bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Excitation of the 2P State of Atomic Hydrogen by Electron Impact
Authors: Bhatia Anand K.
Published: October 2022

The excitation cross sections of the 2P state of atomic hydrogen at low incident electron energies (from 0.755 to 3.5 Ry) were calculated using the variational polarized orbital method. Up to 13 partial waves (L = 1, 13) were used to obtain converged cross sections in the above energy range. The importance of the long-range forces is pointed out in the threshold region, and behavior of the cross section is indicated near the threshold. The polarization P of radiation emitted at right angle to the incident electron beam was calculated and the perpendicular cross section was also calculated.
On Atomic Lifetimes and Environmental Density
Authors: Träbert Elmar
Published: October 2022

Atomic lifetime measurements span a wide range, from attoseconds to years. The frontier of exploratory lifetime measurements, presently, is in the long part of the above time range, with an eye on astrophysical problems. In a combination of review paper, tutorial, and Editorial, the physical environments and experiments are discussed, in which the results of such lifetime measurements matter. Although accurate lifetime measurement results are important for our understanding of atomic structure and dynamics, and for the diagnostics of various plasma environments, the order of magnitude is often precise enough to see why time resolution may be of interest in an experiment, from laser-produced plasmas of high densities to planetary nebulae of very low densities.
Fourier Transform of the Orthogonal Polynomials on the Unit Ball and Continuous Hahn Polynomials
Authors: Güldoğan Lekesiz Esra , Aktaş Rabia , Area Iván
Published: October 2022

Some systems of univariate orthogonal polynomials can be mapped into other families by the Fourier transform. The most-studied example is related to the Hermite functions, which are eigenfunctions of the Fourier transform. For the multivariate case, by using the Fourier transform and Parseval’s identity, very recently, some examples of orthogonal systems of this type have been introduced and orthogonality relations have been discussed. In the present paper, this method is applied for multivariate orthogonal polynomials on the unit ball. The Fourier transform of these orthogonal polynomials on the unit ball is obtained. By Parseval’s identity, a new family of multivariate orthogonal functions is introduced. The results are expressed in terms of the continuous Hahn polynomials.
Repurposing Face Masks after Use: From Wastes to Anode Materials for Na-Ion Batteries
Authors: Porporato Silvia , Bartoli Mattia , Piovano Alessandro , Pianta Nicolò , Tagliaferro Alberto , Elia Giuseppe Antonio , Ruffo Riccardo , Gerbaldi Claudio
Published: October 2022

Nowadays, face masks play an essential role in limiting coronavirus diffusion. However, their disposable nature represents a relevant environmental issue. In this work, we propose the utilization of two types of disposed (waste) face masks to prepare hard carbons (biochar) by pyrolytic conversion in mild conditions. Moreover, we evaluated the application of the produced hard carbons as anode materials in Na-ion batteries. Pristine face masks were firstly analyzed through infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The pyrolysis of both mask types resulted in highly disordered carbons, as revealed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, with a very low specific surface area. Anodes prepared with these carbons were tested in laboratory-scale Na-metal cells through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling, displaying an acceptable specific capacity along a wide range of current regimes, with a good coulombic efficiency (>98% over at least 750 cycles). As a proof of concept, the anodes were also used to assemble a Na-ion cell in combination with a Na3V2(PO4)2F3 (NVPF) cathode and tested towards galvanostatic cycling, with an initial capacity of almost 120 mAhg−1 (decreasing at about 47 mAhg−1 after 50 cycles). Even though further optimization is required for a real application, the achieved electrochemical performances represent a preliminary confirmation of the possibility of repurposing disposable face masks into higher-value materials for Na-ion batteries.
Electrochemically Active Polymer Components in Next-Generation LiFePO4 Cathodes: Can Small Things Make a Big Difference?
Authors: Chepurnaya Irina , Smirnova Evgenia , Karushev Mikhail
Published: October 2022

As a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) successfully transitioned from laboratory bench to commercial product but was outshone by high capacity/high voltage lithium metal oxide chemistries. Recent changes in the global economy combined with advances in the battery pack design brought industry attention back to LFP. However, well-recognized intrinsic drawbacks of LiFePO4 such as relatively low specific capacity and poor electronic and ionic conductivity have not yet been fully mitigated. Integration of electrochemically active electron-conducting polymers (EAECPs) into the cathode structure to replace conventional auxiliary electrode components has been proposed as an effective strategy for further performance improvement of LFP batteries. In this review, we show how various combinations of polymer properties/functions have been utilized in composite LiFePO4 electrodes containing EAECP components. We present recent advances in the cathode design, materials, and methods and highlight the impact of synthetic strategies for the cathode preparation on its electrochemical performance in lithium-ion cells. We discuss advantages and limitations of the proposed approaches as well as challenges of their adoption by the battery manufactures. We conclude with perspectives on future development in this area.
SOC, SOH and RUL Estimation for Supercapacitor Management System: Methods, Implementation Factors, Limitations and Future Research Improvements
Authors: Ayob Afida , Ansari Shaheer , Lipu Molla Shahadat Hossain , Hussain Aini , Saad Mohamad Hanif Md
Published: October 2022

The development of a supercapacitor management system (SMS) for clean energy applications is crucial to addressing carbon emissions problems. Consequently, state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), and remaining useful life (RUL) for SMS must be developed to evaluate supercapacitor robustness and reliability for mitigating supercapacitor issues related to safety and economic loss. State estimation of SMS results in safe operation and eliminates undesirable event occurrences and malfunctions. However, state estimations of SMS are challenging and tedious, as SMS is subject to various internal and external factors such as internal degradation mechanism and environmental factors. This review presents a comprehensive discussion and analysis of model-based and data-driven-based techniques for SOC, SOH, and RUL estimations of SMS concerning outcomes, advantages, disadvantages, and research gaps. The work also investigates various key implementation factors such as a supercapacitor test bench platform, experiments, a supercapacitor cell, data pre-processing, data size, model operation, functions, hyperparameter adjustments, and computational capability. Several key limitations, challenges, and issues regarding SOC, SOH, and RUL estimations are outlined. Lastly, effective suggestions are outlined for future research improvements towards delivering accurate and effective SOC, SOH, and RUL estimations of SMS. Critical analysis and discussion would be useful for developing accurate SMS technology for state estimation of a supercapacitor with clean energy and high reliability, and will provide significant contributions towards reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) to achieve global collaboration and sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Boosting the Clinical Translation of Organ-on-a-Chip Technology
Authors: Caballero David , Reis Rui L. , Kundu Subhas C.
Published: October 2022

Organ-on-a-chip devices have become a viable option for investigating critical physiological events and responses; this technology has matured substantially, and many systems have been reported for disease modeling or drug screening over the last decade. Despite the wide acceptance in the academic community, their adoption by clinical end-users is still a non-accomplished promise. The reasons behind this difficulty can be very diverse but most likely are related to the lack of predictive power, physiological relevance, and reliability necessary for being utilized in the clinical area. In this Perspective, we briefly discuss the main attributes of organ-on-a-chip platforms in academia and how these characteristics impede their easy translation to the clinic. We also discuss how academia, in conjunction with the industry, can contribute to boosting their adoption by proposing novel design concepts, fabrication methods, processes, and manufacturing materials, improving their standardization and versatility, and simplifying their manipulation and reusability.
Classification of Autism and Control Gait in Children Using Multisegment Foot Kinematic Features
Authors: Pradhan Ashirbad , Chester Victoria , Padhiar Karansinh
Published: October 2022

Previous research has demonstrated that children with autism walk with atypical ankle kinematics and kinetics. Although these studies have utilized single-segment foot (SSF) data, multisegment foot (MSF) kinematics can provide further information on foot mechanics. Machine learning (ML) tools allow the combination of MSF kinematic features for classifying autism gait patterns. In this study, multiple ML models are investigated, and the most contributing features are determined. This study involved 19 children with autism and 21 age-matched controls performing walking trials. A 34-marker system and a 12-camera motion capture system were used to compute SSF and MSF angles during walking. Features extracted from these foot angles and their combinations were used to develop support vector machine (SVM) models. Additional techniques-S Hapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and the Shapley Additive Global importancE (SAGE) are used for local and global importance of the black-box ML models. The results suggest that models based on combinations of MSF kinematic features classify autism patterns with an accuracy of 96.3%, which is higher than using SSF kinematic features (83.8%). The relative angle between the metatarsal and midfoot segments had the highest contribution to the classification of autism gait patterns. The study demonstrated that kinematic features from MSF angles, supported by ML models, can provide an accurate and interpretable classification of autism and control patterns in children.
A Concise Review on Electrospun Scaffolds for Kidney Tissue Engineering
Authors: Miranda Cláudia C. , Gomes Mariana Ramalho , Moço Mariana , Cabral Joaquim M. S. , Ferreira Frederico Castelo , Sanjuan-Alberte Paola
Published: October 2022

Chronic kidney disease is one of the deadliest diseases globally and treatment methods are still insufficient, relying mostly on transplantation and dialysis. Engineering of kidney tissues in vitro from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) could provide a solution to this medical need by restoring the function of damaged kidneys. However, implementation of such approaches is still challenging to achieve due to the complexity of mature kidneys in vivo. Several strategies have been defined to obtain kidney progenitor endothelial and epithelial cells that could form nephrons and proximal tube cells, but these lack tissue maturity and vascularisation to be further implemented. Electrospinning is a technique that has shown promise in the development of physiological microenvironments of several tissues and could be applied in the engineering of kidney tissues. Synthetic polymers such as polycaprolactone, polylactic acid, and poly(vinyl alcohol) have been explored in the manufacturing of fibres that align and promote the proliferation and cell-to-cell interactions of kidney cells. Natural polymers including silk fibroin and decellularised extracellular matrix have also been explored alone and in combination with synthetic polymers promoting the differentiation of podocytes and tubular-specific cells. Despite these attempts, further work is still required to advance the applications of electrospun fibres in kidney tissue engineering and explore this technique in combination with other manufacturing methods such as bioprinting to develop more organised, mature and reproducible kidney organoids.
Engineering Spatiotemporal Control in Vascularized Tissues
Authors: Khanna Astha , Oropeza Beu P. , Huang Ngan F.
Published: October 2022

A major challenge in engineering scalable three-dimensional tissues is the generation of a functional and developed microvascular network for adequate perfusion of oxygen and growth factors. Current biological approaches to creating vascularized tissues include the use of vascular cells, soluble factors, and instructive biomaterials. Angiogenesis and the subsequent generation of a functional vascular bed within engineered tissues has gained attention and is actively being studied through combinations of physical and chemical signals, specifically through the presentation of topographical growth factor signals. The spatiotemporal control of angiogenic signals can generate vascular networks in large and dense engineered tissues. This review highlights the developments and studies in the spatiotemporal control of these biological approaches through the coordinated orchestration of angiogenic factors, differentiation of vascular cells, and microfabrication of complex vascular networks. Fabrication strategies to achieve spatiotemporal control of vascularization involves the incorporation or encapsulation of growth factors, topographical engineering approaches, and 3D bioprinting techniques. In this article, we highlight the vascularization of engineered tissues, with a focus on vascularized cardiac patches that are clinically scalable for myocardial repair. Finally, we discuss the present challenges for successful clinical translation of engineered tissues and biomaterials.
The Selective α1 Antagonist Tamsulosin Alters ECM Distributions and Cellular Metabolic Functions of ARPE 19 Cells in a Concentration-Dependent Manner
Authors: Ida Yosuke , Sato Tatsuya , Watanabe Megumi , Umetsu Araya , Tsugeno Yuri , Furuhashi Masato , Hikage Fumihito , Ohguro Hiroshi
Published: October 2022

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of the selective α1 antagonist tamsulosin (TAM) on human retinal pigment epithelium cells, ARPE 19. Two-dimension (2D) and three-dimension (3D) cultured ARPE 19 cells were used in the following characterizations: (1) ultrastructure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (2D); (2) barrier functions by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements, and FITC-dextran permeability (2D); (3) real time cellular metabolisms by Seahorse Bioanalyzer (2D); (4) physical properties, size and stiffness measurements (3D); and (5) expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including collagen1 (COL1), COL4, COL6 and fibronectin (FN) by qPCR and immunohistochemistry (2D and 3D). TAM induced significant effects including: (1) alteration of the localization of the ECM deposits; (2) increase and decrease of the TEER values and FITC-dextran permeability, respectively; (3) energy shift from glycolysis into mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS); (4) large and stiffened 3D spheroids; and (5) down-regulations of the mRNA expressions and immune labeling of most ECM proteins in a concentration-dependent manner. However, in some ECM proteins, COL1 and COL6, their immunolabeling intensities were increased at the lowest concentration (1 μM) of TAM. Such a discrepancy between the gene expressions and immunolabeling of ECM proteins may support alterations of ECM localizations as observed by SEM. The findings reported herein indicate that the selective α1 antagonist, TAM, significantly influenced ECM production and distribution as well as cellular metabolism levels in a concentration-dependent manner.
Lightweight End-to-End Deep Learning Solution for Estimating the Respiration Rate from Photoplethysmogram Signal
Authors: Chowdhury Moajjem Hossain , Shuzan Md Nazmul Islam , Chowdhury Muhammad E. H. , Reaz Mamun Bin Ibne , Mahmud Sakib , Al Emadi Nasser , Ayari Mohamed Arselene , Ali Sawal Hamid Md , Bakar Ahmad Ashrif A. , Rahman Syed Mahfuzur , Khandakar Amith
Published: October 2022

Respiratory ailments are a very serious health issue and can be life-threatening, especially for patients with COVID. Respiration rate (RR) is a very important vital health indicator for patients. Any abnormality in this metric indicates a deterioration in health. Hence, continuous monitoring of RR can act as an early indicator. Despite that, RR monitoring equipment is generally provided only to intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Recent studies have established the feasibility of using photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals to estimate RR. This paper proposes a deep-learning-based end-to-end solution for estimating RR directly from the PPG signal. The system was evaluated on two popular public datasets: VORTAL and BIDMC. A lightweight model, ConvMixer, outperformed all of the other deep neural networks. The model provided a root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and correlation coefficient (R) of 1.75 breaths per minute (bpm), 1.27 bpm, and 0.92, respectively, for VORTAL, while these metrics were 1.20 bpm, 0.77 bpm, and 0.92, respectively, for BIDMC. The authors also showed how fine-tuning a small subset could increase the performance of the model in the case of an out-of-distribution dataset. In the fine-tuning experiments, the models produced an average R of 0.81. Hence, this lightweight model can be deployed to mobile devices for real-time monitoring of patients.
Keratin Promotes Differentiation of Keratinocytes Seeded on Collagen/Keratin Hydrogels
Authors: Zuniga Kameel , Ghousifam Neda , Sansalone John , Senecal Kris , Van Dyke Mark , Rylander Marissa Nichole
Published: October 2022

Keratinocytes undergo a complex process of differentiation to form the stratified stratum corneum layer of the skin. In most biomimetic skin models, a 3D hydrogel fabricated out of collagen type I is used to mimic human skin. However, native skin also contains keratin, which makes up 90% of the epidermis and is produced by the keratinocytes present. We hypothesized that the addition of keratin (KTN) in our collagen hydrogel may aid in the process of keratinocyte differentiation compared to a pure collagen hydrogel. Keratinocytes were seeded on top of a 100% collagen or 50/50 C/KTN hydrogel cultured in either calcium-free (Ca-free) or calcium+ (Ca+) media. Our study demonstrates that the addition of keratin and calcium in the media increased lysosomal activity by measuring the glucocerebrosidase (GBA) activity and lysosomal distribution length, an indication of greater keratinocyte differentiation. We also found that the presence of KTN in the hydrogel also increased the expression of involucrin, a differentiation marker, compared to a pure collagen hydrogel. We demonstrate that a combination (i.e., containing both collagen and kerateine or “C/KTN”) hydrogel was able to increase keratinocyte differentiation compared to a pure collagen hydrogel, and the addition of calcium further increased the differentiation of keratinocytes. This multi-protein hydrogel shows promise in future models or treatments to increase keratinocyte differentiation into the stratum corneum.
Plate Augmentation in Aseptic Femoral Shaft Nonunion after Intramedullary Nailing: A Literature Review
Authors: Perisano Carlo , Cianni Luigi , Polichetti Chiara , Cannella Adriano , Mosca Massimiliano , Caravelli Silvio , Maccauro Giulio , Greco Tommaso
Published: October 2022

Background: Femoral shaft fractures (FSFs) are a frequent injury in traumatology for which intramedullary nailing (IMN) is considered the gold standard treatment. Nonunion (NU) is one of the most frequent complications in FSF treated with IMN, with a percentage from 1.1% to 14%. Plate augmentation (PA), the addition of a compression plate and screws, with or without bone graft has been described as an effective option for the treatment of NU, improving the biomechanical conditions at the fracture site. The aim of this review was to analyze the literature relating to the use of PA in NU after IMN in FSFs to assess the efficacy of the technique. Methods: An electronic search on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science was conducted to search for all studies concerning PA of femoral shaft NUs after IMN. Results: Twenty-four studies were included in the review comprising a total of 502 patients with a mean age of 39.5 years. Of these, 200 hundred patients had atrophic pseudoarthrosis and 123 had hypertrophic pseudoarthrosis, while in 179, the type of pseudoarthrosis was not reported. The most frequently used plate for PA was the dynamic compression plate (DCP); in 87.1% of the cases, the authors added a bone graft to the plate fixation. In 98.0% of the patients, a complete bone union was achieved in a mean time of 5.8 ± 2.12 months. Conclusion: The patients treated with PA included in this review showed a good rate of consolidation in the femoral shaft NUs, with good functional recovery and a low incidence of complications.
Anthocyanins from Opuntia ficus-indica Modulate Gut Microbiota Composition and Improve Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production
Authors: Zhang Yun , Chang Huan , Shao Shuai , Zhao Lin , Zhang Ruiying , Zhang Shouwen
Published: October 2022

Opuntia ficus-indica is rich in a variety of active substances, such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. Some studies have shown that anthocyanins extracted from natural plants can regulate intestinal flora. The fruit was used as raw material, and anthocyanins were extracted from it. In vivo experiments were used to study the effect of Opuntia ficus-indica anthocyanins on the mouse intestine by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing (NovaSeq 6000 platform) and gas chromatography (hydrogen flame ionization detector (FID)) methods. Microbiota and effects of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The results showed that after feeding anthocyanins, the diversity of intestinal microorganisms in mice was significantly increased (p < 0.05), the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B value) was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), the relative abundances of beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Prevotella, and Akkermansia in the intestinal tract of mice were significantly increased (p < 0.05), and the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria Escherichia-Shigella and Desulfovibrio decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Furthermore, anthocyanins significantly increased the content of short-chain fatty acids in the cecum of mice, among which the content of acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid increased the most. Opuntia ficus-indica anthocyanins can change the microbial diversity and flora composition of the mouse gut and promote the production of short-chain fatty acids. The findings provide a theoretical basis for the use of Opuntia ficus-indica anthocyanins as dietary supplements to regulate human intestinal flora.
Effect of Intermittent Hypoxic Training on Selected Biochemical Indicators, Blood Rheological Properties, and Metabolic Activity of Erythrocytes in Rowers
Authors: Teległów Aneta , Mardyła Mateusz , Myszka Michał , Pałka Tomasz , Maciejczyk Marcin , Bujas Przemysław , Mucha Dariusz , Ptaszek Bartłomiej , Marchewka Jakub
Published: October 2022

The study assessed the effect of 3-week intermittent hypoxic training on blood biochemical indicators (blood morphology, fibrinogen), blood rheological properties (erythrocyte deformability, aggregation), erythrocyte enzymatic activity (acetylcholinesterase), and maximal oxygen uptake in competitive rowers. Fourteen male rowers were divided into two equal groups: experimental, training on ergometers under normobaric hypoxia (FiO2 = 16.0%), and control, training on ergometers under normoxia (FiO2 = 21%). Fasting blood was taken before and after training. A significant between-group difference in neutrophil levels before training was noted and a significant decrease in white blood cells in the hypoxia group. Both groups exhibited an increase in elongation index. In the normoxia group, a significant increase in erythrocyte aggregation amplitude was revealed. No significant changes occurred in the other biochemical indicators or those evaluating erythrocyte metabolic activity. Normobaric hypoxia increased erythrocyte deformability, improving blood rheological properties. Maximal oxygen uptake significantly increased only in the experimental group.
Exome and Sputum Microbiota as Predictive Markers of Frequent Exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Su Linfan , Qiao Yixian , Luo Jinmei , Huang Rong , Xiao Yi
Published: October 2022

Frequent acute exacerbations are the leading cause of high rates of hospitalization and mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Despite the enormous worldwide medical burden, reliable molecular markers for effective early diagnosis and prognosis of acute exacerbations are still lacking. Both the host genetics and airway microbiome are known to play potential roles in the pathogenesis of frequent exacerbations. Here, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to explore the interaction between these two factors and their implications in the pathogenesis of frequent exacerbations. We collected peripheral blood (n = 82), sputum samples (n = 59) and clinical data from 50 frequent-exacerbation phenotype (FE) COPD patients and 32 infrequent-exacerbation phenotype (IE) as controls. Based on filtering the deleterious sites, candidate mutated genes shared only in FE patients and did not occur in the IE group were identified. Microbiota analysis revealed significant differences in bacterial diversity and composition between FE and IE groups. We report the underlying pathogenic gene including, AATF, HTT, CEP350, ADAMTS9, TLL2 genes, etc., and explore their possible genotypic-phenotypic correlations with microbiota dysbiosis. Importantly, we observed that AATF gene mutations were significantly negatively correlated with microbial richness and diversity. Our study indicated several deleterious mutations in candidate genes that might be associated with microbial dysbiosis and the increased risk of frequent acute exacerbations in COPD patients. These results provide novel evidence that exomes and related microbiomes may potentially serve as biomarkers for predicting frequent acute exacerbations in COPD patients.
Current Challenges for Biological Treatment of Pharmaceutical-Based Contaminants with Oxidoreductase Enzymes: Immobilization Processes, Real Aqueous Matrices and Hybrid Techniques
Authors: Sá Helena , Michelin Michele , Tavares Teresa , Silva Bruna
Published: October 2022

The worldwide access to pharmaceuticals and their continuous release into the environment have raised a serious global concern. Pharmaceuticals remain active even at low concentrations, therefore their occurrence in waterbodies may lead to successive deterioration of water quality with adverse impacts on the ecosystem and human health. To address this challenge, there is currently an evolving trend toward the search for effective methods to ensure efficient purification of both drinking water and wastewater. Biocatalytic transformation of pharmaceuticals using oxidoreductase enzymes, such as peroxidase and laccase, is a promising environmentally friendly solution for water treatment, where fungal species have been used as preferred producers due to their ligninolytic enzymatic systems. Enzyme-catalyzed degradation can transform micropollutants into more bioavailable or even innocuous products. Enzyme immobilization on a carrier generally increases its stability and catalytic performance, allowing its reuse, being a promising approach to ensure applicability to an industrial scale process. Moreover, coupling biocatalytic processes to other treatment technologies have been revealed to be an effective approach to achieve the complete removal of pharmaceuticals. This review updates the state-of-the-art of the application of oxidoreductases enzymes, namely laccase, to degrade pharmaceuticals from spiked water and real wastewater. Moreover, the advances concerning the techniques used for enzyme immobilization, the operation in bioreactors, the use of redox mediators, the application of hybrid techniques, as well as the discussion of transformation mechanisms and ending toxicity, are addressed.
Comparative Analysis of Mesophilic YqfB-Type Amidohydrolases
Authors: Statkevičiūtė Roberta , Sadauskas Mikas , Rainytė Juta , Kavaliauskaitė Karolina , Meškys Rolandas
Published: October 2022

The widespread superfamily of the human activating signal cointegrator homology (ASCH) domain was identified almost 20 years ago; however, the amount of experimental data regarding the biological function of the domain is scarce. With this study, we aimed to determine the putative cellular functions of four hypothetical ASCH domain-containing amidohydrolase YqfB analogues by investigating their activity towards various N-acylated cytosine derivatives, including potential nucleoside-derived prodrugs, as well as their ability to bind/degrade nucleic acids in vitro. According to determined kinetic parameters, N4-acetylcytidine is assumed to be the primary substrate for amidohydrolases. Despite the similarity to the proteins containing the PUA domain, no nucleic acid binding activity was detected for YqfB-like proteins, suggesting that, in vivo, these enzymes are a part of the pyrimidine salvage pathway. We also demonstrate the possibility of the expression of YqfB-type amidohydrolases in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts. The small protein size and remarkable halotolerance of YqfB-type amidohydrolases are of great interest for further fundamental research and biotechnological applications
Tendon 3D Scaffolds Establish a Tailored Microenvironment Instructing Paracrine Mediated Regenerative Amniotic Epithelial Stem Cells Potential
Authors: Russo Valentina , El Khatib Mohammad , Prencipe Giuseppe , Mauro Annunziata , Di Giacinto Oriana , Haidar-Montes Arlette A. , Pulcini Fanny , Dufrusine Beatrice , Cerveró-Varona Adrián , Faydaver Melisa , Di Berardino Chiara , Dainese Enrico , Berardinelli Paolo , Schnabelrauch Matthias , Barboni Barbara
Published: October 2022

Tendon tissue engineering aims to develop effective implantable scaffolds, with ideally the native tissue’s characteristics, able to drive tissue regeneration. This research focused on fabricating tendon-like PLGA 3D biomimetic scaffolds with highly aligned fibers and verifying their influence on the biological potential of amniotic epithelial stem cells (AECs), in terms of tenodifferentiation and immunomodulation, with respect to fleeces. The produced 3D scaffolds better resemble native tendon tissue, both macroscopically, microscopically, and biomechanically. From a biological point of view, these constructs were able to instruct AECs genotypically and phenotypically. In fact, cells engineered on 3D scaffolds acquired an elongated tenocyte-like morphology; this was different from control AECs, which retained their polygonal morphology. The boosted AECs tenodifferentiation by 3D scaffolds was confirmed by the upregulation of tendon-related genes (SCX, COL1 and TNMD) and TNMD protein expression. The produced constructs also prompted AECs’ immunomodulatory potential, both at the gene and paracrine level. This enhanced immunomodulatory profile was confirmed by a greater stimulatory effect on THP-1-activated macrophages. These biological effects have been related to the mechanotransducer YAP activation evidenced by its nuclear translocation. Overall, these results support the biomimicry of PLGA 3D scaffolds, revealing that not only fiber alignment but also scaffold topology provide an in vitro favorable tenodifferentiative and immunomodulatory microenvironment for AECs that could potentially stimulate tendon regeneration.
Recent Advances in Antimicrobial Coatings and Material Modification Strategies for Preventing Urinary Catheter-Associated Complications
Authors: Kanti S. P. Yamini , Csóka Ildikó , Jójárt-Laczkovich Orsolya , Adalbert Lívia
Published: October 2022

In recent years, we have witnessed prominent improvements in urinary catheter coatings to tackle the commonly occurring catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) in catheterized patients. CAUTIs are claimed to be one of the most frequent nosocomial infections that can lead to various complications, from catheter encrustation to severe septicaemia and pyelonephritis. Besides general prevention hygienic strategies, antimicrobial-coated urinary catheters show great potential in the prevention of urinary catheter-associated complications. The aim of this review is to present and evaluate recent updates on the development of antimicrobial urinary catheters in the context of the aetiology of urinary malfunction. Subsequently, we shed some light on future perspectives of utilizing 3D printing and the surrounding regulatory directions.
Angiogenic Potential of Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Nanofibrillated Cellulose Hydrogel
Authors: Koivunotko Elle , Snirvi Jasmi , Merivaara Arto , Harjumäki Riina , Rautiainen Swarna , Kelloniemi Minna , Kuismanen Kirsi , Miettinen Susanna , Yliperttula Marjo , Koivuniemi Raili
Published: October 2022

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) hold great potential for cellular therapies by having immunomodulatory behavior and tissue regenerative properties. Due to the capability of ASCs to differentiate into endothelial cells (ECs) and other angiogenic cell types, such as pericytes, ASCs are a highly valuable source for stimulating angiogenesis. However, cellular therapies in tissue engineering have faced challenges in poor survival of the cells after transplantation, which is why a protective biomaterial scaffold is required. In this work, we studied the potential of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) hydrogel to be utilized as a suitable matrix for three-dimensional (3D) cell culturing of human-derived ASCs (hASCs) and studied their angiogenic properties and differentiation potential in ECs and pericytes. In addition, we tested the effect of hASC-conditioned medium and stimulation with angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to induce blood vessel-type tube formation in NFC hydrogel. The hASCs were successfully 3D cell cultured in NFC hydrogel as they formed spheroids and had high cell viability with angiogenic features. Most importantly, they showed angiogenic potential by having pericyte-like characteristics when differentiated in EC medium, and their conditioned medium improved HUVEC viability and tube formation, which recalls the active paracrine properties. This study recommends NFC hydrogel for future use as an animal-free biomaterial scaffold for hASCs in therapeutic angiogenesis and other cell therapy purposes.
Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Thyroid Physiology and Diseases: Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Delcorte Ophélie , Degosserie Jonathan , Pierreux Christophe E.
Published: October 2022

Extracellular vesicles are spherical subcellular structures delimited by a lipid bilayer and released by most cells in the human body. They are loaded with a myriad of molecules (i.e., nucleic acids and proteins) depending on their cell of origin and provide the ability to transmit a message to surrounding or distant target cells. In several organs, including the thyroid, abundant recent literature reports that extracellular vesicles are responsible for intercellular communication in physiological and pathological processes, and that their utilization as a potential biomarker of pathological states (i.e., cancer, autoimmune diseases) or as therapeutic delivery vehicles promise clinical options. In this review, we present the current knowledge and understanding regarding the role of extracellular vesicles in developing thyroid diseases and diagnosis.
Effects of the Exposure of Human Non-Tumour Cells to Sera of Pancreatic Cancer Patients
Authors: Sabanovic Berina , Giulietti Matteo , Cecati Monia , Spolverato Gaya , Benna Clara , Pucciarelli Salvatore , Piva Francesco
Published: October 2022

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has high metastatic potential. The “genometastasis” theory proposes that the blood of some cancer patients contains elements able to transform healthy cells by transferring oncogenes. Since findings on genometastasis in PDAC are still scarce, we sought supporting evidence by treating non-tumour HEK293T and hTERT-HPNE human cell lines with sera of PDAC patients. Here, we showed that HEK293T cells have undergone malignant transformation, increased the migration and invasion abilities, and acquired a partial chemoresistance, whereas hTERT-HPNE cells were almost refractory to transformation by patients’ sera. Next-generation sequencing showed that transformed HEK293T cells gained and lost several genomic regions, harbouring genes involved in many cancer-associated processes. Our results support the genometastasis theory, but further studies are needed for the identification of the circulating transforming elements. Such elements could also be useful biomarkers in liquid biopsy assays.
Next-Generation Sequencing Comparative Analysis of DNA Mutations between Blood-Derived Extracellular Vesicles and Matched Cancer Tissue in Patients with Grade 4 Glioblastoma
Authors: Rosa Paolo , De Falco Elena , Pacini Luca , Piazza Amedeo , Ciracì Paolo , Ricciardi Luca , Fiorentino Francesco , Trungu Sokol , Miscusi Massimo , Raco Antonino , Calogero Antonella
Published: October 2022

The biological heterogeneity of glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype (GBM, CNS WHO grade 4), the most aggressive type of brain cancer, is a critical hallmark, caused by changes in the genomic mutational asset and influencing clinical progression over time. The understanding and monitoring of the mutational profile is important not only to reveal novel therapeutic targets in this set of patients, but also to ameliorate the clinical stratification of subjects and the prognostic significance. As neurosurgery represents the primary technique to manage GBM, it is of utmost importance to optimize alternative and less invasive methods to monitor the dynamic mutation profile of these patients. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are included in the liquid biopsy analysis and have emerged as the biological mirror of escaping and surviving mechanisms by many tumors, including glioblastoma. Very few studies have investigated the technical feasibility to detect and analyze the genomic profile by Next-Generation Sequencing (UMI system) in circulating EVs of patients with grade IV glioblastoma. Here, we attempted to characterize and to compare the corresponding matched tissue samples and potential variants with pathogenic significance of the DNA contained in peripheral-blood-derived EVs. The NGS analysis has revealed that patients with grade IV glioblastoma exhibited lesser DNA content in EVs than controls and that, both in EVs and matched cancer tissues, the NF1 gene was consistently mutated in all patients, with the c.2568C>G as the most common pathogenic variant expressed. This study supports the clinical utility of circulating EVs in glioblastoma as an eligible tool for personalized medicine.
The Role of Phosphorylation and Acylation in the Regulation of Drug Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Sun Manluan , Ge Sai , Li Zhaoyang
Published: October 2022

Tuberculosis is a chronic and lethal infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In previous decades, most studies in this area focused on the pathogenesis and drug targets for disease treatments. However, the emergence of drug-resistant strains has increased the difficulty of clinical trials over time. Now, more post-translational modified proteins in Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been discovered. Evidence suggests that these proteins have the ability to influence tuberculosis drug resistance. Hence, this paper systematically summarizes updated research on the impacts of protein acylation and phosphorylation on the acquisition of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis through acylation and phosphorylation protein regulating processes. This provides us with a better understanding of the mechanism of antituberculosis drugs and may contribute to a reduction the harm that tuberculosis brings to society, as well as aiding in the discovery of new drug targets and therapeutic regimen adjustments in the future.
Continued Complexity of Mutations in Omicron Sublineages
Authors: Spratt Austin N. , Kannan Saathvik R. , Sharma Kalicharan , Sachdev Shrikesh , Kandasamy Shree L. , Sönnerborg Anders , Lorson Christian L. , Singh Kamal
Published: October 2022

The latest SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC), Omicron (B.1.1.529), has diversified into more than 300 sublineages. With an expanding number of newly emerging sublineages, the mutation profile is also becoming complicated. There exist mutually exclusive and revertant mutations in different sublineages. Omicron sublineages share some common mutations with previous VOCs (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta), indicating an evolutionary relationship between these VOCs. A diverse mutation profile at the spike–antibody interface, flexibility of the regions harboring mutations, mutation types, and coexisting mutations suggest that SARS-CoV-2’s evolution is far from over.
Super-Long SERS Active Single Silver Nanowires for Molecular Imaging in 2D and 3D Cell Culture Models
Authors: Pan Xiao-Tong , Yang Xuan-Ye , Mao Tian-Qi , Liu Kang , Chen Zao-Zao , Ji Li-Na , Jiang De-Chen , Wang Kang , Gu Zhong-Ze , Xia Xing-Hua
Published: October 2022

Establishing a systematic molecular information analysis strategy for cell culture models is of great significance for drug development and tissue engineering technologies. Here, we fabricated single silver nanowires with high surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity to extract SERS spectra in situ from two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models. The silver nanowires were super long, flexible and thin enough to penetrate through multiple cells. A single silver nanowire was used in combination with a four-dimensional microcontroller as a cell endoscope for spectrally analyzing the components in cell culture models. Then, we adopted a machine learning algorithm to analyze the obtained spectra. Our results show that the abundance of proteins differs significantly between the 2D and 3D models, and that nucleic acid-rich and protein-rich regions can be distinguished with satisfactory accuracy.
Earlier Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease Based on a Novel Biomarker cis P-tau by a Label-Free Electrochemical Immunosensor
Authors: Shiravandi Ayoub , Yari Farzaneh , Tofigh Nahid , Kazemi Ashtiani Mohammad , Shahpasand Koorosh , Ghanian Mohammad-Hossein , Shekari Faezeh , Faridbod Farnoush
Published: October 2022

Early detection of cis phosphorylated tau (cis P-tau) may help as an effective treatment to control the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, we introduced for the first time a monoclonal antibody (mAb) with high affinity against cis P-tau. In this study, the cis P-tau mAb was utilized to develop a label-free immunosensor. The antibody was immobilized onto a gold electrode and the electrochemical responses to the analyte were acquired by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The immunosensor was capable of selective detection of cis P-tau among non-specific targets like trans P-tau and major plasma proteins. A wide concentration range (10 × 10−14 M–3.0 × 10−9 M) of cis P-tau was measured in PBS and human serum matrices with a limit of detection of 0.02 and 0.05 pM, respectively. Clinical applicability of the immunosensor was suggested by its long-term storage stability and successful detection of cis P-tau in real samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood serum collected from human patients at different stages of AD. These results suggest that this simple immunosensor may find great application in clinical settings for early detection of AD which is an unmet urgent need in today’s healthcare services.
Bioinformatics and High-Performance Computing Methods for Deciphering and Fighting COVID-19—Editorial
Authors: Cannataro Mario , Agapito Giuseppe
Published: October 2022

The COVID-19 disease (Coronavirus Disease 19), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2), has posed many challenges worldwide at various levels, with special focus to the biological, medical, and epidemiological ones [...]
Perceiving Ourselves and Others: Neural Signatures of Cognitive, Social, and Affective Processes Related to the Perception of Ourselves, Our Body, and the Social World
Authors: Schaefer Michael
Published: October 2022

An essential task of any system is to distinguish between itself and its environment, between what is inside and that which is outside [...]
Microvascular Changes in the Retina Correlate with MRI Markers in Patients with Early-Onset Dementia
Authors: Zhang Ziyi , Liu Peng , Kwapong William Robert , Wu Bo , Liu Ming , Zhang Shuting
Published: October 2022

Background and Aims: Recent reports suggest that results from imaging retinal microvascular changes with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in dementia patients reflect cerebral microcirculation changes that occur during dementia. Macula microvascular impairment has been shown in dementia patients compared to controls, but very little is known about its correlation with radiological visual rating scores associated with dementia. We aimed to explore the association between retinal microvasculature and radiological visual rating in early-onset dementia (EOD) patients. Methods: Swept-source OCTA (SS-OCTA) was used to image the retinal microvasculature of all EOD patients. Automated software in the OCTA tool segmented and measured the densities in the superficial vascular plexus (SVC) and deep vascular plexus (DVC) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) areas. Radiological visual rating scores were evaluated on all MR images. Results: Medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) scores significantly correlated with FAZ area (p = 0.031) in EOD patients after adjusting for risk factors. PWMH correlated with SVC (p = 0.032) while DWMH significantly correlated with SVC (p = 0.007), DVC (p = 0.018) and FAZ (p = 0.001) in EOD patients. Discussion: FAZ changes correlated with MTA scores in EOD patients, while retinal microvasculature correlated with white matter hyperintensity. Our report suggests that microvascular changes in the retina may reflect cortical changes in the brain of EOD patients.