Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of Smart and Sustainable Cities in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Lessons and Implications

Nowadays, the concept of smart sustainable governance is wrapped around basic principles such as: (i) transparency, (ii) accountability, (iii) stakeholders’ involvement, and iv) citizens’ participation. It is through these principles that are influenced by information and communication technologies (ICT), Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence, that the practices employed by citizens and their interaction with electronic government (e-government) are diversified. Previously, the misleading concepts of the smart city implied only the objective of the local level or public officials to utilize technology. However, the recent European experience and research studies have led to a more comprehensive notion that refers to the search for intelligent solutions which allow modern sustainable cities to enhance the quality of services provided to citizens and to improve the management of urban mobility. The smart city is based on the usage of connected sensors, data management, and analytics platforms to improve the quality and functioning of built-environment systems. The aim of this paper is to understand the effects of the pandemic on smart cities and to accentuate major exercises that can be learned for post-COVID sustainable urban management and patterns. The lessons and implications outlined in this paper can be used to enforce social distancing community measures in an effective and timely way, and to optimize the use of resources in smart and sustainable cities in critical situations. The paper offers a conceptual overview and serves as a stepping-stone to extensive research and the deployment of sustainable smart city platforms and intelligent transportation systems (a sub-area of smart city applications) after the COVID-19 pandemic using a case study from Russia. Overall, our results demonstrate that the COVID-19 crisis encompasses an excellent opportunity for urban planners and policy makers to take transformative actions towards creating cities that are more intelligent and sustainable.
Media Internalized Pressure and Restrained Eating Behavior in College Students: The Multiple Mediating Effects of Body Esteem and Social Physique Anxiety

Background Restrained eating behavior has become the norm in college students' lives, and considering the harm it causes to college students, it is necessary to explore the factors associated with it. The aim of this study was to explore the association between media internalized pressure, body esteem, social physique anxiety, and restrained eating behavior. Methods The participants in this study were 1,032 Chinese college students (439 males and 593 females) and had a mean age of 20.22 years (SD = 1.277). They completed the Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire-3, Body Esteem Scale (BES), Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS), and Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ). Results The results showed that media internalized pressure was significantly and positively associated with college students' restrained eating behavior, that body esteem and social physique anxiety played a mediating role between media internalized pressure and restrained eating behavior, respectively, and that body esteem and social physique anxiety can also play a chained mediating role. Conclusion This study reveals the relationship between media internalized pressure and restrained eating behavior, and the important role played by body esteem and social physique anxiety. Future interventions targeting restrained eating should focus on the aspects of body esteem and social physique anxiety.
Effects of adiponectin on markers of endothelial activation and markers of inflammation in human coronary artery endothelial cells

This study investigates the effect of adiponectin on endothelial activation and inflammatory marker secretion by human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCEAC) in vitro. Methodology : HCAEC at the seventh passage were divided into two groups and incubated or 24 hours at 37° C and 5% CO2 as follows: Control, and adiponectin-treated (30 μg/ml adiponectin) groups. Supernatants were analysed for ICAM-1, E-selectin, PAI-1 and IL-6 and COX-2 using ELISA. RT-PCR was used to analyse gene expression of ICAM-1, E-selectin, PAI-, IL-6, COX-2, NFkBp50 and NFkBp65. Data were analysed using independent t-test. Results : ICAM-1 and E-selectin level was significantly higher in leptin-adiponectin-treated groups (P<0.01). Endothelial activation marker protein level have no significant difference in adiponectin group when compared to control group. mRNA expression showed significant increase in adiponectin group as compared to control. PAI-1 and COX-2 showed no significant increase in the level of protein in adiponectin group but IL-6 showed significant increased in the protein level (P<0.001) while mRNA expression of PAI-1 (P<0.05), COX-2 (P<0.01) and IL-6 (P<0.001) showed significant increase in treated group as compared to control. mRNA expression also showed significant increase in both the NFkBp50 and NFkBp65 signalling pathway. Conclusion : Adiponectin increases the secretion of IL-6 from HCEAC. This adipokines might have a significant role in the inflammatory and pro-atherogenic state of obesity. Keywords : HCAEC, Adiponectin, ICAM-1, E-selectin, IL-6, PAI-1, COX-2, NFkB.
Abstract LB221: Development of PD-L1-targeted sialidase as a novel cancer immunotherapeutic approach

Sialoglycans have emerged as a critical glyco-immune checkpoint that impairs antitumor response by inhibiting innate and adaptive immunity. We have previously reported that Bi-Sialidase - an engineered human sialidase-Fc fusion - potentiates antitumor immune response by cleaving terminal sialic acids from sialoglycans (desialylating) on tumor cells and immune cells. Furthermore, we have shown that a tumor-targeted sialidase, a heterodimeric molecule consisting of one chain of sialidase-Fc and a second chain of a HER2-targeting antibody (trastuzumab), leads to more efficient desialylation of tumor cells than the non-targeted Bi-Sialidase and demonstrates antitumor activity in trastuzumab-resistant and low HER2-expressing tumor models. To evaluate the potential of targeted desialylation of both tumor cells and immune cells, we designed and characterized a PD-L1-targeted sialidase in preclinical models, since PD-L1 is expressed on both tumor cells and immune cells. Furthermore, the design of the PD-L1-targeted sialidase enables the combinatorial blockade of two orthogonal immune checkpoint pathways, inhibiting both the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and immunosuppressive sialoglycans. We generated a humanized anti-human PD-L1 antibody with comparable PD-1/PD-L1 blockade potency to the existing anti-PD-L1 drugs, atezolizumab and avelumab. Subsequently, we constructed a bifunctional heterodimeric molecule, consisting of one chain of sialidase-Fc of a third generation of engineered human sialidase (Neu 2) and a second chain of the in-house generated anti-PD-L1 antibody. The PD-L1-targeted sialidase maintained its potency for inhibiting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis as compared to its parental anti-PD-L1 antibody, and demonstrated improved desialylation of PD-L1-expressing tumor cells and immune cells in vitro. We tested the PD-L1-targeted sialidase in transgenic mouse tumor models that express human PD-1 and PD-L1 replacing their murine counterparts, since the parental PD-L1 antibody doesn’t cross-react with the mouse antigen. In the transgenic human PD-L1-expressing mouse colon carcinoma CT26 subcutaneous tumor model, the PD-L1-targeted sialidase exhibited enhanced efficacy compared to the Bi-Sialidase or the anti-PD-L1 antibody. Furthermore, the PD-L1-targeted sialidase demonstrated a dose-dependent tumor growth inhibition and modulation of immune cell infiltration. In conclusion, these results suggested that PD-L1-targeted sialidase offers a promising cancer immunotherapeutic approach, which simultaneously inhibits immunosuppressive sialoglycans and the PD-1/PD-L1 axis through targeted delivery of engineered human sialidase to PD-L1-expressing tumor cells and immune cells. Citation Format: Jenny Che, Lihui Xu, Wayne Gatlin, Robert LeBlanc, Lizhi Cao, James Broderick, Li Peng. Development of PD-L1-targeted sialidase as a novel cancer immunotherapeutic approach [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr LB221.
Mapping the Foundation
and Trends in Tourism Research

Tourism: An International Interdisciplinary Journal is the second oldest journal in tourism, which has grown as one of the most reliable sources of tourism scholarship over the years. This study has adopted a bibliometric literature review approach based on the published articles to emphasize its contribution to tourism scholarship. The study has reviewed 529 publications published between 2002 and 2020 (indexed in Scopus). The study has employed the statistical tool - 'bibliometrix' to conduct evaluative and relational analysis utilizing numerous indices highlighting the journal's growth and its conceptual and collaboration structure. The findings offered are beneficial for both the editors and the scholars in the tourism discipline. Additionally, the implications of the findings, future research gaps, and limitations are discussed.
Stability of CACC-manual heterogeneous vehicular flow with partial CACC performance degrading

ABSTRACT The Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) system is beneficial to the traffic flow stability. However, the CACC mode will degrade to the ACC mode if a CACC vehicle following right behind a manual vehicle. This paper presents a framework for the analytical studies on the stability of the CACC-manual heterogeneous flow. ACC and CACC car-following models validated by the PATH program are used as surrogate models for degraded ACC vehicles and CACC vehicles respectively. The Intelligent Driver Model (IDM) is used as the manual driven car-following model. The stability of heterogeneous traffic flow is investigated theoretically under various CACC market penetration rates. It is found that the degradation of the CACC system leads to the deterioration of flow stability remarkably, which can be avoided by building a complete vehicle-to-vehicle communication environment. Parametric sensitivity analysis is conducted to give some suggestions for the enhancements of the stability of heterogeneous flow.
Gametogenesis in Plasmodium: Delving Deeper to Connect the Dots

In the coming decades, eliminating malaria is the foremost goal of many tropical countries. Transmission control, along with an accurate and timely diagnosis of malaria, effective treatment and prevention are the different aspects that need to be met synchronously to accomplish the goal. The current review is focused on one of these aspects i.e., transmission control, by looking deeper into the event called gametogenesis. In the Plasmodium life cycle, gametocytes are the first life forms of the sexual phase. The transmission of the parasite and the disease is critically dependent on the number, viability and sex ratio of mature gametocytes and their further development inside mosquito vectors. Gametogenesis, the process of conversion of gametocytes into viable gametes, takes place inside the mosquito midgut, and is a tightly regulated event with fast and multiple rounds of DNA replication and diverse cellular changes going on within a short period. Interrupting the gametocyte-gamete transition is ought to restrict the successful transmission and progression of the disease and hence an area worth exploring for designing transmission-blocking strategies. This review summarizes an in-depth and up-to-date understanding of the biochemical and physiological mechanism of gametogenesis in Plasmodium, which could be targeted to control parasite and malaria transmission. This review also raises certain key questions regarding gametogenesis biology in Plasmodium and brings out gaps that still accompany in understanding the spectacular process of gametogenesis.
Safety and Toxicity Implications of Multifunctional Drug Delivery Nanocarriers on Reproductive Systems In Vitro and In Vivo

In the recent past, nanotechnological advancements in engineered nanomaterials have demonstrated diverse and versatile applications in different arenas, including bio-imaging, drug delivery, bio-sensing, detection and analysis of biological macromolecules, bio-catalysis, nanomedicine, and other biomedical applications. However, public interests and concerns in the context of human exposure to these nanomaterials and their consequential well-being may hamper the wider applicability of these nanomaterial-based platforms. Furthermore, human exposure to these nanosized and engineered particulate materials has also increased drastically in the last 2 decades due to enormous research and development and anthropocentric applications of nanoparticles. Their widespread use in nanomaterial-based industries, viz., nanomedicine, cosmetics, and consumer goods has also raised questions regarding the potential of nanotoxicity in general and reproductive nanotoxicology in particular. In this review, we have summarized diverse aspects of nanoparticle safety and their toxicological outcomes on reproduction and developmental systems. Various research databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, were searched for the last 20 years up to the date of inception, and nano toxicological aspects of these materials on male and female reproductive systems have been described in detail. Furthermore, a discussion has also been dedicated to the placental interaction of these nanoparticles and how these can cross the blood–placental barrier and precipitate nanotoxicity in the developing offspring. Fetal abnormalities as a consequence of the administration of nanoparticles and pathophysiological deviations and aberrations in the developing fetus have also been touched upon. A section has also been dedicated to the regulatory requirements and guidelines for the testing of nanoparticles for their safety and toxicity in reproductive systems. It is anticipated that this review will incite a considerable interest in the research community functioning in the domains of pharmaceutical formulations and development in nanomedicine-based designing of therapeutic paradigms.
Lag-Optimized Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent Cerebrovascular Reactivity Estimates Derived From Breathing Task Data Have a Stronger Relationship With Baseline Cerebral Blood Flow

Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), an important indicator of cerebrovascular health, is commonly studied with the Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent functional MRI (BOLD-fMRI) response to a vasoactive stimulus. Theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that baseline cerebral blood flow (CBF) modulates BOLD signal amplitude and may influence BOLD-CVR estimates. We address how acquisition and modeling choices affect the relationship between baseline cerebral blood flow (bCBF) and BOLD-CVR: whether BOLD-CVR is modeled with the inclusion of a breathing task, and whether BOLD-CVR amplitudes are optimized for hemodynamic lag effects. We assessed between-subject correlations of average GM values and within-subject spatial correlations across cortical regions. Our results suggest that a breathing task addition to a resting-state acquisition, alongside lag-optimization within BOLD-CVR modeling, can improve BOLD-CVR correlations with bCBF, both between- and within-subjects, likely because these CVR estimates are more physiologically accurate. We report positive correlations between bCBF and BOLD-CVR, both between- and within-subjects. The physiological explanation of this positive correlation is unclear; research with larger samples and tightly controlled vasoactive stimuli is needed. Insights into what drives variability in BOLD-CVR measurements and related measurements of cerebrovascular function are particularly relevant when interpreting results in populations with altered vascular and/or metabolic baselines or impaired cerebrovascular reserve.
Long-stemmed Hemiarthroplasty with Cerclage Wiring for the Treatment of Split-Head Fractures of the Proximal Humerus with Metaphyseal Extension: A Report of 2 Cases

Introduction Complex fractures of the proximal humerus with splitting-head component and metaphyseal propagation are very rare injuries that are difficult to treat. Preservation of the humeral head is always considered except in cases with severe comminution and compromised vascularity where shoulder hemiarthroplasty is an alternative option. Case Report We present two male patients, 57- and 62-years-old who sustained such a complex proximal humeral fracture after a high-energy injury. They both managed with long-stemmed shoulder hemiarthroplasty and cerclage wiring of the metaphyseal area. They both demonstrated good clinical and radiological outcome at 32- and 24-months postoperatively. Conclusion We report the functional and radiological outcomes of two cases of a rare proximal humeral fracture's pattern - combination of splitting-head and metaphyseal comminution – that were managed with long-stemmed hemiarthroplasty and cerclage wire and demonstrated good midterm clinical outcome.
Effects of Berberine Plus Inulin on Diabetes Care in Patients With Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a heterogeneous form of diabetes, characterized by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells as well as insulin resistance and is triggered by environmental factors in the context of genetic susceptibility. Berberine (BBR), a small alkaloid isolated from medicinal plants, has antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. Inulin is a common prebiotic that has been shown to improve glycemic control, alter the gut microbiota and suppress inflammation. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral BBR and inulin combined with insulin therapy on diabetes care in patients with LADA. Methods and Analysis We will conduct a single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 240 patients with LADA who have started insulin therapy will be randomly allocated either to the intervention or control group. After a 1-week run-in period, they will complete a 3-month treatment of BBR alone, inulin plus BBR, inulin alone, or placebo. Anthropometric and clinical data will be collected at five time points: baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months from baseline. The primary outcome was the change in glycated hemoglobin levels. Dynamic blood glucose parameters, β-cell function, and gut microbiota, as well as adverse events and quality of life will be monitored. Discussion Glycemic control is critical for preventing the progression of diabetes. Although insulin is a recommended treatment for patients with LADA, there are currently no drugs that can effectively prevent the progressive destruction of pancreatic β-cells or maintain their function. Several studies have found that when berberine and prebiotics are used alone, they have beneficial metabolic effects. This clinical research protocol will assess the efficacy of the combined treatment of berberine plus inulin and provide new ideas for future pharmacological research and clinical practices in diabetes care and glycemic control for LADA patients. Ethics and Dissemination This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of National Clinical Research Center of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (approval number: 2021–046). Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04698330
Quality Assurance with Reference Quality Control Strains in Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing: Need for Quality Antimicrobial-Resistant Research [Letter]

Dear editor Alelign et al reported interesting data on “Bacteriological Profiles, Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns, and Associated Factors in Patients Undergoing Orthopaedic Surgery with Suspicion of Surgical Site Infection at Arba Minch General Hospital in Southern Ethiopia. ” We appreciate the efforts taken to investigate thoroughly the Multidrug-resistant [MDR] bacterial profile in orthopedic surgical site infections (OSSIs). Globally infections caused by MDR organisms are a significant cause of treatment failure and dissemination in hospitals and community settings. The author has reported a diversity of bacterial isolates, which would be helpful for the surgeons for their empirical therapy. It is a need of time to have OSSIs data in all local hospitals. Herewith we would like to improve the study by giving a few comments on the study. In the present study, reference number 24 is given as referred to define MDR but in the references list its CLSI guidelines where the same definitions have not been given. Instead of information in the given link [https://www.cdc. gov/infectioncontrol/pdf/guidelines/ mdroguidelines.pdf] could be useful. Magiorakos et al have defined many different definitions for multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pan drug-resistant (PDR) bacteria are being used in the medical literature to characterize the different patterns of resistance found in healthcare-associated, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. In the Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing section, the author has given References 25 and 27 as CLSI guidelines wherein bibliometric numbers these references are book references while reference number 24 is CLSI guidelines. Additionally, zone diameter and MIC breakpoints for all tested organisms should be mentioned in the manuscript. MIC QC ranges for non-fastidious organisms and antimicrobial agents excluding β-lactam combination agents and βlactam combination agents have not been given by the author. Though the author has mentioned this as a limitation to performing antimicrobial MIC. It is mandatory to follow CLSI guidelines in Disk diffusion methods. The principal role of routine microbiology laboratories is to deliver precise and well-timed antimicrobial susceptibility test results for the administrative treatment of infectious diseases. The author should mention Quality Control used in Antibiotic susceptibility testing as the manuscript study is mainly based on bacteriological profiles and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns whereas the author reported major findings regarding multidrug resistance. Consequently, we hope that future studies will be evaluated by Quality Assurance.