Boron cluster sheets are two-dimensional boron atom-based formations called borophene. They are similar to the two-dimensional sheet known as graphene, which is composed of carbon atoms arranged in a ...hexagonal lattice. The unique electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties of borophene make it a sought-after substance for a variety of uses, such as catalysis, energy storage, and electronics. There are two ways to manufacture borophene: chemical vapor deposition and molecular beam epitaxy. Vertex-edge valency-based topological descriptors are a great example of a molecular descriptor that provides information on the connection of atoms in a molecule. These descriptions are based on the notion that a node's value in a molecular network is the sum of the valency of those atoms that are directly connected to that node. In this article, we discussed some novel vertex-edge (ve) and edge-vertex (ev) topological descriptors and found their formulations for the boron cluster or borophene sheets. Also, we show the numerical and graphical comparison of these descriptors in this article.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has recently reported a 66% increase in the global number of cancer deaths since 1960. In the US alone, about one in eight women is expected to ...develop invasive breast cancer(s) (breast cancer) at some point in their lifetime. Traditionally, a BC diagnosis includes mammography, ultrasound, and some high-end molecular bioimaging. Unfortunately, these techniques detect BC at a later stage. So early and advanced molecular diagnostic tools are still in demand. In the past decade, various histological and immuno-molecular studies have demonstrated that BC is highly heterogeneous in nature. Its growth pattern, cytological features, and expression of key biomarkers in BC cells including hormonal receptor markers can be utilized to develop advanced diagnostic and therapeutic tools. A cancer cell's progression to malignancy exhibits various vital biomarkers, many of which are still underrepresented in BC diagnosis and treatment. Advances in genetics have also enabled the development of multigene assays to detect genetic heterogeneity in BC. However, thus far, the FDA has approved only four such biomarkers-cancer antigens (CA); CA 15-3, CA 27-29, Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and circulating tumor cells (CTC) in assessing BC in body fluids. An adequately structured portable-biosensor with its non-invasive and inexpensive point-of-care analysis can quickly detect such biomarkers without significantly compromising its specificity and selectivity. Such advanced techniques are likely to discriminate between BC and a healthy patient by accurately measuring the cell shape, structure, depth, intracellular and extracellular environment, and lipid membrane compositions. Presently, BC treatments include surgery and systemic chemo- and targeted radiation therapy. A biopsied sample is then subjected to various multigene assays to predict the heterogeneity and recurrence score, thus guiding a specific treatment by providing complete information on the BC subtype involved. Thus far, we have seven prognostic multigene signature tests for BC providing a risk profile that can avoid unnecessary treatments in low-risk patients. Many comparative studies on multigene analysis projected the importance of integrating clinicopathological information with genomic-imprint analysis. Current cohort studies such as MINDACT, TAILORx, Trans-aTTOM, and many more, are likely to provide positive impact on long-term patient outcome. This review offers consolidated information on currently available BC diagnosis and treatment options. It further describes advanced biomarkers for the development of state-of-the-art early screening and diagnostic technologies.
An important dietary source of physiologically active compounds, coffee also contains phenolic acids, diterpenes, and caffeine. According to a certain study, some coffee secondary metabolites may ...advantageously modify a number of anti-cancer defense systems. This research looked at a few coffee chemical structures in terms of edge locating numbers or edge metric size to better understand the mechanics of coffee molecules. Additionally, this research includes graph theoretical properties of coffee chemical structures. The chemicals found in coffee, such as caffeine, diterpene or cafestol, kahweol, chlorogenic, caffeic, gallotannins, and ellagitannins, are especially examined in these publications.
The ability of shape memory alloys (SMAs) to recover inelastic strains larger than any other metallic alloy has prompted their use in a wide range of applications. However, for the most common SMAs, ...including NiTi and Cu-based systems, fabrication using conventional means raises important challenges, including poor workability and potentially high tool wear. Additive manufacturing offers a direct answer to these challenges by eliminating the need for tooling and allowing the production of samples of complex geometries directly from computer-aided designs. The present work provides a comprehensive review of additive manufacturing applied to various SMA systems, with focus on the influence of process parameters and heat-treatment on the microstructure, printability, and the structural and functional behavior of additively fabricated samples.
Display omitted
•Low energy density and laser power are privileged to insure low porosity in additively manufactured SMAs.•Optimal energy density depends on the geometry of fabricated parts.•Scanning strategy affects the geometry and orientation of grains and thus, the mechanical response of samples.•At fixed energy density, different properties of AM parts are obtained for different sets of process parameters.•Transformation temperatures of AM SMAs are highly affected by powder composition.
Although next-generation sequencing has allowed for the detection of somatic mutations in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), the clinical relevance of variant allele frequency (VAF) for the majority of ...mutations is unknown. We profiled TP53 and 20 additional genes in our training set of 219 patients with MDS or secondary acute myeloid leukemia with findings confirmed in a validation cohort. When parsed by VAF, TP53 VAF predicted for complex cytogenetics in both the training (P=0.001) and validation set (P<0.0001). MDS patients with a TP53 VAF > 40% had a median overall survival (OS) of 124 days versus an OS that was not reached in patients with VAF <20% (hazard ratio (HR), 3.52; P=0.01) with validation in an independent cohort (HR, 4.94, P=0.01). TP53 VAF further stratified distinct prognostic groups independent of clinical prognostic scoring systems (P=0.0005). In multivariate analysis, only a TP53 VAF >40% was an independent covariate (HR, 1.61; P<0.0001). In addition, SRSF2 VAF predicted for monocytosis (P=0.003), RUNX1 VAF with thrombocytopenia (P=0.01) and SF3B1 with ringed sideroblasts (P=0.001). Together, our study indicates that VAF should be incorporated in patient management and risk stratification in MDS.
Abstract Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an established treatment alternative to surgical valve replacement in high-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. The current ...guidelines for TAVR are to upsize transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) relative to the native annulus to secure the device and minimize paravalvular leakage. Unlike surgical stented bioprosthetic valves where leaflets are attached to a rigid frame, TAVs must expand to fit within the native annulus. Fully-expanded circular TAVs have consistent leaflet kinematics; however, subtle variations in the degree of stent expansion may affect leaflet coaptation. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of incomplete TAV expansion on leaflet stress and strain distributions. In this study, we developed finite element models of a 23 mm homemade TAV expanded to diameters ranging from 18 to 23 mm in 1 mm increments. Through dynamic finite element simulations, we found that leaflet stress and strain distributions were dependent on the diameter of the inflated TAV. After complete expansion of the TAV to 23 mm, high stress and strain regions were observed primarily in the commissures during diastole. However, 2–3 mm incomplete TAV stent expansion induced localized high stress regions within the TAV commissures, while 4–5 mm incomplete stent expansion induced localized high stress regions within the belly of the TAV leaflets during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle. Increased mechanical stress and flexural deformation on TAV leaflets due to incomplete stent expansion may lead to accelerated tissue degeneration and diminished long-term valve durability.
We construct a model to investigate HIV/AIDS dynamics in real cases and study its mathematical analysis. The study examines the qualitative outcomes and confirms the local and global asymptotic ...stability of both the endemic equilibrium and the disease-free equilibrium. The model’s criteria for exhibiting both local and global asymptotically stable behavior are examined. We compute the endemic equilibria and obtain the existence of a unique positive endemic equilibrium. The data is fitted to the model using the idea of nonlinear least-squares fitting. Accurate parameter values are achieved by fitting the data to the model using a 95% confidence interval. The basic reproduction number is computed using parameters that have been fitted or estimated. Sensitivity analysis is performed to discover the influential parameters that impact the reproduction number and the eradication of the disease. The results show that implementing preventive measures can reduce HIV/AIDS cases.
Secondary vascular risk reduction is critical to preventing recurrent stroke. We aimed to evaluate the effect of exercise interventions on vascular risk factors and recurrent ischaemic events after ...stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
Intervention systematic review and meta-analysis.
OVID MEDLINE, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, TRIP Database, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, UK Clinical Trials Gateway and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched from 1966 to October 2017.
Randomised controlled trials evaluating aerobic or resistance exercise interventions on vascular risk factors and recurrent ischaemic events among patients with stroke or TIA, compared with control.
Twenty studies (n=1031) were included. Exercise interventions resulted in significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP) -4.30 mm Hg (95% CI -6.77 to -1.83) and diastolic blood pressure -2.58 mm Hg (95% CI -4.7 to -0.46) compared with control. Reduction in SBP was most pronounced among studies initiating exercise within 6 months of stroke or TIA (-8.46 mm Hg, 95% CI -12.18 to -4.75 vs -2.33 mm Hg, 95% CI -3.94 to -0.72), and in those incorporating an educational component (-7.81 mm Hg, 95% CI -14.34 to -1.28 vs -2.78 mm Hg, 95% CI -4.33 to -1.23). Exercise was also associated with reductions in total cholesterol (-0.27 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.54 to 0.00), but not fasting glucose or body mass index. One trial reported reductions in secondary vascular events with exercise, but was insufficiently powered.
Exercise interventions can result in clinically meaningful blood pressure reductions, particularly if initiated early and alongside education.