bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Species Diversity and Distribution of Macrophytes in Different Wetland Ecosystems
Authors: Khan Khalid , Shah Ghulam Mujtaba , Saqib Zafeer , Rahman Inayat Ur , Haq Shiekh Marifatul , Khan Muazzam Ali , Ali Niaz , Sakhi Shazia , Aziz-ud-Din  , Nawaz Ghazala , Rahim Fazli , Rasheed Rabab Ahmed , Al Farraj Dunia A. , Elshikh Mohamed S.
Published: April 2022

Wetlands are vital and dynamic components of the global ecosystem, providing a wide range of ecosystem services such as water control and biodiversity. During 2015–2019, plant diversity and distribution of wetlands were studied in forty areas of the Mardan division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 282 vascular wetland plant species were identified, divided into 192 genera and 73 families. Poaceae, with 41 species, is the most diverse family of wetland plants, followed by Asteraceae, with 26 species. In the present study, wetland plants are classified based on the Cook classification system. It is interesting to note that all the life forms were present in the study area except Plankton. Helophyte life form was represented by the highest number of plants with 177 plants and 62.5 percent of total wetland plants, followed by Tenagophyte with 42 plant species (14.8%) and Hyperhydate with 27 plant species (9.5%). Based on the distribution pattern of 282 species in 40 wetland sites, the most common plant species found was Euphorbia helioscopia, recorded from 36 locations, followed by Cynodon dactylon which was found in 32 locations. In Mardan division, the Gulshan Abad Khuwar had the highest number of species occurrences (83 species) accounting for 32% of all species, followed by Alo Khwar (59 species, 23%) and Hathian Khwar (50 species, 19%). The current work presents a comprehensive and field-based detailed survey of wetland plant distribution in this region, filling knowledge gaps in the Himalayas in particular, and having broader implications for wetland management policy and practice. Unfortunately, wetlands of the research area are facing high pressure due to an increase in human population, overgrazing, deforestation, construction of buildings and roads. The filling up of these water bodies is resulting in the loss of hydrophytic species diversity. Therefore, these wetlands need proper attention and effective protection from anthropogenic disturbances.
The Thermal Imbalances Recorded at the NE Rift during the 2012 Explosive Activity at the South East Cone (Mt. Etna, Italy)
Authors: Diliberto Iole Serena , Gennaro Emanuela
Published: April 2022

Mild thermal anomalies are sensitive to change in the advection processes in a volcanic system. A mild thermal anomaly, near the top of the North-East Rift of Mt. Etna (Italy), has been monitored from January 2010 to September 2012 by means of four temperature sensors buried in the shallow ground. The pulses of the convective circulation have been tracked and the diffuse heat flux has been evaluated. The positive pulses of the convective front reflected the local increases of volcanic degassing; conversely, the negative pulses showed the contraction of the convective front emerging through the North-East Rift. The steam condensation depth fluctuated below the monitoring site, from depths of a couple of meters to more than 30 meters, while the New South-East crater was erupting. The data hourly recorded, relative to the 2012 eruptive period, were compared to the radiant energy released by the paroxysms. We registered a dramatic decrease in the diffuse heat flux several hours before the onset of the two most energetic paroxysms (12 and 23 April). Thereafter, the convective front (the steam condensation depth) showed many negative pulses, reaching the deepest recorded levels. Thermal transients could be one of the early signals, possibly heralding transitions in the dynamic equilibrium conditions.
Modulation Characteristics of High-Speed Transistor Lasers
Authors: Fan Lutai , Jia Peng , Lei Yuxin , Cui Qiang , Chen Yongyi , Qin Li , Liang Lei , Qiu Cheng , Song Yue , Wang Yubing , Ning Yongqiang , Wang Lijun
Published: April 2022

The spontaneous emission recombination lifetime of carriers in the active region of transistor lasers (TLs) is significantly reduced due to the accelerated carrier transport in the base region under the collector bias. Thus, it has the potential for use as a high-speed optical fiber communication light source. The unique three-electrode structure of TL notably enriches the modulation methods of the light source. As an important parameter to measure the data transfer rate, the modulation bandwidth of TL has been studied extensively. This paper briefly analyzes the inherent characteristics and advantages of TL and then discusses the progress in the research on TL modulation characteristics. Currently, the common methods to increase the modulation rate include optimizing the device structure, intracavity photon-assisted tunneling, and adding external auxiliary circuits. Through these techniques, single quantum well GaAs- based TL can achieve error-free transmission of 22 Gb/s, and simulation data show that for InP- based TL, this can reach 40 Gb/s. Finally, the challenges faced by TL in the area of optical fiber communication are elucidated.
Analysis of the Effect of the Tool Shape on the Performance of Pre-Cutting Machines during Tunneling Using Linear Cutting Tests
Authors: Kim Han-eol , Nam Kyoung-min , Kyeon Tae-su , Rehman Hafeezur , Yoo Han-kyu
Published: April 2022

Owing to several advantages, mechanical pre-cutting techniques were first introduced in the United States and subsequently used in Europe for tunneling. Pre-cutting machines perform mechanical excavation tunneling using cutting tools such as tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and roadheaders. Linear cutting tests are reliable and widely used to predict the performance of TBMs and roadheaders. In this study, the effect of the cutting tool shape of a pre-cutting machine was analyzed using linear cutting tests. Assuming the basic shape of the tool, the clearance and rake angles of the tool were designated as variables that determine the shape. The experimental results for samples with different mechanical properties were analyzed considering the cutting force, cutting volume, and specific energy, which were inversely related to the clearance angle. Initially, the force decreased significantly as the clearance angle increased from 0° to 5°, and then converged at angles of 10° and higher. However, the cutting volume decreased linearly with angles. The specific energy behaved similarly to the force. Compared with the clearance angle, the rake angle slightly affected the cutting force, volume, and specific energy. When the rake angle increased from 0° to 5°, the cutting force and volume decreased slightly; however, both increased after 5°. The specific energy exhibited a similar trend.
Insight into the Preparation of MgAl-Layered Double Hydroxide (LDH) Intercalated with Nitrates and Chloride Adsorption Ability Study
Authors: Cao Yanhui , Fang Shuo , Chen Kaifeng , Qi Haixia , Zhang Xinyue , Huang Congshu , Wang Jingjing , Liu Jianchun
Published: April 2022

In recent years, layered double hydroxide (LDH) has attracted extensive attention of researchers in the field of corrosion protection due to its unique structure and anion exchange characteristics. However, its chloride adsorption capacity remains to be further optimized to increase its corrosion protection ability. In this work, the influence of reactant concentration on the prepared MgAl-LDH intercalated with nitrates was investigated, and the morphology, composition, and structure were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy/energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM/EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The results indicate that the reactant concentration did not have an obvious influence on the particle size and morphology of LDH, while the composition and crystalline structure were changed to some extent. The corresponding reasons were interpreted deeply. The chloride absorption behavior was investigated, and the powder after immersion in NaCl solutions with different concentrations was characterized by XRD to explain the difference in chloride adsorption amounts. The MgAl-LDH powder synthesized at higher concentrations presented excellent chloride adsorption ability with a Qm value of 155.88 mg/g, which was much better than that reported in the literature. This work demonstrated the superior chloride adsorption of the synthesized MgAl-LDH, and it is of great significance for providing a solid foundation and guidance for the industrial application of LDH in the field of corrosion protection in the future.
Superensemble Approach to S2S Model for Predicting Surface Air Temperature in Summer in East Asia from 2016 to 2020
Authors: Wie Jieun , Kang Jinhee , Moon Byung-Kwon
Published: April 2022

A multimodel superensemble technique was applied to improve the accuracy of a model predicting the subseasonal surface air temperatures in East Asia. Superensemble forecast data based on seven subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) forecast models were produced for the initial times from May to August in 2016–2020 and forecast days in weeks 1–4. Superensemble techniques based on the root-mean-square error ensemble mean (SUPR) and the linear regression coefficient ensemble mean (SUPL) were evaluated and compared with the forecast bias-removed ensemble mean (ENS) data. The magnitudes of the forecasting root-mean-square errors (RMSE) of the SUPR and SUPL methods were 4.2% and 13.8% lower, respectively, than that of the ENS method, and the most significant effect was in 2020. The RMSE improvements of SUPR and SUPL were high when the initial date was in May, June, and August, and the forecast date was within weeks 1–4. Applying multimodel superensemble methods effectively reduced the forecasting errors of the S2S models. If weight coefficients based on the characteristics of the models are appropriately applied, the forecasting performance can be significantly improved.
Vegetation Greenness Dynamics in the Western Greater Khingan Range of Northeast China Based on Dendrochronology
Authors: Dong Jibin , Yin Tingting , Liu Hongxiang , Sun Lu , Qin Siqi , Zhang Yang , Liu Xiao , Fan Peixian , Wang Hui , Zheng Peiming , Wang Renqing
Published: April 2022

Understanding the vegetation greenness dynamics in the forest–steppe transition zone is essential for ecosystem management, and in order to study ecological changes in the region. This study provides a valuable record of the vegetation greenness dynamics in the western Greater Khingan Range over the past 193 years (1826–2018) based on tree-ring data represented by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The reconstructed vegetation greenness dynamics record contains a total of 32 years of high vegetation greenness and 37 years of low vegetation greenness, together occupying 35.8% of the entire reconstructed period (193 years). Climate (precipitation) is the main influence on the vegetation greenness dynamics at this site, but human activities have also had a significant impact over the last few decades. The magnitude, frequency, and duration of extreme changes in vegetation greenness dynamics have increased significantly, with progressively shorter intervals. Analyses targeting human behavior have shown that the density of livestock, agricultural land area, and total population have gradually increased, encroaching on forests and grasslands and reducing the inter-annual variability. After 2002, the government implemented projects to return farmland to its original ecosystems, and for the implementation of new land management practices (which are more ecologically related); as such, the vegetation conditions began to improve. These findings will help us to understand the relationship between climate change and inter- and intra- annual dynamics in northeastern China, and to better understand the impact of human activities on vegetation greenness dynamics.
Tumor Lysis Syndrome: An Endless Challenge in Onco-Nephrology
Authors: Lupușoru Gabriela , Ailincăi Ioana , Frățilă Georgiana , Ungureanu Oana , Andronesi Andreea , Lupușoru Mircea , Banu Mihaela , Văcăroiu Ileana , Dina Constantin , Sinescu Ioanel
Published: April 2022

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a common cause of acute kidney injury in patients with malignancies, and it is a frequent condition for which the nephrologist is consulted in the case of the hospitalized oncological patient. Recognizing the patients at risk of developing TLS is essential, and so is the prophylactic treatment. The initiation of treatment for TLS is a medical emergency that must be addressed in a multidisciplinary team (oncologist, nephrologist, critical care physician) in order to reduce the risk of death and that of chronic renal impairment. TLS can occur spontaneously in the case of high tumor burden or may be caused by the initiation of highly efficient anti-tumor therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, dexamethasone, monoclonal antibodies, CAR-T therapy, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. It is caused by lysis of tumor cells and the release of cellular components in the circulation, resulting in electrolytes and metabolic disturbances that can lead to organ dysfunction and even death. The aim of this paper is to review the scientific data on the updated definition of TLS, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and recognition of patients at risk of developing TLS, as well as to point out the recent advances in TLS treatment.
The Impact of RIPK1 Kinase Inhibition on Atherogenesis: A Genetic and a Pharmacological Approach
Authors: Puylaert Pauline , Coornaert Isabelle , Neutel Cédric H. G. , Dondelinger Yves , Delanghe Tom , Bertrand Mathieu J. M. , Guns Pieter-Jan , De Meyer Guido R. Y. , Martinet Wim
Published: April 2022

RIPK1 (receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1) enzymatic activity drives both apoptosis and necroptosis, a regulated form of necrosis. Because necroptosis is involved in necrotic core development in atherosclerotic plaques, we investigated the effects of a RIPK1S25D/S25D mutation, which prevents activation of RIPK1 kinase, on atherogenesis in ApoE−/− mice. After 16 weeks of western-type diet (WD), atherosclerotic plaques from ApoE−/− RIPK1S25D/S25D mice were significantly larger compared to ApoE−/− RIPK1+/+ mice (167 ± 34 vs. 78 ± 18 × 103 µm2, p = 0.01). Cell numbers (350 ± 34 vs. 154 ± 33 nuclei) and deposition of glycosaminoglycans (Alcian blue: 31 ± 6 vs. 14 ± 4%, p = 0.023) were increased in plaques from ApoE−/− RIPK1S25D/S25D mice while macrophage content (Mac3: 2.3 ± 0.4 vs. 9.8 ± 2.4%, p = 0.012) was decreased. Plaque apoptosis was not different between both groups. In contrast, pharmacological inhibition of RIPK1 kinase with GSK’547 (10 mg/kg BW/day) in ApoE−/− Fbn1C1039G+/− mice, a model of advanced atherosclerosis, did not alter plaque size after 20 weeks WD, but induced apoptosis (TUNEL: 136 ± 20 vs. 62 ± 9 cells/mm2, p = 0.004). In conclusion, inhibition of RIPK1 kinase activity accelerated plaque progression in ApoE−/− RIPK1S25D/S25D mice and induced apoptosis in GSK’547-treated ApoE−/− Fbn1C1039G+/− mice. Thus, without directly comparing the genetic and pharmacological studies, it can be concluded that targeting RIPK1 kinase activity does not limit atherogenesis.
Asthma and Post-Asthmatic Fibrosis: A Search for New Promising Molecular Markers of Transition from Acute Inflammation to Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Savin Innokenty , Markov Andrey , Zenkova Marina , Sen’kova Aleksandra
Published: April 2022

Asthma is a heterogeneous pulmonary disorder, the progression and chronization of which leads to airway remodeling and fibrogenesis. To understand the molecular mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis development, key genes forming the asthma-specific regulome and involved in lung fibrosis formation were revealed using a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. The bioinformatics data were validated using a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma and post-asthmatic fibrosis. The performed analysis revealed a range of well-known pro-fibrotic markers (Cat, Ccl2, Ccl4, Ccr2, Col1a1, Cxcl12, Igf1, Muc5ac/Muc5b, Spp1, Timp1) and a set of novel genes (C3, C3ar1, Col4a1, Col4a2, Cyp2e1, Fn1, Thbs1, Tyrobp) mediating fibrotic changes in lungs already at the stage of acute/subacute asthma-driven inflammation. The validation of genes related to non-allergic bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis on asthmatic/fibrotic lungs allowed us to identify new universal genes (Col4a1 and Col4a2) associated with the development of lung fibrosis regardless of its etiology. The similarities revealed in the expression profiles of nodal fibrotic genes between asthma-driven fibrosis in mice and nascent idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in humans suggest a tight association of identified genes with the early stages of airway remodeling and can be considered as promising predictors and early markers of pulmonary fibrosis.
Rapid Capturing and Chemiluminescent Sensing of Programmed Death Ligand-1 Expressing Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Khan Adeel , Di Kaili , Khan Haroon , He Nongyue , Li Zhiyang
Published: April 2022

Cancer specific extracellular vesicles (EVs) are of significant clinical relevance, for instance programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expressing EVs (PD-L1@EVs) have been shown to be ideal biomarker for non-invasive diagnosis of cancer and can predate the response of cancer patients to anti-PD-1/PD-L-1 immunotherapy. The development of sensitive and straightforward methods for detecting PD-L1@EVs can be a vital tool for non-invasive diagnosis of cancer. Most of the contemporary methods for EVs detection have limitations such as involvement of long and EV’s loss prone isolation methods prior to detection or they have employed expensive antibodies and instruments to accomplish detection. Therefore, we designed an ultracentrifugation-free and antibody-free sensing assay for PD-L1@EV by integrating Titanium oxide (TiO2) coated magnetic beads (Fe3O4@TiO2) rapid capturing of EVs from undiluted serum with aptamers specificity and chemiluminescence (CL) sensitivity. To accomplish this we used Fe3O4@TiO2 beads to rapidly capture EVs from the undiluted patient serum and added biotin labelled PD-L1 aptamer to specifically recognize PD-L1@EVs. Later, added streptavidin-modified Alkaline phosphates (ALP) taking advantage of biotin-streptavidin strong binding. Addition of CDP-star, a chemiluminescent substrate of ALP, initiates the chemiluminiscense that was recorded using spectrophotometer. The sensing assay showed high sensitivity with limit of detection (LOD) as low as 2.584×105 EVs/mL and a wider linear correlation of CL intensity (a.u.) with the concentration of PD-L1@EVs from 105 to 108 EVs/mL. To examine the clinical utility of sensing assay we used undiluted serum samples from lung cancer patients and healthy individuals and successfully discern between healthy individuals and lung cancer patients. We are optimistic that the sensing assay can ameliorate our ability to be able to diagnose lung cancer non-invasively and can be helpful to predate the patient’s response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy.
Is Interstitial Chemotherapy with Carmustine (BCNU) Wafers Effective against Local Recurrence of Glioblastoma? A Pharmacokinetic Study by Measurement of BCNU in the Tumor Resection Cavity
Authors: Ohnishi Takanori , Yamashita Daisuke , Inoue Akihiro , Suehiro Satoshi , Ohue Shiro , Kunieda Takeharu
Published: April 2022

The effectiveness of carmustine (BCNU) wafers on local recurrence of glioblastoma (GBM) remains contentious. We investigated the accumulating high-dose effects of BCNU released from the wafers on the survival of GBM patients by measuring BCNU concentration in the resection cavity of GBM over time. BCNU wafers (Gliadel®) were implanted with an Ommaya device in 15 patients, including 12 patients with GBM. BCNU concentrations in the tumor resection cavity were measured for 30 days postoperatively. The area under the curve (AUC)all was calculated from BCNU concentration curves, and the relationships between AUCall and survival, tumor phenotypes on MRI, and recurrence patterns were analyzed. The BCNU concentration was maximal 1 h postoperatively, rapidly decreased within 24 h, and remained relatively high for 7 days. GBM patients were classified into two groups: early recurrence (ER) and late or no recurrence (LN), using median progression-free survival as the cut-off. AUCall tended to be lower in the ER group than in the LN group, but the difference was not significant. MRI revealed that all patients in the ER group had highly invasive GBMs, whereas all patients in the LN group had less-invasive GBMs. A total of 9 patients experienced recurrence, with 6 local, 2 diffuse, and 1 disseminated patterns. No differences in AUCall were seen between local and non-local recurrence groups. Total BCNU concentrations did not correlate with tumor progression or survival. However, a high concentration of BCNU may have potential to provide some survival benefit for less-invasive type GBM.
Music Interventions and Delirium in Adults: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Golubovic Jelena , Neerland Bjørn Erik , Aune Dagfinn , Baker Felicity A.
Published: April 2022

Delirium is a neuropsychiatric syndrome represented by an acute disturbance in attention, awareness and cognition, highly prevalent in older, and critically ill patients, and associated with poor outcomes. This review synthesized existing evidence on the effectiveness of music interventions on delirium in adults, and music interventions (MIs), psychometric assessments and outcome measures used. We searched MEDLINE, PsychINFO, SCOPUS, Clinical Trials and CENTRAL for quantitative designs comparing any MIs to standard care or another intervention. From 1150 studies 12 met the inclusion criteria, and 6 were included in the meta-analysis. Narrative synthesis showed that most studies focused on prevention, few assessed delirium severity, with the majority of studies reporting beneficial effects. The summary relative risk for incident delirium comparing music vs. no music in postsurgical and critically ill older patients was 0.52 (95% confidential interval (CI): 0.20–1.35, I2 = 79.1%, heterogeneity <0.0001) for the random effects model and 0.47 (95% CI: 0.34–0.66) using the fixed effects model. Music listening interventions were more commonly applied than music therapy delivered by credentialed music therapists, and delirium assessments methods were heterogeneous, including both standardized tools and systematic observations. Better designed studies are needed addressing effectiveness of MIs in specific patient subgroups, exploring the correlations between intervention-types/dosages and delirium symptoms.
Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on the Primary Motor Cortex of Individuals with Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kim Hyunjoong , Jung Jihye , Park Sungeon , Joo Younglan , Lee Sangbong , Lee Seungwon
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which is recommended for the improvement of some pain-related symptoms and for antidepressant treatment, on the primary motor cortex (M1) in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). We searched for studies comparing rTMS and sham rTMS in the M1 of FM patients. Pain intensity, quality of life, health status, and depression were compared with or without rTMS for at least 10 sessions. We searched four databases. Quality assessment and quantitative analysis were performed using RevMan 5.4. After screening, five randomized controlled trials of 170 patients with FM were included in the analysis. As a result of the meta-analysis of rTMS on the M1 of individuals with FM, high-frequency rTMS resulted in a significant improvement on quality of life (MD = −2.50; 95% CI: −3.99 to −1.01) compared with sham rTMS. On the other hand, low-frequency rTMS resulted in a significant improvement on health status (MD = 15.02; 95% CI: 5.59 to 24.45). The application of rTMS to the M1 is proposed as an adjunctive measure in the treatment of individuals with FM. Because rTMS has various effects depending on each application site, it is necessary to classify sites or set frequencies as variables.
Grape-Seed-Derived Procyanidin Attenuates Chemotherapy-Induced Cognitive Impairment by Suppressing MMP-9 Activity and Related Blood–Brain-Barrier Damage
Authors: Song Chao , Gao Chao , Wang Zhenxin
Published: April 2022

(1) Background: Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI) is often observed in cancer patients and impairs their life quality. Grape-seed-orientated procyanidin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, yet its effects in preventing CICI have not been investigated. (2) Method: Adult male mice received 2.3 mg/kg cisplatin or saline injections for three cycles consisting of five daily injections followed by 5 days of rest. Procyanidin or saline was administered 1 h prior to cisplatin treatment. Cognitive testing, gelatin zymography, and blood–brain-barrier (BBB) penetration tests were performed after treatment cessation. RAW264.7 cells were treated by stimulated supernatant of SHSY5Y cells. In addition, high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) expression and MMP-9 activity were tested. (3) Results: Repeated cisplatin treatment increased BBB penetration, MMP-9 activity, impaired performance in contextual fear conditioning, and novel object recognition tasks. The knockout of MMP-9 rescues cognitive impairment and cisplatin-induced upregulation of HMGB1 in SHSY5Y cells. HMGB1/TLR4/IP3K/AKT signaling contributes to the increased MMP-9 activity in RAW264.7 cells. Procyanidin treatment attenuates MMP-9 activity, BBB damage, and CICI. (4) Conclusions: The results indicated that MMP-9 activation and BBB disruption is involved in CICI. Procyanidin may effectively alleviate the harmful effects of cisplatin.
Differentiating Individuals with and without Alcohol Use Disorder Using Resting-State fMRI Functional Connectivity of Reward Network, Neuropsychological Performance, and Impulsivity Measures
Authors: Kamarajan Chella , Ardekani Babak A. , Pandey Ashwini K. , Kinreich Sivan , Pandey Gayathri , Chorlian David B. , Meyers Jacquelyn L. , Zhang Jian , Bermudez Elaine , Kuang Weipeng , Stimus Arthur T. , Porjesz Bernice
Published: April 2022

Individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) may manifest an array of neural and behavioral abnormalities, including altered brain networks, impaired neurocognitive functioning, and heightened impulsivity. Using multidomain measures, the current study aimed to identify specific features that can differentiate individuals with AUD from healthy controls (CTL), utilizing a random forests (RF) classification model. Features included fMRI-based resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) across the reward network, neuropsychological task performance, and behavioral impulsivity scores, collected from thirty abstinent adult males with prior history of AUD and thirty CTL individuals without a history of AUD. It was found that the RF model achieved a classification accuracy of 86.67% (AUC = 93%) and identified key features of FC and impulsivity that significantly contributed to classifying AUD from CTL individuals. Impulsivity scores were the topmost predictors, followed by twelve rsFC features involving seventeen key reward regions in the brain, such as the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, anterior insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and other cortical and subcortical structures. Individuals with AUD manifested significant differences in impulsivity and alterations in functional connectivity relative to controls. Specifically, AUD showed heightened impulsivity and hypoconnectivity in nine connections across 13 regions and hyperconnectivity in three connections involving six regions. Relative to controls, visuo-spatial short-term working memory was also found to be impaired in AUD. In conclusion, specific multidomain features of brain connectivity, impulsivity, and neuropsychological performance can be used in a machine learning framework to effectively classify AUD individuals from healthy controls.
A Comparative Assessment of Replication Stress Markers in the Context of Telomerase
Authors: Meessen Sabine , Najjar Gregoire , Azoitei Anca , Iben Sebastian , Bolenz Christian , Günes Cagatay
Published: April 2022

Aberrant replication stress (RS) is a source of genome instability and has serious implications for cell survival and tumourigenesis. Therefore, the detection of RS and the identification of the underlying molecular mechanisms are crucial for the understanding of tumourigenesis. Currently, three protein markers—p33-phosphorylated replication protein A2 (pRPA2), γ-phosphorylated H2AX (γ-H2AX), and Tumor Protein P53 Binding Protein 1 (53BP1)—are frequently used to detect RS. However, to our knowledge, there is no report that compares their suitability for the detection of different sources of RS. Therefore, in this study, we evaluate the suitability of pRPA2, γ-H2AX, and 53BP1 for the detection of RS caused by different sources of RS. In addition, we examine their suitability as markers of the telomerase-mediated alleviation of RS. For these purposes, we use here telomerase-negative human fibroblasts (BJ) and their telomerase-immortalized counterparts (BJ-hTERT). Replication stress was induced by the ectopic expression of the oncogenic RAS mutant RASG12V (OI-RS), by the knockdown of ploidy-control genes ORP3 or MAD2 (AI-RS), and by treatment with hydrogen peroxide (ROS-induced RS). The level of RS was determined by immunofluorescence staining for pRPA2, γ-H2AX, and 53BP1. Evaluation of the staining results revealed that pRPA2- and γ-H2AX provide a significant and reliable assessment of OI-RS and AI-RS compared to 53BP1. On the other hand, 53BP1 and pRPA2 proved to be superior to γ-H2AX for the evaluation of ROS-induced RS. Moreover, the data showed that among the tested markers, pRPA2 is best suited to evaluate the telomerase-mediated suppression of all three types of RS. In summary, the data indicate that the choice of marker is important for the evaluation of RS activated through different conditions.
How Compatible Are Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Thermal Ablation for Liver Metastases?
Authors: Minami Yasunori , Takaki Haruyuki , Yamakado Koichiro , Kudo Masatoshi
Published: April 2022

Cancer immunotherapy, which reactivates the weakened immune cells of cancer patients, has achieved great success, and several immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now available in clinical practice. Despite promising clinical outcomes, favorable responses are only observed in a fraction of patients, and resistance mechanisms, including the absence of tumor antigens, have been reported. Thermal ablation involves the induction of irreversible damage to cancer cells by localized heat and may result in the release of tumor antigens. The combination of immunotherapy and thermal ablation is an emerging therapeutic option with enhanced efficacy. Since thermal ablation-induced inflammation and increases in tumor antigens have been suggested to promote the cancer-immunity cycle, the combination of immuno-oncology (IO) therapy and thermal ablation may be mutually beneficial. In preclinical and clinical studies, the combination of ICI and thermal ablation significantly inhibited tumor growth, and synergistic antitumor effects appeared to prolong the survival of patients with secondary liver cancer. However, evidence for the efficacy of ICI monotherapy combined with thermal ablation is currently insufficient. Therefore, the clinical feasibility of immune response activation by ICI monotherapy combined with thermal ablation may be limited, and thermal ablation may be more compatible with dual ICIs (the IO–IO combination) to induce strong immune responses.
Crosstalk of Autophagy and Apoptosis
Authors: Sorice Maurizio
Published: April 2022

Autophagy and apoptosis represent two fundamental pathophysiological mechanisms of cell fate regulation. However, the signaling pathways of these processes are significantly interconnected through various mechanisms of crosstalk. Indeed, autophagy/apoptosis crosstalk is still an emerging field, in which an increasing number of molecules are involved, including, for example, PINK1 and ERLINs. On the other hand, this crosstalk involves signal transduction pathways which are strongly dependent on Ca2+. Interestingly, crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis impacts several pathologies, including multiple rheumatic diseases. The purpose of this Special Issue is also to investigate the bioactive properties of drugs with antitumor activity, focusing particularly on the role of anthraquinone derivatives in the regulation of cell death and autophagy crosstalk. This Special Issue of Cells brings together the most recent advances in understanding the various aspects of crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis and the interconnected signaling pathways, implying therapeutic perspectives for the utility of its modulation in an anti-cancer setting.
Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2 Activator Ameliorates Endothelial Dysfunction; Insulin Resistance in Diabetic Mice
Authors: Kimura Toyokazu , Kagami Kazuki , Sato Atsushi , Osaki Ayumu , Ito Kei , Horii Shunpei , Toya Takumi , Masaki Nobuyuki , Yasuda Risako , Nagatomo Yuji , Adachi Takeshi
Published: April 2022

Background: Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase2 (SERCA2) is impaired in various organs in animal models of diabetes. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of an allosteric SERCA2 activator (CDN1163) on glucose intolerance, hepatosteatosis, skeletal muscle function, and endothelial dysfunction in diabetic (db/db) mice. Methods: Either CDN1163 or vehicle was injected intraperitoneally into 16-week-old male control and db/db mice for 5 consecutive days. Results: SERCA2 protein expression was decreased in the aorta of db/db mice. In isometric tension measurements of aortic rings from db/db mice treated with CDN1163, acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation was improved. In vivo intraperitoneal administrations of CDN 1163 also increased ACh-induced relaxation. Moreover, CDN1163 significantly decreased blood glucose in db/db mice at 60 and 120 min during a glucose tolerance test; it also decreased serum insulin levels, hepatosteatosis, and oxygen consumption in skeletal muscle during the early period of exercise in db/db mice. Conclusions: CDN1163 directly improved aortic endothelial dysfunction in db/db mice. Moreover, CDN1163 improved hepatosteatosis, skeletal muscle function, and insulin resistance in db/db mice. The activation of SERCA2 might be a strategy for the all the tissue expressed SERCA2a improvement of endothelial dysfunction and the target for the organs related to insulin resistance.
Comparative Studies of Undoped/Al-Doped/In-Doped ZnO Transparent Conducting Oxide Thin Films in Optoelectronic Applications
Authors: Koralli Panagiota , Fiat Varol Songül , Mousdis George , Mouzakis Dionysios , Merdan Ziya , Kompitsas Michael
Published: April 2022

In this paper, undoped, Al-, and In-doped zinc oxide thin films were deposited. Film growth was performed using the sol–gel technique. The method included (a) preparing homogeneous and stable solutions of zinc acetate 2-hydrate, (b) mixing them with aluminum nitrate and indium acetate in 2-methoxyethanol and 2-aminoethanol solutions with various concentrations, and (c) spin coating them onto transparent glass substrates. After thermal annealing, the films showed a high transparency (80–90%) and good stability. Using typical diagnostic tools, the structural, morphological, optical, and electrical film properties were investigated and linked to the dopant type, and concentrations in view of optoelectronics were investigated.
Au Functionalized SnS2 Nanosheets Based Chemiresistive NO2 Sensors
Authors: Gu Ding , Liu Wei , Wang Jing , Yu Jun , Zhang Jianwei , Huang Baoyu , Rumyantseva Marina N. , Li Xiaogan
Published: April 2022

Layered Au/SnS2 nanosheet based chemiresistive-type sensors were successfully prepared by using an in situ chemical reduction method followed by the hydrothermal treatment. SEM and XRD were used to study the microscopic morphology and crystal lattice structure of the synthesis of Au/SnS2 nanomaterials. TEM and XPS characterization were further carried out to verify the formation of the Schottky barrier between SnS2 nanosheets and Au nanoparticles. The as-fabricated Au/SnS2 nanosheet based sensor demonstrated excellent sensing properties to low-concentrations of NO2, and the response of the sensor to 4 ppm NO2 at 120 °C was approximately 3.94, which was 65% higher than that of the pristine SnS2 (2.39)-based sensor. Moreover, compared to that (220 s/520 s) of the pristine SnS2-based sensor, the response/recovery time of the Au/SnS2-based one was significantly improved, reducing to 42 s/127 s, respectively. The sensor presents a favorable long-term stability with a deviation in the response of less than 4% for 40 days, and a brilliant selectivity to several possible interferents such as NH3, acetone, toluene, benzene, methanol, ethanol, and formaldehyde. The Schottky barrier that formed at the interface between the SnS2 nanosheets and Au nanoparticles modulated the conducting channel of the nanocomposites. The “catalysis effect” and “spillover effect” of noble metals jointly improved the sensitivity of the sensor and effectively decreased the response/recovery time.
IoTwins: Toward Implementation of Distributed Digital Twins in Industry 4.0 Settings
Authors: Costantini Alessandro , Di Modica Giuseppe , Ahouangonou Jean Christian , Duma Doina Cristina , Martelli Barbara , Galletti Matteo , Antonacci Marica , Nehls Daniel , Bellavista Paolo , Delamarre Cedric , Cesini Daniele
Published: April 2022

While the digital twins paradigm has attracted the interest of several research communities over the past twenty years, it has also gained ground recently in industrial environments, where mature technologies such as cloud, edge and IoT promise to enable the cost-effective implementation of digital twins. In the industrial manufacturing field, a digital model refers to a virtual representation of a physical product or process that integrates data taken from various sources, such as application program interface (API) data, historical data, embedded sensor data and open data, and that is capable of providing manufacturers with unprecedented insights into the product’s expected performance or the defects that may cause malfunctions. The EU-funded IoTwins project aims to build a solid platform that manufacturers can access to develop hybrid digital twins (DTs) of their assets, deploy them as close to the data origin as possible (on IoT gateway or on edge nodes) and take advantage of cloud-based resources to off-load intensive computational tasks such as, e.g., big data analytics and machine learning (ML) model training. In this paper, we present the main research goals of the IoTwins project and discuss its reference architecture, platform functionalities and building components. Finally, we discuss an industry-related use case that showcases how manufacturers can leverage the potential of the IoTwins platform to develop and execute distributed DTs for the the predictive-maintenance purpose.
Structural Stability, Thermodynamic and Elastic Properties of Cubic Zr0.5Nb0.5 Alloy under High Pressure and High Temperature
Authors: Yang Xiuxiu , Zhang Shihao , Zhu Hang , Tao Peidong , Huang Lili , Li Mu , Zhang Wei , Li Ying , Zhou Cangtao , Zou Yongtao
Published: April 2022

Structural stability, sound velocities, elasticity, and thermodynamic properties of cubic Zr0.5Nb0.5 alloy have been investigated at high pressure and high temperature by first-principles density functional calculations combined with the quasi-harmonic Debye model. A pronounced pressure-induced shear wave velocity stiffening in Zr0.5Nb0.5 alloy is observed at pressures above ~11 GPa, owing to its structural instability under high pressure, whose anomalous behavior is also observed in the end members of Zr-Nb alloys for Zr at ~13 GPa and for Nb at ~6 GPa upon compression, respectively. In addition, high-pressure elasticity and elastic-correlated properties of cubic Zr0.5Nb0.5 are reported, as compared with previous studies on Zr-Nb alloys with different compositions. A comprehensive study of the thermodynamic properties of cubic Zr0.5Nb0.5, such as heat capacity (Cv), thermal expansion coefficients (α), and Debye temperature (ΘD), are also predicted at pressures and temperatures up to 30 GPa and 1500 K using the quasi-harmonic Debye model.
Crystallographic Origin of Phase Transformation and Lamellar Orientation Control for TiAl-Based Alloys
Authors: Zheng Gong , Peng Haixin , Gu Xinfu , Jin Zhi , Chen Yang , Qi Zhixiang , Xu Hao , Chen Fengrui , Cao Yuede , Feng Chenming , Chen Guang
Published: April 2022

TiAl intermetallics are typical metallic materials involving complex solid-state phase transformations, with crystal orientations that are difficult to control due to multi-transformation variants. However, lamellar orientation control is crucial to the development of a polysynthetic twinned single crystal structure in TiAl-based alloys for jet engines or other high-temperature systems. In this study, β-solidifying TiAl alloys were used to study the relationships between the lamellar structure and the phase transformation process under directional solidification (referred to as the directional phase transformation, DPT). It was found that the β → α phase transition affects the lamellar orientations and that the subsequent process of α → α2 + γ leads to the final formation of the polysynthetic lamellar structure. Detailed analyses based on crystallography show that the β/α phase interface is responsible for the different oriented lamellar structures with the 0° or 45° orientation. With a lower interfacial energy, the 0° oriented α phase nucleates more easily but grows much more slowly than the 45° oriented α phases during DPT, which makes it feasible to control the lamellar orientations for TiAl-based alloys. The crystallographic origin for the control of lamellar orientations was then studied and confirmed by using EBSD in a β-solidifying Ti–Al–Nb alloy.
Behavioral Intention to Resist the Consumption of Wild Animals in China: Netizen Survey
Authors: Zhang Zhongyi , Yang Tingyu , Hu Yuxuan , Cirella Giuseppe T. , Xie Yi
Published: April 2022

Since the beginning of 2020, China has banned the consumption of wild animals to combat the spread of zoonoses. Most existing studies focus on the intention and behavior of wildlife consumption and their causes; however, few have looked at public willingness to resist wildlife consumption, as well as the cause and effects of such actions. In this study, a framework for an extended theory of planned behavior was constructed. Based on a 7-point Likert scale, a sample of 1194 respondents from eight provinces across China was obtained through an online survey. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze netizen behavioral intention to resist consuming wild animals and their causes to provide a reference for the implementation and optimization of relevant policies. The study model passed the goodness-of-fit test, confirming the robustness of the results. The results showed that Chinese netizens’ intention to resist consuming wild animals was moderate, with 55.19% willing to participate in activities against it, i.e., it is important to resist eating wild animals as a standard. Attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and past experience of the Chinese netizen had significant positive effects on resistance intention, i.e., (1) netizens’ current living area with severe outbreaks were more likely to resist wildlife consumption, (2) highly knowledge level netizens were more likely to resist wildlife consumption than less knowledgeable ones, and (3) lower income level had higher behavioral intentions of netizens. The findings suggest that the government must take a lead role in wildlife protection and strengthen its restrictions, laws, and regulations. The media should also be used to promote conservation and popularize a protective message in favor of wild animals. Public quality and assurance of wildlife protection should be culturally reinforced to effectively ban the illegal trade of wild animals and their products.
Modeling and Forecasting the Volatility of NIFTY 50 Using GARCH and RNN Models
Authors: Mahajan Vanshu , Thakan Sunil , Malik Aashish
Published: April 2022

The stock market is constantly shifting and full of unknowns. In India in 2000, technological advancements led to significant growth in the Indian stock market, introducing online share trading via the internet and computers. Hence, it has become essential to manage risk in the Indian stock market, and volatility plays a critical part in assessing the risks of different stock market elements such as portfolio risk management, derivative pricing, and hedging techniques. As a result, several scholars have lately been interested in forecasting stock market volatility. This study analyzed India VIX (NIFTY 50 volatility index) to identify the behavior of the Indian stock market in terms of volatility and then evaluated the forecasting ability of GARCH- and RNN-based LSTM models using India VIX out of sample data. The results indicated that the NIFTY 50 index’s volatility is asymmetric, and leverage effects are evident in the results of the EGARCH (1, 1) model. Asymmetric GARCH models such as EGARCH (1, 1) and TARCH (1, 1) showed slightly better forecasting accuracy than symmetric GARCH models like GARCH (1, 1). The results also showed that overall GARCH models are slightly better than RNN-based LSTM models in forecasting the volatility of the NIFTY 50 index. Both types of models (GARCH models and RNN based LSTM models) fared equally well in predicting the direction of the NIFTY 50 index volatility. In contrast, GARCH models outperformed the LSTM model in predicting the value of volatility.
CellNet: A Lightweight Model towards Accurate LOC-Based High-Speed Cell Detection
Authors: Long Xianlei , Ishii Idaku , Gu Qingyi
Published: April 2022

Label-free cell separation and sorting in a microfluidic system, an essential technique for modern cancer diagnosis, resulted in high-throughput single-cell analysis becoming a reality. However, designing an efficient cell detection model is challenging. Traditional cell detection methods are subject to occlusion boundaries and weak textures, resulting in poor performance. Modern detection models based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have achieved promising results at the cost of a large number of both parameters and floating point operations (FLOPs). In this work, we present a lightweight, yet powerful cell detection model named CellNet, which includes two efficient modules, CellConv blocks and the h-swish nonlinearity function. CellConv is proposed as an effective feature extractor as a substitute to computationally expensive convolutional layers, whereas the h-swish function is introduced to increase the nonlinearity of the compact model. To boost the prediction and localization ability of the detection model, we re-designed the model’s multi-task loss function. In comparison with other efficient object detection methods, our approach achieved state-of-the-art 98.70% mean average precision (mAP) on our custom sea urchin embryos dataset with only 0.08 M parameters and 0.10 B FLOPs, reducing the size of the model by 39.5× and the computational cost by 4.6×. We deployed CellNet on different platforms to verify its efficiency. The inference speed on a graphics processing unit (GPU) was 500.0 fps compared with 87.7 fps on a CPU. Additionally, CellNet is 769.5-times smaller and 420 fps faster than YOLOv3. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that CellNet can achieve an excellent efficiency/accuracy trade-off on resource-constrained platforms.