bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Targeting SOX18 Transcription Factor Activity by Small-Molecule Inhibitor Sm4 in Non-Small Lung Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Rodak Olga , Mrozowska Monika , Rusak Agnieszka , Gomułkiewicz Agnieszka , Piotrowska Aleksandra , Olbromski Mateusz , Podhorska-Okołów Marzenna , Ugorski Maciej , Dzięgiel Piotr
Published: July 2023

The transcription factor SOX18 has been shown to play a crucial role in lung cancer progression and metastasis. In this study, we investigated the effect of Sm4, a SOX18 inhibitor, on cell cycle regulation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines LXF-289 and SK-MES-1, as well as normal human lung fibroblast cell line IMR-90. Our results demonstrated that Sm4 treatment induced cytotoxic effects on all three cell lines, with a greater effect observed in NSCLC adenocarcinoma cells. Sm4 treatment led to S-phase cell accumulation and upregulation of p21, a key regulator of the S-to-G2/M phase transition. While no significant changes in SOX7 or SOX17 protein expression were observed, Sm4 treatment resulted in a significant upregulation of SOX17 gene expression. Furthermore, our findings suggest a complex interplay between SOX18 and p21 in the context of lung cancer, with a positive correlation observed between SOX18 expression and p21 nuclear presence in clinical tissue samples obtained from lung cancer patients. These results suggest that Sm4 has the potential to disrupt the cell cycle and target cancer cell growth by modulating SOX18 activity and p21 expression. Further investigation is necessary to fully understand the relationship between SOX18 and p21 in lung cancer and to explore the therapeutic potential of SOX18 inhibition in lung cancer.
Protective Effect of Water-Soluble Acacetin Prodrug on APAP-Induced Acute Liver Injury Is Associated with Upregulation of PPARγ and Alleviation of ER Stress
Authors: Miao Jiaen , Yao Shujun , Sun Hao , Jiang Zhe , Gao Zhe , Xu Jia , Chen Kuihao
Published: July 2023

A water-soluble acacetin prodrug has been synthesized and reported by our group previously. Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is a leading cause of acute liver injury. We found that subcutaneous injection of acacetin prodrug (5, 10, 20 mg/kg) decreased serum ALT, AST, and ALP, corrected the abnormal MDA and GSH in liver, and improved intrahepatic hemorrhage and destruction of liver structures in APAP (300 mg/kg)-treated mice. Molecular mechanism analysis revealed that the expressions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers ATF6, CHOP, and p-PERK, apoptosis-related protein BAX, and cleaved caspase 3 were decreased by acacetin in a dose-dependent manner in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, via the acacetin-upregulated peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) of HepG2 cells and liver, the suppressive effect of acacetin on ER stress and apoptosis was abolished by PPARγ inhibitor (GW9662) or PPARγ-siRNA. Molecular docking revealed that acacetin can bind to three active pockets of PPARγ, mainly by hydrogen bond. Our results provide novel evidence that acacetin prodrug exhibits significant protective effect against APAP-induced liver injury by targeting PPARγ, thereby suppressing ER stress and hepatocyte apoptosis. Acacetin prodrug is likely a promising new drug candidate for treating patients with acute liver injury induced by APAP.
The Next Frontier in ART: Harnessing the Uterine Immune Profile for Improved Performance
Authors: Lédée Nathalie , Petitbarat Marie , Prat-Ellenberg Laura , Dray Géraldine , Vaucoret Virginie , Kazhalawi Alaa , Rodriguez-Pozo André , Habeichi Nada , Ruoso Lea , Cassuto Nino Guy , Rahmati Mona
Published: July 2023

Assisted reproduction techniques have improved considerably in recent decades, but despite these advances, success rates remain relatively low. Endometrial immune profiling involves the analysis of cytokine biomarkers in the endometrium during the mid-luteal phase. This profiling aims to provide insights into the immune environment of the uterus. The aim is to identify immune disturbances and thus guide the development of personalized therapeutic approaches. The first part of the review looks back at the emergence of innovative concepts, highlighting the specificity of the human uterine environment at the time of implantation. Based on this new knowledge, biomarkers have been selected for endometrial immune profiling. The second part details the results of clinical studies conducted over the last ten years. These clinical results suggest that this approach can increase the rate of live births in patients suffering from repeated implantation failures or repeated pregnancy loss. Uterine immune profiling represents a clinical innovation that can significantly improve the performance of medically assisted reproduction treatments through personalized strategies tailored to the local immune profile. Innovation in personalized medicine for assisted reproduction is crucial to improving the success rates of fertility treatments, while reducing the risks and costs associated with ineffective or unnecessary interventions.
Quantitative Description of Isomorphism in the Series of Simple Compounds
Authors: Kuczumow Andrzej , Gorzelak Mieczysław , Kosiński Jakub , Lasota Agnieszka , Szabelska Anna , Blicharski Tomasz , Gągała Jacek , Wawrzyniak Jolanta , Jarzębski Maciej , Jabłoński Mirosław
Published: July 2023

The introduction of the notion of energy change resulting from the ion exchange in apatites leads to the question: how can some simple isomorphic series be described using the mentioned idea? We concentrated on the simple isomorphic series of compounds: apatite, bioapatite, calcite, aragonite, celestine, K-, Zn- and Cu-Tutton’s salts. It was demonstrated in all the series, except Tutton’s salts, that the change in energy and the change in the crystal cell volume are, in a simple way, dependent on the change in the ionic radii of the introduced ions. The linear relationships between the variations in energy and in the universal crystallographic dimension d were derived from the earlier equations and proven based on available data. In many cases, except the Tutton’s salts, linear dependence was discovered between the change in energy and the sinus of universal angle Θ, corresponding to the change in momentum transfer. In the same cases, linear dependencies were observed between the energy changes and the changes in the volumes of crystallographic cells, and mutually between changes in the crystallographic cell volume V, crystallographic dimension d, and diffraction angle Θ.
Biomarkers for Monitoring Treatment Response of Omalizumab in Patients with Chronic Urticaria
Authors: Pedersen Nadja Højgaard , Sørensen Jennifer Astrup , Ghazanfar Misbah Noshela , Zhang Ditte Georgina , Vestergaard Christian , Thomsen Simon Francis
Published: July 2023

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a debilitating skin disease affecting around 1% of the population. CU can be subdivided into chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU). Different pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed to play a role in the development of CU, and these are also being investigated as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis and management of the disease. As of now the only assessment tools available for treatment response are patient reported outcomes (PROs). Although these tools are both validated and widely used, they leave a desire for more objective measurements. A biomarker is a broad subcategory of observations that can be used as an accurate, reproducible, and objective indicator of clinically relevant outcomes. This could be normal biological or pathogenic processes, or a response to an intervention or exposure, e.g., treatment response. Herein we provide an overview of biomarkers for CU, with a focus on prognostic biomarkers for treatment response to omalizumab, thereby potentially aiding physicians in personalizing treatments.
Suppression of Indoxyl Sulfate Accumulation Reduces Renal Fibrosis in Sulfotransferase 1a1-Deficient Mice
Authors: Hou Huixian , Horikawa Mai , Narita Yuki , Jono Hirofumi , Kakizoe Yutaka , Izumi Yuichiro , Kuwabara Takashige , Mukoyama Masashi , Saito Hideyuki
Published: July 2023

Renal fibrosis is the final manifestation of chronic kidney disease (CKD); its prevention is vital for controlling CKD progression. Indoxyl sulfate (IS), a typical sulfate-conjugated uremic solute, is produced in the liver via the enzyme sulfotransferase (SULT) 1A1 and accumulates significantly during CKD. We investigated the toxicopathological role of IS in renal fibrosis using Sult1a1-KO mice and the underlying mechanisms. The unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model was created; kidney IS concentrations, inflammation, and renal fibrosis were assessed on day 14. After UUO treatment, inflammation and renal fibrosis were exacerbated in WT mice, with an accumulation of IS in the kidney. However, they were significantly suppressed in Sult1a1-KO mice. CD206+ expression was upregulated, and β-catenin expression was downregulated in Sult1a1-KO mice. To confirm the impact of erythropoietin (EPO) on renal fibrosis, we evaluated the time-dependent expression of EPO. In Sult1a1-KO mice, EPO mRNA expression was improved considerably; UUO-induced renal fibrosis was further attenuated by recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO). Thus, UUO-induced renal fibrosis was alleviated in Sult1a1-KO mice with a decreased accumulation of IS. Our findings confirmed the pathological role of IS in renal fibrosis and identified SULT1A1 as a new therapeutic target enzyme for preventing and attenuating renal fibrosis.
The Role and Mechanism of MicroRNA 21 in Osteogenesis: An Update
Authors: Subramaniam Revatyambigai , Vijakumaran Ubashini , Shanmuganantha Lohashenpahan , Law Jia-Xian , Alias Ekram , Ng Min-Hwei
Published: July 2023

MicroRNAs are short, single-stranded ribonucleic acids expressed endogenously in the body to regulate gene expression at the post-translational level, with exogenous microRNA offering an attractive approach to therapy. Among the myriad microRNA candidates involved in controlling bone homeostasis and remodeling, microRNA 21 (miR21) is the most abundant. This paper discusses the studies conducted on the role and mechanism of human miR21 (hsa-miR21) in the regulation of bones and the various pathways mediated by miR21, and explores the feasibility of employing exogenous miR21 as a strategy for promoting osteogenesis. From the literature review, it was clear that miR21 plays a dual role in bone metabolism by regulating both bone formation and bone resorption. There is substantial evidence to date from both in vitro and in vivo studies that exogenous miR21 can successfully accelerate new bone synthesis in the context of bone loss due to injury or osteoporosis. This supports the exploration of applications of exogenous miR21 in bone regenerative therapy in the future.
The Interplay between Bioactive Sphingolipids in the Psoriatic Skin and the Severity of the Disease
Authors: Matwiejuk Mateusz , Mysliwiec Hanna , Lukaszuk Bartłomiej , Lewoc Marta , Malla Hend , Mysliwiec Piotr , Dadan Jacek , Chabowski Adrian , Flisiak Iwona
Published: July 2023

Psoriasis is a complex chronic immunologically mediated disease that may involve skin, nails, and joints. It is characterized by hyperproliferation, deregulated differentiation, and impaired apoptosis of keratinocytes. Sphingolipids, namely ceramide, sphingosine-1-phosphate, sphingosine, sphingomyelin, and sphinganine-1-phosphate, are signal molecules that may regulate cell growth, immune reactions, and apoptosis. Fifteen patients with psoriasis and seventeen healthy persons were enrolled in the study. Skin samples were taken from psoriatic lesions and non-lesional areas. Tissue concentration of ceramides, sphingosine-1-phosphate, sphingosine, sphingomyelin, and sphinganine-1-phosphate was measured by liquid chromatography. We assessed that all levels of ceramides, sphingosine-1-phosphate, sphingosine, sphingomyelin, and sphinganine-1-phosphate were higher in lesioned psoriatic skin than in non-affected skin. The profile of bioactive lipids in the lesional skin of patients with psoriasis differed significantly from non-involved psoriatic skin and skin in healthy subjects.
Measuring and Understanding Crowdturfing in the App Store
Authors: Hu Qinyu , Zhang Xiaomei , Li Fangqi , Tang Zhushou , Wang Shilin
Published: July 2023

Application marketplaces collect ratings and reviews from users to provide references for other consumers. Many crowdturfing activities abuse user reviews to manipulate the reputation of an app and mislead other consumers. To understand and improve the ecosystem of reviews in the app market, we investigate the existence of crowdturfing based on the App Store. This paper reports a measurement study of crowdturfing and its reviews in the App Store. We use a sliding window to obtain the relationship graph between users and the community detection method to binary classify the detected communities. Then, we measure and analyze the crowdturfing obtained from the classification and compare them with genuine users. We analyze several features of crowdturfing, such as ratings, sentiment scores, text similarity, and common words. We also investigate which apps crowdturfing often appears in and reveal their role in app ranking. These insights are used as features in machine learning models, and the results show that they can effectively train classifiers and detect crowdturfing reviews with an accuracy of up to 98.13%. This study reveals malicious crowdfunding practices in the App Store and helps to strengthen the review security of app marketplaces.
Towards a Universal Privacy Model for Electronic Health Record Systems: An Ontology and Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Nowrozy Raza , Ahmed Khandakar , Wang Hua , Mcintosh Timothy
Published: July 2023

This paper proposed a novel privacy model for Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems utilizing a conceptual privacy ontology and Machine Learning (ML) methodologies. It underscores the challenges currently faced by EHR systems such as balancing privacy and accessibility, user-friendliness, and legal compliance. To address these challenges, the study developed a universal privacy model designed to efficiently manage and share patients’ personal and sensitive data across different platforms, such as MHR and NHS systems. The research employed various BERT techniques to differentiate between legitimate and illegitimate privacy policies. Among them, Distil BERT emerged as the most accurate, demonstrating the potential of our ML-based approach to effectively identify inadequate privacy policies. This paper outlines future research directions, emphasizing the need for comprehensive evaluations, testing in real-world case studies, the investigation of adaptive frameworks, ethical implications, and fostering stakeholder collaboration. This research offers a pioneering approach towards enhancing healthcare information privacy, providing an innovative foundation for future work in this field.
Annual Crops Contribute More Predators than Perennial Habitats during an Aphid Outbreak
Authors: Almdal Crystal D. , Costamagna Alejandro C.
Published: July 2023

Crops and semi-natural habitats provide predator populations with varying floral and prey resources, but their individual role on predator movement has seldom been studied. Here, we tease apart the role of adjacent habitats, predator abundance in the adjacent habitat, and soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) abundance in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) on predator movement into soybean. We studied 12 soybean fields adjacent to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), canola (Brassica napus L.), spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), or woody vegetation, during a soybean aphid outbreak. Bidirectional Malaise traps and sticky traps were used to quantify predator movement between and abundance within soybean and adjacent habitats, respectively. Field plant counts were conducted to quantify aphid abundance in soybean. Coccinellidae and Syrphidae were the two most abundant families collected. Coccinellids and Eupeodes americanus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Syrphidae) had net movement in soybean and their movement increased with aphid abundance. Movement of E. americanus was highest from wheat, coccinellid abundance was higher in wheat than woody vegetation, Toxomerus marginatus (Say) (Diptera: Syrphidae) abundance was highest in canola, and all other predators were more abundant in canola than woody vegetation. In general, our study suggests that annual crops have and provide more predators to soybean during aphid outbreaks than perennial habitats.
SMRT Sequencing Technology Was Used to Construct the Batocera horsfieldi (Hope) Transcriptome and Reveal Its Features
Authors: Wei Xinju , Xu Danping , Liu Zhiqian , Liu Quanwei , Zhuo Zhihang
Published: July 2023

Batocera horsfieldi (Hope) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is an important forest pest in China that mainly infests timber and economic forests. This pest primarily causes plant tissue to necrotize, rot, and eventually die by feeding on the woody parts of tree trunks. To gain a deeper understanding of the genetic mechanism of B. horsfieldi, this study employed single-molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT) and Illumina RNA-seq technologies to conduct full-length transcriptome sequencing of the insect. Total RNA extracted from male and female adults was mixed and subjected to SMRT sequencing, generating a complete transcriptome. Transcriptome analysis, prediction of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), coding sequences (CDs), analysis of simple sequence repeats (SSR), prediction of transcription factors, and functional annotation of transcripts were performed in this study. The collective 20,356,793 subreads (38.26 G, clean reads) were generated, including 432,091 circular consensus sequences and 395,851 full-length non-chimera reads. The full-length non-chimera reads (FLNC) were clustered and redundancies were removed, resulting in 39,912 consensus reads. SSR and ANGEL software v3.0 were used for predicting SSR and CDs. In addition, four tools were used for annotating 6058 lncRNAs, identifying 636 transcription factors. Furthermore, a total of 84,650 transcripts were functionally annotated in seven different databases. This is the first time that the full-length transcriptome of B. horsfieldi has been obtained using SMRT sequencing. This provides an important foundation for investigating the gene regulation underlying the interaction between B. horsfieldi and its host plants through gene editing in the future and provides a scientific basis for the prevention and control of B. horsfieldi.
Quantum Logic Locking for Security
Authors: Topaloglu Rasit Onur
Published: July 2023

Having access to a unique quantum circuit that one wants to protect against use by others is a very likely scenario in industrial computing. However, currently, users rely on classical computer security schemes, which have known shortcomings. In this paper, we introduce a novel protection scheme along with a survey of other known methods to protect quantum information. In particular, we review physically unclonable functions (PUFs), obfuscation, and introduce quantum logic locking (QLL). The latter technique provisions end users to protect their circuit from an adversary through the use of a secret key.
Elevated Serum Concentration of Adipocyte Fatty Acid-Binding Protein Correlates with the Markers of Abdominal Obesity Independently of Thyroid Hormones in Non-Obese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Polak Aleksandra Maria , Łebkowska Agnieszka , Krentowska Anna , Buczyńska Angelika , Adamski Marcin , Krętowski Adam Jacek , Kowalska Irina , Adamska Agnieszka
Published: July 2023

Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) is mainly expressed in adipocytes. The risk of abdominal obesity and autoimmune thyroid disease is increased in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The objective of this study was to explore the relationship of serum concentration of A-FABP with parameters of obesity, e.g., waist to hip ratio (WHR) and the amount of adipose tissue assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and thyroid hormone homeostasis in women with PCOS. We examined 66 women with PCOS and 67 healthy women. Serum concentrations of A-FABP and thyroid hormones were measured; the FT3/FT4 ratio, thyroid-stimulating hormone index (TSHI), thyrotrope thyroxine resistance index (TT4RI) and thyroid feedback quantile-based index (TFQI) were calculated. In the PCOS group, serum concentrations of A-FABP, FT3 and the FT3/FT4 ratio were significantly higher in comparison to the control group (all p < 0.05). A correlation of A-FABP with WHR (r = 0.26, p = 0.04) and the percentage of adipose tissue (r = 0.33, p = 0.01) has been found only in women with PCOS. We observed no correlation between serum levels of A-FABP and TSHI, TT4RI or TFQI in women with PCOS (all p > 0.05). Our results indicate that A-FABP is an adipokine that may be connected with abdominal obesity independently of thyroid hormone homeostasis in PCOS patients.
Unruptured Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms: Management Strategy and Results of a Single-Center Experience
Authors: Wójtowicz Katarzyna , Przepiorka Lukasz , Kujawski Sławomir , Marchel Andrzej , Kunert Przemysław
Published: July 2023

Although anterior communicating artery (AComA) unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) comprise one of the largest aneurysm subgroups, their complex adjacent neurovasculature and increased risk of rupture impede optimal management. In the present study, we analyzed the results of our diverse strategy in AComA UIAs with the additional goal of assessing the risk of treatment and the incidence of hemorrhage. We analyzed 131 patients, of which each was assessed by a multidisciplinary neurovascular team and assigned to observation (45.8%), endovascular treatment (34.4%) or microsurgery (19.8%). Median aneurysm sizes were 3, 7.2 and 7.75 mm, respectively. In the observation group, four (7.1%) aneurysms (initially <5 mm) grew over a median time of 63.5 months and were treated endovascularly. We found that fewer patients in the observation group were smokers (p = 0.021). The aneurysm size ratio was different between the combined treatment versus the observation group (p < 0.0001). Noteworthily, there were no hemorrhages in the observational group. Mortality for all patients with available follow-up was 2.4% (3/124) and permanent morbidity was 1.6% (2/124) over a mean follow-up of 64.2 months. These compelling rates refer to a high-risk group with potentially devastating consequences in which we have decreased the annual risk of hemorrhage to 0.14%.
Human Whole Blood Interactions with Craniomaxillofacial Reconstruction Materials: Exploring In Vitro the Role of Blood Cascades and Leukocytes in Early Healing Events
Authors: Lopes Viviana R. , Birgersson Ulrik , Manivel Vivek Anand , Hulsart-Billström Gry , Gallinetti Sara , Aparicio Conrado , Hong Jaan
Published: July 2023

The present study investigated early interactions between three alloplastic materials (calcium phosphate (CaP), titanium alloy (Ti), and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) with human whole blood using an established in vitro slide chamber model. After 60 min of contact with blood, coagulation (thrombin–antithrombin complexes, TAT) was initiated on all test materials (Ti > PEEK > CaP), with a significant increase only for Ti. All materials showed increased contact activation, with the KK–AT complex significantly increasing for CaP (p < 0.001), Ti (p < 0.01), and PEEK (p < 0.01) while only CaP demonstrated a notable rise in KK-C1INH production (p < 0.01). The complement system had significant activation across all materials, with CaP (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001) generating the most pronounced levels of C3a and sC5b-9, followed by Ti (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and lastly, PEEK (p < 0.001, p < 0.01). This activation correlated with leukocyte stimulation, particularly myeloperoxidase release. Consequently, the complement system may assume a more significant role in the early stages post implantation in response to CaP materials than previously recognized. Activation of the complement system and the inevitable activation of leukocytes might provide a more favorable environment for tissue remodeling and repair than has been traditionally acknowledged. While these findings are limited to the early blood response, complement and leukocyte activation suggest improved healing outcomes, which may impact long-term clinical outcomes.
Collagen and Beyond: A Comprehensive Comparison of Human ECM Properties Derived from Various Tissue Sources for Regenerative Medicine Applications
Authors: Patrawalla Nashaita Y. , Kajave Nilabh S. , Albanna Mohammad Z. , Kishore Vipuil
Published: July 2023

Collagen, along with proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, glycoproteins, and various growth factors, forms the extracellular matrix (ECM) and contributes to the complexity and diversity of different tissues. Herein, we compared the physicochemical and biological properties of ECM hydrogels derived from four different human tissues: skin, bone, fat, and birth. Pure human collagen type I hydrogels were used as control. Physical characterization of ECM hydrogels and assessment of cell response of cord-tissue mesenchymal stem cells (CMSCs) were performed. Decellularization efficiency was found to be >90% for all ECM. Hydroxyproline quantification assay showed that collagen content in birth ECM was comparable to collagen control and significantly greater than other sources of ECM. Sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis showed the presence of γ, β, α1 and α2 collagen chains in all ECMs. Gelation kinetics of ECM hydrogels was significantly slower than collagen control. Compressive modulus of skin ECM was the highest and birth ECM was the lowest. Skin and birth ECM hydrogels were more stable than bone and fat ECM hydrogels. CMSCs encapsulated in birth ECM hydrogels exhibited the highest metabolic activity. Rheological characterization revealed that all ECM-derived inks exhibited shear thinning properties, and skin-derived ECM inks were most suitable for extrusion-based bioprinting for the concentration and printing conditions used in this study. Overall, results demonstrate that the physicochemical and biological properties of ECM hydrogels vary significantly depending on the tissue source. Therefore, careful selection of tissue source is important for development of ECM-based biomimetic tissue constructs for regenerative medicine applications.
Electromigration-Aware Memory Hierarchy Architecture
Authors: Gabbay Freddy , Mendelson Avi
Published: July 2023

New mission-critical applications, such as autonomous vehicles and life-support systems, set a high bar for the reliability of modern microprocessors that operate in highly challenging conditions. However, while cutting-edge integrated circuit (IC) technologies have intensified microprocessors by providing remarkable reductions in the silicon area and power consumption, they also introduce new reliability challenges through the complex design rules they impose, creating a significant hurdle in the design process. In this paper, we focus on electromigration (EM), which is a crucial factor impacting IC reliability. EM refers to the degradation process of IC metal nets when used for both power supply and interconnecting signals. Typically, EM concerns have been addressed at the backend, circuit, and layout levels, where EM rules are enforced assuming extreme conditions to identify and resolve violations. This study presents new techniques that leverage architectural features to mitigate the effect of EM on the memory hierarchy of modern microprocessors. Architectural approaches can reduce the complexity of solving EM-related violations, and they can also complement and enhance common existing methods. In this study, we present a comprehensive simulation analysis that demonstrates how the proposed solution can significantly extend the lifetime of a microprocessor’s memory hierarchy with minimal overhead in terms of performance, power, and area while relaxing EM design efforts.
Biotechnological Applications of Products Released by Marine Microorganisms for Cold Adaptation Strategies: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Antioxidants, and Antifreeze Proteins
Authors: Lauritano Chiara , Coppola Daniela
Published: July 2023

Marine organisms have developed a series of defense and adaptation strategies, permitting them to live and survive in peculiar environments, ranging from temperate to tropical and polar regions, high to low salinity areas and different light conditions, as well as are constantly exposed to variations induced by climate change and human activities. These defense strategies include the production of molecules and enzymes which may have applications for humans as well. In this review, we summarized the studies on bacterial and microalgal polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, and antifreeze proteins, which can find applications in different market sectors, such as feed and cosmetic fields. For all the aforementioned compounds, the compound annual growth rate is expected to increase by 5.35–36.3% in the near future, as the market interest toward these products is on the rise. Both industries and researchers are focused on developing mechanisms to reduce production time and costs, improve yields, and discover new proteins.
Comparison of the Metabolic Profile between Unstimulated and Stimulated Saliva Samples from Pregnant Women with/without Obesity and Periodontitis
Authors: Foratori-Junior Gerson Aparecido , Le Guennec Adrien , Fidalgo Tatiana Kelly da Silva , Jarvis James , Mosquim Victor , Buzalaf Marília Afonso Rabelo , Carpenter Guy Howard , Sales-Peres Silvia Helena de Carvalho
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to compare the metabolic profile of unstimulated (US) and stimulated (SS) saliva samples from pregnant women with/without obesity and periodontitis. Ninety-six pregnant women were divided into: obesity + periodontitis (OP = 20); obesity/no periodontitis (OWP = 27); normal BMI + periodontitis (NP = 20); and normal BMI/no periodontitis (NWP = 29). US and SS samples were collected by expectoration and chewing of sterilized parafilm gum, respectively, and samples were individually analyzed by Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR). Univariate (t test and correlations) and multivariate (Principal Component Analysis–PCA, and Partial Least Square–Discriminant Analysis—PLS-DA with Variance Importance Projection–VIP scores) and Metabolite Set Enrichment Analysis were done (p < 0.05). Metabolites commonly found in all groups in elevated concentration in US samples were 5-Aminopentoate, Acetic acid, Butyric acid, Propionic acid, Pyruvic acid, and Succinic acid. They were mainly related to the butyrate metabolism, citric acid cycle, amino sugar metabolism, fatty acids biosynthesis, pyruvate metabolism, glutamate metabolism, and Warburg effect. Metabolites commonly found in all groups that were in elevated concentration in SS samples were Citrulline, Fumaric acid, Histidine, N-acetyl glutamine, N-acetylneuraminic acid, para-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, Proline, Tyrosine. Although some differences were found between unstimulated and stimulated saliva samples from pregnant women with/without obesity and periodontitis, stimulated saliva collection seems adequate, demonstrating similar metabolic pathways to unstimulated saliva samples when groups are compared.
MicroRNAs Associated with the Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review for Building a Panel of miRNAs
Authors: da Silva Pedro Henrique Costa Matos , Santos Kamilla de Faria , da Silva Laura , da Costa Caroline Christine Pincela , Santos Rodrigo da Silva , Reis Angela Adamski da Silva
Published: July 2023

miRNAs, a class of small non-coding RNAs, play a role in post-transcriptional gene expression. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review of miRNAs associated with GDM to build a panel of miRNAs. A bibliographic search was carried out in the PubMed/Medline, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Web of Science, and EMBASE databases, selecting observational studies in English without time restriction. The protocol was registered on the PROSPERO platform (number CRD42021291791). Fifty-five studies were included in this systematic review, and 82 altered miRNAs in GDM were identified. In addition, four miRNAs were most frequently dysregulated in GDM (mir-16-5p, mir-20a-5p, mir-222-3p, and mir-330-3p). The dysregulation of these miRNAs is associated with the mechanisms of cell cycle homeostasis, growth, and proliferation of pancreatic β cells, glucose uptake and metabolism, insulin secretion, and resistance. On the other hand, identifying miRNAs associated with GDM and elucidating its main mechanisms can assist in the characterization and definition of potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of GDM.
Investigation of the Bimodal Leaching Response of RAM Chip Gold Fingers in Ammonia Thiosulfate Solution
Authors: Lin Peijia , Ali Zulqarnain Ahmad , Werner Joshua
Published: July 2023

Oxidative thiosulfate leaching using Cu(II)-NH3 has been explored for both mining and recycling applications as a promising method for Au extraction. This study seeks to understand the dissolution behavior of Au from waste RAM chips using a Cu(II)-NH3-S2O3 solution. In the course of this work, bimodal leaching and Au loss were observed in a manner that we have not identified in the literature. Identification of the existence of a specific Au-Ni-Cu lamellar structure in the gold fingers from RAM chips by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) revealed the possibility of interference between Au recovery and the existence of Cu and Ni. During leaching, the co-extraction of Ni was found to predict a negative impact on the Au recovery, as a result of chemical interactions from the Au-Ni-Cu interlayer. Decopperization as a pretreatment was found necessary to remove the pre-existing Cu and promote Au leaching. As part of the study parameters, such as Cu(II) concentration, aeration rates, thiosulfate and ammonia concentrations, particle sizes, and temperatures, were investigated. A satisfactory Au recovery of 98% was achieved using 50 mM Cu(II), 120 mL/min aeration rate, 0.5 M (NH3)2S2O3, and 0.75 M NH4OH (i.e., AT/AH ratio of 0.67) for 4 h residence time at room temperature (25 °C). However, there were several high recoveries prior to Au loss from the lixiviant. It was revealed that the main cause of lower Au recovery was due to a precipitation or cementation reaction that included a sulfur species formation. Because of the bimodal leaching, a composite response comprised of the time to Au loss and maximum recovery was developed, termed leaching proclivity, to facilitate statistical analysis. Furthermore, this study explores the interactions between Au-Ni-Cu and provides suggestions for improving Au thiosulfate leaching under the interference of co-existing metals from waste PCB materials.
Graphene Enhances the Loading Capacity and Lubrication Performance of Ionic Liquids: A Molecular Dynamics Study
Authors: Jiang Haodong , Wang Yaoze , Xiong Zhipeng , Zhou Runhua , Yang Linyan , Bai Lichun
Published: July 2023

Ionic liquid (IL) combined with graphene additives have garnered extensive attention in the field of high-performance lubricating materials. However, the ambiguous mechanism of graphene influencing the load-carrying and anti-wear capacity of ILs needs further study. In this work, friction simulation shows that adding graphene causes friction coefficient to reduce by up to 88% compared with pure ILs, but lubrication performance is lost due to the destruction of graphene under high stress. Meanwhile, multilayer graphene has better friction-reducing performance and friction durability as compared to the monolayer structure, which is attributed to the easy-shear property and the reduction in the percentage of high tensile stress sites in multilayer graphene structure. In addition, it was found that excessively thick ILs film would form a three-body abrasive wear structure with graphene, which accelerated the structural destruction of graphene and caused a decline in its tribological properties. It is believed these findings can be valuable for designing of high-performance lubricating oil for practical engineering.
Effect of Mechanically Activated Nepheline-Syenite Additive on the Physical–Mechanical Properties and Frost Resistance of Ceramic Materials Composed of Illite Clay and Mineral Wool Waste
Authors: Pranckevičienė Jolanta , Pundienė Ina
Published: July 2023

This study investigates the coupling effect of mechanically activated nepheline-syenite (NS) and mineral wool melt waste (MWMW) on the physical–mechanical properties of a ceramic body. The results indicate that an optimal amount (10–20%) of NS additive promotes the formation of the smallest pore size from 0.001 to 0.01 µm, as well as improves physical, mechanical, and durability properties of the ceramic samples with MWMW, when fired at temperatures between 1000 and 1080 °C. As the NS content increases, the composition becomes more alkaline, leading to enhanced vitrification and the formation of a glass phase during firing. This reduces open porosity, modifies pore size distribution, and enhances compressive strength and frost resistance. An NS content of 15% produces the best results, increasing the smallest pore fraction and yielding favourable properties, such as reduced open porosity, water absorption and density, increased compressive strength, and does not affect the linear shrinkage. The frost resistance test demonstrates that the coupling effect of NS additive and MWMW improves the samples’ resistance to freeze–thaw cycles, with the best performance observed at 15% NS content. The study also highlights the usefulness of structural parameters and ultrasound testing for assessing and predicting the frost resistance of ceramic samples.
Effective Governing Equations for Viscoelastic Composites
Authors: Miller Laura , Ramírez-Torres Ariel , Rodríguez-Ramos Reinaldo , Penta Raimondo
Published: July 2023

We derive the governing equations for the overall behaviour of linear viscoelastic composites comprising two families of elastic inclusions, subphases and/or fibres, and an incompressible Newtonian fluid interacting with the solid phases at the microscale. We assume that the distance between each of the subphases is very small in comparison to the length of the whole material (the macroscale). We can exploit this sharp scale separation and apply the asymptotic (periodic) homogenization method (AHM) which decouples spatial scales and leads to the derivation of the new homogenised model. It does this via upscaling the fluid–structure interaction problem that arises between the multiple elastic phases and the fluid. As we do not assume that the fluid flow is characterised by a parabolic profile, the new macroscale model, which consists of partial differential equations, is of Kelvin–Voigt viscoelastic type (rather than poroelastic). The novel model has coefficients that encode the properties of the microstructure and are to be computed by solving a single local differential fluid–structure interaction (FSI) problem where the solid and the fluid phases are all present and described by the one problem. The model reduces to the case described by Burridge and Keller (1981) when there is only one elastic phase in contact with the fluid. This model is applicable when the distance between adjacent phases is smaller than the average radius of the fluid flowing in the pores, which can be the case for various highly heterogeneous systems encountered in real-world (e.g., biological, or geological) scenarios of interest.
Buckling Analysis of Laminated Plates with Asymmetric Layup by Approximation Method
Authors: Falkowicz Katarzyna , Wysmulski Pawel , Debski Hubert
Published: July 2023

This study investigated thin-walled plate elements with a central cut-out under axial compression. The plates were manufactured from epoxy/carbon laminate (CFRP) with an asymmetric layup. The study involved analyzing the buckling and post-buckling behavior of the plates using experimental and numerical methods. The experiments provided the post-buckling equilibrium paths (P-u), which were then used to determine the critical load using the straight-line intersection method. Along with the experiments, a numerical analysis was conducted using the Finite Element Method (FEM) and using the ABAQUS® software. A linear analysis of an eigenvalue problem was conducted, the results of which led to the determination of the critical loads for the developed numerical model. The second part of the calculations involved conducting a non-linear analysis of a plate with an initial geometric imperfection corresponding to structural buckling. The numerical results were validated by the experimental findings, which showed that the numerical model of the structure was correct.
Combined Effects of HA Concentration and Unit Cell Geometry on the Biomechanical Behavior of PCL/HA Scaffold for Tissue Engineering Applications Produced by LPBF
Authors: Gatto Maria Laura , Furlani Michele , Giuliani Alessandra , Cabibbo Marcello , Bloise Nora , Fassina Lorenzo , Petruczuk Marlena , Visai Livia , Mengucci Paolo
Published: July 2023

This experimental study aims at filling the gap in the literature concerning the combined effects of hydroxyapatite (HA) concentration and elementary unit cell geometry on the biomechanical performances of additively manufactured polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA) scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Scaffolds produced by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) with diamond (DO) and rhombic dodecahedron (RD) elementary unit cells and HA concentrations of 5, 30 and 50 wt.% were subjected to structural, mechanical and biological characterization to investigate the biomechanical and degradative behavior from the perspective of bone tissue regeneration. Haralick’s features describing surface pattern, correlation between micro- and macro-structural properties and human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) viability and proliferation have been considered. Experimental results showed that HA has negative influence on scaffold compaction under compression, while on the contrary it has a positive effect on hMSC adhesion. The unit cell geometry influences the mechanical response in the plastic regime and also has an effect on the cell proliferation. Finally, both HA concentration and elementary unit cell geometry affect the scaffold elastic deformation behavior as well as the amount of micro-porosity which, in turn, influences the scaffold degradation rate.
An Analysis of Climate Change Based on Machine Learning and an Endoreversible Model
Authors: Vázquez-Ramírez Sebastián , Torres-Ruiz Miguel , Quintero Rolando , Chui Kwok Tai , Guzmán Sánchez-Mejorada Carlos
Published: July 2023

Several Sun models suggest a radioactive balance, where the concentration of greenhouse gases and the albedo effect are related to the Earth’s surface temperature. There is a considerable increment in greenhouse gases due to anthropogenic activities. Climate change correlates with this alteration in the atmosphere and an increase in surface temperature. Efficient forecasting of climate change and its impacts could be helpful to respond to the threat of c.c. and develop sustainably. Many studies have predicted temperature changes in the coming years. The global community has to create a model that can realize good predictions to ensure the best way to deal with this warming. Thus, we propose a finite-time thermodynamic (FTT) approach in the current work. FTT can solve problems such as the faint young Sun paradox. In addition, we use different machine learning models to evaluate our method and compare the experimental prediction and results.
On the Stabilization of the Solution to the Initial Boundary Value Problem for One-Dimensional Isothermal Equations of Viscous Compressible Multicomponent Media Dynamics
Authors: Prokudin Dmitriy
Published: July 2023

An initial boundary value problem is considered for one-dimensional isothermal equations of the dynamics of viscous compressible multicomponent media, which are a generalization of the Navier–Stokes equations. The stabilization of the solution to the initial boundary value problem is proven while the time tends to infinity, without simplifying assumptions for the structure of the viscosity matrix, except for the standard physical requirements of symmetry and positive definiteness. It is shown that the stabilization of the solution is exponential.
Sensorless Scheme for Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motors Susceptible to Time-Varying Load Torques
Authors: Aldrete-Maldonado Christian , Ramirez-Villalobos Ramon , Coria Luis N. , Plata-Ante Corina
Published: July 2023

This paper is devoted to designing a sensorless high-speed tracking control for surface-mount permanent-magnet synchronous motors, considering a time-varying load torque. This proposal consists of an extended-state observer interconnected with a PI-compensated controller, considering only the measurement of electrical variables for feedback. First, to design the extended-state observer, a rotary coordinate model of the motor is extended in one state to estimate the load torque and the rotor’s position and speed. Later, the estimations are fedback to a PI-compensated controller to attenuate the time-varying load torques. Our proposed methodology aims to overcome a restriction regarding the solution of the Riccati equation respecting the Lipschitz condition for observer stability analysis. Therefore, a PI-compensated controller described as a closed-loop provides a sensorless scheme. Lyapunov stability analysis is applied to determine sufficient conditions to ensure that the states of the closed-loop system are ultimately bounded, which is one of our main contributions. The proposed observer-based controller scheme deals with unmeasured load torque fluctuations. Furthermore, we carry out high-precision emulations to provide testing scenarios of the permanent-magnet synchronous motor with some challenging load torque magnitudes and behaviors. Finally, we conduct experiments on the Technosoft® development platform to corroborate the feasibility of the proposed control scheme in a real-world scenario.
Role of Plasma Membrane at Dielectric Relaxations and Intermembrane Interaction in Human Erythrocytes
Authors: Ivanov Ivan T. , Paarvanova Boyana K.
Published: July 2023

Dielectric relaxations at 1.4 MHz (βsp) and 9 MHz (γ1sp) on the erythrocyte spectrin network were studied by dielectric spectroscopy using dense suspensions of erythrocytes and erythrocyte ghost membranes, subjected to extraction with up to 0.2% volume Triton-X-100. The step-wise extraction of up to 60% of membrane lipids preserved γ1sp and gradually removed βsp-relaxation. On increasing the concentration up to 100 mM of NaCl at either side of erythrocyte plasma membranes, the βsp-relaxation was linearly enhanced, while the strength of γ1sp-relaxation remained unchanged. In media with NaCl between 100 and 150 mM βsp-relaxation became slightly inhibited, while γ1sp-relaxation almost disappeared, possibly due to the decreased electrostatic repulsion allowing erythrocytes to come into closer contact. When these media contained, at concentrations 10–30 mg/mL dextran (MW 7 kDa), polyethylene glycol or polyvinylpyrrolidone (40 kDa), or albumin or homologous plasma with equivalent concentration of albumin, the γ1sp-relaxation was about tenfold enhanced, while βsp-relaxation was strengthened or preserved. The results suggest the Maxwell–Vagner accumulation of ions on the lipid bilayer as an energy source for βsp-relaxation. While βsp-relaxation appears sensitive to erythrocyte membrane deformability, γ1sp-relaxation could be a sensitive marker for the inter-membrane interactions between erythrocytes.