bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Bellamya purificata Cultivation at Different Stocking Densities on the Dynamics and Assembly of Bacterial Communities in Sediment
Authors: Zhou Mengmeng , Hou Yiran , Jia Rui , Li Bing , Zhu Jian
Published: January 2023

To optimize the integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) model, improve the efficiency of resource utilization, and reduce environmental pollution, Bellamya purificata, as a potential bioremediation species, was studied to investigate the effect of B. purificata culture on the dynamics and assembly of bacterial communities in sediment. Four experimental groups were established at four different densities: 0, 234.38, 468.75, and 937.5 g/m2 (represented as CON, LD, MD, and HD, respectively). Each group was with three replicates. The 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) high-throughput sequencing was used to evaluate the composition, function, and assembly of bacterial communities in sediment. B. purificata cultivation significantly altered the composition and function of the bacterial communities in sediment; at high stocking density, it significantly decreased anaerobic and increased aerobic organic matter decomposition, whereas at low stocking density, it decreased the number of bacteria involved in sulfate reduction and inhibited the denitrification process. B. purificata decreased direct competition and promoted collaboration or niche sharing in bacterial communities, especially at the high stocking density. Moreover, B. purificata cultivation resulted in greater changes in the environmental factors. Variations in dissolved oxygen, pH, total nitrogen, nitrate, and nitrite levels were closely related to the altered composition and function of the bacterial communities. Stochastic processes dominated the bacterial community assembly in the sediment and B. purificata cultivation had limited impacts on the bacterial community assembly. The study provided a reference for the dynamics and assembly of bacterial communities in sediment with different densities of B. purificata cultivation and we hope that the findings will provide a theoretical reference for the optimization of IMTA and improve management strategies for B. purificata polyculture.
Fatty Acids as Potent Modulators of Autophagy Activity in White Adipose Tissue
Authors: Ciesielska Karolina , Gajewska Małgorzata
Published: January 2023

A high-fat diet is one of the causative factors of obesity. The dietary profile of fatty acids is also an important variable in developing obesity, as saturated fatty acids are more obesogenic than monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Overweight and obesity are inseparably connected with the excess of adipose tissue in the body, characterized by hypertrophy and hyperplasia of fat cells, which increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Changes observed within hypertrophic adipocytes result in elevated oxidative stress, unfolded protein accumulation, and increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. One of the processes involved in preservation of cellular homeostasis is autophagy, which is defined as an intracellular lysosome-dependent degradation system that serves to recycle available macromolecules and eliminate damaged organelles. In obesity, activation of autophagy is increased and the process appears to be regulated by different types of dietary fatty acids. This review describes the role of autophagy in adipose tissue and summarizes the current understanding of the effects of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in autophagy modulation in adipocytes.
Interaction between Butyrate and Tumor Necrosis Factor α in Primary Rat Colonocytes
Authors: Souders Christopher L. , Aristizabal-Henao Juan J. , Patuel Sarah J. , Bowden John A. , Zubcevic Jasenka , Martyniuk Christopher J.
Published: January 2023

Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, is utilized by the gut epithelium as energy and it improves the gut epithelial barrier. More recently, it has been associated with beneficial effects on immune and cardiovascular homeostasis. Conversely, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is a pro-inflammatory and pro-hypertensive cytokine. While butyrate and TNFα are both linked with hypertension, studies have not yet addressed their interaction in the colon. Here, we investigated the capacity of butyrate to modulate a host of effects of TNFα in primary rodent colonic cells in vitro. We measured ATP levels, cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and glycolytic activity in colonocytes following exposure to either butyrate or TNFα, or both. To address the potential mechanisms, transcripts related to oxidative stress, cell fate, and cell metabolism (Pdk1, Pdk2, Pdk4, Spr, Slc16a1, Slc16a3, Ppargc1a, Cs, Lgr5, Casp3, Tnfr2, Bax, Bcl2, Sod1, Sod2, and Cat) were measured, and untargeted liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to profile the metabolic responses of colonocytes following exposure to butyrate and TNFα. We found that both butyrate and TNFα lowered cellular ATP levels towards a quiescent cell energy phenotype, characterized by decreased oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification. Co-treatment with butyrate ameliorated TNFα-induced cytotoxicity and the reduction in cell viability. Butyrate also opposed the TNFα-mediated decrease in MMP and mitochondrial-to-intracellular calcium ratios, suggesting that butyrate may protect colonocytes against TNFα-induced cytotoxicity by decreasing mitochondrial calcium flux. The relative expression levels of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (Pdk4) were increased via co-treatment of butyrate and TNFα, suggesting the synergistic inhibition of glycolysis. TNFα alone reduced the expression of monocarboxylate transporters slc16a1 and slc16a3, suggesting effects of TNFα on butyrate uptake into colonocytes. Of the 185 metabolites that were detected with LC-MS, the TNFα-induced increase in biopterin produced the only significant change, suggesting an alteration in mitochondrial biogenesis in colonocytes. Considering the reports of elevated colonic TNFα and reduced butyrate metabolism in many conditions, including in hypertension, the present work sheds light on cellular interactions between TNFα and butyrate in colonocytes that may be important in understanding conditions of the colon.
Neurosurgical Anesthesia: Optimizing Outcomes with Agent Selection
Authors: Nguyen Andrew , Mandavalli Akhil , Diaz Michael Joseph , Root Kevin Thomas , Patel Aashay , Casauay Jed , Perisetla Priyanka , Lucke-Wold Brandon
Published: January 2023

Anesthesia in neurosurgery embodies a vital element in the development of neurosurgical intervention. This undisputed interest has offered surgeons and anesthesiologists an array of anesthetic selections to utilize, though with this allowance comes the equally essential requirement of implementing a maximally appropriate agent. To date, there remains a lack of consensus and official guidance on optimizing anesthetic choice based on operating priorities including hemodynamic parameters (e.g., CPP, ICP, MAP) in addition to the route of procedure and pathology. In this review, the authors detail the development of neuroanesthesia, summarize the advantages and drawbacks of various anesthetic classes and agents, while lastly cohesively organizing the current literature of randomized trials on neuroanesthesia across various procedures.
Adding MRI as a Surveillance Test for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis Can Improve Prognosis
Authors: Yu Su Jong , Yoo Jeong-Ju , Lee Dong Ho , Kim Su Jin , Cho Eun Ju , Kim Se Hyung , Lee Jeong-Hoon , Kim Yoon Jun , Lee Jeong Min , Lee Jae Young , Yoon Jung-Hwan
Published: January 2023

Gadoxetic acid disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect early stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the survival benefit of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI in the surveillance of patients with cirrhosis has not yet been determined. We explored whether the intermittent replacement of ultrasonography (USG) with Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI during HCC surveillance improved the clinical outcomes of patients with cirrhosis. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 421 HCC patients who were newly diagnosed during surveillance. Of these patients, 126 (29.9%) underwent surveillance based on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and USG (USG+MRI group). The patients (295, 70.1%) who did not undergo MRI during surveillance were referred to as the USG group. In the USG+MRI group, 120 (95.2%) of 126 patients were diagnosed with early-stage HCC, whereas 247 (83.7%) of 295 patients were diagnosed with early-stage HCC in the USG group (P = 0.009). The significantly longer overall survival and time to progression in patients in the USG+MRI group compared to the unmatched cohort USG group was consistently observed by inverse probability weighting and propensity score-matched analysis. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI combined surveillance improved the detection of early-stage HCC and clinical outcomes such as overall survival and the time to progression in patients with cirrhosis.
Dexmedetomidine Pre-Treatment of Neonatal Rats Prevents Sevoflurane-Induced Deficits in Learning and Memory in the Adult Animals
Authors: Jimenez-Tellez Nerea , Pehar Marcus , Iqbal Fahad , Casas-Ortiz Alberto , Rice Tiffany , Syed Naweed I.
Published: January 2023

Anesthetics have been shown to cause cytotoxicity, cell death, affect neuronal growth and connectivity in animal models; however, their effects on learning and memory remain to be fully defined. Here, we examined the effects of the inhalation anesthetic sevoflurane (SEV)—both in vivo by examining learning and memory in freely behaving animals, and in vitro using cultured neurons to assess its impact on viability, mitochondrial structure, and function. We demonstrate here that neonatal exposure to sub-clinically used concentrations of SEV results in significant, albeit subtle and previously unreported, learning and memory deficits in adult animals. These deficits involve neuronal cell death, as observed in cell culture, and are likely mediated through perturbed mitochondrial structure and function. Parenthetically, both behavioural deficits and cell death were prevented when the animals and cultured neurons were pre-treated with the anesthetic adjuvant Dexmedetomidine (DEX). Taken together, our data provide direct evidence for sevoflurane-induced cytotoxic effects at the neuronal level while perturbing learning and memory at the behavioural level. In addition, our data underscore the importance of adjuvant agents such as DEX that could potentially counter the harmful effects of commonly used anesthetic agents for better clinical outcomes.
An Immunoinformatics Approach to Design Novel and Potent Multi-Epitope-Based Vaccine to Target Lumpy Skin Disease
Authors: Shahab Muhammad , Alzahrani A. , Duan Xiuyuan , Aslam Muneeba , Abida  , Imran Mohd. , Kamal Mehnaz , Alam Md. , Zheng Guojun
Published: January 2023

The lumpy skin disease (LSD) virus of the Poxviridae family is a serious threat that mostly affects cattle and causes significant economic loss. LSD has the potential to spread widely and its rapidly across borders. Despite the availability of information, there is still no competitive vaccine available for LSD. Therefore, the current study was conducted to develop an epitope-based LSD vaccine that is efficient, secure, and biocompatible and stimulates both innate and adaptive immune responses using immunoinformatics techniques. Initially, putative virion core proteins were manipulated; B-cell and T-cell epitopes have been predicted and connected with the help of adjuvants and linkers. Numerous bioinformatics methods, including antigenicity testing, transmembrane topology screening, allergenicity assessment, conservancy analysis, and toxicity evaluation, were employed to find superior epitopes. Based on promising vaccine candidates and immunogenic potential, the vaccine design was selected. Strong interactions between TLR4 and TLR9 and the anticipated vaccine design were revealed by molecular docking. Finally, based on the high docking score, computer simulations were performed in order to assess the stability, efficacy, and compactness of the constructed vaccine. The simulation outcomes showed that the polypeptide vaccine design was remarkably stable, with high expression, stability, immunogenic qualities, and considerable solubility. Additionally, computer-based research shows that the constructed vaccine provides adequate population coverage, making it a promising candidate for use in the design of vaccines against other viruses within the Poxviridae family and potentially other virus families as well. These outcomes suggest that the epitope-based vaccine developed in this study will be a significant candidate against LSD to control and prevent LSDV-related disorders if further investigated experimentally.
Multi-Omic Profiling, Structural Characterization, and Potent Inhibitor Screening of Evasion-Related Proteins of a Parasitic Nematode, Haemonchus contortus, Surviving Vaccine Treatment
Authors: Palevich Nikola , Maclean Paul H. , Carbone Vincenzo , Jauregui Ruy , Umair Saleh
Published: January 2023

The emergence of drug-resistant parasitic nematodes in both humans and livestock calls for development of alternative and cost-effective control strategies. Barbervax® is the only registered vaccine for the economically important ruminant strongylid Haemonchus contortus. In this study, we compared the microbiome, genome-wide diversity, and transcriptome of H. contortus adult male populations that survived vaccination with an experimental vaccine after inoculation in sheep. Our genome-wide SNP analysis revealed 16 putative candidate vaccine evasion genes. However, we did not identify any evidence for changes in microbial community profiling based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing results of the vaccine-surviving parasite populations. A total of fifty-eight genes were identified as significantly differentially expressed, with six genes being long non-coding (lnc) RNAs and none being putative candidate SNP-associated genes. The genes that highly upregulated in surviving parasites from vaccinated animals were associated with GO terms belonging to predominantly molecular functions and a few biological processes that may have facilitated evasion or potentially lessened the effect of the vaccine. These included five targets: astacin (ASTL), carbonate dehydratase (CA2), phospholipase A2 (PLA2), glutamine synthetase (GLUL), and fatty acid-binding protein (FABP3). Our tertiary structure predictions and modelling analyses were used to perform in silico searches of all published and commercially available inhibitor molecules or substrate analogs with potential broad-spectrum efficacy against nematodes of human and veterinary importance.
A New Insight into MYC Action: Control of RNA Polymerase II Methylation and Transcription Termination
Authors: Scagnoli Fiorella , Palma Alessandro , Favia Annarita , Scuoppo Claudio , Illi Barbara , Nasi Sergio
Published: January 2023

MYC oncoprotein deregulation is a common catastrophic event in human cancer and limiting its activity restrains tumor development and maintenance, as clearly shown via Omomyc, an MYC-interfering 90 amino acid mini-protein. MYC is a multifunctional transcription factor that regulates many aspects of transcription by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), such as transcription activation, pause release, and elongation. MYC directly associates with Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), a protein that methylates a variety of targets, including RNAPII at the arginine residue R1810 (R1810me2s), crucial for proper transcription termination and splicing of transcripts. Therefore, we asked whether MYC controls termination as well, by affecting R1810me2S. We show that MYC overexpression strongly increases R1810me2s, while Omomyc, an MYC shRNA, or a PRMT5 inhibitor and siRNA counteract this phenomenon. Omomyc also impairs Serine 2 phosphorylation in the RNAPII carboxyterminal domain, a modification that sustains transcription elongation. ChIP-seq experiments show that Omomyc replaces MYC and reshapes RNAPII distribution, increasing occupancy at promoter and termination sites. It is unclear how this may affect gene expression. Transcriptomic analysis shows that transcripts pivotal to key signaling pathways are both up- or down-regulated by Omomyc, whereas genes directly controlled by MYC and belonging to a specific signature are strongly down-regulated. Overall, our data point to an MYC/PRMT5/RNAPII axis that controls termination via RNAPII symmetrical dimethylation and contributes to rewiring the expression of genes altered by MYC overexpression in cancer cells. It remains to be clarified which role this may have in tumor development.
Highly Stable InSe-FET Biosensor for Ultra-Sensitive Detection of Breast Cancer Biomarker CA125
Authors: Ji Hao , Wang Zhenhua , Wang Shun , Wang Chao , Zhang Kai , Zhang Yu , Han Lin
Published: January 2023

Two-dimensional materials-based field-effect transistors (FETs) are promising biosensors because of their outstanding electrical properties, tunable band gap, high specific surface area, label-free detection, and potential miniaturization for portable diagnostic products. However, it is crucial for FET biosensors to have a high electrical performance and stability degradation in liquid environments for their practical application. Here, a high-performance InSe-FET biosensor is developed and demonstrated for the detection of the CA125 biomarker in clinical samples. The InSe-FET is integrated with a homemade microfluidic channel, exhibiting good electrical stability during the liquid channel process because of the passivation effect on the InSe channel. The InSe-FET biosensor is capable of the quantitative detection of the CA125 biomarker in breast cancer in the range of 0.01–1000 U/mL, with a detection time of 20 min. This work provides a universal detection tool for protein biomarker sensing. The detection results of the clinical samples demonstrate its promising application in early screenings of major diseases.
Optimization of SAW Sensors for Nanoplastics and Grapevine Virus Detection
Authors: Rizzato Silvia , Monteduro Anna Grazia , Buja Ilaria , Maruccio Claudio , Sabella Erika , De Bellis Luigi , Luvisi Andrea , Maruccio Giuseppe
Published: January 2023

In this work, we report the parametric optimization of surface acoustic wave (SAW) delay lines on Lithium niobate for environmental monitoring applications. First, we show that the device performance can be improved by acting opportunely on geometrical design parameters of the interdigital transducers such as the number of finger pairs, the finger overlap length and the distance between the emitter and the receiver. Then, the best-performing configuration is employed to realize SAW sensors. As aerosol particulate matter (PM) is a major threat, we first demonstrate a capability for the detection of polystyrene particles simulating nanoparticulates/nanoplastics, and achieve a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3 ng, beyond the present state-of-the-art. Next, the SAW sensors were used for the first time to implement diagnostic tools able to detect Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3), one of the most widespread viruses in wine-growing areas, outperforming electrochemical impedance sensors thanks to a five-times better LOD. These two proofs of concept demonstrate the ability of miniaturized SAW sensors for carrying out on-field monitoring campaigns and their potential to replace the presently used heavy and expensive laboratory instrumentation.
Advancements in CRISPR-Based Biosensing for Next-Gen Point of Care Diagnostic Application
Authors: Kumaran Akash , Jude Serpes Nathan , Gupta Tisha , James Abija , Sharma Avinash , Kumar Deepak , Nagraik Rupak , Kumar Vaneet , Pandey Sadanand
Published: January 2023

With the move of molecular tests from diagnostic labs to on-site testing becoming more common, there is a sudden rise in demand for nucleic acid-based diagnostic tools that are selective, sensitive, flexible to terrain changes, and cost-effective to assist in point-of-care systems for large-scale screening and to be used in remote locations in cases of outbreaks and pandemics. CRISPR-based biosensors comprise a promising new approach to nucleic acid detection, which uses Cas effector proteins (Cas9, Cas12, and Cas13) as extremely specialized identification components that may be used in conjunction with a variety of readout approaches (such as fluorescence, colorimetry, potentiometry, lateral flow assay, etc.) for onsite analysis. In this review, we cover some technical aspects of integrating the CRISPR Cas system with traditional biosensing readout methods and amplification technologies such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and continue to elaborate on the prospects of the developed biosensor in the detection of some major viral and bacterial diseases. Within the scope of this article, we also discuss the recent COVID pandemic and the numerous CRISPR biosensors that have undergone development since its advent. Finally, we discuss some challenges and future prospects of CRISPR Cas systems in point-of-care testing.
Balance Training with Weight Shift-Triggered Electrical Stimulation for Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Lee Kyeongjin
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to determine the effects of balance training with weight shift-triggered electrical stimulation to improve balance, lower-extremity motor function, and activities of daily living in patients with stroke. The participants were randomly allocated to the balance training with electrical stimulation group (BT-ESG, n = 29) or the balance training group (BTG, n = 30). Both groups were trained 5 times per week for 6 weeks for 50 min per session. To evaluate static balance, postural sway was assessed and dynamic balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and functional reach test (FRT). Lower-extremity motor function was assessed using the Fugl–Meyer assessment. Daily activities were assessed using the Modified Barthel Index. As for static balance, BT-ESG showed a significant improvement compared to BTG in postural swat in both the eyes-open (velocity moment; effect size, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, −1.16 to −1.30), or eyes-closed state (velocity moment; effect size, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, −1.22 to −0.27). Dynamic balance, which includes TUG (effect size, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, −4.67 to −1.25), BBS (effect size, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, −2.84 to 6.83), and FRT (effect size, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.92 to 4.08), in addition to lower-extremity motor function (effect size, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 2.25 to 4.97), and activities of daily living (effect size, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 2.04 to 937), showed significant improvement in BT-ESG compared to BTG. These results suggest that balance training with weight shift-triggered electrical stimulation effectively improves balance, lower-extremity motor function, and activities of daily living in patients with stroke.
Global Functional Connectivity at Rest Is Associated with Attention: An Arterial Spin Labeling Study
Authors: Chen Shichun , Zhang Yakun , Zhang Zongpai , Zhou Tony D. , Duan Wenna , Weinschenk George , Luh Wen-Ming , Anderson Adam K. , Dai Weiying
Published: January 2023

Neural markers of attention, including those frequently linked to the event-related potential P3 (P300) or P3b component, vary widely within and across participants. Understanding the neural mechanisms of attention that contribute to the P3 is crucial for better understanding attention-related brain disorders. All ten participants were scanned twice with a resting-state PCASL perfusion MRI and an ERP with a visual oddball task to measure brain resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and P3 parameters (P3 amplitudes and P3 latencies). Global rsFC (average rsFC across the entire brain) was associated with both P3 amplitudes (r = 0.57, p = 0.011) and P3 onset latencies (r = −0.56, p = 0.012). The observed P3 parameters were correlated with predicted P3 amplitude from the global rsFC (amplitude: r = +0.48, p = 0.037; latency: r = +0.40, p = 0.088) but not correlated with the rsFC over the most significant individual edge. P3 onset latency was primarily related to long-range connections between the prefrontal and parietal/limbic regions, while P3 amplitudes were related to connections between prefrontal and parietal/occipital, between sensorimotor and subcortical, and between limbic/subcortical and parietal/occipital regions. These results demonstrated the power of resting-state PCASL and P3 correlation with brain global functional connectivity.
Multi-Omics Integration Analysis of TK1 in Glioma: A Potential Biomarker for Predictive, Preventive, and Personalized Medical Approaches
Authors: Shao Chuan , Wang Pan , Liao Bin , Gong Sheng , Wu Nan
Published: January 2023

Multi-omics expression datasets obtained from multiple public databases were used to elucidate the biological function of TK1 and its effects on clinical outcomes. The Kaplan–Meier curve, a predictive nomogram mode, and the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were established to assess the role of TK1 expression in glioma prognosis. TK1 was overexpressed in glioma compared with normal samples, and patients with elevated expression of TK1 had poor overall survival. The ROC curves indicated a high diagnostic value of TK1 expression in patients of glioma; the areas under the ROC curve (AUC) were 0.682, 0.735, and 0.758 for 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years of glioma survival, respectively. For a model based on TK1 expression and other clinical characteristics, the values of AUC were 0.864, 0.896, and 0.898 for 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. Additionally, the calibration curve indicated that the predicted and observed areas at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years of survival were in excellent agreement. Three types of TK1 alterations—missense mutations, splice mutations, and amplifications—were identified in 25 of 2706 glioma samples. The TK1-altered group had better overall survival than the unaltered group. Single-cell function analysis showed that TK1 was positively associated with proliferation, the cell cycle, DNA repair, DNA damage, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition in glioma. Immunoinfiltration analysis indicated that TK1 expression might play different roles in low-grade glioma and glioblastoma multiforme tumor microenvironments, but TK1 expression was positively associated with activated CD4 and Th2, regardless of tumor grade. In summary, our findings identified TK1 as a novel marker for predicting clinical outcomes and a potential target for glioma.
Dynamic Amyloid and Metabolic Signatures of Delayed Recall Performance within the Clinical Spectrum of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Tedeschi Dauar Marina , Pascoal Tharick Ali , Therriault Joseph , Rowley Jared , Mohaddes Sara , Shin Monica , Zimmer Eduardo R. , Eskildsen Simon Fristed , Fonov Vladimir S. , Gauthier Serge , Poirier Judes , Rosa-Neto Pedro
Published: January 2023

Associations between pathophysiological events and cognitive measures provide insights regarding brain networks affected during the clinical progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, we assessed patients’ scores in two delayed episodic memory tests, and investigated their associations with regional amyloid deposition and brain metabolism across the clinical spectrum of AD. We assessed the clinical, neuropsychological, structural, and positron emission tomography (PET) baseline measures of participants from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Subjects were classified as cognitively normal (CN), or with early (EMCI) or late (LMCI) mild cognitive impairment, or AD dementia. The memory outcome measures of interest were logical memory 30 min delayed recall (LM30) and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test 30 min delayed recall (RAVLT30). Voxel-based [18F]florbetapir and [18F]FDG uptake-ratio maps were constructed and correlations between PET images and cognitive scores were calculated. We found that EMCI individuals had LM30 scores negatively correlated with [18F]florbetapir uptake on the right parieto-occipital region. LMCI individuals had LM30 scores positively associated with left lateral temporal lobe [18F]FDG uptake, and RAVLT30 scores positively associated with [18F]FDG uptake in the left parietal lobe and in the right enthorhinal cortex. Additionally, LMCI individuals had LM30 scores negatively correlated with [18F]florbetapir uptake in the right frontal lobe. For the AD group, [18F]FDG uptake was positively correlated with LM30 in the left temporal lobe and with RAVLT30 in the right frontal lobe, and [18F]florbetapir uptake was negatively correlated with LM30 scores in the right parietal and left frontal lobes. The results show that the association between regional brain metabolism and the severity of episodic memory deficits is dependent on the clinical disease stage, suggesting a dynamic relationship between verbal episodic memory deficits, AD pathophysiology, and clinical disease stages.
The Impact of Clinical Pilates Exercises on Tension-Type Headaches: A Case Series
Authors: Leite Agathe , Matignon Antoine , Marlot Léa , Coelho Ana , Lopes Sofia , Brochado Gabriela
Published: January 2023

Tension-type-headaches appear as the third most common disease in the general population and have a big impact on quality of life. The aim is to verify the impact of clinical Pilates exercises on pain intensity, impact headaches, neck disability, state of anxiety, depression, stress and quality of sleep in higher-education students. After a sample selection questionnaire was completed, a series of cases was carried out with 9 undergraduate students with tension-type headaches. Five instruments were applied before and after an intervention program: (i) Numerical Rating Scale—NRS, (ii) Headache Impact Test—HIT-6™, (iii) Neck Disability Index, (iv) Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales and (v) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Four sessions of 30 min classes of Pilates exercises were held for 2 weeks. The pain intensity decreased in only 2 participants. The impact of tension-type headaches on normal daily life and ability to function was improved in all patients, and only one patient’s functional disability caused by pain in the cervical region did not improve. In regard to negative emotional states, 6 individuals reported improvements, and only one individual reported a lower quality of sleep after the program. The exercise program can induce positive effects on disorders associated with tension-type-headaches.
Self-Consciousness and Self-Awareness: Associations between Stable and Transitory Levels of Evidence
Authors: Majolo Maurício , Gomes William Barbosa , DeCastro Thiago Gomes
Published: January 2023

The theory of objective self-awareness predicts the assessment of stable or dispositional self-consciousness and transitory or situational self-awareness. The aim of the present research was to investigate potential associations between patterns of experiential self-description to scores on self-report measures of dispositional self-consciousness. A total of 64 Brazilian volunteers (Mage = 29.7, SD = 8.79, 64.1% female) responded to the Revised Self-Consciousness Scale, the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale, and the Rumination–Reflection Questionnaire before participating in an experience sampling protocol. The protocol consisted of random daily requests for up to four self-description experiences across seven consecutive days. Participants recorded audio messages on their mobile phones in reply to each request describing their current experience. Reports were analyzed through a reflexive thematic analysis that produced twenty sub-themes accounting for descriptive markers of experience. Based on those descriptive markers, the qualitative data were then transformed into quantitative data for the situational self-awareness indexes. Evidence of association between self-consciousness and self-awareness was stronger for the awareness subscale in a positive correlation with affective situational self-awareness and in a negative correlation with mental representational transitory self-awareness. Although relational evidence has been provided, the data reinforced the theoretical distinction between self-consciousness and self-awareness.
Effects of Climate Change on Rendered Façades: Expected Degradation in a Progressively Warmer and Drier Climate—A Review Based on the Literature
Authors: Barrelas Joana , Silva Ana , de Brito Jorge , Tadeu António
Published: January 2023

Climate change could have a significant impact on buildings if its effects are not properly recognized. The consequences of climate action should be considered at the design and maintenance planning stage, with the objective of promoting the overall durability of constructions. Portugal, being part of the Mediterranean region, Southern Europe, and the Iberian Peninsula, and sometimes highlighted in projections as a critical area, is an example of a country considerably vulnerable to climate change impacts. The climate is expected to become warmer and drier, with a substantial rise in temperature and fall in precipitation by the end of the century. What implications will these changes have on the degradation of façades? Climate agents, such as temperature, solar radiation, humidity, precipitation, and wind, directly influence the performance of external claddings that protect internal building components. Cement render is the prevalent façade cladding in Portugal and Europe. Research to assess the risks of future climate-induced degradation on rendered façades is relevant in the context of buildings’ durability and adaptation to climate change. The objective of the present research was to define expectations about the impact of a progressively warmer and drier climate on the degradation of exterior cement renders, based on an analysis of related literature. Generally, less staining and more cracking are expected. Expectations about salt weathering and loss of adhesion are more uncertain and need further research.
Reconstruction of Soviet-Type Building to Energy Class A—Simulation and Actual Data Validation
Authors: Valančius Kęstutis , Grinevičiūtė Monika
Published: January 2023

The renovation/modernisation of buildings is one of the most frequently addressed areas in the European Union. It is the basis for the entry into force of Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings. The assessment of renovated buildings has several objectives, characterised by different assessment indicators. To better assess the renovation of buildings and future energy efficiency improvements, natural and computer simulations are used to help make more rational decisions. This work aims to analyse and quantify energy efficiency improvement measures and additional factors based on an existing retrofitted office building using collected, measured, and modelled data. The work is based on measured real building data for the assessment of heat loss of the building and calculating the thermal coefficient of the external envelope. Energy modelling of buildings before and after retrofitting is carried out using simulation, data processing, and analysis software.
Analysis of Thermal Resistance of Developed Energy-Saving External Enclosing Structures with Air Gaps and Horizontal Channels
Authors: Zhangabay Nurlan , Baidilla Islambek , Tagybayev Askhat , Sultan Bakhbergen
Published: January 2023

New energy-saving enclosing structures with air gaps are proposed; when calculating the temperature fields in the enclosing structures, the method of finite element analysis in the ANSYS environment was used. As a result of the study, the temperature fields of various enclosing structure solutions in various design options were analyzed. An analysis was made of the thermal resistance values of traditional and developed enclosing structures. The thermal resistance of the cladding with the use of two ventilated layers relative to the traditional enclosure, as well as the use of a heat-reflecting screen, depending on the environmental indicator, significantly increased the thermal resistance from 4.7% to 24.5% of the structure as a whole, which indicated the effectiveness of the constructive solution of the enclosure with two air gaps compared to the traditional constructive scheme of the enclosure. It was also found that the use of a heat-reflecting screen on the inside or on both sides has little effect on thermal resistance. At the same time, claddings were analyzed using horizontal channels. Where there was no efficiency, however, when taking into account the heat-reflecting screen in the horizontal channels, the efficiency of use increased from 1% to 8.4%, depending on the environment.
Towards a Conceptual Framework of Using Technology to Support Smart Construction: The Case of Modular Integrated Construction (MiC)
Authors: Loo Becky P. Y. , Wong Rosana W. M.
Published: January 2023

Construction is a major source of carbon emissions. Moreover, it faces various other sustainability challenges, such as construction waste, construction noise, vehicular traffic near construction sites, dust and other air and water pollutants, and safety and well-being of construction workers. Poorly designed and constructed buildings will continue to affect the well-being of their occupants and overall energy efficiency throughout the building lifecycle. Hence, accelerating the transformation of the construction industry towards smart construction or Construction 4.0 is an important topic. The ways that technology can help to achieve smart construction, especially with the adoption of construction methods with increasing construction modularity, should be further explored. Focusing on modular integrated construction (MiC), this paper examines the following questions: (1) How has technology been applied to support MiC development and smart construction in Hong Kong? (2) What are the lessons learned? A case study approach of a building information model (BIM)-enabled multifunctional blockchain-based digital platform is adopted to allow us to systematically consider (1) the main objectives and scope, (2) the stakeholders involved, (3) the key outcomes and processes, (4) the applications of blockchain technology, and (5) the integration with other digital software and management platforms in practice. Drawing upon the experience, we propose a generic four-stage approach in understanding and facilitating the adoption of relevant technology towards smart construction. At Stage One, the technologies of BIM, RFID, and blockchain are applied to support the core elements of MiC production: just-in-time transportation and on-site installation. At Stage Two, the digital platform is extended to serve as an interface for third parties, notably government; monitoring, authentication, and certifications for information sharing; visualization; and real-time monitoring and updating of MiC projects. At Stage Three, the system focuses on people in the construction process, aiming to enhance the safety and well-being of workers and drivers throughout the construction process. Different Internet-of-Thing devices and sensors, construction robotics, closed-circuit television, dashboards, and cloud-based monitoring are deployed. At Stage Four, the full construction lifecycle is the focus, whereby a centralized smart command theatre is set up with multiple sources of data in a city information model.
Flexural Response of Concrete Beams Reinforced with Steel and Fiber Reinforced Polymers
Authors: Shawki Ali Noura Khaled , Mahfouz Sameh Youssef , Amer Nabil Hassan
Published: January 2023

This paper numerically investigates the flexural response of concrete beams reinforced with steel and four types of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRP), i.e., Carbon FRP (CFRP), Glass FRP (GFRP), Aramid FRP (AFRP), and Basalt FRP (BFRP). The flexural responses of forty beams with two boundary conditions (simply supported and over-hanging beams) were determined using ABAQUS. Subsequently, the finite element models were validated using experimental results. Eventually, the impact of the reinforcement ratios ranging between 0.15% and 0.60% on the flexural capacity, crack pattern, and fracture energy were investigated for all beams. The results revealed that, for the low reinforcement ratios, the flexural performance of CFRP significantly surpassed that of steel and other FRP types. As the reinforcement ratio reached 0.60%, the steel bars exhibited the best flexural performance.
Effect of Textile Sludge on Strength, Shrinkage, and Microstructure of Polypropylene Fiber Concrete
Authors: Cheng Zhiqing , He Lei , Wang Lijun , Liu Yu , Yang Shiqiang , He Zhihai , Liu Chun
Published: January 2023

Textile sludge has complex components and certain toxicity, which is in urgent need of resource treatment. The effect of textile sludge replacing cement and aggregates on the properties of polypropylene fiber concrete has been investigated by testing the compressive strength, drying shrinkage, heavy metal leaching concentration, micro morphology, and nanomechanical properties. The results show that the utilization of 10% textile sludge replacing cement increases the later strengths of concrete and decreases the drying shrinkage due to its denser microstructure. With the further content increase of textile sludge replacing cement, the strengths of concrete are reduced and the drying shrinkage is increased. The utilization of textile sludge replacing aggregates increases the compressive strengths of concrete and the drying shrinkage at every age, and among them, the concrete with 15% textile sludge replacing aggregates shows the highest compressive strengths, and the drying shrinkage of concrete increases with the content increase of textile sludge replacing aggregates. The concrete with textile sludge is a good solidification with heavy metal ions. The utilization of 10% textile sludge replacing cement improves the microstructure of concrete and helps to produce more high-density calcium silicate hydrate and reduces the thickness of the interfacial transition zone.
Genetics, Genomics and Emerging Molecular Therapies of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Liu Jakub , Mroczek Magdalena , Mach Anna , Stępień Maria , Aplas Angelika , Pronobis-Szczylik Bartosz , Bukowski Szymon , Mielczarek Magda , Gajewska Ewelina , Topolski Piotr , Król Zbigniew J. , Szyda Joanna , Dobosz Paula
Published: January 2023

The number of cases of pancreatic cancers in 2019 in Poland was 3852 (approx. 2% of all cancers). The course of the disease is very fast, and the average survival time from the diagnosis is 6 months. Only <2% of patients live for 5 years from the diagnosis, 8% live for 2 years, and almost half live for only about 3 months. A family predisposition to pancreatic cancer occurs in about 10% of cases. Several oncogenes in which somatic changes lead to the development of tumours, including genes BRCA1/2 and PALB2, TP53, CDKN2A, SMAD4, MLL3, TGFBR2, ARID1A and SF3B1, are involved in pancreatic cancer. Between 4% and 10% of individuals with pancreatic cancer will have a mutation in one of these genes. Six percent of patients with pancreatic cancer have NTRK pathogenic fusion. The pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer can in many cases be characterised by homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)—cell inability to effectively repair DNA. It is estimated that from 24% to as many as 44% of pancreatic cancers show HRD. The most common cause of HRD are inactivating mutations in the genes regulating this DNA repair system, mainly BRCA1 and BRCA2, but also PALB2, RAD51C and several dozen others.
Resection of Low-Grade Gliomas in the Face Area of the Primary Motor Cortex and Neurological Outcome
Authors: Lutz Katharina , Häni Levin , Kissling Cédric , Raabe Andreas , Schucht Philippe , Seidel Kathleen
Published: January 2023

Objective: During surgery on low-grade gliomas (LGG), reliable data relevant to the primary motor cortex (M1) for the face area are lacking. We analyzed the impact of tumor removal within the M1 face area on neurological deficits. Methods: We included LGG patients with resection within the M1 face area between May 2012 and November 2019. The primary endpoint was postoperative facial motor function. Secondary endpoints were postoperative aphasia, dysarthria, and dysphagia. Surgery was performed either with the awake protocol or under anesthesia with continuous dynamic mapping. The alarm criteria were speech arrest or a mapping threshold of 3 mA or less. Resection was completed in five patients. The resection was stopped due to the alarm criteria in three patients and for other reasons (vascular supply, patient performance) in four patients. A total of 66.7% (n = 8) presented with new-onset facial paresis (62.5% left LGG) and 41.7% (n = 5) with aphasia (all left LGG) postoperatively. After one year, all eight patients had recovered from the facial paresis. Tumor removal within the M1 face area was not associated with permanent facial motor deficits.
Hepatectomy versus Chemotherapy for Resectable Colorectal Liver Metastases in Progression after Perioperative Chemotherapy: Expanding the Boundaries of the Curative Intent
Authors: Famularo Simone , Milana Flavio , Cimino Matteo , Procopio Fabio , Costa Guido , Galvanin Jacopo , Paoluzzi Tomada Elisa , Bunino Francesca Margherita , Palmisano Angela , Donadon Matteo , Torzilli Guido
Published: January 2023

Disease progression (PD) at neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLMs) is considered a contraindication to hepatic resection. Our aim was to estimate the overall survival (OS) in patients undergoing surgery compared with those treated exclusively with chemotherapy in cases of PD. Patients from a single centre with PD were analyzed and subdivided into two groups: hepatectomy (HEP) versus chemotherapy (CHT). An Inverse Probability Weighting (IPW) was run to balance the baseline differences between the two groups. A Cox regression was carried out on identifying factors predicting mortality. From 2010 to 2020, 105 patients in PD to at least one line of chemotherapy were analyzed. Of these, 27 (25.7%) underwent hepatic resection. After a median follow-up of 30 (IQR 14–46) months, 61.9% were dead. The OS values at 1 and 3 years were 54.4 and 10.6% for CHT, and 95 and 46.8% for HEP (p < 0.001). After IPW, two balanced pseudopopulations were obtained: HEP = 85 and CHT = 103. The OS values at 1 and 3 years were 54.4 and 10.6% for CHT, and 97.8 and 49.3% for HEP (HR 0.256, 95%CI: 0.08–0.78, p = 0.033). After IPW, in the multivariate model, surgery resulted in the only protective variable (HR 0.198, 95%CI: 0.08–0.48, p = 0.0016). Our results show that hepatic resection could offer a chance of a longer OS than the prosecution of chemotherapy only in originally resectable patients.