Multivariate analysis revealed that a high donor IMAC  was an independent risk factor for 6-month graft survival, and the donor IMAC is useful for donor selection for high-risk recipients.The recipient muscle status is closely associated with postoperative poor survival in recipients of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). However, it is uncertain whether LDLT donor muscle quality and quantity affect graft quality. Hence, we analyzed the correlation between donor muscle status and graft function. We measured the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC) of 380 LDLT donors. We examined the correlation between donor SMI or IMAC and graft mortality, the occurrence rates of small-for-size graft (SFSG) syndrome, and 6-month graft survival rates. The donor SMI had no effect on the occurrence of SFSG syndrome and graft survival, while a high IMAC in both male and female donors was significantly correlated with the rate of SFSG syndrome [high vs low:  15.8% vs. 2.5%,   Sarcopenia, defined as an age-dependent decrease in muscle mass and function, is reportedly an independent risk factor of poor survival in the presence of several diseases  –5. In tHowever, these correlations with liver transplantation and muscle quality and quantity are not surprising because the liver is strongly affected by muscle tissue . SkeletaThe effect of skeletal muscle in LDLT donors has not been fully examined. LDLT donors are healthy and lack severe comorbidities. Preoperative blood tests are performed to confirm that there are no abnormalities. In addition, donor liver steatosis and cold ischemic time are reportedly graft quality markers in deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) , 14. If In the present study, the pretransplant donor skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and IMAC were retrospectively evaluated, and the impact of the SMI and IMAC on graft survival was assessed.The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Kyushu University Hospital, approval number 2019–354. This study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki of 1996. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients before LDLT. In total, 380 adult patients (age >17 years) underwent LDLT at Kyushu University Hospital, Japan, between January 2007 and March 2018. Recipients who could be followed for at least 6 months after LDLT were included. If an LDLT donor had mild obesity or fatty liver, dietary restriction and exercise were implemented, and LDLT was performed after complete improvement of obesity and fatty liver. In our cohort, only two donors underwent weight loss before the donation.2 and expressed as the SMI (Computed tomography (CT) scanning was performed within 1 month preoperatively. The SMI and IMAC were calculated as previously reported , 17. Bri the SMI . The pre the SMI . A higheThe selection criteria for the recipients and donors have been previously described , 19.The selection criteria for LDLT for patients without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were as follows: 1) no other potentially curative modality available and 2) no other organ failure present. There was no limitation on recipient age. The selection criteria for LDLT for patients with HCC were as follows: 1) no other potentially curative modality available, 2) no extrahepatic metastasis, and 3) no major vascular invasion. The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was calculated using a formula reported by Kamath et al. .Donors were selected from among candidates who had volunteered for the procedure . They weThe graft procurement technique and recipient surgery have been previously described . SplenecThe perioperative management of recipients, including the immunosuppression regimens, have been described previously , 19, 25.Portal, hepatic arterial, and hepatic venous flows were assessed using Doppler ultrasonography twice per day until postoperative-day (POD) 7 and once per day thereafter during the first admission. For recipients with simultaneous splenectomy and LDLT, portal vein thrombosis prevention was not routinely performed. When the platelet count increased to 500,000/ml or higher during the follow-up period, 100 mg of aspirin was administered, which was discontinued when the platelet count decreased below 500,000/ml.The abdominal drain was removed when the daily ascites volume became lower than 500 ml.The primary endpoint was 6-month graft survival. If there was a significant difference in the first endpoint, we also examined laboratory data and the amount of abdominal drainage as secondary endpoints. Six-month graft loss was defined as recipient death or re-transplantation within 6 months.t-test.Categorical variables are presented as numbers and percentages and all patient background information was compared using the Pearson’s chi-square test. Based on their distributions, continuous variables are presented as the mean with 95% confidence interval, and they were compared using the t-test and categorical variables were compared using the chi-squared (?2) test. Any variable in the univariate analysis was identified as significant at p < 0.05, or variables at p < 0.2 were considered candidates for the multivariate Cox analysis. The results are shown as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A value of p < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. All statistical data were generated using JMP Pro 15 .Graft survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Continuous variables were compared using the n = 235) vs. female donor (n = 145); mean SMI: 50.1 vs. 39.4, p < 0.0001, mean IMAC: −0.557 vs. −0.507, p < 0.0001]. Thus, we separated data from male and female donors for further analysis. The optimal cutoff values for predicting primary 6-month graft loss were derived from receiver operating characteristic curves, with SMI cutoff values for men and women of 57.0 and 37.5 , and IMAC cut-off values for men and women of −0.553 and −0.473, respectively   .p = 0.0248, sepsis rate: 6.3% vs. 16.3%, p = 0.0292). p = 0.0013), but there was no significant difference in recipient postoperative parameters. p = 0.0283) and intraoperative recipient blood loss was higher  than in the low-IMAC group. Regarding recipient postoperative parameters, the admission period was longer  and the rates of SFSG syndrome  and graft failure  were higher in the high-IMAC than in the low-IMAC group. p = 0.0406) and the MELD score was higher  in the high-IMAC group than in the low-IMAC group. Regarding postoperative parameters, the rates of sepsis, SFSG syndrome, and graft failure were higher in the high donor IMAC group than in the low donor IMAC group . In both the male and female analyses, there was no significant difference in the cause of graft loss.As shown in r = −0.1289, p = 0.0484), while for female donors, there was no correlation between the SMI and age . In all donors, there were significant positive correlations between the preoperative donor IMAC and donor age .In male donors, there was a significant negative correlation between preoperative donor SMI and donor age . The male and female IMAC analyses showed that the overall graft survival rates in the high-IMAC group were lower than those in the low-IMAC group .The male and female SMI analyses revealed no significant difference in the overall graft survival rates within 6 months after LDLT between the low-SMI group and the high-SMI group . We examined liver steatosis in 186 LDLT donors with preserved liver biopsy tissue using hematoxylin and eosin staining to assess the correlation between liver steatosis and IMAC. There were 88 high-IMAC patients and 98 low-IMAC patients. No patient had 5% or higher steatosis in either group. There was no significant difference between the groups in the rate of donors with microvascular steatosis (1%–4%) .The differences in graft function after LDLT between the high- and low-IMAC groups were examined. The serum total-bilirubin (T-bil) level on POD 14, prothrombin-time international normalized ratio (PT-INR) on POD 14, and drained ascites on PODs 14 and 30 were significantly higher in recipients with grafts from high-IMAC donors than from low-IMAC donors (p = 0.0004), high MELD score , and absence of splenectomy  were independent risk factors for graft failure within 6 months.We performed univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses to examine the predictive factors for graft survival within 6 months after LDLT. p = 0.0381; moderate-risk group: 73.1% vs. 96.2%, p = 0.0010) (p = 0.4995) (p < 0.0001)  . However 0.4995) . We divi 0.0001) .In this study, we examined the correlation of the donor SMI and IMAC with graft survival and function in LDLT. A high donor IMAC was correlated with poor graft prognosis and graft function deterioration. We stratified LDLT patients by three risk factors, including high IMAC, high MELD score, and absence of splenectomy, and found that the presence of two or more risk factors significantly reduced graft survival.The usefulness of the IMAC for predicting the prognosis of patients with various diseases, such as cirrhosis and pancreatic cancer, has been reported, and a high IMAC was shown to correlate with poor prognosis , 27. In In LDLT, there are rarely ideal conditions in terms of recipient status and donor selection. Some compromises are often necessary in donor selection because of organ shortages. Hence, we examined under which conditions IMAC assessment is useful. In low-risk recipients, whose MELD score was 20 or lower and who could not undergo splenectomy, there was a significant difference in 6-month graft survival rates between the high-IMAC group and low-IMAC group, albeit not by a large margin. Surprisingly, in the moderate-risk group, which included patients with one risk, i.e., high MELD score or absence of splenectomy, the difference was large and significant. This may indicate that donor selection considering the IMAC may be important for moderate-risk recipients scheduled to undergo LDLT. Splenectomy is a risk factor for SFSG syndrome in LDLT, and splenectomy is recommended for recipients with small grafts or portal hypertension . HoweverThe relationships between the musculature and liver are not well understood. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), which is implicated in both liver regeneration and metabolic functions, is secreted into the bloodstream in response to muscle contraction . Some epThe relationship between the IMAC and graft survival was more pronounced in women. The difference may result from expression of the estrogen receptor. Estrogen is one of the most important molecular markers of liver regeneration, and it has been reported that more estrogen receptors are expressed in the male liver than in the female liver,35. HencThis study has some limitations. First, this was a retrospective and single-center study. The IMAC needs to be studied on a large scale in the future, as it is a non-invasive examination and can be evaluated using CT scans performed preoperatively. Second, there is no clear answer as to whether the IMAC should be adjusted for age. Our study did not find a strong correlation with age, while others have reported strong correlations. In any case, the IMAC is a useful prognostic marker for graft survival in LDLT, but a large-scale validation may be needed in the future to determine which IMAC or adjusted IMAC is more useful. Third, there were some significant differences in patient characteristics between the high- and low-IMAC groups. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to more accurately examine the correlation between the IMAC and patient characteristics  because In conclusion, the donor IMAC correlates with graft survival. Thus, the donor IMAC may be useful for predicting graft function and, by extension, graft mortality.


This paper reports the results of research on the influence of the compliance of the technological system used in grinding low-stiffness shafts on the shape accuracy of the workpieces. The level of accuracy achieved using passive compliance compensation was assessed, and technological assumptions were formulated to further increase the shape accuracy of the low-stiffness shafts obtained in the grinding process. Taking into account the limitations of passive compliance compensation, a method for the active compensation of the compliance of the elastic technological system during the machining process was developed. The experiments showed that the accuracy of grinding was most effectively increased by adjusting the compliance and controlling the bending moments, depending on the position of the cutting force (grinding wheel) along the part. The experimental results were largely consistent with the results of the theoretical study and confirmed the assumptions made. Adjusting the compliance in the proposed way allows for the significant improvement in the accuracy and productivity of machining of low-stiffness shafts. The desire to reduce the amount of materials used in the construction of mechanisms and machines, as well as the functional uses of some parts, makes it necessary to produce precise low-stiffness parts ,3,4,5,6.The low stiffness of such parts, which is lower than the stiffness of the machine tool, can (under certain conditions) cause vibrations and the occurrence of factors that disrupt and destabilize the machining process ,24,25,26The errors in the longitudinal section of the workpiece that occur during machining are caused by the low and uneven stiffness of the technological system, the main elements of which are the workpiece, the centers in which it is mounted, and the cutting tool ,28,29,30The accuracy of grinding of low-stiffness shafts can, therefore, be significantly increased by using technological machining methods that allow for the control of the compliance of the technological system, while the efficiency of the process can be significantly increased by using higher machining parameters ,36,37.The main cause of shape errors in the longitudinal section of a workpiece is the uneven stiffness of the technological system along the X-axis in the place where the cutting force is applied . A shapepF—resistive  cutting force component; x—distance of the force application point from the end of the shaft;L—length of the part;sj, tj, gw—jstiffness of the spindle, tailstock, and grinding wheel, respectively;E—Young’s modulus;I—moment of the section inertia.The relationship describing the surface of a workpiece made in one pass and intended for machining with the use of grinding operations can be given by :(1)y(x)=ε = x/L, K = L/d, E = 2 × 1011 [N/m2]; I = π ∙ d4/64 = 0.05 ∙ d4, Equation (1) takes the following form [rK—a coefficient that depends on the stiffness of the technological system, process parameters, and grinding conditions;f—feed;d—diameter of the part.After the substitution ing form :(2)y(x)=c(ε) in various cross-sections of the workpiece [c is determined by the difference between maximum (ωc(max)) and minimum (ωc(min)) compliance values:The relationship in square brackets in formula (2) describes the technological system’s compliance ωorkpiece . The nonThe machining accuracy of low-stiffness shafts with a diameter larger than 50 mm can be increased by increasing the compliance of the headstock and tailstock to the following values :(4)ωw,k=1(ε) is only the compliance of the shaft [As the total compliance increases and the non-uniformity of the compliance along the machining length decreases, the longitudinal accuracy of the shape of the part improves. In the case of rigid centers and a low-stiffness shaft, the compliance of the elastic technological system ωhe shaft :(5)ω1(ε)This case corresponds to curve one in w = 4 × 10−12 ∙ Kr3/d, the compliance of the elastic technological system is expressed by the equation [For an absolutely rigid shaft and low-stiffness centers whose compliance is equalized to the value of ωequation :(6)ω2(ε)In a technological system consisting of a low-stiffness shaft and low-stiffness centers, the compliance of the system is the sum of the compliances of these elements, and is expressed by the relationship :(7)ω3(ε)Graphically, this case is represented by curve three in Data on the non-uniformity of compliance and the relationships describing changes in non-uniformity of compliance over the length of machining allow one to assess the level of accuracy when compliance is passively evened out and to develop technological assumptions to further increase the accuracy of the shape of the low-stiffness shafts during grinding. When the relatively constant coefficients are normalized, Equations (5)–(7) take the following form :(8)ω1(ε)The highest values of non-uniformity of compliance along the machining length, obtained by analyzing dependencies (8), (9), and (10) in terms of the maximum and minimum compliance values, are presented in 1,2 = 0.5, and, in the third case (a low-stiffness shaft and low-stiffness centers), the non-uniformity of the compliance is Δω3 = 0.125. The relative non-uniformity of the technological system’s compliance after leveling out (increasing the compliance of the centers) is expressed by the ratio Δω1,2/Δω3 = 4. As can be seen, after the leveling out, the non-uniformity of the system’s compliance is four times smaller, and the shape error caused by the elastic deformations should, theoretically, also be four times smaller in this case.An analysis of the data presented in The method of increasing the accuracy of the shape of parts by reducing the compliance of the centers is a passive one. A technological limitation of this method is that it requires the use of sets of centers of different stiffnesses and does not allow one to adjust the compliance during machining.Given these drawbacks of the passive method, an active compliance compensation method for the elastic technological system used in the machining process was developed.The characteristics illustrated in 4 = const. Curve five can be calculated using the following equation [Stabilization can be achieved by adjusting the rigidity of the centers so that the elastic technological system’s compliance does not change according to curve two, but according to curve five . Then, cequation :(11)ω5 can be transformed into an equation with constant coefficients :(12)ω5 can also be the basis for adjustment. The difference between curve two and adjustment curve five in this case can be determined by the adjustment factor λla below :(13)λε=ωFormula (13) was used to obtain the adjustment values along the machining length shown numerically in I = 0–0.0 and εII = 0.5–1.0 of polyline six can be expressed by the following relationships [The adjustment made according to curve five is associated with practical difficulties. Therefore, it is better to approximate curve five to polyline six with two linear segments. As can be seen from the graph, line six has an inflection point located at ε = 0.5. For this coordinate, segments εionships :(14)ω6δ(ε)When the rigidity is adjusted according to the linearized curve six, the changes in the compliance along the processing length can be determined from the relationship :(16)ω7 = 0.061, which, theoretically, is 8.2 times less than the initial non-uniformity and 2 times less, when compared to the passive compliance compensation Δω3 = 0.125.The non-uniformity of compliance is the largest from line four, with respect to the ordinate (16) and equals ΔωThe results of the theoretical study show that the proposed method of increasing the accuracy of grinding of low-stiffness shafts, which consists of adjusting the compliance of the technological system, can be used in the machining of parts.During the machining of low-stiffness machine elements, there arise complex relationships and functional dependencies which are characteristic of the specific types and conditions of machining. Any theoretical assumptions about the machining of this kind of parts should therefore be confirmed by experimental studies. Experimentally established relationships and dependencies allow one to more accurately predict errors, rationally select machining parameters, and control part deformation.The present experimental tests were carried out to check the theoretical assumptions for controlling the grinding accuracy of low-stiffness shafts.The tests were performed on a 3B153 cylindrical grinder (produced by the grinder factory in Vilnius). A ceramic bond grinding wheel made of aluminum oxide with the dimensions of 400×40×127, grain size 40, and hardness SM1 was used. The measurement of the force components was carried out using a dynamometer type 9123 by Kistle.p = 0.01 mm/double pass, longitudinal feed f = 16 mm/rev, cutting speed vc = 12 m/min.Calibrated rollers made of C50 steel  were used as specimens, which allowed us to exclude the influence of the input shape inaccuracy on the results of the experiment. The dimensions of the samples were selected based on the condition of equal stiffness at L/d = 20. Two types of samples were used: (1) length: 280 mm, diameter: 6 mm; (2) length 280 mm, diameter: 6 mm. Each sample was ground in 12 duplicate passes. The experiments were carried out under the following grinding conditions: cross-feed aThe grinding force was calculated using the experimental relationship (17), depending on the dimensions of the samples, the grinding parameters, and the coordinates of the position of the grinding wheel relative to the machined surface. To increase the reliability of the experiment, each trial was repeated six times:pF = 15 N. In the experiments, standard centers with a diameter of 22 mm were used. To adjust the compliance, the cross-section of the d = 22 mm standard centers was reduced using a special groove, and the dimensions of this cross-section varied depending on the dimensions and compliance of the test samples. For shafts with a diameter of 8 mm, the flexibility of the centers should be equal to 4.2 µm/N, and for shafts with a diameter of 14 mm, the flexibility of the centers should be equal to 2.3 µm/N. In practice, the use of the grooves reduced the compliance of the centers to 4 µm/N when the exposed length of the centers was 85 mm, and to 2 μm/N when the exposed length of the centers was 70 mm.The average value of the calculated stabilized resistive force was The experiments allowed us to determine whether it was possible, in practice, to increase the machining accuracy by controlling the compliance and bending moment.−the stiffness of the centers significantly exceeded the stiffness of the semi-finished product (compliance was not leveled out or adjusted);−the compliance of the centers was double the compliance of the semi-finished product and did not change throughout the machining process (passive compliance compensation);−the centers’ compliance was adjusted along the machined surface;−the value of bending moments applied to the ends of the workpiece changed with the position of the grinding wheel along the machining length.The initial experimental studies were conducted under the following conditions:Experimental data on the maximum shape deviations of the shafts  show thaTaking into account the fact that the passive compliance compensation does not permit one to significantly increase the machining accuracy, a method for the active compensation of the compliance of an elastic technological system during the machining process was developed.The calculations  show thaA schematic of the method for grinding low-stiffness shafts in centers, with an adjustment of compliance, is shown in The method consists of adjusting the stiffness of the centers 2 and 3 during the machining process, depending on the position of the grinding wheel 6 along the shaft 1, by means of adjustment mechanisms 4 and 5, located in the shanks of centers 2 and 3.When the compliance is adjusted by a targeted increase in the compliance of the centers and there are no geometrical inaccuracies of the machine tool, the compliance of the two centers should be identical: for samples with diameters d = 8 mm and d = 14 mm, 4 µm/ N and 2 μm/N, respectively. Curve 1 in The geometrical inaccuracy of the machine tool determined from the dependence (17) (curve 2) introduces a systematic error. The theoretical deviation of the shape is represented by curve 3 of In order to compensate for the initial displacement of the workpiece axis, the compliances of the headstock and the tailstock were set as unequal during the experiments. For samples when d = 8 mm, the compliance of the headstock was assumed to be 4 µm/N and the tailstock’s compliance was assumed to be 3 µm/N. For samples when d = 14 mm, the respective compliances were set to 2 µm/N and 1 µm/N. Curve 4 of The results of the experimental tests, shown as curve 5 of o < GT); the difference between the theoretical and the experimental values of the mean shape deviation is non-significant , and the experimental results are consistent with the real process (Fp < FT).The dispersion analysis (The experiments were provided to test the effects of the linearization adjustment of compliance according to the dependence (14), and programmed adjustment of compliance according to dependence (11).For parts with d = 8 mm, the linearization adjustment of the compliance along the length of the workpiece yielded a compliance value of 3 m/N at  curve 6 . Such anThe experiments show that, compared with passive compliance adjustment, the linearization adjustment leads to a two-fold increase in the shape accuracy, while the programmed adjustment may result in even a four-fold increase in accuracy. When compared to the uncontrolled grinding of low-stiffness shafts with d = 8 mm and d = 14 mm, the programmed adjustment of compliance increased the shape accuracy by one order of magnitude.The abrasive machining of low-stiffness shafts was carried out on a station which allows for the controlling of bending moments. A block diagram of the station is shown in When controlling the shape accuracy of a workpiece by changing the bending control moments, the values of those moments are determined along the machining length.yF = 15 N; the ratio of the length of the sample to its diameter L/d = 20; the (exposed) length of the centers a1 = 50 mm; the current coordinate of the position of the cutting force x = 0, L/4, L/2, 3 L/4, L. The relative displacement of the left end of the workpiece was taken to be 1 (ν = 1), and the machine tool’s geometric inaccuracy (displacement: on the grinding wheel of the headstock) was conventionally transferred to the right stop (f = ∆l/∆p)–the initial displacement of the left and the right end of the workpiece, respectively.The following input data were adopted: actual grinding force For samples with d = 8 mm and L = 160 mm (L/d = 20 mm), the ratio of the moments of inertia of the centers (I2) and the workpiece (I1) was assumed to be n = I2/I1 = 4 (standard centers with a diameter of 31 mm were used); the ratio a1 of the length of the supporting center to length L of the workpiece m = a/L = 0.31. For samples with d = 14 mm and a length of 280 mm (L/d = 20), n = 2.5 and m = 0.18.p) and left (Ml) bending moments are shown in The calculated values of the right (MWhen the control of the bending moments was linearized in accordance with p < Gr), and the deviations of the mean values of the experimental curves 1 and 2 (p < tr).The dispersion analysis shows that the results of the experiments are repeatable  are within the range of the tolerance zone, according to accuracy class 6. These shape accuracy values are an order of magnitude greater than those obtained in the uncontrolled process.The experimental studies confirm the theoretical assumption that technological methods can be used to obtain quite a large increase in the accuracy of the shape of low-stiffness shafts produced by grinding. In the present study, the accuracy was increased by controlling the technological system’s displacement directly during the machining process.The experiments we carried out show  that the−In grinding operations, shape errors in the longitudinal section of the shaft are mainly caused by the uneven stiffness of the technological system at the point of the application of the cutting force. They can be reduced by equalizing the stiffness of the technological system at the cross-sections of the workpiece (in places where the cutting force is applied).−The accuracy of the shape of a shaft can be increased up to four times by reducing the compliance of the centers (passive method). However, this approach requires the use of sets of centers with different stiffness values and it does not allow for the adjusting of the compliance of the system during machining.−These limitations of passive compliance compensation have been eliminated in the proposed method of active compensation of the compliance of the elastic technological system during the machining process. In the active approach, the compliance is stabilized by adjusting the stiffness of the centers.−When the compliance is regulated by a targeted increase in the compliance of the centers, and there are no geometrical inaccuracies of the machine tool introducing a systematic error in the machining results, the compliance of the two centers should be the same. However, when the grinding machine has geometrical inaccuracies, the uniform compensation of the technological system’s compliance does not increase the shape accuracy of the workpiece.−Control of bending moments allows for the reduction of the shape deviations of the samples by one order of magnitude compared to the uncontrolled process.This paper proposes a method of increasing the workpiece’s shape accuracy by controlling the compliance of the technological system. This provided study allows one to draw the following conclusions:


Mucociliary clearance (MCC) allows ventilation of graft particles that are displaced through a perforated Schneiderian membrane during maxillary sinus augmentation (MSA). However, it is very rarely confirmed by cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images. It is not yet known how long the dislodged bone graft particles remain in the maxillary sinus or how quickly they are ventilated after MSA. The purpose of these case reports is to introduce tomographic imaging of ventilation of bone graft particles displaced through a perforated Schneiderian membrane after MSA. Four patients, who needed implant placement in the posterior maxilla, received MSA, during which the Schneiderian membrane was perforated but was not repaired. Therefore, some bone graft particles were dislocated into the sinus cavity. The sizes of the perforated membranes were measured and recorded. CBCT scans were taken at multiple time points after the surgery to visualize and trace the ejected material. In addition, the time from when the bone graft substitute was delivered to the sinus until the CBCT scans were taken was recorded. The expelled bone graft particles migrated to the ostium along the sinus wall immediately after MSA on CBCT images taken immediately after the surgery. No displaced graft particles were observed in the maxillary sinus on CBCT scans after 1 week. The CBCT scans at 6 months showed no unusual radiographic images. Within the limitations of the case reports, tomographic imaging revealed an MCC system that allows displaced graft particles to be ventilated into the ostium very early during MSA healing and not stagnate in the maxillary sinus. Maxillary sinus augmentation (MSA) is a procedure that enables implant placement in patients who are unable to receive conventional implant placement in the posterior maxilla due to severe pneumatization of the maxillary sinus or extreme atrophy of the maxilla ,2,3. TheSinus floor elevation can be successfully performed when the physiology of the maxillary sinus is well maintained . For thiThe perforation of the Schneiderian membrane has been known to exert an adverse effect on MCC, since the mucous membrane is thickened and the ostium patency is invaded ,5,9. SchSome conflicting results have been also reported. In these studies, long-term complications and implant survival rates were not affected ,17. ThisUnlike the nasal cavity, little is known about the time and rate of MCC in the maxillary sinus. MCC of the maxillary sinus can be confirmed only through nasal endoscopy and tomographic imaging, and is usually performed on patients with chronic or recurrent sinusitis ,19. Howe® 200 mg, Yuhan Co., Seoul, Korea) three times a day for 14 days. Patients were also advised to rinse the mouth with 0.12% chlorhexidine solution  for 30 s, twice a day, for 1 week and were asked not to blow their noses. Two patients were treated with delayed implant placements six months after MSA, and the other two patients were treated with a simultaneous approach. CBCT scans were performed immediately after surgery, 7 days after surgery, and after prosthesis delivery or six months after surgery. The sizes of the membrane perforations were measured using a periodontal probe, and the time from when the bone graft substitute was delivered to the maxillary sinus until the CBCT was taken was also recorded  was used in all cases as the bone graft substitute. Postoperatively, all patients were covered with systemic antibiotics  and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs  were placed in the area of #26 and #27 missing teeth. The time from delivery of bone graft substitute into the elevated maxillary sinus to CBCT imaging immediately after surgery was approximately 30 min . There wThe patient was a 36-year-old male smoker. Lateral sinus floor elevation and implant placement were simultaneously performed in both pneumatized maxillary sinuses. There was no history of preoperative sinonasal treatment, and the mucosal thickness of the maxillary sinus was very thin. During MSA, there was a wide perforation of the membrane in the left (10 mm) and right (15 mm) sinuses. Since membrane repair was not performed, the bone graft substitute had to be exposed in the perforated area. The bone graft material was filled only on the sinus floor to prevent it from spreading into the maxillary sinus as much as possible. The implants placed were 4.8 × 10 mm Implantium . The time elapsed between the delivery of the bone graft material and postoperative CBCT imaging was 60 min for the right surgical site and 30 min for the left surgical site . On the The patient was a 45-year-old male non-smoker. Implant placement was planned as a delayed approach to be installed 6 months after MSA in the left pneumatized maxillary sinus. The Schneiderian membrane was accidentally perforated and not repaired. The size of the membrane perforation was about 6 mm . The timThe last case was a 47-year-old non-smoking patient. In the left pneumatized maxillary sinus, MSA and implant placement were performed simultaneously at sites #26 and #27. During the procedure, the Schneiderian membrane was accidentally perforated (~8 mm), but was not repaired. A CBCT scan was taken about 20 min immediately after the bone graft substitute was delivered . The patFour cases of MSA without repair of the accidentally perforated Schneiderian membrane resulted in displacement of the bone graft particles into the maxillary sinus cavity. However, the dislocated bone graft particles rapidly migrated to the ostium along the sinus wall immediately after the surgery. Most expelled graft particles were not observed in the maxillary sinus on CBCT scans after 1 week. In the CBCT images taken after 6 months, abnormal mucosal condition was absent.Ventilation of bone graft particles displaced through the perforated Schneiderian membrane will not affect the healing of MSA and allows homeostatic sinus physiology to be maintained. On the other hand, dysventilation of dislocated bone graft particles may cause postoperative complications. The presented cases visualized on CBCT scans showed the displaced bone graft particles began to be ventilated by the MCC system immediately after surgery, and the clearance was completed within 1 week after the surgery. The expelled bone graft particles did not affect the success of MSA.The physiology of the maxillary sinus is maintained by the MCC and the patency of the maxillary ostium . The MCCPerforation of the Schneiderian membrane during MSA has been known to provide various complications ,5,9,24, It is impossible for a nasal endoscope to approach the healthy maxillary sinus. Surgical expansion of the anatomical ostium allows entry of the nasal endoscope into the maxillary sinus. Therefore, it is difficult to identify displaced bone graft material with a nasal endoscope in MSA cases of healthy sinus patients. CBCT is an alternative to confirm the ventilation of displaced graft particles. CBCT imaging after MSA is usually performed preoperatively, either immediately after the surgery or after final prosthesis delivery. However, CBCT is not commonly taken 1 week postoperatively. Thus, displaced bone graft particles were misinterpreted as being left in the sinus cavity for a long time without ventilating. CBCT after 1 week of surgery is recommended if any displacement of bone graft particles is suspected, irrespective of the repair of perforated Schneiderian membrane.In the present patients, the ventilation of ejected bone graft particles began to be detected on a CBCT scan taken immediately after the operation, and the expelled material did not exist in the sinus cavity by the second week. This suggests that displaced bone graft particles are well ventilated to the middle meatus within one week. The dislocated bone graft did not stay in the maxillary sinus enough to colonize the resident bacteria. In addition, the lumps of graft material did not obstruct the anatomical ostium and did not cause severe postoperative thickening of the Schneiderian membrane. Nonetheless, some limitations of these case reports should be noted. The limited number of cases contributes to a weaker body of evidence and might have introduced bias in the observations. Moreover, the exact MCC time and rate could not be known from the tomographic imaging alone. For future studies, a robust clinical guideline may be presented if many clinicians are involved and many case numbers are secured.Within the limitations of the case reports, tomographic imaging showed that bone graft particles displaced into the perforated Schneiderian membrane during maxillary sinus augmentation were successfully ventilated by mucociliary clearance very early within the first week of healing. The expelled bone graft material was no longer stagnant in the maxillary sinus and did not cause any adverse postoperative complications.


Potatoes are grown in large quantities and are mainly used as food or animal feed. Potato processing generates a large amount of side streams, which are currently low value by-products of the potato processing industry. The utilization of the potato peel side stream and other potato residues is also becoming increasingly important from a sustainability point of view. Individual constituents of potato peel or complete potato tubers can for instance be used for application in other products such as bio-based food packaging. Prior using constituents for specific applications, their properties and characteristics need to be known and understood. This article extensively reviews the scientific literature about physical, chemical, and biochemical modification of potato constituents. Besides short explanations about the modification techniques, extensive summaries of the results from scientific articles are outlined focusing on the main constituents of potatoes, namely potato starch and potato protein. The effects of the different modification techniques are qualitatively interpreted in tables to obtain a condensed overview about the influence of different modification techniques on the potato constituents. Overall, this article provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the possibilities and implications of modifying potato components for potential further valorization in, e.g., bio-based food packaging. Potatoes are one of the four major food crops worldwide  . In the Within the potato industry, approximately half of the harvested potatoes become side streams or residual material. Thus, the entire supply chain  produces tubers, peels and pulp that are discarded , as illuTo summarize the findings, the product losses along the supply chain of non-organic processing potatoes in Switzerland accounts for about 44%, which means that from an initial input of approximately 1.8 kg potatoes one receives an output of 1 kg processed potato product such as French fries . Along tMicrobial spoilage of potato side stream products and widespread production locations result in low utilization of these byproducts. In Switzerland, most of the potato side streams (90%) are used as animal feed due to the high protein content  corroborOne valorization approach for potato side streams is the production of bioplastics . Due to To successfully implement a circular bio-economy concept, the quality and characteristics of alternative materials (in this case biopolymers made from potato side streams) must be at least as good as their commercial equivalent  . At the Based on previously conducted studies, some modification methods have been used to influence physicochemical properties of potato peel-based films including high-pressure homogenization, ultrasonication, gamma irradiation and acid hydrolysis. This review aims to summarize and discuss the influence of different physical, chemical and biochemical modification methods on the structure and physicochemical properties of potato constituents (mainly potato starch and potato protein) and their films. In this review, different modification methods of potato constituents are evaluated upon their suitability to change a certain property especially in terms of the modification effect on the film-forming and packaging related properties such as rheological, thermal, and barrier characteristics. Besides a comprehensive review, we highlight recent research gaps and future research potentials of potato constituents for packaging applications.Potato tubers are the stems of the potato plant that develop under the soil from the propagation of previously planted mother tubers by sprouting. Sprouting occurs under suitable conditions from the dormant/lateral buds of the potato tubers . Although shape, color and size vary between different cultivars, the morphology of potato tubers is generally characterized by an oval to round shape, white flesh and light brown skin. The potato flesh consists of the pith, perimedullary zone, vascular ring and cortex , which aBased on its high dry-matter starch content , potato Accordingly, potato protein  can be ew/w of dry matter content, starch is the major component of potato tubers. The structure of starch on molecular to macromolecular level is schematically illustrated in its main levels in w/w) amylose, which is a linear to slightly branched (degree of polymerization > 60) polymer chain consisting of α-d--linked glucose units (w/w) of amylopectin, which is a highly branched polymer based on relatively short chains of α-d--linked glucose units with 4 to 6% (w/w) additional α-d--linkages  and a relative crystallinity of approx. 30%. In contrast to A type starch ), B type polymorphs basically have a more open structure and contain more water molecules . In addiAlthough potato proteins account for only 1 to 3% of the fresh weight of potato tubers, they are the second largest fraction of the dry matter of potato tubers. Potato proteins consist of water insoluble and water-soluble proteins, which account for 25 and 75% of potato tuber proteins, respectively. Based on their function, soluble potato proteins are classified into three groups, namely patatins (30–40%), protease inhibitors 40–50%) and other high molecular weight proteins (10–15%) ,50.% and othPatatins a are stoProtease inhibitors b are a hOther high molecular weight proteins (>40 kDa) are the third group of proteins present in potato tubers. Based on their relative low percentage as mentioned above, the group of other high molecular weight potato proteins is not as well described as patatin and protease inhibitors. However, it has been reported that this group contains among others polyphenol oxidases, lipoxygenases and starch synthesis associated enzymes ,50,55. In addition to the mentioned potato protein fractions, potatoes also contain free amino acids, which account for up to 40% of the total nitrogen content. Amino acid composition of potato protein does not only play a crucial role in dietary/nutrition  but alsoDepending on the nature of changes induced, modification of molecules or polymers can be divided into physical , chemicaOne approach to alter the physicochemical properties of powders including starches and proteins is via physical treatment  refers to the treatment of a product with heat in combination with a certain amount of moisture. Thus, the parameters for temperature, time, moisture and cycles/repetitions are crucial for this treatment method.In HMT the amount of water in the treated samples is limited to 10–35%, to prevent starch gelatinization . TherefoOverall, the thermal properties, such as gelatinization temperatures (onset (To), peak (Tp) and conclusion (Tc)) of potato starch significantly increased and melting enthalpy (ΔH) decreased by HMT. This increase in thermal properties was accelerated and/or intensified with increasing temperature , increasHydration and pasting properties of potato starch were also affected by HMT. Cold water solubility of potato starch increased whereas swelling power, water absorption capacity and hot water solubility decreased ,73,74,76Concerning potato starch as packaging material, HMT did not significantly affect packaging related properties of potato starch-based bioplastic .w/w) and temperature used during ANN is below the sample To (onset gelatinization temperature). Common processing conditions during ANN of potato starch are 30 to 55 °C for 12 h to 96 h. Here, iterations of ANN treatment cycles can be applied ..155].Phosphorylation of potato starch resulted in slightly decreased moisture content, no change in amylose content and a slight change in color, which was however not visible to the human eye. Compared to native starch, gelatinization temperatures were slightly decreased when phosphorylation was performed at 15 °C, but slightly increased when phosphorylation was performed at 45 °C. The authors interpreted these effects as loosening and strengthening of the potato starch structure at 15 °C and 45 °C, respectively. Accordingly, an increase in viscosity was observed in potato starch pastes, which were phosphorylated at 45 °C .For the phosphorylation of potato proteins, phosphorus oxychloride, phosphoric acid and sodium trimetaphosphate can be used . Miedzia−1 band. However, with increasing chain length, weight of the samples increased and the X-ray diffraction peak in the low angle region shifted towards lower angles, indicating an increase in nanometer scale ordered structure based on the esterification of longer fatty acid chains. Thermographs showed that the thermal stability of potato starch increased due to fatty acid esterification, as hydrophobicity increased, which was indicated by the fact that the mass did not decrease due to water evaporation and the starch degradation shifted to higher temperatures. However, no significant differences between different chain lengths were observed. Fatty acid chain length highly influenced tensile properties of the modified starch films. With increasing chain length from C8, C12 to C16, elongation at break decreased by 150%, 133% and 13%, respectively. Tensile strength and elongation modulus showed no linear trend but highly depended on the fatty acid chain length. For C8, C12 and C16 fatty acid esterified potato starch films, the tensile strength was measured to be 3.8, 2.5 and 6.5 MPa and for the elongation modulus 68, 40 and 122 MPa was determined, respectively [Another approach to modify potato starch by chemical substitution is the esterification of hydroxyl groups by fatty acid chains. Vanmarcke et al.  investigectively .The hydrophobic group of alkenyl succinic anhydrides can be esterified with starch, to weaken internal bonding and disorder the internal structure to obtain more fluid and clear pastes. Due to its food approval at low substitution levels, the influence of octenyl succinic anhydride on starch properties is widely studied ,163,164.Wang et al.  demonstrInvestigating the effect of octenyl succinic anhydride modification on potato starch structure, Won et al.  observedCompared to native potato starch, octenyl succinic anhydride modified starch showed lower amylose leaching, gel strength and viscosity, which gradually decreased with increasing degree of substitution. Won et al.  explaineIn another study, slightly increased amylose content, swelling power, gelatinization temperatures and slightly decreased water binding capacity and pasting temperature were observed upon octenyl succinylation of potato starch .Based on its three carboxyl groups and acidity, it has been reported that citric acid can induce esterification, cross-linking and hydrolysis, when reacting under elevated temperatures with potato starch ,157.SEM images of citric acid esterified potato starch revealed the occurrence of some surface damage due to citric acid treatment, which was, however, not intensified using a higher citric acid concentration (up to 10%). Furthermore, amylose content of potato starch slightly in-/or decreased and moisture content and relative crystallinity decreased upon citric acid modification ,166. A cw/w potato starch) to reduce hydrophilic properties of potato starch/chitosan composite films was studied by Wu et al. [The effect of citric acid modification  is usually used. A common etherification reaction for starches is the hydroxypropylation, which has been extensively reviewed elsewhere . In the reviewed literature, carboxylation , hydroxyCross-linking of potato starch describes the formation of intermolecular covalent bonds (between different chains) via esterification or etherification reaction with a cross-linking agent. Thereby, the cross-linking agents possess bi- or multi- functional groups, which enable the reaction on different sides with multiple chains.In the case of starch, it has been reported that cross-linking only occurs between two amylopectin molecules or between amylopectin and amylose, but not between two amylose molecules . The redCross-linking of potato starch can be performed using cross-linking agents such as acetylmalic acid chloroanhydride , sodium For potato starch-based films, the formation of new covalent bonds through cross-linking generally strengthened the starch gel network, resulting in an increase in rheological, thermal and tensile  properties. Solubility of potato starch-based films was not affected and water sorption degree increased upon deep eutectic solvent addition .2SO4).Acid hydrolysis describes the process of chemical bond cleavage via a nucleophilic substitution reaction with water under thermal conditions and in an acidic environment. Common acids that are used in acid hydrolysis include hydrochloric acid (HCl), acetic acid, citric acid and sulfuric acid , gel strength and viscosity of hydrolyzed potato starch was observed ,166,175.2SO4 influenced the quantitative increase in bonding strength of potato starch-based adhesives. However, when alcohol–water mixtures were used as a solvent instead of water, bonding strength of the hydrolyzed starch-based adhesives decreased, when compared to the native reference [Reviewing several studies, it seems that the qualitative and quantitative impact of acid hydrolysis on potato starch did not only depend on the amount but also on the type of acid as well as the type of solvent used ,175. Foreference . FurtherVarying the amount of acid used for potato starch hydrolysis, the degree of hydrolysis is usually affected, which can in turn also influence qualitative and quantitative changes in potato starch properties. On the one hand, a lower degree of hydrolysis, (using milder conditions) seem to accelerate changes in potato starch including a further decrease in amylose content and hydration properties, and increase in thermal stability and viscosity ,166. On A favorable effect of mild acid hydrolysis was also observed for film formation of potato peel-based films by Merino et al.  as the fOxidation of potato starch can be carried out using oxidizing agents under controlled pH to oxidize hydroxyl groups into carbonyl and carboxyl groups. Common oxidizing agents used, include sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide and ozone . Degree Basically, it was found that with increasing concentration of oxidizing agent and increasing treatment time, the degree of oxidation of oxidized potato starch increased ,178,179 Oxidation treatment of potato starch prior cast film formation revealed positive effects on the potato starch films such as improved smoothness and transparency . B-type Based on the reviewed literature, several substitution, cross-linking and degradation reactions have been studied to chemically modify potato constituents. In most cases potato starch was analyzed. Overall, chemical modifications can change physicochemical and functional properties as summarized in There are qualitative and quantitative differences in sample structure and properties depending on the chemical modification method used. Parameters that influence the method are e.g., treatment time, temperature, type and amount of chemical(s), while e.g., solvent, purity, moisture content and pH-value influence the raw material, i.e., the potato constituents. As an example, the purity of the potato protein (either concentrate or isolate) has shown to not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively influence hydration and emulsifying properties upon chemical modification.In general, biochemical modifications of starches and proteins including enzymatic substitution , cross-lSubstitution of hydroxyl groups of potato starch building blocks can be either performed by chemical substitution as outlined in According to Zarski et al.  degree oEnzymatic cross-linking of potato protein can be performed in a variety of different ways including acyl-transfer reaction, oxidation/radical formation and 1,4-addition reaction. For potato protein, enzymatic cross-linking using transglutaminase, laccase, tyrosinase and peroxidase has been reported ,188,189.Of these four enzymes, transglutaminase and peroxidase showed higher quantitative impacts on potato protein properties than tyrosinase and laccase . For insUpon enzymatic cross-linking, an increase in structural order of potato protein was observed in different studies due to a decrease in random coil content  and incrDuring enzymatic branching of potato starch, α-1,4-glycosidic linkages are cleaved and new α-1,6-glycosidic bonds are formed via a transglycosylation reaction using enzymes such as branching enzymes and/or transglucosidase. Therefore, polymer chain length distributions shift from longer chains towards shorter chains, indicating the occurrence of enzymatic hydrolysis. This means that starch polymers become more branched, resulting in a decrease in amylose and increase in amylopectin content ,195. OveThe opposite happens during enzymatic debranching of potato starch, where debranching enzymes such as pullulanase  or isoamInvestigating the influence of debranching on potato starch–lauric acid-based films, increasing debranching time up to 1.5 h gradually decreased surface roughness, water vapor permeability and elongation of the films, whereas tensile strength gradually increased. However, a longer debranching time (2 h) resulted in a reverse effect on potato starch–lauric acid-based films properties .Enzymatic hydrolysis of potato starch and potato protein refers to the enzymatic cleavage of glycosidic and peptide bonds, respectively, to decrease chain length and molecular weight and therefore, alter product properties.Different enzymes including α-amylase ,198,199,Furthermore, enzymatic potato starch hydrolysis resulted in increasing water solubility and absorption capability and in a decrease in gel strength and  viscosity ,199. No For potato protein, the influence of hydrolysis time and different enzymes including protease and alcalase was investigated in several studies ,201,202.Changes in potato starch structure and properties by enzymatic substitution, hydrolysis, branching and debranching are depicted in Dual modifications are combinations of different physical, chemical and/or biochemical modifications, which are applied simultaneously or successively.While some studies extensively investigated the relationship between modification parameters and the corresponding effect on structural and functional properties of potato constituents applying a certain type of modification, other studies investigated the effect of combined modification in comparison to native samples and/or the effect of an individual modification. Common dual modifications include the combination of thermal treatments such as HMT, ANN, MW, FT with non-thermal treatments such as HP, US and milling ,205,206,As demonstrated by Wang et al.  and Cao 2 dual-treated [To enhance the effect of chemical modification on product properties, several studies were performed in the last years, combining different physical treatment methods with chemical modification methods. For instance, the assistance of acetylation or octenyl succinylation of potato starch by high voltage electric field, ultrasonication, pulsed electric field or microwave treatment was reported to increase the degree of substitution compared to a single chemical modification ,213,214.-treated  and anne-treated  potato sAmong biochemical modifications, enzymatic hydrolysis is often reported to be amplified by a physical pre-treatment. For instance, enzymatic hydrolysis of potato protein was increased by US treatment , and the2 treatment + succinylation, have been reported [Similar to dual physical modification, which has been described above , dual chreported ,222,223.reported .No combined treatment of chemical and biochemical modification of potato constituents was found by the authors during the literature search.Dual biochemical modification can accelerate the impact on potato constituent properties, compared to the single treatments. As reviewed above, the combined use of branching enzymes and transglucosidase had a synergistic effect that more strongly influenced the properties of potato starch .In this review article, various physical, chemical and biochemical modifications of potato constituents were identified and the resulting structural and property changes were presented in the text as well as qualitatively illustrated in


Phylogenetic inference suggested that Figitidae was a polyphyletic group, while the Ibaliidae nested deep within Cynipoidea and was a sister-group to the Figitidae. These results will improve our understanding of the gene rearrangement of the mitogenomes and the phylogenetic relationships in the Cynipoidea.Cynipoidea is a medium-sized superfamily of Hymenoptera with diverse lifestyles. In this study, 16 mitochondrial genomes were newly sequenced, 11 of which were the first obtained mitochondrial genomes in the family Liopteridae and four subfamilies  of Figitidae. All of the newly sequenced mitogenomes have unique rearrangement types within Cynipoidea, whereas some gene patterns are conserved in several groups.  Cynipoidea is a medium-sized superfamily of Hymenoptera, including around 223 genera with 3200 species described worldwide ,2. It inhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/; accessed on 20 January 2022). The synapomorphic mitochondrial gene rearrangement characters and their phylogenetic utility could not be fully assessed due to limited taxon sampling in the early studies.The typical insect mitochondrial genome is a circular molecule that is 14–19 kb in size and encodes 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes . MitogenIn this study, 16 mitogenomes of Cynipoidea were newly sequenced by next generation sequencing (NGS), and 11 of them were the first obtained mitogenomes in the family Liopteridae and four subfamilies  of Figitidae. The obtained information from the study will also facilitate future phylogenetic research of Cynipoidea. Furthermore, we analyzed the main features of the newly generated mitogenomes and those of other Cynipoidea species. We also analyzed gene rearrangement patterns. Finally, the phylogeny of Cynipoidea was reconstructed by combining the available mitogenomes.All 16 newly sequenced samples were identified based on the morphology of adults according to the taxonomic literature . All spe® Universal DNA Library Prep Kit. Whole-genome data were generated on the Illumina NovaSeq platform  with a PE150 strategy .All libraries were constructed using the VAHTS−5) against a reference dataset of published Cynipoidea mitogenomes [More than 2 GB of raw data of each sample was obtained. The raw reads were checked by FastQC v0.11.9 , with adogenomes . The mitogenomes  and IDBAogenomes  with defhttp://mitos.bioinf.uni-leipzig.de/index.py; accessed on 15 June 2021) [Assembled contigs were initially annotated using the MITOS web server (ne 2021) . The stane 2021) . The obtThe nucleotide composition of all components and the relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) of PCGs were estimated using MEGA 11.0 . The basPlatygaster sp. and Trissolcus basalis were used as outgroups , Figites sp. 1 , Figites sp. 2 (missing trnL1), and Pujadella villari (missing trnQ)  . The comTrybliographa sp.) to 87.01% (Paramblynotus sp.) (The A + T content for the sequenced region of the mitogenomes in the Cynipoidea ranged from 79.36% (tus sp.) . There wFigites sp. 1) to 11,381 bp (Anacharis sp.). The entire A + T content of all the PCGs ranged from 76.81% (Pu. villari) to 85.66%  (Paramblynotus sp. in Lio-pteridae was positive (rrnS and rrnL) were identified in all mitogenomes. The length of rrnS ranged from 792 bp (Aegilips sp.) to 879 bp (Endecameris sp.), and the size of rrnL ranged from 1231 bp (Ganaspini sp.) to 1464 bp (Pu. villari)  . The AT-positive , which ivillari) .The relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) values of all four subfamilies were plotted in cox1) to 0.3506 (atp8), and Ks values ranged from 0.2566 (nad6) to 0.4494 (cox1). The average Ka/Ks ratios were estimated to investigate the evolutionary rates of Cynipoidea PCGs. Ratios ranged from 0.2619 (cox1) to 1.1850 (nad6). The genes nad2, atp8, and nad6 > 1, indicating that they evolved at a faster rate in Cynipoidea. This result was similar to that of the Apoidea [Ka (nonsynonymous substitutions) and Ks (synonymous substitutions) are used as indicators of selective pressure . The evo Apoidea  and Ichn Apoidea  in HymenCompared with the putative ancestral mitogenome of insects, the mitogenomes of all the Cypoidea in this study are extremely variable, and all PCGs, tRNAs, and rRNAs had various degrees of rearrangement .nad2 was locally inverted in all Cynipoidea species, as previously observed in two Chalcidoidea species, Megaphragma amalphitanum and Eurytoma sp. [nad5-nad4-nad4L-nad6-cytb”, was remotely inverted in Ibaliidae and three subfamilies  within Figitidae, which is a unique gene rearrangement pattern in Cynipoidea and had not been observed in other Hymenoptera mitogenomes.Gene toma sp. . In addinad3 downstream in Ibaliidae and three subfamilies  within Figitidae, which is consistent with the large block PCGs rearrangement mentioned above. In addition, the two rRNA genes in Aspicerinae, Figitinae, and Liopteridae was remotely inverted to the cytb-nad1 junction. In Cynipidae, rrnL-rrnS was translocated to the cytb-nad1 junction.Two rRNA genes were translocated to trnK, trnG, and trnH), the other tRNA genes were more or less rearranged. The hot spots of rearrangement were concentrated in two tRNA clusters, trnI-trnQ-trnM and trnA-trnR-trnN-trnS1-trnE-trnF. The two tRNA clusters were rearranged to varying degrees in all species. Patterns of tRNA rearrangement were conserved in several groups. trnD was relatively stable and only rearranged in Eucoilinae. In Figitinae and Aspicerinae, the tRNA cluster trnA-trnR-trnN-trnS1-trnE-trnF was shuffled into trnA-trnR-trnF-trnE-trnS1. In Cynipidae, trnL1 was translocated from upstream to downstream of nad1, and the cluster trnL2-trnW-trnM-trnQ was upstream of nad2. In Liopteridae, Ibaliidae, and two subfamilies (Anacharitinae and Parnipinae) of Figitidae, the cluster trnL1-trnI-trnQ was translocated upstream of nad2.The tRNA genes exhibited an extremely diverse rearrangement in Cynipoidea. Except for the stable positions of three tRNA genes  generated congruent results with high nodal supports . The resnad5-nad4-nad4L-nad6-cytb was remotely inverted and two rRNA genes were translocated to nad3 downstream in Ibaliidae, and three subfamilies Anacharitinae, Eucoilinae, and Parnipinae within Figitidae; two rRNA genes in Aspicerinae, Figitinae, and Liopteridae were remotely inverted to the cytb-nad1 junction; rrnL-rrnS was translocated to the cytb-nad1 junction in Cynipidae. The BI and ML analysis showed consistent topology and indicated that Figitidae was a polyphyletic group and Ibaliidae nested far inside Cynipoidea and was a sister-group to Figitidae. Nevertheless, these results provide valuable information for understanding the evolution of Cynipoidea. Denser taxon sampling provides more accurate and comprehensive information for the further analysis of gene arrangement and the evolutionary history of Cynipoidea.In this study, 16 Cynipoidea mitogenomes were newly obtained using the next-generation sequencing method, in which the mitogenomes of the family Liopteridae and four subfamilies Anacharitinae, Aspicerinae, Figitinae, and Parnipinae of Figitidae were first reported. The mitogenomes of all the Cypoidea in this research are highly variable. All of the newly sequenced mitogenomes in this study have unique rearrangement types within Cynipoidea. The gene rearrangements in Cynipoidea are randomly distributed, though there are gene patterns conserved in several groups, for instance,


Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD) started 2022 by celebrating the largest Impact Factor increase in the journal’s history. The journal’s Impact Factor increased from 2.803 in 2020 to 4.354 in 2021. The journal also retained its ranking at 4th place out of 30 US journals and 76th out of 585 journals worldwide in the Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health open access journal category. PCD achieved a new ranking in the top 10% of 27,339 journals evaluated by Scimago in 2021. The journal credits these impressive metrics to an outstanding group of volunteers serving as Associate Editors, Editorial Board members, and Statistics Review Committee members. The journal’s successes are also the result of a staff committed to constantly evolving, rethinking production processes, and improving the experiences of authors who seek to submit papers to the journal for consideration. In addition, the journal has also continued to receive unwavering support from CDC leadership, particularly senior leadership in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.PCD has continued to identify timely topics, this year publishing 4 collections focusing on content of greatest interest to our readership. Three collections covered specific topics, and one, the Student Paper Contest, covered many topics by student authors and researchers.Cancer Screening Prevalence and Associated Factors Among US Adults  approaches has emerged as a possible avenue to reach populations by implementing a combination of strategies that create supportive conditions for individuals to adopt and sustain healthier behaviors to prevent or manage chronic disease. PCD is interested in receiving papers that focus on implementation and scaling up of novel PSE approaches and their impact on chronic diseases and risk factors. Please visit https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/announcements.htm#capTools to learn more about the Tools for Public Health Practice Call for Papers.Evaluation is a key public health function used for monitoring and measuring the quality, pace, direction, and impact of interventions. PCD is interested in publishing peer-reviewed papers featuring the journal’s article type Tools for Public Health Practice . This arhttps://www.cdc.gov/pcd/about_the_journal/pcd_diversity.htm to learn more.Keeping PCD in the best position to publish relevant peer-reviewed articles requires that we continue our commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as well as best practices at all levels of operation. This year, PCD created a dedicated webpage that provides details on the journal’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This page provides DEI-related resources such as diversifying editorial boards, collecting optional demographic data, incorporating inclusive language in scholarly communication, and sharing DEI statements in published papers that indicate how the authors’ work, their research group, or both are contributing to making public health science and practice more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Please visit PCD closes 2022 with much to celebrate: impressive improvements in its Impact Factor, higher ranking among peer-reviewed journals worldwide, new collections, and an outstanding team of experts and staff dedicated to bringing the very best in research and practice to the public health community. The journal’s 4 collections this year have been a great success, drawing media attention from around the world. This success would not have been possible without the engagement and participation of our expert volunteers, who have provided hundreds of hours reviewing and providing feedback on manuscripts submitted to the journal for consideration. The journal’s staff have continued to bring innovation to the journal’s day-to-day operations, often serving as a model for other journals in this area. Despite the continuing challenges of the pandemic, the number of submissions to the journal remained steady in 2022, and we anticipate this steady submission of papers will continue in 2023. On behalf of the journal’s entire staff, we thank our readers and volunteers for their tremendous support and look forward to an exciting and successful 2023.


To prepare a photocurable ceramic suspension for use in commercialized additive manufacturing equipment, the effects of the rheological properties of zirconia particles added to a binder, and the presence or absence of a silane coupling agent on the particles was evaluated. To this end, three experimental groups  and three control groups  were designed depending on the size of the underlying zirconia particles. The test-group zirconia suspensions were prepared through silanization, which was not applied to the control-group suspensions. Depending on the particle size, viscosity differences between the test and control groups were 16,842, 18,623, and 12,303 mPa·s, respectively. Compared to the other groups, the viscosity of the ZLs group suspension decreased by 70.98–88.04%. This confirmed that the viscosity of the suspensions was affected by the particle size and the presence of silane coating. The dispersion stability of the zirconia suspensions was evaluated over 20 days. A sedimentation test confirmed that the sedimentation rate of the ZLs group was slower than those of the other groups. This study aimed to optimize the suspension manufacturing method to effectively be utilized in further commercializing zirconia three-dimensional (3D) printing and could also help to develop various medical applications. Zirconia is an oxide ceramic with excellent mechanical properties, and it can overcome the problems of low strength and low hardness of the existing ceramic prosthesis materials. For this reason, zirconia has attracted considerable interest in the field of dentistry because of its esthetic appearance with a similar color to that of human teeth ,2,3.Over the years, zirconia prostheses have been manufactured using several methods, including the cutting of pre-sintered and fully sintered zirconia by using CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) or CM (copy-milling) systems ,5. ZircoTo ensure that the prostheses manufactured using the zirconia additive manufacturing method exhibit clinically applicable physical performance, a high content of zirconia particles (40–60 vol.%) must be included in the binder . Here isTo improve the behavior of and solve the problems associated with zirconia suspensions that contain a high fraction of solid particles, studies are being conducted to achieve low viscosity while maintaining a high particle content by subjecting the particles to surface treatment using a silane coupling agent ,31,32,33In this experiment, three types of zirconia powders  were used to prepare a zirconia suspension . Methylt2 is a diatomic non-spherical, and it has a quadrupole moment. This will lead it to preferentially absorb to the surface and remain for longer. So, the surface area and pore volume of the powders were analyzed by conducting N2 adsorption/desorption measurement at 77.3 K by using a surface area and pore-size analyzer .In BET analysis, the surface of the samples meets a gas at a series of pressures that will absorb the surface and the walls of the pores in the samples. Various gases could be used; however, nitrogen is the most common absorbate. The reason is that NWe used DLS )Zetasizer NanoZS90, Malvern Instrument Ltd., Worcestershire, UK) to measure and compare the particle size and surface charge of the zirconia particles. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), is a precise, non-invasive, fast, reliable, technology that is well established for size measurement and study of the size distribution of particles in submicron sizes. Samples were dispersed in ethanol and 1 mL of each sample was transferred to a quartz glass cuvette. The measurements were performed thrice, and the averages of the three values were used in this study.To apply silane coating on the selected zirconia particles , distilled water and ethyl alcohol were mixed in a ratio of 20:1. Acetic acid  was added and stirred into this solution until the solution pH was 4, as measured using a pH meter . MTMES (2 mL) was added to the prepared pH 4 solution and stirred at 40 rpm for 60 min at 50 °C to form silanol. Approximately 25 g of each of the three zirconia powders of various particle sizes was added to 50 mL of the silanol solution and stirred at 500 rpm for 25 min to achieve homogeneous mixing. Then, the solutions were dried for 24 h at 80 °C in a drying oven . Thereafter, the dried zirconia powders were classified using a 100 µm sieve, and the final silane-coated zirconia powders  were obtained. This experiment was subdivided into six groups: three control groups  and three experimental groups . A flowchart of powder modification with silane is presented in −1 using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy .This technique uses IR radiation to determine the chemical structures of the samples. When the radiation passes through the sample, some radiation will absorb and some of them will be transmitted. This spectrum acts like a fingerprint to determine the chemical structures. The chemical structures of the zirconia particles included in the control and experimental groups and the presence of silane coating on them were determined in the range of 450–5000 cmWe used a transmission electron microscope  to observe and compare the coating morphologies of MTMES on the surfaces of the nanoparticles in the experimental and control groups.Zirconia photocuring suspensions were prepared with a volume fraction of 40 vol.% by using zirconia powders from the three experimental and three control groups. MTMES was added to suspensions belonging to the experimental groups; and HDDA, resin, and photoinitiator were used as binders in a ratio of 7:3:0.1 for mixing all the powders. In the end, Disperbyk  was added to all the suspensions. To ensure the homogeneous mixing of the suspensions, they were stirred in a vacuum for 200 s by using a planetary centrifugal mixer . The compositions of the prepared solutions are summarized in The colloidal stability of the prepared zirconia suspensions was visually observed to determine their stability and the effect of the added dispersant. To this end, suspensions containing less than 1 vol.% of zirconia particles were used. Approximately, 10 mL of each suspension was poured into separate glass vials, and their stability was observed for up to 2 weeks  until a clear sign was observed.The viscosity values of the suspensions belonging to each group were measured using a viscometer . For this goal, various types of spindles exist and they were used based on the sample viscosities. The disk spindles produce accurate and reproducible results in the viscosity range of our suspensions.To this end, the suspensions were placed at the center of a circular plate, and the distance between the plate and the spindle  was set to 2 mm. The viscosity was measured by changing the rotational speed of the cone at a constant temperature. Each group was measured at a shear rate of 1.2 to 20/s at 25 °C.2g−1 and 58.3 nm, respectively; those of ZM were 9.3932 m2g−1 and 31 nm; and those of ZL were 11.4 m2g−1 and 34.4 nm. These results confirmed that the total pore volume differed depending on the average pore size, which affected the specific surface area as well.Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis was performed to determine the pore size and specific surface area of the selected zirconia particles . Among tThrough dynamic light scattering, we measure and compare the particle size and surface charge of the zirconia particles. The respective results are demonstrated in FE-TEM was used to identify the presence or absence of silanol coating on the control and experimental group particles, and depicted in the following To prove the effect of silane coating on the zirconia particles, the chemical reactions of the powders belonging to the control and experimental groups were analyzed by means of FT-IR spectroscopy .In the sedimentation test of the prepared zirconia suspensions belonging to both groups, they were visually evaluated from day 0 to day 20 to confirm their stability . It was Moreover, rapid precipitation was observed in the experimental ZSs group. After 20 days, ZMs and ZLs remained as suspensions, and their dispersibility was maintained, as could be observed with the naked eye .The viscosity of the zirconia suspensions belonging to the control and experimental groups were evaluated; and the rheological behaviors of the suspensions depending on the zirconia particle size, and the presence or absence of silane coating are depicted in The results of the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis confirmed that the total pore volume differed depending on the average pore size, which affected the specific surface area as well. Particle size analysis was performed to confirm the change in particle size depending on whether the particles were subjected to surface treatment. In the case of the experimental groups , an increase in particle size was confirmed. In particular, the particle size of the ZLs group was the largest . By contThe zeta potential measurements confirmed that the control groups exhibited weak anodic characteristics, while the zeta potential of the experimental groups changed to cathodic after silane treatment. This electrode reversal occurred because of the silanol treatment, and it was confirmed that the zeta potential value increased as the size of the particles in the experimental groups increased. The higher the absolute value of the repulsive electric force of a colloid suspended in a liquid, the higher the potential difference in the diffusion layer, which affects the uniform dispersion of the particles ,38. The In the case of the ZSs group, the presence of a silane coating could not be confirmed. By contrast, in cases of the ZMs and ZLs groups, the presence of a silane coating was confirmed. In addition, we were able to confirm that the coating layer on the ZLs group particles was thicker because the number of particles and their specific surface area increased as the particle size decreased, even though the same quantities of zirconia particles and silane coupling agent were used across groups. The capacity of the limited silane coupling agent leads to differences in the coating thickness of the particles depending on the coating effect under various conditions  ,26.To ensure effective silane coating of zirconia particles, it is necessary to determine the appropriate ratio of particle size to coating agent.−1, 1273.1 cm−1, and 1102.9 cm−1 in the spectra of ZMs and ZLs. Moreover, –CH3 oscillations were observed at 3024.7 cm−1 and 2841.2 cm−1 [2-derived –OH bands at 3438.2 cm−1 and 1624 cm−1 and a Zr-O-derived band at 1124.5 cm−1 were observed [−1 and 1273.1 cm−1 were attributed to CH stretching (CH=CH2) due to the silane coating [Among the results of the FR-IR spectroscopy of the silane-coated experimental groups, stretching vibrations of the characteristic C-H bands of silane appeared close to 1411.1 cm1.2 cm−1 ,39. Amon coating ,41. ThesThe sedimentation test of the prepared zirconia suspensions confirmed that the zirconia particles precipitated to different degrees over the set periods of 5, 10, 15, and 20 days. After 10 days, rapid particle precipitation was observed in the control groups.Moreover, rapid precipitation was observed in the experimental ZSs group. After 20 days, ZMs and ZLs remained as suspensions, and their dispersibility was maintained, as could be observed with the naked eye . This re−1 (All the zirconia suspensions, prepared using a zirconia volume fraction of 40 vol.%, exhibited non-Newtonian shear-thinning behavior under shear rates of 1.2–20/s−1 . It was The viscosity values of the suspensions belonging to the experimental group were lower than those of the suspensions belong to the control group .This result was ascribed to the fact that the powders belonging to the experimental group reacted more effectively than those belonging to the control group and were better dispersed in the binder containing a dispersant that was involved in interparticle electrostatic interactions . To realThis study demonstrates the influence of zirconia particle size and the surface treatment using a silane coupling agent for the preparation of a suspension with optimal rheological properties. Based on the results, it is significant that the characteristics of candidate particles should be adequately analyzed before selecting them for use to ensure effective surface treatment and 3D additive manufacturing. In addition, a zirconia suspension with excellent features can be prepared by determining the appropriate ratio of coating agent suitable for the characteristics of the particles at hand. Although our experiments have a few limitations, for instance, different ratios of silane-coating agents were not used, we believe that the results of this study will act as a potential candidate in the field of ceramic additive manufacturing.


Researchers grapple with a challenging and consequential decision each time they choose a journal for manuscript submission. There are several online tools that attempt to identify appropriate journals for a manuscript, but each of these tools has shortcomings in terms of the journal data they provide and the exploration functionality they offer—and not one of these tools is open source. Jot is a free and open-source web application that matches manuscripts in the fields of biomedicine and life sciences with suitable journals, based on a manuscript's title, abstract, and  citations. Jot gathers a wealth of data on journal quality, impact, fit, and open access options that can be explored through a dashboard of linked, interactive visualizations. Journal articles are the currency of academic research. The reputation and career advancement of an individual researcher is influenced not only by the importance of their published results, but also by factors such as the number of articles they publish, the number of times their articles are cited, and the prestige of the journals that their articles are published in ,2. PubliJournal selection is not only consequential but also a challengingly complex decision. Journal selection has implications for readership, discoverability, accessibility, preservation, publication costs, time to publication, availability of download statistics, and rights accorded to reader and author . This wiTo support researchers, tools have been developed that match manuscripts with journals by manuscript title, abstract, and (in some cases) citations –8. TheseJot builds upon the API of Jane  . For a tJot uses the Bokeh library  to generWith the 'prospect' metric:we provide a rough, relative metric of the elusive 'probability of acceptance by a journal, capturing the ratio of 'things in favor of a manuscript' to 'all considerations for or against a manuscript'. In favor of a manuscript are the number of times the manuscript cites the journal (C) and the number of similar article matches for the journal from abstract and title queries . The impact (I) of the journal counts against the prospect with a scalar weighting factor (w). Laid out in a scatter plot of prospect vs impact, the Prospect view indicates journals that provide a good fit for submission . Users cSimilar articles are displayed on a similarity-score axis and colored according to the associated query (abstract or title). C, A, and T are tabulated in a central grid, accompanied by a histogram of impact values .An interactive table  providesScatter plots quantify impact versus three metrics of journal relevance, or 'fit': the sum of C, A, and T; the sum of article similarity scores; and the maximum similarity score .Journals that are not present in DOAJ but that do offer open-access pathways can be identified by following the Sherpa Romeo links in the Table view.Users can navigate to the journal listing in the NLM Catalog or article page in PubMed Central by clicking on the corresponding scatter plot marker.Results from the user's most recent search are stored within the browser session, allowing them to be explored again on subsequent visits to Jot. User preferences for impact metric and weight are also stored and used automatically with future searches.A download button on the Results page saves the full Jot dashboard to a single HTML file (with embedded JavaScript).Anyone can run—and tinker with—their own Jot server using our open-source Python package journal_targeter (GPLv3 license), available from the Python Package Index (PyPI) and GitHub . The CLIFor this very article, we used Jot to identify the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA) as a desirable target journal, and one with which, prior to this work, we were not familiar. We selected a journal-citation metric, Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP), that enables normalized comparisons between journals from different disciplines. JMLA stood out on our plot of prospect . Indeed,Selecting the five-journal subset identified by the quality indicators and switching back to the Prospect view, we see that they separate from the pack, lifted off the curve of lower-relevance journals , by the prospect of its acceptance, and according to the publishing attributes most important to them.Jot reports every journal for which Jane returns a result based on title and abstract queries. Accordingly, Jot inherits aspects of both the journal curation and the textual similarity algorithm that are implemented by Jane. With regard to journal curation, Jane provides a warning that predatory journals can appear among its results, and this warning applies for Jot as well. Following Jane's example, Jot provides indicators of journal quality such as MEDLINE indexing, PMC archival, DOAJ indexing, as well as impact metrics from curated sources such as Scopus and JCR. With regard to the textual similarity algorithm, Jane's implementation assigns importance to words based on frequencies of occurrence in the query text compared to specific journal articles and across the PubMed dataset as a whole. Such word- frequency matching can yield results that would not correspond with human judgment—especially when low-frequency words are inappropriately matched to homographs (words that share spelling but differ in meaning). In our analysis of this manuscript, for example, two out of the three top similarity scores (54.55 and 53.07) stemmed from homographic matches on the word “JOT”—used as an abbreviation for The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. Consequently, users should be attentive to the possibility of spurious matches and should examine the article matches that Jot provides to verify the relevance of any suggested journal.We hope that by sharing Jot with the wider research community—without cost and with the freedom to modify, tailor, and improve it—authors can benefit from a more comprehensive and informed view of their publishing options. Jot has proven useful for our laboratory and has been enthusiastically adopted by our colleagues. One group expressing special excitement about the application during development was health-sciences librarians (Bronars 2013). The librarians we consulted while developing Jot were a wealth of knowledge about the landscape of open access, the consequences of metrics literacy, indicators of discoverability, and database curation and selectivity, and they were highly attuned to the value of tying together multiple sources of journal information. Health-science librarians frequently work with students and early-career researchers seeking guidance on where to publish. Jot could assist this guidance and could also prove useful for librarians seeking to publish their own research. Jot has helped us by directing us to publication of this commentary in the Journal of the Medical Library Association, presenting a high potential to reach a target audience of health science librarians who regularly encounter decisions of journal choice. The potential for a more comprehensive and informed view arising from widespread use of Jot may in turn facilitate more active competition among journals, and therefore desirable evolution of the ever-developing enterprise of scientific publishing and research communication.