis and surgical planning for cam‐type FAIS.
Expanding the genetic spectrum for Chinese familial hypercholesterolemia population with six genetic mutations identified using a next‐generation sequencing‐based laboratory‐developed screening test
Authors: Jingxin Shan , Shitong Cheng 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBackgroundThis study was to reveal the prevalence of definite familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in the hospital‐visiting population, determine the pathogenic mutation detection rate in clinically diagnosed definite FH patients, and expand the FH mutation spectrum in China.MethodsBlood lipid profiles of 41,803 patients visiting the hospital were investigated and 4967 patients with clinical diagnoses of other metabolic diseases were excluded. One hundred and seventy‐three (0.41%) received a definite diagnosis of FH according to the Dutch Lipid Clinical Network Criteria‐Chinese Revised Version (DLCN‐CRV), and 18 patients subsequently agreed to undergo genetic testing. A next‐generation sequencing (NGS)‐based laboratory‐developed test covering the exonic regions of 24 lipid metabolism‐related genes was conducted alongside in silico analyses to identify possible FH mutations in 16 definite FH patients, according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) criteria. Sanger sequencing was used to confirm mutations, and SWISS‐MODEL was used to simulate the molecular structures of the confirmed protein‐carrying mutations.ResultsThe FH prevalence was 0.41% for the 41,803 individuals (DLCN‐CRV grade >8) and 25% of definite FH patients carried six FH pathogenic mutations (≥ACMG Class 4). All genetic variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Five pathogenic variants on the LDLR gene (NM_000527: c.C1783T: p.R595W, c.T493G: p.W165G, c.G1879A: p.A627T, c.G682T: p.E228X, and exon10: c.G1432A: p.G478R) and one pathogenic variant on APOB (NM_000384: c.C10579T: p.R3527W) in 25% of the identified definite FH patients. Two pathogenic mutations, c.T493G (p.W165G) and c.C1783T (p.R595W), were added to the current genetic spectrum of FH in China.ConclusionThis study contributes to improving the current FH detection rate and genetic screening strategies; it provides new directions for treatment, management, and drug development.
Low levels of outdoor recreation alter wildlife behaviour
Authors: Sytsma Mira L. T. , Lewis Tania , Gardner Beth , Prugh Laura R. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Public interest in nature‐based recreation is growing, including visitation to protected areas. However, the level of recreation in these areas that causes detectable changes in wildlife behaviour remains unknown, and many studies that investigate wildlife responses to humans do so in high‐visitation areas.

We used camera traps to investigate the spatial and temporal responses of brown bears (Ursus arctos), black bears (Ursus americanus), moose (Alces alces) and wolves (Canis lupis) to experimentally manipulated levels of human activity in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska during summers 2017 and 2018. Human activity was restricted at some sites and concentrated at others, and these human impact treatments were swapped mid‐season. The park has very low on‐land visitation (~40,000 on‐land tourists per year), making it a unique study system to investigate wildlife responses to low levels of human activity.

Detections did not exceed five per week for any species unless human activity was absent (zero photos of humans were taken). However, spatial and temporal patterns of wildlife activity in relation to human activity were nuanced and species specific. Moose shifted their activity patterns to better align with when people were most active. Black bears were more likely to be detected in areas of high human activity but used high‐use areas less intensely than low‐use areas. Wolves used areas of high human impact more intensely, but shifted their activity to be more strongly nocturnal.

Our results highlight the importance of considering both spatial and temporal responses of wildlife to human activity. Additionally, and arguably most importantly, we detected changes in wildlife behaviour in response to humans in a national park with relatively low tourism. Although natural processes may dominate in protected areas, our results indicate that even low levels of human activity can alter wildlife behaviour.

Synthesis and applications. We demonstrated that nearly any level of human activity in a protected area may alter wildlife behaviour. However, it is unreasonable to expect protected areas to be completely devoid of human activity. Thus, management of these areas will need to balance the desires of humans to view wildlife with the likely impacts.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Rational Design of Soft–Hard Interfaces through Bioinspired Engineering
Authors: Zhang Hui , Ma Yufei , Wang Yijie , Niu Lin , Zou Rui , Zhang Min , Liu Hao , Genin Guy M. , Li Ang , Xu Feng 
Published: October 2022

AbstractSoft–hard tissue interfaces in nature present a diversity of hierarchical transitions in composition and structure to address the challenge of stress concentrations that would otherwise arise at their interface. The translation of these into engineered materials holds promise for improved function of biomedical interfaces. Here, soft–hard tissue interfaces found in the body in health and disease, and the application of the diverse, functionally graded, and hierarchical structures that they present to bioinspired engineering materials are reviewed. A range of such bioinspired engineering materials and associated manufacturing technologies that are on the horizon in interfacial tissue engineering, hydrogel bioadhesion at the interfaces, and healthcare and medical devices are described.
Gel Polymer Electrolytes Design for Na‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Pan Jun , Wang Nana , Fan Hong Jin 
Published: October 2022

AbstractNa‐ion battery has the potential to be one of the best types of next‐generation energy storage devices by virtue of their cost and sustainability advantages. With the demand for high safety, the replacement of traditional organic electrolytes with polymer electrolytes can avoid electrolyte leakage and thermal instability. Polymer electrolytes, however, suffer from low ionic conductivity and large interfacial impedance. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) represent an excellent balance that combines the advantages of high ionic conductivity, low interfacial impedance, high thermal stability, and flexibility. This short review summarizes the recent progress on gel polymer Na‐ion batteries, focusing on different preparation approaches and the resultant physical and electrochemical properties. Reasons for the differences in ionic conductivity, mechanical properties, interfacial properties, and thermal stability are discussed at the molecular level. This Review may offer a deep understanding of sodium‐ion GPEs and may guide the design of intermolecular interactions for high‐performance gel polymer Na‐ion batteries.