bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Chemico-Physical Characterization of Ovine Milk-Based Ingredients for Infant Formulae
Authors: Lai Giacomo , Caboni Pierluigi , Piras Cristina , Pes Massimo , Sitzia Maria , Addis Margherita , Pirisi Antonio , Scano Paola
Published: January 2023

The great majority of infant formula (FM) for neonate’s nutrition are produced using ingredients from cow milk. Recently, some countries, such as China and New Zealand, are turning their attention to the use of ovine milk ingredients for FM production. In this study, a pilot plant process has been set up to produce infant formula ingredients from Sarda sheep milk. To meet the nutritional needs of neonates (0–6 and 6–12 months of age) two different liquid milk-derived formulations (IF1 and IF2, respectively) obtained mixing whole milk, skimmed milk, and whey milk ultrafiltration concentrate (retentate) were produced. Compositional analysis of milk, retentate, and the final IFs showed that the two formulations contain elements of nutritional interest, such as well-balanced content of high biological value proteins (casein:whey proteins ratio of 30:70 and 60:40 for IF1 and IF2, respectively), vitamin A, E and B5, cholesterol, minerals, nucleotides, free amino acids and essential fatty acids (n–6:n–3 ~1), compatible with the growth and development needs of neonates. Therefore, the obtained IF1 and IF2 can be proposed as valuable ovine dairy ingredients for FM manufacturing. Further studies will be necessary to verify the adaptability of the developed process from laboratory to industrial scale application.
Isolation and Characterization of Biohydrogen-Producing Bacteria for Biohydrogen Fermentation Using Oil Palm Biomass-Based Carbon Source
Authors: Luthfi Abdullah Amru Indera , Abdul Peer Mohamed , Jahim Jamaliah Md , Engliman Nurul Sakinah , Jamali Nur Syakina , Tan Jian Ping , Manaf Shareena Fairuz Abdul , Sajab Mohd Shaiful , Bukhari Nurul Adela
Published: January 2023

The effectiveness of biohydrogen conversion from biomass sources is governed by the selection of ideal biohydrogen-producing bacteria to achieve high and consistent production performance. The aim of this research was to isolate and identify a biohydrogen producer in local soil samples, as well as to evaluate its fermentability in biohydrogen production from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB). To this end, preliminary identification was performed using morphological, phenotype, biological, and 16s rRNA analyses. The fermentability of the isolate was further evaluated in a serum bottle and then in a 1.5 L anaerobic column bioreactor (ACBR) to investigate the potential for biohydrogen production using two OPEFB-based carbon sources: hydrolysate of ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX)-pretreated OPEFB and molasses from dilute acetic acid (DAA)-pretreated OPEFB. The isolated strain, Enterobacter sp. KBH 6958, was found to be capable of producing biohydrogen from various carbon sources via the pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) pathway. The cumulative conversion of AFEX OPEFB hydrolysate was 45% higher than that observed in DAA OPEFB molasses fermentation in the production of biohydrogen. The biohydrogen yield after fermenting AFEX OPEFB hydrolysate with Enterobacter sp. KBH 6958 was 1.55 mol H2/mol sugar, with a maximum productivity of 98.1 mL H2/h (4.01 mmol H2/L/h), whereas butyrate (10.6 mM), acetate (11.8 mM), and ethanol (4.56 mM) were found to be the major soluble metabolites. This study successfully demonstrated the biotechnological conversion of OPEFB into biohydrogen using a locally isolated strain, which not only solves environmental issues associated with the industry but may also offer a solution to the world’s energy insecurity.
Long-Term Clinical and Radiographic Analysis of Platform Matching and Platform Switching Implants in the Esthetic Zone: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Raco Andrea , Di Murro Bianca , Passarelli Pier Carmine , D’Addona Antonio , Pilloni Andrea , Marini Lorenzo , Papi Piero
Published: January 2023

Background: The aims of this study are to retrospectively compare the clinical, radiographic and esthetic outcomes of platform switching (PS) and platform matching (PM) dental implants in the anterior maxilla after ≥ 10 years of functional loading. Methods: Marginal bone loss (MBL) levels were recorded; furthermore, peri-implant clinical parameters (PPD, BOP, PI) were collected and the Pink and White Esthetic scores (PES/WES) were used to evaluate the esthetic outcomes. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were performed to compare collected parameters among the two groups, with a p-value < 0.05. Results: A final sample of 58 patients was enrolled in this study (PM implants = 29; PS implants = 29). PS implants showed lower MBL levels (1.02 ± 0.81 mm vs. 1.67 ± 0.99 mm, p = 0.028) and PPD values (3.69 ± 1.1 vs. 5.16 ± 1.09 mm, p < 0.001) compared to PM implants. Mean PES values were higher in the PS group compared to the PM group (8.46 ± 0.69 vs. 7.89 ± 0.78, p < 0.005), while there were no differences for WES values (7.82 ± 1.09 vs. 7.71 ± 0.85, p > 0.05) and peri-implant diseases’ prevalence (p > 0.05). Conclusions: After 10 years, PS implants showed statistically significant lower MBL and PPD values and higher PES values compared to PM implants.
A Two-Stage Rolling Bearing Weak Fault Feature Extraction Method Combining Adaptive Morphological Filter with Frequency Band Selection Strategy
Authors: Li Jun , Wang Hongchao , Li Simin , Chen Liang , Dang Qiqian
Published: January 2023

To extract the weak fault features hidden in strong background interference in the event of the early failure of rolling bearings, a two-stage based method is proposed. The broadband noise elimination ability of an adaptive morphological filter (AMF) and the superior capability of a frequency band selection (FBS) strategy for fault transient location identification are comprehensively utilized by the proposed method. Firstly, the AMF with a simple theory and high calculation efficiency is used as a preprocessing program to enhance the fault transient features. Then, the proposed FBS strategy based on the sparsity index (SI) is utilized to further handle the filtered signal processed by the AMF. Finally, the constructed optimum bandpass filter based on the analysis result of the FBS is used to further filter the handled signal processed by AMF and envelope spectral analysis is applied on the last filtered signal to realize the ideal fault feature extraction effect. Compared with the other traditional FBS methods based on kurtosis or the other index, the proposed FBS strategy based on SI has strong robustness to noise. One experimental signal and one engineering vibration signal are used, respectively, to verify the feasibility of the proposed method.
ReconTraj4Drones: A Framework for the Reconstruction and Semantic Modeling of UAVs’ Trajectories on MovingPandas
Authors: Kotis Konstantinos , Soularidis Andreas
Published: January 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, are important for several application domains, such as the military, agriculture, cultural heritage documentation, surveillance, and the delivery of goods/products/services. A drone’s trajectory can be enriched with external and heterogeneous data beyond latitude, longitude, and timestamp to create its semantic trajectory, providing meaningful and contextual information on its movement data, enabling decision makers to acquire meaningful and enriched contextual information about the current situation in the field of its operation and eventually supporting simulations and predictions of high-level critical events. In this paper, we present an ontology-based, tool-supported framework for the reconstruction, modeling, and enrichment of drones’ semantic trajectories. This framework extends MovingPandas, a widely used and open-source trajectory analytics and visualization tool. The presented research extends our preliminary work on drones’ semantic trajectories by contributing (a) an updated methodology for the reconstruction of drones’ trajectories from geo-tagged photos taken by drones during their flights in cases in which flight plans and/or real-time movement data have been lost or corrupted; (b) an enrichment of the reconstructed trajectories with external data; (c) the semantic annotation of the enriched trajectories based on a related ontology; and (d) the use of SPARQL queries to analyze and retrieve knowledge related to the flight of a drone and the field of operations (context). An evaluation of the presented framework, namely, ReconTraj4Drones, was conducted against several criteria, using real and open datasets.
Knowing Knowledge: Epistemological Study of Knowledge in Transformers
Authors: Ranaldi Leonardo , Pucci Giulia
Published: January 2023

Statistical learners are leading towards auto-epistemic logic, but is it the right way to progress in artificial intelligence (AI)? Ways to discover AI fit the senses and the intellect. The structure of symbols–the operations by which the intellectual solution is realized–and the search for strategic reference points evoke essential issues in the analysis of AI. Studying how knowledge can be represented through methods of theoretical generalization and empirical observation is only the latest step in a long process of evolution. In this paper, we try to outline the origin of knowledge and how modern artificial minds have inherited it.
Comparative Study of Physics Engines for Robot Simulation with Mechanical Interaction
Authors: Yoon Jaemin , Son Bukun , Lee Dongjun
Published: January 2023

Simulation with a reasonable physical model is important to develop control algorithms for robots quickly, accurately, and safely without damaging the associated physical systems in various environments. However, it is difficult to choose the suitable tool for simulating a specific project. To help users in selecting the best tool when simulating a given project, we compare the performance of the four widely used physics engines, namely, ODE, Bullet, Vortex, and MoJoco, for various simple and complex industrial scenarios. We first summarize the technical algorithms implemented in each physics engine. We also designed four simulation scenarios ranging from simple scenarios for which analytic solution exists to complex industrial scenarios to compare the performance of each physics engine. We then present the simulation results in the default settings of all the physics engines, and analyze the behavior and contact force of the simulated objects.
An Improved Chaos Driven Hybrid Differential Evolutionand Butterfly Optimization Algorithm for Passive Target Localization Using TDOA Measurements
Authors: Rosić Maja , Sedak Miloš , Simić Mirjana , Pejović Predrag
Published: January 2023

This paper addresses the problem of time difference of arrival (TDOA) based passive target localizationand proposes an improved chaos-driven hybrid differential evolution (DE) algorithm and butterfly optimization algorithm (BOA), named ICDEBOA, to solve this complex optimization problem. The proposed algorithm consists of a new mutation strategy with the mechanisms of the BOA algorithm incorporated into the DE algorithm. To boost optimization effectiveness, chaos theory is employed to adjust the control parameter values. The considered localization problem is formulated using the maximum likelihood estimator. To perform the accuracy comparison, the convex constrained weighting least squares algorithm is applied to the considered localization problem as the widely used method in literature. The statistical analysis shows that the proposed modifications to the ICDEBOA algorithm improve its optimization performance, as demonstrated by the improved performance on the CEC2014 benchmark problems. The ICDEBOA algorithm is also shown to be more robust than existing algorithms in noisy environments. Numerical simulation results show that the proposed ICDEBOA algorithm meets the CRLB and achieves better performance than the CWLS, DE, and BOA algorithms.
Evidence for Mild Diagenesis in Archaeological Human Bones from the Fewet Necropolis (SW Libya): New Insights and Implications from ATR–FTIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Castorina Francesca , Masi Umberto , Giorgini Elisabetta , Mori Lucia , Tafuri Mary Anne , Notarstefano Valentina
Published: January 2023

Bones offer a great amount of information on ancient populations regarding both their lifestyle habits and the influence of the living area. Bones are composed by an inorganic component, i.e., carbonated hydroxyapatite (Ca10[(PO4)6−x(CO3)x](OH)2), and an organic matrix (mainly proteins and collagen). After death, bones are subjected to diagenetic processes, with changes in structure, morphology, and chemical composition. All these modifications strictly depend on several factors, including the nearby environment, the climate, and the burial modality. Hence, a precise knowledge of the diagenetic processes affecting bones after death is mandatory. In this study, archeological human bones from the Garamantian necropolis of Fewet (Libyan Sahara) were analyzed by ATR–FTIR spectroscopy to elucidate the role of the burial location and modality, as well as the highly arid environment in the diagenesis rate. Several spectral parameters related to structural and chemical features of the organic and mineral components (i.e., AmideI/PO4, C/P, MM, FWHM603, and IRSF indexes) were statistically analyzed. Spectral data were compared with those from modern ruminants from the same site to evaluate a possible time-dependent correlation between the chemical composition and the diagenetic processes. A mild diagenesis was found in all human bones, even though it had a variable degree depending on the burial location.
Asymptotic Theory of Flapping Wing Propulsion in Extreme Ground Effect
Authors: Rozhdestvensky Kirill
Published: January 2023

This study, dedicated to flapping wing propulsion in immediate proximity to a wall or between closely spaced flat walls, makes use of the method of matched asymptotic expansions. Its purpose is to create a simplified parametric model of such a propulsion system based on a single major assumption: immediate closeness of oscillating wing to a solid wall. In the case of a rectangular finite-aspect ratio wing, analytical expressions have been obtained for the coefficients of instantaneous and period-averaged thrust force as well as for the efficiency of the propulsor as a function of distance from the wall, Strouhal number and wing aspect ratio for selected cases of heaving, pitching and combined oscillations. It is shown that for some oscillation modes closeness to the ground results in increases in thrust and efficiency, and that optimally combined (considering ratio of the amplitudes and phase shift of contributing motions) heave–pitch oscillations allow to maximize thrust or efficiency of the flapping-wing propulsor. Increase in aspect ratio and decrease in Strouhal number (relative frequency of oscillations) in the case of heaving invariably brings about the increase in the ideal efficiency. An example is provided of a non-planar extreme ground effect application considering oscillations of a ring-wing embracing circular cylinder. A rule is derived for recalculation of the characteristics of the flapping-wing propulsor near a flat wall onto the characteristics of the same wing operating in a narrow canal between parallel walls. This rule can also be applied to evaluate propulsive properties of a ring-wing oscillating between co-axial cylindric surfaces.
Sensory Profile, Consumers’ Perception and Liking of Wheat–Rye Bread Fortified with Dietary Fibre
Authors: Żakowska-Biemans Sylwia , Kostyra Eliza
Published: January 2023

Evidence of global dietary fibre (DF) deficits provides impetus for research to develop new food products and reformulate commonly consumed foods to enable the transition to more healthy diets. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the sensory properties and consumers’ perception, liking, and willingness to buy wheat–rye bread fortified with DF. The study combined expert sensory profiling with consumers evaluation of DF fortified bread in blind and informed conditions. A sensory-trained panel evaluated six samples of bread with flour replaced by 0%, 4%, 8%, 12%, 16%, and 20% with oat DF using 29 pre-identified attributes. A consumer panel (n = 300) evaluated bread samples in blind condition for liking and perception of healthiness, naturalness, and attractiveness and willingness to buy (WTB). Consumers were also asked to indicate the maximum price they were willing to pay for a standard bread of 700 g. In the informed condition, consumers evaluated the 0%, 8%, 12% oat DF samples labelled with either nutritional or health related claims using the same attributes as in blind condition including visual liking. The results of profiling revealed that replacement of flour with oat DF influenced intensity of several attributes related to different modalities. Results of the consumer studies showed that replacement of flour up to 20% with oat DF did not adversely affect consumers’ acceptance and willingness to buy wheat–rye breads. The mean values for bread samples labelled with information related to positive health outcomes of DF consumption were not significantly different from those with nutritional claims only. Combining sensory profiling with consumers acceptance studies gives valuable insights for consumer led new product development. The fortification of staple foods like bread with dietary fibre seems like a promising avenue, but other sources of fibre should also be considered in bread fortification to enhance health-related properties and prevent food waste.
DRL-FVRestore: An Adaptive Selection and Restoration Method for Finger Vein Images Based on Deep Reinforcement
Authors: Gao Ruoran , Lu Huimin , Al-Azzawi Adil , Li Yupeng , Zhao Chengcheng
Published: January 2023

Finger vein recognition has become a research hotspot in the field of biometrics due to its advantages of non-contact acquisition, unique information, and difficulty in terms of forging or pirating. However, in the real-world application process, the extraction of image features for the biometric remains a significant challenge when the captured finger vein images suffer from blur, noise, or missing feature information. To address the above challenges, we propose a novel deep reinforcement learning-based finger vein image recovery method, DRL-FVRestore, which trained an agent that adaptively selects the appropriate restoration behavior according to the state of the finger vein image, enabling continuous restoration of the image. The behaviors of image restoration are divided into three tasks: deblurring restoration, defect restoration, and denoising and enhancement restoration. Specifically, a DeblurGAN-v2 based on the Inception-Resnet-v2 backbone is proposed to achieve deblurring restoration of finger vein images. A finger vein feature-guided restoration network is proposed to achieve defect image restoration. The DRL-FVRestore is proposed to deal with multi-image problems in complex situations. In this paper, extensive experimental results are conducted based on using four publicly accessible datasets. The experimental results show that for restoration with single image problems, the EER values of the deblurring network and damage restoration network are reduced by an average of 4.31% and 1.71%, respectively, compared to other methods. For images with multiple vision problems, the EER value of the proposed DRL-FVRestore is reduced by an average of 3.98%.
Evaluating the Drainage Density Characteristics on Climate and Drainage Area Using LiDAR Data
Authors: Kim Seoyoung , Yoon Sun-Kwon , Choi Namjeong
Published: January 2023

The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between drainage density and climate, as represented by the climate aridity index, and to understand the relationship between drainage density and drainage area. A total of 121 study sites with low human impact, and a wide range of climate aridity index 0.3 (humid)–10.4 (arid), were selected based on the availability of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data, producing a digital elevation model (DEM) with a spatial resolution of 1 m. A curvature-based method, incorporating both positive and negative curvature information, was used to extract the valley (drainage) network from the LiDAR-based DEMs. Drainage density and climate aridity index exhibited a monotonically increasing trend, contrary to the previous results that have shown a U-shaped relationship. This discrepancy was caused by the selection of watersheds with extensive human activity in the previous study. One-meter resolution DEM produced greater drainage density than the previous studies with a coarse spatial resolution of 30 m as small valleys are not detectable in low-resolution topography datasets. The discrepancy between the previous study and the current study results encouraged further investigation of the impact of the drainage area (watershed size). A negative correlation between drainage density and drainage area was reconfirmed, while a stronger decreasing trend was observed in arid regions than in humid regions.
Searching Open-Source Vulnerability Function Based on Software Modularization
Authors: Guo Xixi , Cai Ruijie , Yin Xiaokang , Shao Wenqiang , Liu Shengli
Published: January 2023

Vulnerable open-source component reuse can lead to security problems. At present, open-source component detection for binary programs can only reveal whether open-source components with vulnerabilities are reused, which cannot determine the specific location of vulnerabilities. To address this problem, we propose BMVul, an open-source vulnerability function detection based on the software modularization method, which is oriented to binary programs. BMVul performs binary modularization by the overlapping clustering method DBM based on directed graph, then uses feature comparison technology to carry out modular software component analysis. After creating open-source component vulnerability function set through function signature, BMVul detects vulnerability function in the binary modules reusing open-source components. The experimental results show that compared with the component detection based on Louvain modularization and B2SFinder, BMVul improves the precision by 3.16% and 59.57%, respectively. Moreover, the precision of unique binary module matching is improved by 39.43% compared with the Louvain method. The F1 score is improved by 8.45% compared to B2SFinder. Module-level detection narrows the search space of vulnerability functions, thereby reducing the workload of open-source vulnerability detection, which is of great significance for software security analysis.
Citric Acid Production by Aspergillus niger Using Solid-State Fermentation of Agricultural Processing Coproducts
Authors: West Thomas P.
Published: January 2023

The ability of Aspergillus niger strains to support citric acid production using solid-state fermentation of agricultural processing coproducts was examined in this review. Citric acid has been shown to have a number of commercial applications in the food and beverage industries. The A. niger strains capable of elevated citric acid production are known to contain genetic mutations that stimulate overproduction of the organic acid likely involving citric acid cycle reactions. The agricultural processing coproducts previously examined for their ability to support citric acid production by A. niger solid-state fermentation include fruit processing wastes, sugarcane bagasse, starch vegetable processing wastes and cereal grain processing coproducts. A comparison of citric acid production by A. niger strains using solid-state fermentation demonstrated that certain agricultural processing coproducts were more effective in supporting a high level of acid synthesis. In particular, fruit processing wastes, such as apple pomace, banana peels, grape pomace and orange peels, supported high levels of citric acid by the fungal strains following solid-state fermentation. On the other hand, processing coproducts of cereal grains, such as brans and ethanol processing coproducts, supported low levels of citric acid production by the A. niger strains using solid-state fermentation. It appeared that the cereal processing coproducts provided less available sugar content to support citric acid production by the fungal strains. It was concluded that the level of citric acid produced by the A. niger strains during solid-state fermentation was dependent on the sugar content of the agricultural processing coproduct utilized.
Solving an Integral Equation via Tricomplex-Valued Controlled Metric Spaces
Authors: Ramaswamy Rajagopalan , Mani Gunaseelan , Gnanaprakasam Arul Joseph , Abdelnaby Ola A. Ashour , Radenović Stojan
Published: January 2023

In this present study, we propose the concept of tricomplex-controlled metric spaces as a generalization of both controlled metric-type spaces and tricomplex metric-type spaces. In this work, we establish fixed point results using Banach, Kannan and Fisher-type contractions supported with nontrivial examples in the setting of the proposed space. We apply the derived result to find the analytical solution of an integral equation using the fixed point technique under the same metric.
Three-Way Fuzzy Sets and Their Applications (III)
Authors: Hu Qingqing , Zhang Xiaohong
Published: January 2023

Three-way fuzzy inference is the theoretical basis of three-way fuzzy control. The proposed TCRI method is based on a Mamdani three-way fuzzy implication operator and uses one inference and simple composition operation. In order to effectively improve the TCRI method, this paper proposes a full implication triple I algorithm for three-way fuzzy inference and gives the triple I solution to the TFMP problem. The emphasis of our research is R0 and Go¨del triple I solution, which is related to three-way residual implication, as well as Zadeh’s and Mamdani’s triple I solution, which is based on three-way fuzzy implication operator. Then the three-way fuzzy controller is constructed by the proposed Zadeh’s and R0 triple I algorithm. Finally, the proposed triple I algorithm is applied to the three-way fuzzy control system, and its advantage is illustrated by the three-dimensional surface diagram of the control variable.
Strain Compensation Methods for Fiber Bragg Grating Temperature Sensors Suitable for Integration into Lithium-Ion Battery Electrolyte
Authors: Unterkofler Johanna , Glanz Gregor , Koller Markus , Klambauer Reinhard , Bergmann Alexander
Published: January 2023

Temperature is a crucial factor for the safe operation of lithium-ion batteries. During operation, the internal temperature rises above the external temperature due to poor inner thermal conductivity. Various sensors have been proposed to detect the internal temperature, including fiber Bragg grating sensors. However, to the authors’ knowledge, there is no detailed description of the encapsulation of the fiber Bragg grating sensor in the literature to shield it from strain. In this study, different encapsulation methods for strain compensation were compared to find the encapsulation material most compatible with the electrolyte. For this, we stored the proposed sensors with different encapsulation methods in ethylene carbonate:ethyl methyl carbonate (EC:EMC) 3:7 with LiPF6 (lithium hexafluorophosphate) electrolyte and applied temperature changes. After evaluating the sensor encapsulation methods in terms of handling, diameter, uncertainty, usability, and hysteresis behavior, the most suitable sensor encapsulation was found to be a fused silica capillary with polyimide coating.
The Effectiveness of Laser Applications and Photodynamic Therapy on Relevant Periodontal Pathogens (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans) Associated with Immunomodulating Anti-rheumatic Drugs
Authors: Martu Maria-Alexandra , Luchian Ionut , Mares Mihai , Solomon Sorina , Ciurcanu Oana , Danila Vlad , Rezus Elena , Foia Liliana
Published: January 2023

Considering the current context of the increasing resistance of bacterial species to antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents, a major objective is to develop other antimicrobial approaches, which would be able to inactivate pathogens with considerable effectiveness. Two such methods are photodynamic disinfection therapy and laser irradiation. In view of the immunocompromised status of some patients under immunosuppressive therapy and potential drug interactions that can be established between systemic antimicrobial agents, the research of local, minimally invasive methods of inactivating periodontal pathogens in the context of these systemic therapies with modifying drugs of the immune response is justified. This in vitro study evaluated the antimicrobial action of a diode laser, wavelength 940 nm, and photodisinfection therapy at 670 nm (photosensitizer, 3,7 dimethyl phenothiazine chloride) on a type strain of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, a known periodontal pathogen, in the presence and absence of active substances used in autoimmune disease therapy (Etanercept, Infliximab, Metothrexate). The association of a conventional antirheumatic drug with anti-TNF-α therapy determined a significantly greater inhibition of the strain of A. actinomycetemcomitans compared to monotherapy, in vitro. Photodisinfection caused a significant reduction in bacterial burden after a 30 s exposure in vitro, regardless of the pharmaceutical associations of biological and conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Irradiation with a diode laser for 30 s at a power of 5 W caused a greater reduction compared to irradiation with 1 W. The application of laser and photodisinfection induced a significant reduction in Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in vitro and could be considered important adjunctive measures for the eradication of this oral pathogen in the context of immunomodulating therapy.
Mobility Coupled with Motivation Promotes Survival: The Evolution of Cognition as an Adaptive Strategy
Authors: Stefano George B. , Kream Richard M. , Esch Tobias
Published: January 2023

Morphine plays a critical regulatory role in both simple and complex plant species. Dopamine is a critical chemical intermediate in the morphine biosynthetic pathway and may have served as a primordial agonist in developing catecholamine signaling pathways. While dopamine remains the preeminent catecholamine in invertebrate neural systems, epinephrine is the major product of catecholamine synthetic pathways in vertebrate species. Given that the enzymatic steps leading to the generation of morphine are similar to those constraining the evolutionary adaptation of the biosynthesis of catecholamines, we hypothesize that the emergence of these more advanced signaling pathways was based on conservation and selective “retrofitting” of pre-existing enzyme activities. This is consistent with observations that support the recruitment of enzymatically synthesized tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), which is a cofactor for tyrosine hydroxylase, the enzyme responsible for dopamine production. BH4 is also an electron donor involved in the production of nitric oxide (NO). The links that coordinate BH4-mediated NO and catecholaminergic-mediated processes provide these systems with the capacity to regulate numerous downstream signaling pathways. We hypothesize that the evolution of catecholamine signaling pathways in animal species depends on the acquisition of a mobile lifestyle and motivationally driven feeding, sexual, and self-protective responses.
Molecular Profiling of Tissue Samples with Chronic Rejection from Patients with Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction: A Pilot Study in Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Authors: Lunardi Francesca , Abbrescia Daniela Isabel , Vedovelli Luca , Pezzuto Federica , Fortarezza Francesco , Comacchio Giovanni Maria , Guzzardo Vincenza , Ferrigno Pia , Loy Monica , Giraudo Chiara , Fraia Anna Sara , Faccioli Eleonora , Braccioni Fausto , Cozzi Emanuele , Gregori Dario , Verleden Geert M. , Calabrese Fiorella , Schena Francesco Paolo , Rea Federico
Published: January 2023

Chronic rejection (CR) is the main culprit for reduced survival and quality of life in patients undergoing lung transplantation (Ltx). High-throughput approaches have been used to unveil the molecular pathways of CR, mainly in the blood and/or in bronchoalveolar lavage. We hypothesized that a distinct molecular signature characterizes the biopsies of recipients with clinically confirmed histological signs of CR. Eighteen cystic fibrosis patients were included in the study and RNA sequencing was performed in 35 scheduled transbronchial biopsies (TBBs): 5 with acute cellular rejection, 9 with CR, and 13 without any sign of post-LTx complication at the time of biopsy; 8 donor lung samples were used as controls. Three networks with 33, 26, and 36 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in TBBs with CR. Among these, seven genes were common to the identified pathways and possibly linked to CR and five of them (LCN2, CCL11, CX3CL1, CXCL12, MUC4) were confirmed by real-time PCR. Immunohistochemistry was significant for LCN2 and MUC4. This study identified a typical gene expression pattern in TBBs with histological signs of CR and the LCN2 gene appeared to play a central role. Thus, it could be crucial in CR pathophysiology.
Heparin-Induced Changes of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF165) Structure
Authors: Nemashkalova Ekaterina L. , Shevelyova Marina P. , Machulin Andrey V. , Lykoshin Dmitry D. , Esipov Roman S. , Deryusheva Evgenia I.
Published: January 2023

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), a secreted homodimeric glycoprotein, is a critical regulator of angiogenesis in normal and pathological states. The binding of heparin (HE) to VEGF165 (the major form of VEGF-A) modulates the angiogenesis-related cascade, but the mechanism of the observed changes at the structural level is still insufficiently explored. In the present study, we examined the effect of HE on the structural and physicochemical properties of recombinant human VEGF165 (rhVEGF165). The HE binding results in an increase of hydrophobic surface exposure in rhVEGF165 without changes in its secondary structure. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements for intact and HE-bound rhVEGF165 reveals the absence of any pronounced thermally induced transitions in the protein in the temperature range from 20 to 100 °C. The apolar area increase during the heparin binding explains the pronounced HE-induced oligomerization/aggregation of rhVEGF165, as studied by chemical glutaraldehyde cross-linking and dynamic light scattering. Molecular modeling and docking techniques were used to model the full structure of dimeric VEGF165 and to reveal putative molecular mechanisms underlying the function of the VEGF165/HE system. In general, the results obtained can be a basis for explaining the modulating effect of HE on the biological activity of VEGF-A.
Mechanism by Which PF-3758309, a Pan Isoform Inhibitor of p21-Activated Kinases, Blocks Reactivation of HIV-1 Latency
Authors: Vargas Benni , Boslett James , Yates Nathan , Sluis-Cremer Nicolas
Published: January 2023

The “block and lock” strategy is one approach that might elicit a sterilizing cure for HIV-1 infection. The “block” refers to a compound’s ability to inhibit latent HIV-1 proviral transcription, while the “lock” refers to its capacity to induce permanent proviral silencing. We previously identified PF-3758309, a pan-isoform inhibitor of p21-activated kinases (PAKs), as a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 latency reversal. The goal of this study was to define the mechanism(s) involved. We found that both 24ST1NLESG cells (a cell line model of HIV-1 latency) and purified CD4+ naïve and central memory T cells express high levels of PAK2 and lower levels of PAK1 and PAK4. Knockdown of PAK1 or PAK2, but not PAK4, in 24ST1NLESG cells resulted in a modest, but statistically significant, decrease in the magnitude of HIV-1 latency reversal. Overexpression of PAK1 significantly increased the magnitude of latency reversal. A phospho-protein array analysis revealed that PF-3758309 down-regulates the NF-κB signaling pathway, which provides the most likely mechanism by which PF-3758309 inhibits latency reversal. Finally, we used cellular thermal shift assays combined with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to ascertain whether PF-3758309 off-target binding contributed to its activity. In 24ST1NLESG cells and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PF-3758309 bound to mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 and protein kinase A; however, knockdown of either of these kinases did not impact HIV-1 latency reversal. Collectively, our study suggests that PAK1 and PAK2 play a key role in the maintenance of HIV-1 latency.
Development of Anaerobic Biodigester for the Production of Biogas Used in Semi-Continuous System Bioprocesses: An Efficient Alternative for Co-Digestion of Low Biodegradability Biomass
Authors: de Souza Guimarães Claudinei , da Silva Maia David Rodrigues
Published: January 2023

The objective of this work was to develop an automated anaerobic biodigester capable of operating in a semi-continuous or batch system for biogas production. Low biodegradability biomass has little efficiency in the production of biogas by anaerobic digestion processes and an efficient alternative is the use of bioprocesses in semi-continuous system. Two experiments were carried out in the same proportions but in different processes, and all control and automation parameters were tested and evaluated. For testing, mixtures of organic waste, anaerobic sludge (inoculum) and raw sewage without any treatment from the sewage treatment plant, in mesophilic phase (37 °C), were used during the 60 days of experiment. The semi-continuous system showed the greatest reduction in organic matter, expressed by the removal of 80.7% Total Solids Volatile (TVS) and the greatest volume (68.5 L) and methane percentage (78.5%). Finally, with these and other results found, it is possible to conclude that the biodigester developed for semi-continuous system, with the automation and control system, was satisfactory for the reduction in organic matter and biogas production. In addition, all operating system worked properly and with the use of current, low-cost technologies, the application and development on a larger scale becomes viable in the future.
Clinicopathological Profile of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma—Could We Predict Aggressive Behavior?
Authors: Giusca Simona Eliza , Andriescu Elena Corina , Caruntu Irina Draga , Ciobanu Delia
Published: January 2023

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) accounts for only 2–5% of all thyroid malignancies. Clinical and pathological characteristics alone may suffice to predict outcomes, but unstable behavior in some cases suggests that other factors may influence a worse course of the disease. This study aims to identify criteria that could predict increased aggressiveness. We analyzed 59 consecutive MTC cases. We focused on the relationships among clinicopathological characteristics, parameters of aggressiveness (extrathyroidal extension, lymphovascular invasion, and lymph node metastasis), and parameters for MTC grading. Statistically significant correlations were found for tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, and lymph node metastasis and tumor focality and lymph node metastasis. Our results showed, in tumors larger than 40 mm, odds ratios (ODs) of 13.695 and 6 for lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastasis, respectively; in multifocal tumors, we registered an OD of 9.42 for lymph node metastasis. No significant correlation was found for the parameters of the MTC grading system when assessed individually and integrated by reporting low-grade and high-grade risk groups. Although our data indicate that lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastasis remain significant markers for aggressiveness, studies on larger series of cases are mandatory to detect and validate new factors responsible for the variable course of MTC.
Immunomodulatory Effects of Non-Thermal Plasma in a Model for Latent HIV-1 Infection: Implications for an HIV-1-Specific Immunotherapy
Authors: Mohamed Hager , Berman Rachel , Connors Jennifer , Haddad Elias K. , Miller Vandana , Nonnemacher Michael R. , Dampier Will , Wigdahl Brian , Krebs Fred C.
Published: January 2023

In people living with HIV-1 (PLWH), antiretroviral therapy (ART) eventually becomes necessary to suppress the emergence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication from latent reservoirs because HIV-1-specific immune responses in PLWH are suboptimal. Immunotherapies that enhance anti-HIV-1 immune responses for better control of virus reemergence from latent reservoirs are postulated to offer ART-free control of HIV-1. Toward the goal of developing an HIV-1-specific immunotherapy based on non-thermal plasma (NTP), the early immunological responses to NTP-exposed latently infected T lymphocytes were examined. Application of NTP to the J-Lat T-lymphocyte cell line (clones 10.6 and 15.4) stimulated monocyte recruitment and macrophage maturation, which are key steps in initiation of an immune response. In contrast, CD8+ T lymphocytes in a mixed lymphocyte reaction assay were not stimulated by the presence of NTP-exposed J-Lat cells. Furthermore, co-culture of NTP-exposed J-Lat cells with mature phagocytes did not modulate their antigen presentation to primary CD8+ T lymphocytes (cross-presentation). However, reactivation from latency was stimulated in a clone-specific manner by NTP. Overall, these studies, which demonstrated that ex vivo application of NTP to latently infected lymphocytes can stimulate key immune cell responses, advance the development of an NTP-based immunotherapy that will provide ART-free control of HIV-1 reactivation in PLWH.
Antipsychotic Drugs Efficacy in Dextromethorphan-Induced Psychosis
Authors: Zaremba Malgorzata , Serafin Pawel , Kleczkowska Patrycja
Published: January 2023

Psychosis is known as a broad term of symptoms that cause serious disorganization of behavior, thinking, and perception of reality. One of the medicines that recently gained much attention in terms of its psychotic potential is dextromethorphan (DXM). DXM, a widely used antitussive drug, is a commonly abused drug because of its euphoric, hallucinogenic, and dissociative properties. To date, DXM is a legally marketed cough suppressant that is neither a controlled substance nor a regulated chemical under the Controlled Substances Act. The management of DXM-related psychosis is dependent on the type of psychotic symptoms. Atypical neuroleptics (i.e., olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine) and typical haloperidol have been used in symptomatic treatment due to their efficacy, especially in positive symptoms (hallucinations and delusions). These agents are also recognized as the preferred option in the symptomatic treatment of DXM-related psychosis due to their better efficacy and safety profile than typical haloperidol in the short-term course. The focus of the present review concerns the current stage of knowledge about DXM psychotic potency as well as the management of DXM-related psychoses with a special emphasis on atypical antipsychotic drugs (i.e., olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, and haloperidol).
Surfactant Protein B Plasma Levels: Reliability as a Biomarker in COPD Patients
Authors: D’Ascanio Michela , Viccaro Fausta , Pizzirusso Dario , Guerrieri Giulio , Pagliuca Alessandra , Guerrini Simone , Innammorato Marta , De Vitis Claudia , Raffa Salvatore , Pezzuto Aldo , Ricci Alberto
Published: January 2023

Background: The diagnosis of COPD is based on both clinical signs and functional tests. Although there are different functional tests used to assess COPD, no reliable biomarkers able to provide information on pathogenesis and severity are available. The aim of the present study is to explore the relationship between surfactant protein B (Sp-B) serum levels and clinical, radiological, and functional pulmonary parameters in COPD patients. Methods: Forty COPD patients and twenty smokers without airflow limitations or respiratory symptoms were enrolled. Each patient was given questionnaires (CAT and mMRC) and 6MWT, spirometry, DLCO, and computer tomography (CT) were performed. All participants underwent a venous blood sample drawing, and quantitative detection of their Sp-B plasma levels was performed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The spirometry and Sp-B plasma levels were assessed after 12 months. Results: A statistically significant difference was found in the plasma Sp-B levels between COPD patients compared to the other group (4.72 + 3.2 ng/mL vs. 1.78 + 1.5 ng/mL; p < 0.001). The change in FEV1 after 12 months (Delta FEV1) showed a significantly negative correlation with respect to the change in Sp-B levels (Delta SpB) (r = −0.4; p < 0.05). This correlation indicates that increasing the plasma dosage of SpB is a foretoken of functional decline. Conclusions: SpB may be considered as a useful marker in COPD assessment and provides prognostic information on lung functional decline. Despite its usefulness, further studies are needed to define its reliability as a biomarker.
Therapy Defining at Initial Diagnosis of Primary Brain Tumor—The Role of 18F-FET PET/CT and MRI
Authors: Nagy Dávid Gergő , Fedorcsák Imre , Bagó Attila György , Gáti Georgina , Martos János , Szabó Péter , Rajnai Hajnalka , Kenessey István , Borbély Katalin
Published: January 2023

Primary malignant brain tumors are heterogeneous and infrequent neoplasms. Their classification, therapeutic regimen and prognosis have undergone significant development requiring the innovation of an imaging diagnostic. The performance of enhanced magnetic resonance imaging depends on blood–brain barrier function. Several studies have demonstrated the advantages of static and dynamic amino acid PET/CT providing accurate metabolic status in the neurooncological setting. The aim of our single-center retrospective study was to test the primary diagnostic role of amino acid PET/CT compared to enhanced MRI. Emphasis was placed on cases prior to intervention, therefore, a certain natural bias was inevitable. In our analysis for newly found brain tumors 18F-FET PET/CT outperformed contrast MRI and PWI in terms of sensitivity and negative predictive value (100% vs. 52.9% and 36.36%; 100% vs. 38.46% and 41.67%), in terms of positive predictive value their performance was roughly the same (84.21 % vs. 90% and 100%), whereas regarding specificity contrast MRI and PWI were superior (40% vs. 83.33% and 100%). Based on these results the superiority of 18F-FET PET/CT seems to present incremental value during the initial diagnosis. In the case of non-enhancing tumors, it should always be suggested as a therapy-determining test.
Development of a Bionic Tube with High Bending-Stiffness Properties Based on Human Tibiofibular Shapes
Authors: Jin Jianqiao , Wang Kunyang , Ren Lei , Qian Zhihui , Lu Xuewei , Liang Wei , Xu Xiaohan , Zhao Shun , Zhao Di , Wang Xu , Ren Luquan
Published: January 2023

The human tibiofibular complex has undergone a long evolutionary process, giving its structure a high bearing-capacity. The distinct tibiofibular shape can be used in engineering to acquire excellent mechanical properties. In this paper, four types of bionic tubes were designed by extracting the dimensions of different cross-sections of human tibia–fibula. They had the same outer profiles, but different inner shapes. The concept of specific stiffness was introduced to evaluate the mechanical properties of the four tubes. Finite-element simulations and physical bending-tests using a universal testing machine were conducted, to compare their mechanical properties. The simulations showed that the type 2 bionic tube, i.e., the one closest to the human counterpart, obtained the largest specific-stiffness (ε = 6.46 × 104), followed by the type 4 (ε = 6.40 × 104) and the type 1 (ε = 6.39 × 104). The type 3 had the largest mass but the least stiffness (ε = 6.07 × 104). The specific stiffness of the type 2 bionic tube increased by approximately 25.8%, compared with that of the type 3. The physical tests depicted similar findings. This demonstrates that the bionic tube inspired by the human tibiofibular shape has excellent effectiveness and bending properties, and could be used in the fields of healthcare engineering, such as robotics and prosthetics.