bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulation of p75NTR on Mesenchymal Stem Cells Increases Their Vascular Protection in Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Mouse Model
Authors: Elshaer Sally L. , Park Hang-soo , Pearson Laura , Hill William D. , Longo Frank M. , El-Remessy Azza B.
Published: January 2021

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising therapy to improve vascular repair, yet their role in ischemic retinopathy is not fully understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of modulating the neurotrophin receptor; p75NTR on the vascular protection of MSCs in an acute model of retinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Wild type (WT) and p75NTR-/- mice were subjected to I/R injury by increasing intra-ocular pressure to 120 mmHg for 45 min, followed by perfusion. Murine GFP-labeled MSCs (100,000 cells/eye) were injected intravitreally 2 days post-I/R and vascular homing was assessed 1 week later. Acellular capillaries were counted using trypsin digest 10-days post-I/R. In vitro, MSC-p75NTR was modulated either genetically using siRNA or pharmacologically using the p75NTR modulator; LM11A-31, and conditioned media were co-cultured with human retinal endothelial cells (HREs) to examine the angiogenic response. Finally, visual function in mice undergoing retinal I/R and receiving LM11A-31 was assessed by visual-clue water-maze test. I/R significantly increased the number of acellular capillaries (3.2-Fold) in WT retinas, which was partially ameliorated in p75NTR-/- retinas. GFP-MSCs were successfully incorporated and engrafted into retinal vasculature 1 week post injection and normalized the number of acellular capillaries in p75NTR-/- retinas, yet ischemic WT retinas maintained a 2-Fold increase. Silencing p75NTR on GFP-MSCs coincided with a higher number of cells homing to the ischemic WT retinal vasculature and normalized the number of acellular capillaries when compared to ischemic WT retinas receiving scrambled-GFP-MSCs. In vitro, silencing p75NTR-MSCs enhanced their secretome, as evidenced by significant increases in SDF-1, VEGF and NGF release in MSCs conditioned medium; improved paracrine angiogenic response in HREs, where HREs showed enhanced migration (1.4-Fold) and tube formation (2-Fold) compared to controls. In parallel, modulating MSCs-p75NTR using LM11A-31 resulted in a similar improvement in MSCs secretome and the enhanced paracrine angiogenic potential of HREs. Further, intervention with LM11A-31 significantly mitigated the decline in visual acuity post retinal I/R injury. In conclusion, p75NTR modulation can potentiate the therapeutic potential of MSCs to harness vascular repair in ischemic retinopathy diseases.
Current Advances in 3D Tissue and Organ Reconstruction
Authors: Pennarossa Georgia , Arcuri Sharon , De Iorio Teresina , Gandolfi Fulvio , Brevini Tiziana A. L.
Published: January 2021

Bi-dimensional culture systems have represented the most used method to study cell biology outside the body for over a century. Although they convey useful information, such systems may lose tissue-specific architecture, biomechanical effectors, and biochemical cues deriving from the native extracellular matrix, with significant alterations in several cellular functions and processes. Notably, the introduction of three-dimensional (3D) platforms that are able to re-create in vitro the structures of the native tissue, have overcome some of these issues, since they better mimic the in vivo milieu and reduce the gap between the cell culture ambient and the tissue environment. 3D culture systems are currently used in a broad range of studies, from cancer and stem cell biology, to drug testing and discovery. Here, we describe the mechanisms used by cells to perceive and respond to biomechanical cues and the main signaling pathways involved. We provide an overall perspective of the most recent 3D technologies. Given the breadth of the subject, we concentrate on the use of hydrogels, bioreactors, 3D printing and bioprinting, nanofiber-based scaffolds, and preparation of a decellularized bio-matrix. In addition, we report the possibility to combine the use of 3D cultures with functionalized nanoparticles to obtain highly predictive in vitro models for use in the nanomedicine field.
Layer by Layer Assembled Chitosan-Coated Gold Nanoparticles for Enhanced siRNA Delivery and Silencing
Authors: Shaabani Elnaz , Sharifiaghdam Maryam , De Keersmaecker Herlinde , De Rycke Riet , De Smedt Stefaan , Faridi-Majidi Reza , Braeckmans Kevin , Fraire Juan C.
Published: January 2021

Delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) provides one of the most powerful strategies for downregulation of therapeutic targets. Despite the widely explored capabilities of this strategy, intracellular delivery is hindered by a lack of carriers that have high stability, low toxicity and high transfection efficiency. Here we propose a layer by layer (LBL) self-assembly method to fabricate chitosan-coated gold nanoparticles (CS-AuNPs) as a more stable and efficient siRNA delivery system. Direct reduction of HAuCl4 in the presence of chitosan led to the formation of positively charged CS-AuNPs, which were subsequently modified with a layer of siRNA cargo molecules and a final chitosan layer to protect the siRNA and to have a net positive charge for good interaction with cells. Cytotoxicity, uptake, and downregulation of enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (eGFP) in H1299-eGFP lung epithelial cells indicated that LBL-CS-AuNPs provided excellent protection of siRNA against enzymatic degradation, ensured good uptake in cells by endocytosis, facilitated endosomal escape of siRNA, and improved the overall silencing effect in comparison with commercial transfection reagents Lipofectamine and jetPEI®. Therefore, this work shows that LBL assembled CS-AuNPs are promising nanocarriers for enhanced intracellular siRNA delivery and silencing.
Common Transcriptional Program of Liver Fibrosis in Mouse Genetic Models and Humans
Authors: Blagotinšek Cokan Kaja , Urlep Žiga , Moškon Miha , Mraz Miha , Kong Xiang Yi , Eskild Winnie , Rozman Damjana , Juvan Peter , Režen Tadeja
Published: January 2021

Multifactorial metabolic diseases, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, are a major burden to modern societies, and frequently present with no clearly defined molecular biomarkers. Herein we used system medicine approaches to decipher signatures of liver fibrosis in mouse models with malfunction in genes from unrelated biological pathways: cholesterol synthesis—Cyp51, notch signaling—Rbpj, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling—Ikbkg, and unknown lysosomal pathway—Glmp. Enrichment analyses of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Reactome and TRANScription FACtor (TRANSFAC) databases complemented with genome-scale metabolic modeling revealed fibrotic signatures highly similar to liver pathologies in humans. The diverse genetic models of liver fibrosis exposed a common transcriptional program with activated estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) signaling, and a network of interactions between regulators of lipid metabolism and transcription factors from cancer pathways and the immune system. The novel hallmarks of fibrosis are downregulated lipid pathways, including fatty acid, bile acid, and steroid hormone metabolism. Moreover, distinct metabolic subtypes of liver fibrosis were proposed, supported by unique enrichment of transcription factors based on the type of insult, disease stage, or potentially, also sex. The discovered novel features of multifactorial liver fibrotic pathologies could aid also in improved stratification of other fibrosis related pathologies.
Tailoring Pyro- and Orthophosphate Species to Enhance Stem Cell Adhesion to Phosphate Glasses
Authors: De Melo Nigel , Murrell Lauren , Islam Md Towhidul , Titman Jeremy J. , Macri-Pellizzeri Laura , Ahmed Ifty , Sottile Virginie
Published: January 2021

Phosphate-based glasses (PBGs) offer significant therapeutic potential due to their bioactivity, controllable compositions, and degradation rates. Several PBGs have already demonstrated their ability to support direct cell growth and in vivo cytocompatibility for bone repair applications. This study investigated development of PBG formulations with pyro- and orthophosphate species within the glass system (40 − x)P2O5·(16 + x)CaO·20Na2O·24MgO (x = 0, 5, 10 mol%) and their effect on stem cell adhesion properties. Substitution of phosphate for calcium revealed a gradual transition within the glass structure from Q2 to Q0 phosphate species. Human mesenchymal stem cells were cultured directly onto discs made from three PBG compositions. Analysis of cells seeded onto the discs revealed that PBG with higher concentration of pyro- and orthophosphate content (61% Q1 and 39% Q0) supported a 4.3-fold increase in adhered cells compared to glasses with metaphosphate connectivity (49% Q2 and 51% Q1). This study highlights that tuning the composition of PBGs to possess pyro- and orthophosphate species only, enables the possibility to control cell adhesion performance. PBGs with superior cell adhesion profiles represent ideal candidates for biomedical applications, where cell recruitment and support for tissue ingrowth are of critical importance for orthopaedic interventions.
Application of Machine-Learning Methods to Recognize mitoBK Channels from Different Cell Types Based on the Experimental Patch-Clamp Results
Authors: Richter-Laskowska Monika , Trybek Paulina , Bednarczyk Piotr , Wawrzkiewicz-Jałowiecka Agata
Published: January 2021

(1) Background: In this work, we focus on the activity of large-conductance voltage- and Ca2+-activated potassium channels (BK) from the inner mitochondrial membrane (mitoBK). The characteristic electrophysiological features of the mitoBK channels are relatively high single-channel conductance (ca. 300 pS) and types of activating and deactivating stimuli. Nevertheless, depending on the isoformal composition of mitoBK channels in a given membrane patch and the type of auxiliary regulatory subunits (which can be co-assembled to the mitoBK channel protein) the characteristics of conformational dynamics of the channel protein can be altered. Consequently, the individual features of experimental series describing single-channel activity obtained by patch-clamp method can also vary. (2) Methods: Artificial intelligence approaches (deep learning) were used to classify the patch-clamp outputs of mitoBK activity from different cell types. (3) Results: Application of the K-nearest neighbors algorithm (KNN) and the autoencoder neural network allowed to perform the classification of the electrophysiological signals with a very good accuracy, which indicates that the conformational dynamics of the analyzed mitoBK channels from different cell types significantly differs. (4) Conclusion: We displayed the utility of machine-learning methodology in the research of ion channel gating, even in cases when the behavior of very similar microbiosystems is analyzed. A short excerpt from the patch-clamp recording can serve as a “fingerprint” used to recognize the mitoBK gating dynamics in the patches of membrane from different cell types.
Lithium Reduces Migration and Collagen Synthesis Activity in Human Cardiac Fibroblasts by Inhibiting Store-Operated Ca2+ Entry
Authors: Chen Pao-Huan , Chung Cheng-Chih , Lin Yuan-Feng , Kao Yu-Hsun , Chen Yi-Jen
Published: January 2021

Cardiac fibrosis plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of heart failure. Fibroblast activity is enhanced by increases in store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) and calcium release-activated calcium channel protein 1 (Orai1) levels. Lithium regulates SOCE; however, whether therapeutic concentrations of lithium can be used to inhibit cardiac fibrogenesis is unknown. Migration and proliferation assays, Western blotting, real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis, and calcium fluorescence imaging were performed in human cardiac fibroblasts treated with or without LiCl at 1.0 mM (i.e., therapeutic peak level) or 0.1 mM (i.e., therapeutic trough level) for 24 h. Results showed that LiCl (0.1 mM, but not 1.0 mM) inhibited the migration and collagen synthesis ability of cardiac fibroblasts. Additionally, thapsigargin-induced SOCE was reduced in fibroblasts treated with LiCl (0.1 mM). The expression level of Orai1 was lower in LiCl (0.1 mM)-treated fibroblasts relative to the fibroblasts without LiCl treatment. Fibroblasts treated with a combination of LiCl (0.1 mM) and 2-APB (10 μM, an Orai1 inhibitor) demonstrated similar migration and collagen synthesis abilities as those in LiCl (0.1 mM)-treated fibroblasts. Altogether, lithium at therapeutic trough levels reduced the migration and collagen synthesis abilities of human cardiac fibroblasts by inhibiting SOCE and Orai1 expression.
Permethrin Resistance in Aedes aegypti Affects Aspects of Vectorial Capacity
Authors: Chen Tse-Yu , Smartt Chelsea T. , Shin Dongyoung
Published: January 2021

Aedes aegypti, as one of the vectors transmitting several arboviruses, is the main target in mosquito control programs. Permethrin is used to control mosquitoes and Aedes aegypti get exposed due to its overuse and are now resistant. The increasing percentage of permethrin resistant Aedes aegypti has become an important issue around the world and the potential influence on vectorial capacity needs to be studied. Here we selected a permethrin resistant (p-s) Aedes aegypti population from a wild Florida population and confirmed the resistance ratio to its parental population. We used allele-specific PCR genotyping of the V1016I and F1534C sites in the sodium channel gene to map mutations responsible for the resistance. Two important factors, survival rate and vector competence, that impact vectorial capacity were checked. Results indicated the p-s population had 20 times more resistance to permethrin based on LD50 compared to the parental population. In the genotyping study, the p-s population had more homozygous mutations in both mutant sites of the sodium channel gene. The p-s adults survived longer and had a higher dissemination rate for dengue virus than the parental population. These results suggest that highly permethrin resistant Aedes aegypti populations might affect the vectorial capacity, moreover, resistance increased the survival time and vector competence, which should be of concern in areas where permethrin is applied.
Evidence of Stem Cell Efficacy on Developmental and Functional Alterations in Craniofacial Diseases
Authors: Tatullo Marco , Spagnuolo Gianrico
Published: January 2021

Stem cells have improved the treatment of several diseases [...]
Prolonged Carriage of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae: Clinical Risk Factors and the Influence of Carbapenemase and Organism Types
Authors: Kim Yong Kyun , Chang In Bok , Kim Han Sung , Song Wonkeun , Lee Seung Soon
Published: January 2021

Prolonged carriage of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) constitutes a substantial epidemiologic threat. This study aimed to evaluate whether the types of carbapenemase and organism can affect the duration of carriage and to evaluate the clinical factors associated with prolonged carriage. We retrospectively reviewed data for patients admitted between May 2013 and August 2018 who were identified as CPE carriers. A total of 702 patients were identified; the major types of carbapenemase and organism were Oxacillinase (OXA)-48-like (n = 480, 68.4%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) (n = 584, 83.2%). The analyses of time to spontaneous decolonization using the Kaplan–Meier method showed that OXA-48-like and K. pneumoniae were significantly associated with prolonged carriage (log rank, p = 0.001 and p < 0.001). In multivariable logistic analysis to assess the risk factors for CPE prolonged carriage in the 188 patients with available follow-up culture data for 3 months, K. pneumoniae (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 6.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–41.27; p = 0.044), CPE positive clinical specimen (aOR 11.14; 95% CI, 4.73–26.25; p < 0.001), and concurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) (aOR 3.98, 95% CI 1.29–12.26; p = 0.016) were predictive of prolonged carriage. Our results suggest that CP-K. pneumoniae may have higher probability of prolonged carriage, while the effect of OXA-48-like CPE is inconclusive. Furthermore, patients with CP-K. pneumoniae who had positive clinical specimen or concurrent CDI can cause a vicious circle in prolonged carriage.
Risk Reclassification of Patients with Endometrial Cancer Based on Tumor Molecular Profiling: First Real World Data
Authors: Oberndorfer Felicitas , Moling Sarah , Hagelkruys Leonie Annika , Grimm Christoph , Polterauer Stephan , Sturdza Alina , Aust Stefanie , Reinthaller Alexander , Müllauer Leonhard , Schwameis Richard
Published: January 2021

Recently, guidelines for endometrial cancer (EC) were released that guide treatment decisions according to the tumors’ molecular profiles. To date, no real-world data regarding the clinical feasibility of molecular profiling have been released. This retrospective, monocentric study investigated the clinical feasibility of molecular profiling and its potential impact on treatment decisions. Tumor specimens underwent molecular profiling (testing for genetic alterations, (immune-)histological examination of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), and L1CAM) as part of the clinical routine and were classified according to the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) classification system and to an integrated molecular risk stratification. Shifts between risk groups and potential treatment alterations are described. A total of 60 cases were included, of which twelve were excluded (20%), and eight of the remaining 48 were not characterized (drop-out rate of 16.7%). Molecular profiling revealed 4, 6, 25, and 5 patients with DNA polymerase-epsilon mutation, microsatellite instability, no specific molecular profile, and TP53 mutation, respectively. Three patients had substantial LVSI, and four patients showed high L1CAM expression. Molecular profiling took a median of 18.5 days. Substantial shifts occurred between the classification systems: four patients were upstaged, and 19 patients were downstaged. Molecular profiling of EC specimens is feasible in a daily routine, and new risk classification systems will change treatment decisions substantially.
Genomic Screening Identifies Individuals at High Risk for Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis
Authors: Soper Emily R. , Suckiel Sabrina A. , Braganza Giovanna T. , Kontorovich Amy R. , Kenny Eimear E. , Abul-Husn Noura S.
Published: January 2021

The TTR V142I variant associated with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR) is present in up to 4% of African American (AA) and 1% of Hispanic/Latinx (HL) individuals and increases risk for heart failure. Delayed and missed diagnoses could potentiate health disparities in these populations. We evaluated whether population-based genomic screening could effectively identify individuals at risk for hATTR and prompt initiation of risk management. We identified participants of the BioMe Biobank in New York City who received TTR V142I results through a pilot genomic screening program. We performed a retrospective medical record review to evaluate for the presence hATTR-related systemic features, uptake of recommended follow-up, and short-term outcomes. Thirty-two AA (N = 17) and HL (N = 15) individuals received a TTR V142I result (median age 57, 81% female). None had a previous diagnosis of hATTR. Eighteen (56%) had hATTR-related systemic features, including 4 (13%) with heart failure, 10 (31%) with carpal tunnel syndrome, and 10 (31%) with spinal stenosis. Eighteen (56%) pursued follow-up with a cardiologist within 8 months. One person received a diagnosis of hATTR. Thus, we found that the majority of V142I-positive individuals had hATTR-related systemic features at the time of result disclosure, including well-described red flags. Genomic screening can help identify hATTR risk and guide management early on, avoiding potential delays in diagnosis and treatment.
Soil Tillage and Crop Growth Effects on Surface and Subsurface Runoff, Loss of Soil, Phosphorus and Nitrogen in a Cold Climate
Authors: Bechmann Marianne E. , Bøe Frederik
Published: January 2021

Most studies on the effects of tillage operations documented the effects of tillage on losses through surface runoff. On flat areas, the subsurface runoff is the dominating pathway for water, soil and nutrients. This study presents results from a five-year plot study on a flat area measuring surface and subsurface runoff losses. The treatments compared were (A) autumn ploughing with oats, (B) autumn ploughing with winter wheat and (C) spring ploughing with spring barley (n = 3). The results showed that subsurface runoff was the main source for soil (67%), total phosphorus (76%), dissolved reactive phosphorus (75%) and total nitrogen (89%) losses. Through the subsurface pathway, the lowest soil losses occurred from the spring ploughed plots. Losses of total phosphorus through subsurface runoff were also lower from spring ploughing compared to autumn ploughing. Total nitrogen losses were higher from autumn ploughing compared to other treatments. Losses of total nitrogen were more influenced by autumn ploughing than by a nitrogen surplus in production. Single extreme weather events, like the summer drought in 2018 and high precipitation in October 2014 were crucial to the annual soil and nutrient losses. Considering extreme weather events in agricultural management is a necessary prerequisite for successful mitigation of soil and nutrient losses in the future.
Attitudes and Expectations towards Heritage Language Instruction: Evidence from Korean and Spanish in the US
Authors: Hur Esther , Lopez Otero Julio Cesar , Lee Eunji
Published: January 2021

This study investigated how the attitudes and expectations of heritage languages (HL) courses differ between Spanish and Korean. Spanish and Korean are two of the biggest heritage languages (HLs) taught across American universities, but represent different trends of HL in the US. Ninety-two adult heritage speakers (HSs) completed a 41-question online questionnaire on their perceived HL proficiency as well as on what aspects of HL courses should target and what activities would be more beneficial for them. The results showed that the two groups of HSs present different attitudes and expectations towards HL instruction. Spanish HSs value their HL classes as a way to prepare for professional success and expect to receive more explicit instruction in the classroom. On the other hand, Korean HSs favor cultural components and take HL courses as a tool for reconnection with their community and cultures.
The Role of Oxidative Stress in Cardiovascular Aging and Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Izzo Carmine , Vitillo Paolo , Di Pietro Paola , Visco Valeria , Strianese Andrea , Virtuoso Nicola , Ciccarelli Michele , Galasso Gennaro , Carrizzo Albino , Vecchione Carmine
Published: January 2021

Aging can be seen as process characterized by accumulation of oxidative stress induced damage. Oxidative stress derives from different endogenous and exogenous processes, all of which ultimately lead to progressive loss in tissue and organ structure and functions. The oxidative stress theory of aging expresses itself in age-related diseases. Aging is in fact a primary risk factor for many diseases and in particular for cardiovascular diseases and its derived morbidity and mortality. Here we highlight the role of oxidative stress in age-related cardiovascular aging and diseases. We take into consideration the molecular mechanisms, the structural and functional alterations, and the diseases accompanied to the cardiovascular aging process.
Finding and Characterising Active Slip Systems: A Short Review and Tutorial with Automation Tools
Authors: Gibson James S. K.-L. , Pei Risheng , Heller Martin , Medghalchi Setareh , Luo Wei , Korte-Kerzel Sandra
Published: January 2021

The behaviour of many materials is strongly influenced by the mechanical properties of hard phases, present either from deliberate introduction for reinforcement or as deleterious precipitates. While it is, therefore, self-evident that these phases should be studied, the ability to do so—particularly their plasticity—is hindered by their small sizes and lack of bulk ductility at room temperature. Many researchers have, therefore, turned to small-scale testing in order to suppress brittle fracture and study the deformation mechanisms of complex crystal structures. To characterise the plasticity of a hard and potentially anisotropic crystal, several steps and different nanomechanical testing techniques are involved, in particular nanoindentation and microcompression. The mechanical data can only be interpreted based on imaging and orientation measurements by electron microscopy. Here, we provide a tutorial to guide the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data on plasticity in hard crystals. We provide code collated in our group to help new researchers to analyse their data efficiently from the start. As part of the tutorial, we show how the slip systems and deformation mechanisms in intermetallics such as the Fe7Mo6 μ-phase are discovered, where the large and complex crystal structure precludes determining a priori even the slip planes in these phases. By comparison with other works in the literature, we also aim to identify “best practises” for researchers throughout to aid in the application of the methods to other materials systems.
The Influence of Mixing Methods of Epoxy Composition Ingredients on Selected Mechanical Properties of Modified Epoxy Construction Materials
Authors: Miturska Izabela , Rudawska Anna , Müller Miroslav , Hromasová Monika
Published: January 2021

The proper process of preparing an adhesive composition has a significant impact on the degree of dispersion of the composition ingredients in the matrix, as well as on the degree of aeration of the resulting composition, which in turn directly affects the strength and functional properties of the obtained adhesive compositions. The paper presents the results of tensile strength tests and SEM microphotographs of the adhesive composition of Epidian 57 epoxy resin with Z-1 curing agent, which was modified using three fillers NanoBent ZR2 montmorillonite, CaCO3 calcium carbonate and CWZ-22 active carbon. For comparison purposes, samples made of unmodified composition were also tested. The compositions were prepared with the use of six mixing methods, with variable parameters such as type of mixer arm, deaeration and epoxy resin temperature. Then, three mixing speeds were applied: 460, 1170 and 2500 rpm. The analyses of the obtained results showed that the most effective tensile results were obtained in the case of mixing with the use of a dispersing disc mixer with preliminary heating of the epoxy resin to 50 °C and deaeration of the composition during mixing. The highest tensile strength of adhesive compositions was obtained at the highest mixing speed; however, the best repeatability of the results was observed at 1170 rpm mixing speed. Based on a comparison test of average values, it was observed that, in case of modified compositions, the values of average tensile strength obtained at mixing speeds at 1170 and 2500 rpm do not differ significantly with the assumed level of significance α = 0.05.
Learning DOM Trees of Web Pages by Subpath Kernel and Detecting Fake e-Commerce Sites
Authors: Shin Kilho , Ishikawa Taichi , Liu Yu-Lu , Shepard David Lawrence
Published: January 2021

The subpath kernel is a class of positive definite kernels defined over trees, which has the following advantages for the purposes of classification, regression and clustering: it can be incorporated into a variety of powerful kernel machines including SVM; It is invariant whether input trees are ordered or unordered; It can be computed by significantly fast linear-time algorithms; And, finally, its excellent learning performance has been proven through intensive experiments in the literature. In this paper, we leverage recent advances in tree kernels to solve real problems. As an example, we apply our method to the problem of detecting fake e-commerce sites. Although the problem is similar to phishing site detection, the fact that mimicking existing authentic sites is harmful for fake e-commerce sites marks a clear difference between these two problems. We focus on fake e-commerce site detection for three reasons: e-commerce fraud is a real problem that companies and law enforcement have been cooperating to solve; Inefficiency hampers existing approaches because datasets tend to be large, while subpath kernel learning overcomes these performance challenges; And we offer increased resiliency against attempts to subvert existing detection methods through incorporating robust features that adversaries cannot change: the DOM-trees of web-sites. Our real-world results are remarkable: our method has exhibited accuracy as high as 0.998 when training SVM with 1000 instances and evaluating accuracy for almost 7000 independent instances. Its generalization efficiency is also excellent: with only 100 training instances, the accuracy score reached 0.996.
Severe Atrophy of the Ipsilateral Psoas Muscle Associated with Hip Osteoarthritis and Spinal Stenosis—A Case Report
Authors: Lee Byeongcheol , Lee Sang Eun , Kim Yong Han , Park Jae Hong , Lee Ki Hwa , Kang Eunsu , Kim Sehun , Lee Nakyung , Oh Daeseok
Published: January 2021

Pathology of the lumbar spine and hip joint can commonly coexist in the elderly. Anterior and lateral leg pain as symptoms of hip osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis can closely resemble each other, with only subtle differences in both history and physical examinations. It is not easy to identify the origin of this kind of hip pain. The possibility of hip osteoarthritis should not be underestimated, as this could lead to an incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate spinal surgery. We report the case of a 54-year-old female with chronic right anterior and lateral leg pain who did not respond to repeated spinal blocks based on lumbar MRI, but in whom hip osteoarthritis was considered since severe atrophy of the ipsilateral psoas muscle was identified. We suggest that severe psoas muscle atrophy can be a clinical clue to identify hip osteoarthritis and is related to lower extremity pain, even if there is a coexisting lumbar spine pathology.
Interaction of Migrating Twin Boundaries with Obstacles in Magnesium
Authors: Ostapovets Andriy , Kushnir Konstantin , Máthis Kristián , Šiška Filip
Published: January 2021

Interaction of migrating {101¯2} twin boundary with obstacles was analyzed by atomistic and finite elements computer simulations of magnesium. Two types of obstacles were considered: one is a non-shearable obstacle and another one is the void inside bulk material. It is shown that both types of obstacles inhibit twin growth and increased stress is necessary to engulf the obstacle in both cases. However, the increase of critical resolved shear stress is higher for the passage of the twin boundary through raw of voids than for interaction with non-shearable obstacles.
Viscosity and Strength Properties of Cemented Tailings Backfill with Fly Ash and Its Strength Predicted
Authors: Wang Jie , Fu Jianxin , Song Weidong , Zhang Yongfang
Published: January 2021

It is of great significance to study the effect of solid contents (SC), binder-to-tailings (b/t) ratio, types and dosage of fly ash (FA) on the viscosity (V) and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of backfill. It can improve filling efficiency and reduce filling costs to understand the relationship between SC, b/t ratio, FA dosage and viscosity, and UCS of backfill. Consequently, this paper carried out uniaxial compression tests and rheological tests on five different types of backfill specimens. Experimental results indicate that, with the increase of SC, the viscosity and UCS of all backfill samples increases as a power function. With the decrease of b/t ratio, the viscosity and UCS of all backfill samples decreases as an exponential function. The coupling effect of SC and b/t ratio has a great influence on the viscosity and UCS of backfill samples. The relationship between SC, b/t ratio and viscosity, and UCS is a quadratic polynomial function. The order of the viscosity of the backfill slurry is: pure tailings < backfill slurry mixed with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) < backfill slurry mixed with FA1 < backfill slurry mixed with FA2. The higher the FA dosage, the greater the viscosity. The order of the UCS of backfill is: backfill with OPC > backfill with FA1 > backfill with FA2. The higher the FA dosage, the smaller the UCS. The UCS of all backfill samples increased with the increase of curing time (CT). The relations between the viscosity and UCS of backfill present the positively linear functions. It is feasible to use viscosity to predict the UCS of backfill, and the error between the UCS predicted value and the test value is mostly controlled within 10%. Ultimately, the findings of the experimental work will provide a scientific reference for the mine to design the strength of the backfill.
The Charge State of Pt in Binary Compounds and Synthetic Minerals Determined by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Calculations
Authors: Evstigneeva Polina V. , Trigub Alexander L. , Chareev Dmitriy A. , Nickolsky Max S. , Tagirov Boris R.
Published: January 2021

The binary synthetic compounds of Pt with chalcogens (O, S, Se, Te), pnictogens (As, Sb, Bi), and intermetallic compounds with Ga, In, and Sn of various stoichiometry were studied via X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The partial atomic charges of Pt in the compounds were computed using quantum chemical density functional theory (DFT) based methods: the Bader (QTAIM) method, and the density-derived electrostatic and chemical (DDEC6) approach. Strong positive correlations were established between the calculated partial atomic charges of Pt and the electronegativity (χ) of ligands. The partial charge of Pt in PtL2 compounds increases much sharply when the ligand electronegativity increases than the Pt partial charge in PtL compounds. The effect of the ligand-to-Pt atomic ratio on the calculated Pt partial charge depended on ligand electronegativity. The DDEC6 charge of Pt increases sharply with the growth of the number of ligands in PtSn (n = 1, 2; electronegativity χ(S) >> χ(Pt)), weakly depends on the phase composition in PtTen (n = 1, 2; χ(Te) is slightly lower than χ(Pt)), and decreases (becomes more negative) with increase of the ligand-to-Pt ratio in intermetallic compounds with electron donors (χ(L) < χ(Pt), L = Ga, In, Sn). According to XANES spectroscopy, the number of 5d (L2,3 absorption edges) and 6p (L1-edge) electrons at the Pt site decreased when ligand electronegativity increased in chalcogenides and pnictides groups. An increase of the ligand-to-Pt ratio resulted in the increase of the Pt L3-edge white line intensity and area in all studied compounds. In the case of chalcogenides and pnictides, this behavior was consistent with the electronegativity rule as it indicated a loss of Pt 5d electrons caused by the increase of the number of ligands, i.e., acceptors of electrons. However, in the case of ligands–electron donors (Te, Sn, Ga, In) this observation is in apparent contradiction with the electronegativity arguments as it indicates the increase of the number of Pt 5d-shell vacancies (holes) with the increase of the number of the ligands, for which the opposite trend is expected. This behavior can be explained in the framework of the charge compensation model. The loss of the Pt d-electrons in compounds with low ligand electronegativity (χ(Pt) > χ(L)) was overcompensated by the gain of the hybridized s-p electron density, which was confirmed by Pt L1 - edge spectra analysis. As a result, the total electron density at the Pt site followed the electronegativity rule, i.e., it increased with the growth of the number of the ligands-electron donors. The empirical correlations between the Pt partial atomic charges and parameters of XANES spectral features were used to identify the state of Pt in pyrite, and can be applied to determine the state of Pt in other ore minerals.
Effect of Air Entrainment on Cemented Mine Backfill Properties: Analysis Based on Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Hefni Mohammed , Hassani Ferri
Published: January 2021

As part of an extensive research program exploring the potential benefits of using air-entraining admixtures in mine backfill, the experimental study presented in this paper investigates the effect of cement and entrained air dosages on mine backfill unconfined compressive strength (UCS), fresh density, and dry density. Backfill specimens were prepared using silica sand, normal Portland cement, water, and an entrained air admixture. An experimental design with response surface methodology was adopted to develop predictive mathematical models and analyze the results. The results demonstrated that an entrained air dosage of 3.5% could improve the UCS of the mine backfill owing to better dispersion of cement particles. However, a further increase in the dosage reduced the UCS as well as the fresh and dry densities by approximately 200 and 120 kg/m3, respectively. Study results imply that using air-entraining admixtures can potentially enhance mine backfill flowability and reduce the density, thus providing safer and more sustainable working conditions in an underground mining environment.
Microwave-Assisted Synthesis, Characterization and Modeling of CPO-27-Mg Metal-Organic Framework for Drug Delivery
Authors: Kudelin Anton I. , Papathanasiou Konstantinos , Isaeva Vera , Caro Juergen , Salmi Tapio , Kustov Leonid M.
Published: January 2021

The coordination polymer CPO-27-Mg was rapidly synthesized under microwave irradiation. This material exhibits a sufficiently high drug loading towards aspirin (~8% wt.) and paracetamol (~14% wt.). The binding of these two molecules with the inner surface of the metal-organic framework was studied employing the Gaussian and Plane Wave approach of the Density Functional Theory. The structure of CPO-27-Mg persists after the adsorption of aspirin or paracetamol and their desorption energies, being quite high, decrease under solvent conditions.
A Rational Fabrication Method for Low Switching-Temperature VO2
Authors: Pósa László , Molnár György , Kalas Benjamin , Baji Zsófia , Czigány Zsolt , Petrik Péter , Volk János
Published: January 2021

Due to its remarkable switching effect in electrical and optical properties, VO2 is a promising material for several applications. However, the stoichiometry control of multivalent vanadium oxides, especially with a rational deposition technique, is still challenging. Here, we propose and optimize a simple fabrication method for VO2 rich layers by the oxidation of metallic vanadium in atmospheric air. It was shown that a sufficiently broad annealing time window of 3.0–3.5 h can be obtained at an optimal oxidation temperature of 400 °C. The presence of VO2 was detected by selected area diffraction in a transmission electron microscope. According to the temperature dependent electrical measurements, the resistance contrast (R30 °C/R100 °C) varied between 44 and 68, whereas the optical switching was confirmed using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometric measurement by monitoring the complex refractive indices. The obtained phase transition temperature, both for the electrical resistance and for the ellipsometric angles, was found to be 49 ± 7 °C, i.e., significantly lower than that of the bulk VO2 of 68 ± 6 °C.
A Review of Graphene-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Biosensors: Current Status and Future Prospects
Authors: Nurrohman Devi Taufiq , Chiu Nan-Fu
Published: January 2021

The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor has become a powerful analytical tool for investigating biomolecular interactions. There are several methods to excite surface plasmon, such as coupling with prisms, fiber optics, grating, nanoparticles, etc. The challenge in developing this type of biosensor is to increase its sensitivity. In relation to this, graphene is one of the materials that is widely studied because of its unique properties. In several studies, this material has been proven theoretically and experimentally to increase the sensitivity of SPR. This paper discusses the current development of a graphene-based SPR biosensor for various excitation methods. The discussion begins with a discussion regarding the properties of graphene in general and its use in biosensors. Simulation and experimental results of several excitation methods are presented. Furthermore, the discussion regarding the SPR biosensor is expanded by providing a review regarding graphene-based Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) biosensor to provide an overview of the development of materials in the biosensor in the future.
The Acute and Chronic Cognitive Effects of a Sage Extract: A Randomized, Placebo Controlled Study in Healthy Humans
Authors: Wightman Emma L. , Jackson Philippa A. , Spittlehouse Bethany , Heffernan Thomas , Guillemet Damien , Kennedy David O.
Published: January 2021

The sage (Salvia) plant contains a host of terpenes and phenolics which interact with mechanisms pertinent to brain function and improve aspects of cognitive performance. However, previous studies in humans have looked at these phytochemicals in isolation and following acute consumption only. A preclinical in vivo study in rodents, however, has demonstrated improved cognitive outcomes following 2-week consumption of CogniviaTM, a proprietary extract of both Salvia officinalis polyphenols and Salvia lavandulaefolia terpenoids, suggesting that a combination of phytochemicals from sage might be more efficacious over a longer period of time. The current study investigated the impact of this sage combination on cognitive functions in humans with acute and chronic outcomes. Participants (n = 94, 25 M, 69 F, 30–60 years old) took part in this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel groups design where a comprehensive array of cognitions were assessed 120- and 240-min post-dose acutely and following 29-day supplementation with either 600 mg of the sage combination or placebo. A consistent, significant benefit of the sage combination was observed throughout working memory and accuracy task outcome measures (specifically on the Corsi Blocks, Numeric Working Memory, and Name to Face Recall tasks) both acutely (i.e., changes within day 1 and day 29) and chronically (i.e., changes between day 1 to day 29). These results fall slightly outside of those reported previously with single Salvia administration, and therefore, a follow-up study with the single and combined extracts is required to confirm how these effects differ within the same cohort.
Time-Restricted Eating and Metabolic Syndrome: Current Status and Future Perspectives
Authors: Świątkiewicz Iwona , Woźniak Alina , Taub Pam R.
Published: January 2021

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) occurs in ~30% of adults and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. MetS reflects the clustering of individual cardiometabolic risk factors including central obesity, elevated fasting plasma glucose, dyslipidemia, and elevated blood pressure. Erratic eating patterns such as eating over a prolonged period per day and irregular meal timing are common in patients with MetS. Misalignment between daily rhythms of food intake and circadian timing system can contribute to circadian rhythm disruption which results in abnormal metabolic regulation and adversely impacts cardiometabolic health. Novel approaches which aim at restoring robust circadian rhythms through modification of timing and duration of daily eating represent a promising strategy for patients with MetS. Restricting eating period during a day (time-restricted eating, TRE) can aid in mitigating circadian disruption and improving cardiometabolic outcomes. Previous pilot TRE study of patients with MetS showed the feasibility of TRE and improvements in body weight and fat, abdominal obesity, atherogenic lipids, and blood pressure, which were observed despite no overt attempt to change diet quantity and quality or physical activity. The present article aims at giving an overview of TRE human studies of individuals with MetS or its components, summarizing current clinical evidence for improving cardiometabolic health through TRE intervention in these populations, and presenting future perspectives for an implementation of TRE to treat and prevent MetS. Previous TRE trials laid the groundwork and indicate a need for further clinical research including large-scale controlled trials to determine TRE efficacy for reducing long-term cardiometabolic risk, providing tools for sustained lifestyle changes and, ultimately, improving overall health in individuals with MetS.
Dietary Quality Determined by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 and Biomarkers of Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in Middle-to-Older Aged Adults
Authors: Millar Seán R. , Navarro Pilar , Harrington Janas M. , Perry Ivan J. , Phillips Catherine M.
Published: January 2021

Low-grade systemic inflammation is associated with a range of chronic diseases. Diet may modulate inflammation and represents a promising therapeutic target to reduce metabolic dysfunction. To date, no study has examined Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) diet score associations with biomarkers of inflammation. Thus, our objective was to assess relationships between the HEI-2015 score and a range of inflammatory biomarkers in a cross-sectional sample of 1989 men and women aged 46–73 years, to test the hypothesis that better dietary quality would be associated with more favourable circulating levels of inflammatory biomarkers. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, adipocytokines, acute-phase response proteins, coagulation factors and white blood cell counts were determined. Correlation and linear regression analyses were used to test HEI-2015 diet score relationships with biomarker concentrations. Higher dietary quality as determined by the HEI-2015 was associated with lower c-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 concentrations, white blood cell (WBC) counts and its constituents, adjusting for sex and age. Associations with CRP concentrations and WBC counts persisted in the fully adjusted models. No associations with complement component 3, tumour necrosis factor alpha, adiponectin, leptin, resistin or plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels were identified. Our data suggest that dietary quality, determined by the HEI-2015 score, in middle-to-older aged adults is associated with inflammatory biomarkers related to cardiometabolic health.
Breakfast Food Advertising and Prevention of Obesity: Analysis of the Nutritional Value of the Products and Discursive Strategies Used in the Breakfast Ads from 2015 to 2019
Authors: Montaña Blasco Mireia , Jiménez-Morales Mònika
Published: January 2021

Breakfast is widely considered the most important meal of the day. Despite this, the consumption of ready to eat industrial products with low nutritional value is increasing. This study correlated longitudinally the nutritional value of breakfast products with advertising discursive strategies. The research design applied quantitative analysis to compile all media advertising data from 2015 to 2019, qualitative analysis of the content, and a study of the adverts’ discourse. Moreover, a Nutri-score analysis was used to determine the products’ nutritional value. Results indicated that breakfast products advertised in Spain presented a low or very low nutritional value. In addition, they showed that the lower the nutritional value of the product, the greater the proportion of positive emotions or moods that emerge from the discourse used in the advertisement. To establish effective policies for the prevention of obesity, greater involvement of the government, and better self-regulation mechanisms for the food industry, communication agencies, and advertisers are needed. In this sense, the hedonistic language used in advertisements for unhealthy food must treated as a priority. This measure would have the aim not only of protecting minors from ads for unhealthy food that are broadcast during breakfast time but would also generate healthy eating patterns within the family.