bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Male Patients With Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria More Than Female Patients
Authors: Kulu Huzeyfe , Atasoy Mustafa , Özyurt Kemal , Maurer Marcus , Avcı Atıl , Akkuş Muhammet Reşat , Ertaş Ragıp
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically disrupts health care for patients with chronic diseases including chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). As of now, it is unknown if the effects of the pandemic in CSU are different than in other chronic diseases. We also do not know, if different groups of CSU patients, for example female and male patients, are affected differently.

Aim

To understand how CSU patients and subgroups are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in their disease activity and control and treatment, using psoriasis as control.

Patients and Methods

We analyzed 399 patients (450 visits) with CSU or psoriasis assessed during August 2019, i.e. before the pandemic, or August 2020, i.e. during the pandemic, for changes in disease activity, disease control, and the treatment they used, and how these changes are linked to age, gender, and disease duration.

Results

Male but not female patients with CSU had markedly increased disease activity during the pandemic. CSU patients’ age or disease duration were not linked to changes. Male and female patients with psoriasis showed similar increases in disease activity and decreases in disease control. The rate of omalizumab treatment, during the pandemic, was unchanged in male patients and increased in female patients with CSU. The efficacy of omalizumab treatment, during the pandemic, was reduced in male patients but not female patients with CSU.

Conclusion

Male but not female CSU patients, during the COVID-19 pandemic, show loss of disease control linked to loss of omalizumab efficacy. The reasons for this need to be investigated.
Integrated Transcriptomic and Translatomic Inquiry of the Role of Betaine on Lipid Metabolic Dysregulation Induced by a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Huang Tengda , Yu Lin , Pan Hongyuan , Ma Zeqiang , Wu Tian , Zhang Lifang , Liu Kang , Qi Qi , Miao Weiwei , Song Ziyi , Zhang Haojie , Zhou Lei , Li Yixing
Published: October 2021

An excessive high-fat/energy diet is a major cause of obesity and linked complications, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Betaine has been shown to effectively improve hepatic lipid metabolism. However, the mechanistic basis for this improvement is largely unknown. Herein, integration of mRNA sequencing and ribosome footprints profiling (Ribo-seq) was used to investigate the means by which betaine alleviates liver lipid metabolic disorders induced by a high-fat diet. For the transcriptome, gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated betaine to reduce liver steatosis by up-regulation of fatty acid beta oxidation, lipid oxidation, and fatty acid catabolic processes. For the translatome, 574 differentially expressed genes were identified, 17 of which were associated with the NAFLD pathway. By combined analysis of transcriptome and translatome, we found that betaine had the greater effect on NAFLD at the translational level. Further, betaine decreased translational efficiency (TE) for IDI1, CYP51A1, TM7SF2, and APOA4, which are related to lipid biosynthesis. In summary, this study demonstrated betaine alleviating lipid metabolic dysfunction at the translational level. The transcriptome and translatome data integration approach used herein provides for a new understanding of the means by which to treat NAFLD.
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 Regulatory Subunit Associated Protein 3: Potential Functions and Implications for Development and Disease
Authors: Sheng Linna , Li Jiaxuan , Rao Shengfang , Yang Zhijun , Huang Yonghong
Published: October 2021

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) regulatory subunit associated protein 3 (CDK5RAP3, also named as C53 or LZAP) was initially identified as a binding protein of CDK5 activator p35. To date, CDK5RAP3 has been reported to interact with a range of proteins involved in cellular events ranging from cell cycle, apoptosis, and invasion to UFMylation modification and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Owing to its crucial roles in cellular processes, CDK5RAP3 is demonstrated to be not only an active participant in embryonic and mammalian tissue development, but also a key regulator in the onset and progress of human cancers such as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, hepatocellular cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer and breast cancer. Notwithstanding, the detailed function of CDK5RAP3 and its mechanism remain poorly defined. Here, we briefly described a history of the discovery of CDK5RAP3, and systematically overviewed its gene structural and distribution features. We also focused on the known functions of this protein and its implications for embryogenesis and tissue development, as well as diseases especially carcinoma. This review may facilitate to understand the molecular and functional basis of CDK5RAP3 and its association with development and disease, and provide a reasonable idea for novel therapeutic opportunities targeting CDK5RAP3.
Construction of a “Bacteria-Metabolites” Co-Expression Network to Clarify the Anti–Ulcerative Colitis Effect of Flavonoids of Sophora flavescens Aiton by Regulating the “Host–Microbe” Interaction
Authors: Shao Jing , Li Zhaocheng , Gao Yanping , Zhao Kairui , Lin Minling , Li Yadi , Wang Shumei , Liu Yi , Chen Lei
Published: October 2021

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is considered an immune disease, which is related to the dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota and disorders of the host immune system and metabolism. Sophora flavescens Aiton has been used for the clinical treatment of UC in China and East Asia for thousands of years. It has many traditional prescriptions and modern preparations, and its curative effects are definite. We are the first to report that the flavonoids in Sophora flavescens (S. flavescens) Aiton EtOAc extract (SFE) could potentially attenuate the dextran sodium sulfate–induced UC in mice, which changed the current understanding of considering alkaloids as the only anti-UC pharmacological substances of S. flavescens Aiton. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomic analysis, it was found that the anti-UC effects of SFE were due to the regulation of gut microbiota, reversing the abnormal metabolisms, and regulation of the short-chain fatty acids synthesis. Notably, according to the interaction networks of specific bacteria and “bacteria and metabolites” co-expression network, the SFE could enrich the abundance of the commensal bacterium Lactobacillus, Roseburia, norank_f__Muribaculaceae, Anaerotruncus, Candidatus_Saccharimona, and Parasutterella, which are proposed as potentially beneficial bacteria, thereby playing vital roles in the treatment of UC.
Building Capacity for Prevention of Gender-Based Violence in the School Context
Authors: Ajduković Dean , Car Ivana , Päivinen Helena , Sala-Bubaré Anna , Vall Berta , Husso Marita
Published: October 2021

School-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) is highly prevalent worldwide which calls for a range of early prevention and innovative solutions. The presence of GBV in the school context is well-documented and it highlights the importance of building competencies of teachers and other school professionals for recognizing and intervening in SRGBV cases. This paper analyses the current and future teachers' training needs, and their level of preparedness for detecting and intervening in cases of GBV in the school context, with the objective of developing a targeted training program. The participants in this study were 597 current and future teachers and other school professionals from Croatia, Finland, and Spain. An ad-hoc built questionnaire was distributed in the three participating countries. Results show that the interest in receiving training is related to the perceived importance of coping with GBV in the (future) work and that the main topics of the training should focus on addressing parties of SRGBV, guidelines for prevention and intervention in schools as well as online GBV. These findings were similar in three countries, and they provided user-generated topics and tools that served as a guideline for the development of a training program that aims to increase the knowledge about SRGBV and to develop skills for coping with GBV in the school context regarding victims, bystanders and perpetrators.
Searching for the Unknown: How Your Surroundings Help You Find Things
Authors: Robbins Arryn , Hout Michael C.
Published: October 2021

Imagine you are in your backyard, bird watching with your friends. Your eyes look upward, scanning the trees and sky. What birds would you expect to find? What do you think they might look like? Consider how the environment you are searching within (your backyard) gives you clues about where to look for birds. Your eyes are likely to scan the trees but are unlikely to scan the ground. The environment also gives you clues about what the birds look like. You would probably expect them to be small and brown (like a robin) if you live in North America, or perhaps more colorful and larger (like a parrot) if you live in a tropical place like Central America. The local environment provides clues that help you predict what your search “target” will look like, and these expectations can even help you find things more quickly!
Age at Sexual Debut and Multiple Sexual Partnerships among Adolescents in Nigeria: An Assessment of the Mediating Role of the Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Infections
Authors: Alawode Oluwatobi Abel , Ogunwemimo Hassan , Bolorunduro Miracle-Eunice , Awoleye Abayomi Folorunsho
Published: October 2021

Adolescents in Nigeria are at risk of plethora of ills arising from risky sexual behavior in the form of multiple sexual partnerships (MSP). Despite evidence linking MSPs to age at sexual debut, there is a dearth of research among adolescents and the mediating role of the knowledge of STIs has been ignored. Hence, we examined the association between age at sexual debut and MSP and the mediating role of the knowledge of STIs in the relationship among adolescents. We utilized data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (n = 3215), employing Chi square test of association and binary logistic regression to address the study objectives. We established strong inverse relationship between age at sexual debut and MSP among adolescents in Nigeria and additionally, found that its interaction with knowledge of HIV and STIs significantly reduced adolescents’ engagement in MSP, i.e., adolescents who first had sex in later years (15+ years) were significantly less likely to have multiple sexual partners compared to adolescents who had early sexual debut (≤14 years). Early, age-appropriate, continuous, and improved awareness campaigns and reproductive health services and interventions for this population subgroup are recommended.
Variation in Wool Characteristics across the Body in a Herd of Alpacas Kept in Poland
Authors: Radzik-Rant Aurelia , Wielechowska Małgorzata , Rant Witold
Published: October 2021

Wool characteristics vary depending on where on the body the wool is produced. Knowledge of this variation is important in order to separate the fleece into more homogenous parts. Similar parts from different animals can then be pooled to create batches of wool with similar characteristics. This will allow for better alpaca products with less variation. The aim of this study was to determine the variation in fiber diameter, medullation, and staple length across the body of alpacas from one herd. Wool samples were collected from 16 adult (3–5 years old) females: from the saddle (S), midside (MS), neck (N), and pieces (P). The mean fiber diameter (MFD) and medullation were measured using a projection microscope according to the IWTO-8-2011 standard. The fiber diameter of the pieces was greater (p < 0.05) than for the S, MS, and N areas. The highest medullation was found on the neck. The neck was also characterized by the shortest wool. The MFD for the fleece, excluding P, showed the strongest correlation (r = 0.927) with the MFD of MS. The study showed that due to the variation of fiber diameter, the incidence of medullation, and staple length, the wool from the pieces and the neck should be separated from the total fleece. The most appropriate site from where to collect a representative sample of wool from the fleece for testing purposes is the midside site of the animal.
Impact of Feeding Syngenta Enogen® Feed Corn Compared to Control Corn in Different Diet Scenarios to Finishing Beef Cattle
Authors: Volk Stacia M. , Wilson Hannah C. , Hanford Kathryn J. , MacDonald James C. , Erickson Galen E.
Published: October 2021

The objective of this pooled statistical analysis was to evaluate Syngenta Enogen® Feed Corn (EFC) versus conventional corn (CON) when fed as either dry-rolled corn (DRC) or high-moisture corn (HMC) for effects on finishing beef cattle performance and carcass characteristics. Corns were evaluated in diets with byproduct inclusion rates of 0, 15, 18, 20, and 30% distiller grains or 25 and 35% Sweet Bran® (a commercial corn gluten feed product). Seven trials (n = 1856) consisting of 200 pen means comparing 26 diet treatments were analyzed using regression in a pooled analysis. When EFC was processed as DRC, the gain efficiency (G:F) improved compared with CON, but the response to feeding EFC decreased from a 4.8% improvement to no improvement compared to CON as distiller grains increased from 0 to 30%, but was significantly improved due to feeding EFC in diets with 0 to 18% distiller grains. Feeding cattle EFC as DRC increased the average daily gain (ADG) and G:F by 4.5% compared with CON corn in diets containing Sweet Bran®. No improvements in animal performance were observed when cattle were fed EFC compared to CON when processed as HMC in any situation. Feeding Enogen® corn improved the gain efficiency of finishing cattle compared with conventional corn when processed as dry-rolled corn and fed in diets with less than 20% distillers or diets that include Sweet Bran®.
Artificial Termite-Fishing Tasks as Enrichment for Sanctuary-Housed Chimpanzees: Behavioral Effects and Impact on Welfare
Authors: Padrell Maria , Amici Federica , Córdoba Maria Pau , Giberga Albert , Broekman Antonio , Almagro Susana , Llorente Miquel
Published: October 2021

Artificial termite-fishing tasks are a common enrichment for captive great apes, promoting species-typical behaviors. Nonetheless, whether these activities are linked to changes in other behaviors and whether these changes persist over time has seldom been investigated. We assessed whether the use of an artificial termite-fishing task was linked to changes in the solitary behavior and social dynamics in two groups of sanctuary-housed chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Specifically, we compared chimpanzee behavior during eight enrichment sessions distributed over a two-month period, with similar periods before and after the introduction of the enrichment. Data were collected from combined interval and continuous sampling methods and were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. We found that participation increased across sessions and that both enrichment and participation predicted an increase in tool use and feeding and a decrease in inactivity, which were all maintained throughout the sessions. Furthermore, participation was positively associated with social proximity, revealing a gathering effect of the task. However, neither enrichment nor participation were linked to changes in abnormal, self-directed, affiliation-related or aggression-related behaviors. Overall, our results support the hypothesis that artificial termite-fishing is a suitable enrichment for captive chimpanzees, maintaining the subjects’ interest and promoting species-typical behaviors, with no negative effects on social activities.
Reviewing the Benefits of Grazing/Browsing Semiarid Rangeland Feed Resources and the Transference of Bioactivity and Pro-Healthy Properties to Goat Milk and Cheese: Obesity, Insulin Resistance, Inflammation and Hepatic Steatosis Prevention
Authors: Delgadillo-Puga Claudia , Cuchillo-Hilario Mario
Published: October 2021

The rangeland is an ecological resource that provides multiple benefits for environment and agriculture. Grazing/browsing on rangelands is a useful and inexpensive means to produce food derived from animal products. The aim of this study was to review the benefits of producing milk and cheese under this system in terms of bioactivity and the health benefits of their consumption in model animals. To conduct this review, we particularly considered the experiments that our research group carried out along the last fifteen years at the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán in Mexico. Firstly, we examined the forages consumed by goats on the rangelands in terms of plant bioactive compound occurrence and their concentration. Further, goat milk and cheese coming from (1) grazing animals, (2) animals managed indoors, and from (3) animals managed indoor supplemented with rich plant bioactive compounds, were analyzed. Milk was discussed to modulate the negative effects of high-fat diets in mice. Forages consumed by goats on the rangelands showed a close correlation between antioxidant activity assessed by the DPPH+ radical with total flavonoid and total polyphenol contents (TPC). Milk concentration of PUFA, MUFA, and n-3 fatty acids from grazing goats (4.7%, 25.2%, and 0.94% of FAME) was higher than milk from goats fed indoor diets (ID). Similar results were shown in cheese. TPC was higher in cheese manufactured with milk from grazing goats (300 mg of GAE/kg of cheese) when compared to cheese from milk goats fed ID (60 mg of GAE/of cheese). Acacia pods are a semiarid rangeland feed resource that transfers pro-healthy activity, inhibited in vitro lipid peroxidation (inhibition of TBARS formation) and diminished the damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, in vivo assessment revealed that Acacia species increased free radical scavenging (DPPH), oxygen radical absorbance capacity, and anti-inflammatory activity. The results highlight that grazing/browsing practices are superior to indoor feeding in order to promote the transference of bioactive compounds from vegetation to animal tissue, and finally to animal products. Grazing management represents a better option than indoor feeding to enhance bioactivity of milk and cheese. Supplementation with rich-bioactive compound forages increased total polyphenol, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonoid concentrations in milk and cheese. The consumption of goat milk prevents obesity, insulin resistance, inflammation, and hepatic steatosis while on a high-fat diet induced obesity in mice.
Quantification for Antibody-Conjugated Drug in Trastuzumab Emtansine and Application to In Vitro Linker Stability and In Vivo Pharmacokinetic Study in Rat Using an Immuno-Affinity Capture Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric Method
Authors: Park Seo-jin , Lee Byeong ill , Park Min-Ho , Choi Jangmi , Park Yuri , Park Min-jae , Lim Jeong-hyeon , Lee Jiyu , Hwang Sangsoo , Lee Jeongmin , Shin Young G.
Published: October 2021

Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1, brand name: Kadcyla®) is the first FDA-approved antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) for metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer. It consists of three components: trastuzumab, an anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, maytansinoid (DM1) as a cytotoxic drug, and maleimidomethyl cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (MCC) as a linker. In particular, the MCC linker is known as a non-cleavable linker and has a feature of being conjugated to DM1 by a covalent thioether bond. In this study, we developed an immuno-affinity capture liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) assay for quantifying the antibody-conjugated drug (acDrug) component of T-DM1. To quantify acDrug, desulfurated DM1 was prepared using a chemical desulfuration pretreatment and quantified as an acDrug. A quadratic regression (weighted 1/concentration), with equation y = ax2 + bx + c, was used to fit the calibration curves over the concentration range of 17.09~1709.44 ng/mL for the acDrug of T-DM1. The quantification run met the in-house acceptance criteria of ±25% accuracy and precision values for the quality control (QC) samples. In conclusion, an immuno-affinity capture LC-MS/MS assay was successfully developed to quantify acDrug of T-DM1 and applied to evaluate in vitro plasma linker stability and preclinical pharmacokinetic (PK) study in rats. This assay could be helpful when applied to other ADCs with the same linker-cytotoxic drug platform.
The Influence of the Hybridization of Steel and Polyolefin Fiber on the Mechanical Properties of Base Concrete Designed for Marine Shotcreting Purposes
Authors: Lee Chang Joon , Salas Montoya Andres , Moon Hoon , Kim Hyunwook , Chung Chul-Woo
Published: October 2021

The present study investigated the influence of the hybridization of steel and polyolefin fiber on the mechanical performance and chloride ion penetration of base concrete designed for marine shotcreting purposes. The purpose of fiber hybridization is to reduce the risk of corrosion that might occur during service life. Sets of hybrid fiber reinforced base concrete, whose water to binder ratio was 0.338, were prepared. The fiber contents in the base concrete were 0.54 and 1.08 vol%, and the volume proportion of polyolefin fiber in the hybrid fiber varied from 0 to 100%. Although the effect of fiber hybridization was not clearly observed from the compressive strength, a synergetic effect which increased both the flexural strength and toughness occurred at a fiber content of 1.08 vol%. The optimum ratio of steel and polyolefin fiber was 50:50. With respect to chloride ion penetration, an increasing amount of steel fiber increased the amount of current passing through the base concrete specimen due to the presence of electrically conductive steel fiber. However, chloride ion diffusivity was not greatly affected by the presence of steel fiber.
High-Precision Surface Scattering Measurement System and Uncertainty Analysis Applied in Laser Protective Materials Diagnostics
Authors: Yang Zhen , Yang Yanbo , Zhang Yong , Guo Xinmin , Lu Kaichang , Zhang Jianlong
Published: October 2021

The current measurement system of surface scattering rate applied in laser protective materials has the defects of low accuracy, discontinuous diagnosis region and narrow infrared measuring waveband. In order to make up for these shortcomings, a high-precision material-surface-scattering-rate measurement system based on a three-hole integrating sphere is proposed, which can realize the high-precision quantitative measurement on any region of coating surface from near-infrared to far-infrared band. Firstly, a new quantitative relationship between the luminous flux received by detector and the surface scattering rate of coating is obtained by modifying the existing integrating sphere scattering model. Secondly, a high-precision scattering characteristic measurement system based on a three-hole integrating sphere is designed and achieved. The influence of the main design parameters of the integrating sphere on the expected measuring accuracy of the system is investigated by using a TracePro simulation. Accordingly, the optimal design parameters of the system are given. Then, the main sources of the relative measurement uncertainty for the scattering rate are investigated experimentally, and four main relative uncertainty factors are evaluated quantitatively. Finally, according to the error propagation theory, the total experimental relative measurement uncertainty of the system is obtained, which is ±2.22% and 26–56% higher than the current measuring accuracy. The new coating-scattering-rate measurement system proposed in this paper can provide an effective experimental detection means for high-precision quantitative measurement and a performance evaluation for laser-protective-coating surface-scattering rate.
Deformation Behavior of Saturated Marine Silt under Principal Stress Rotation as Induced by Wave Loading
Authors: Cui Lan , Sheng Qian , Niu Zhenzhen , Chang Liuming
Published: October 2021

An experimental study aimed at providing insights into the cyclic deformation behavior of saturated marine silt under principal rotation, as induced by wave loading, is presented. Using the GDS hollow cylinder apparatus, a series of undrained tests are performed and the specimens at identical initial states are subjected to combined axial–torsional cyclic loading that imposes different levels of stress rotation. The cumulative generalized shear strain γg is used to describe the deformation of the silt under complex stress paths. The test results show that the cumulative generalized shear strain is significantly dependent on the cyclic stress ratio (CSR) and cyclic loading amplitude ratio δ. The cumulative generalized shear strain increases with the increase in CSR and decreases with the increase in δ. The development trend of γg can be well predicted through the correct Monismith model in the non-liquefaction silt, with a low error that is generally less than 10%.
An Empirical Correlation between the Residual Gravity Anomaly and the H/V Predominant Period in Urban Areas and Its Dependence on Geology in Andean Forearc Basins
Authors: Maringue José , Sáez Esteban , Yañez Gonzalo
Published: October 2021

The study of site amplification effects is crucial to assess earthquake hazards that can produce great damage in urban structures. In this context, the gravity and the ambient noise horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (H/V) are two of the most used geophysical methods to study the properties of the subsoil, which are essential to estimate seismic amplification. Even though these methods have been used complementarily, a correlation between them has not been thoroughly studied. Understanding this correlation and how it depends on geology could be important to use one method as an estimator of the other and to make a distinction between the seismic and gravimetric basement. In this research, a comparison between the residual gravity anomaly and the H/V predominant period is performed using a long dataset from different projects on sedimentary basins in a group of the most important cities in Chile. To simplify the geological information, a seismic classification is used for soils, which considers the Vs30 and the predominant period of vibration (T0). The results of this comparison show a direct correlation between both parameters, the higher the negative residual gravity anomaly the higher the H/V predominant period. This correlation improves when only soft soils are considered, increasing the R2 value in more than a 50% in all the individual cities with respect to the overall correlation. When all the cities are considered, the R2 value for soft soils increases up to 0.87. These results suggest that the ideal geological background for this correlation is when a soft soil layer overlies a homogeneous bedrock. Heterogeneities in the bedrock and in the soil column add dispersion to the correlation. Additionally, the comparison between the depth to basement inferred by both methods show differences of less than 15% in soft sites; in denser sites, the difference increases up to 30% and the definition of a clear H/V peak is more difficult. In general, the gravimetric basement is deeper than the seismic one. However, gravimetric depths to basement can be under/over-estimated in zones with a heterogeneous soil column.
SESAM Mode-Locked Yb:Ca3Gd2(BO3)4 Femtosecond Laser
Authors: Zeng Huang-Jun , Lin Zhang-Lang , Xue Wen-Ze , Zhang Ge , Pan Zhongben , Lin Haifeng , Loiko Pavel , Mateos Xavier , Petrov Valentin , Wang Li , Chen Weidong
Published: October 2021

We report on the first passively mode-locked femtosecond-laser operation of a disordered Yb:Ca3Gd2(BO3)4 crystal using a SEmiconductor Saturable Absorber Mirror (SESAM). Pumping with a single-transverse mode fiber-coupled laser diode at 976 nm, nearly Fourier-transform-limited pulses as short as 96 fs are generated at 1045 nm with an average output power of 205 mW and a pulse repetition rate of ~67.3 MHz. In the continuous-wave regime, high slope efficiency up to 59.2% and low laser thresholds down to 25 mW are obtained. Continuous wavelength tuning between 1006–1074 nm (a tuning range of 68 nm) is demonstrated. Yb:Ca3Gd2(BO3)4 crystals are promising for the development of ultrafast lasers at ~1 μm.
Identification for Abutment Stress by Drilling Cuttings
Authors: Tan Jian , Tan Yunliang , Wang Zihui , Zhang Yubao
Published: October 2021

The concentration of abutment pressure acting on coal seams induced by mining is a key factor to trigger rock burst. Understanding of abutment pressure or stress concentration is fundamental in preventing and controlling rock burst. The influence on abutment pressure fluctuation caused by the inhomogeneity of coal seams needs to be considered, but it is difficult to obtain by the present usual ways such as acoustic transmission, electromagnetic wave transmission, etc. In this article, the relationship between the amount of cuttings drilled in a coal seam and stress level was analyzed by considering the effect of drilling cutting expansion, and the drilling cutting test was carried out in Xinglongzhuang Coal Mine, Shandong Energy Ltd. It is found that the amount of cuttings drilled is positively related to the degree of stress concentration in both the plastic fracture zone and elastic zone. The amount of drilling cuttings is closely related to the roof weighting. In addition, the irregular fluctuation of drilling cuttings is an approximate map of distribution of stress concentration because of the non-uniformity of cracks and other defects in the coal seam. In order to meet the need of rock burst prevention by accurate pressure relief in high-stress zones, enough boreholes are needed.
Induced Effect of Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) and Halide Ions on Pyridoxine Molecule Stability
Authors: Tutunaru Bogdan , Samide Adriana , Spînu Cezar-Ionuț , Tigae Cristian , Oprea Bogdan
Published: October 2021

The electrochemical behavior of pyridoxine was studied in 0.1 mol × L−1 NaX (X = F, Cl, Br) support electrolyte on a gold electrode using cyclic voltammetry and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The influence of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the electrochemical behavior of pyridoxine was studied. The experimental results obtained by both cyclic voltammetry and UV–Vis spectrophotometry indicate strong interactions in the B6 and NaBr/NaCl_AuNP systems, while in the NaF_B6_AuNP ternary system the results indicate a mechanism of direct electrochemical degradation of vitamin B6. The experimental results obtained for the electrochemical degradation of pyridoxine, in the presence of chloride and bromide ions, indicate strong interactions in the NaCl_B6_AuNP and NaBr_B6_AuNP systems associated with the spectrophotometric identification of the electrogenerated intermediates, while in the presence of fluoride ions no such products are identified. The development of the mechanism of electrochemical degradation of the pyridoxine molecule predicts both the formation of the corresponding electrogenerated intermediates and the steps of electro-incineration in a direct mechanism.
Echocardiography in the Diagnosis and Management of Tricuspid Atresia
Authors: Rao P. Syamasundar
Published: October 2021

This review focuses on the utility of echocardiographic studies in the diagnosis of tricuspid atresia (TA) and in its management. Tricuspid atresia is a cyanotic congenital heart defect (CHD) accounting for nearly 1.5% of all CHDs. It is generally classified according to the morphology of the atretic tricuspid valve and associated heart defects. Following the description of the anatomic features of TA, echocardiographic features characteristic for TA were illustrated. Subsequent to a review of palliative and corrective procedures to treat TA, echocardiographic evaluation at each stage of Fontan was detailed. The role of echocardiography in the assessment of cardiac defects responsible for interstage mortality was also addressed. It was concluded that echo-Doppler studies are useful in the diagnosis and management of TA.
Evaluation of Occupational Exposure Risk for Employees Working in Dynamic Olfactometry: Focus On Non-Carcinogenic Effects Correlated with Exposure to Landfill Emissions
Authors: Polvara Elisa , Essna ashari Baharak , Capelli Laura , Sironi Selena
Published: October 2021

This work aims to evaluate the non-carcinogenic health effects related to landfill odor emissions, therefore focusing on workers involved in dynamic olfactometry. Currently, the most common technique to quantify odor emissions is dynamic olfactometry, a sensorial analysis involving human assessors. During the analysis, assessors are directly exposed, at increasing concentrations, to odor samples, and thus to the hazardous pollutants contained therein. This entails the need to estimate the associated exposure risk to guarantee examiners’ safety. Therefore, this paper evaluates the exposure risk for olfactometric examiners to establish the minimum dilution level to be adopted during the analysis of landfills’ odorous samples to guarantee panelists’ safety. For this purpose, an extensive literature review regarding the pollutants emitted by landfill odor sources was conducted, comparing compounds’ chemical concentrations and threshold limit values (TLVs) to calculate the Hazard Index (HI) and thus establish a minimum dilution value. The data collected indicate that a non-negligible non-carcinogenic risk exists for all landfill emissions considered. However, from the data considered, the minimum dilution factor to be adopted is lower than the typical odor concentration observed for these sources. Therefore, the olfactometric analysis of landfill samples can be generally conducted in safe conditions.
Non-Thermal High Pressure Processing, Pulsed Electric Fields and Ultrasound Preservation of Five Different Table Wines
Authors: van Wyk Sanelle , Hong Lewis , Silva Filipa V. M.
Published: October 2021

Wine preservation by alternative non-thermal and physical methods including high pressure processing (HPP), pulsed electric fields (PEF) and power ultrasound (US) technologies was investigated. The effect of these technologies on some quality parameters of five table wines was determined directly after processing and two months storage. For each wine, the pH, colour density, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity quality parameters were determined and the different treatments were compared. The pH of the untreated and treated wines generally remained unchanged after processing and storage. The antioxidant activity of the wines decreased after processing and storage. Generally, non-thermal processing did not affect the wine quality parameters during the 2 months storage. Overall, this study demonstrated that HPP had the smallest effect on the quality parameters assessed in five different wines.
Flow-FISH as a Tool for Studying Bacteria, Fungi and Viruses
Authors: Freen-van Heeren Julian J.
Published: October 2021

Many techniques are currently in use to study microbes. These can be aimed at detecting, identifying, and characterizing bacterial, fungal, and viral species. One technique that is suitable for high-throughput analysis is flow cytometry-based fluorescence in situ hybridization, or Flow-FISH. This technique employs (fluorescently labeled) probes directed against DNA or (m)RNA, for instance targeting a gene or microorganism of interest and provides information on a single-cell level. Furthermore, by combining Flow-FISH with antibody-based protein detection, proteins of interest can be measured simultaneously with genetic material. Additionally, depending on the type of Flow-FISH assay, Flow-FISH can also be multiplexed, allowing for the simultaneous measurement of multiple gene targets and/or microorganisms. Together, this allows for, e.g., single-cell gene expression analysis or identification of (sub)strains in mixed cultures. Flow-FISH has been used in mammalian cells but has also been extensively employed to study diverse microbial species. Here, the use of Flow-FISH for studying microorganisms is reviewed. Specifically, the detection of (intracellular) pathogens, studying microorganism biology and disease pathogenesis, and identification of bacterial, fungal, and viral strains in mixed cultures is discussed, with a particular focus on the viruses EBV, HIV-1, and SARS-CoV-2.
Improving Building Energy Performance Using Dual VAV Configuration Integrated with Dedicated Outdoor Air System
Authors: Nassif Nabil , Ridwana Iffat
Published: October 2021

As building systems account for almost half of the total energy consumed by the building sector to provide space heating, cooling, and ventilation, efficiently designing these systems can be the key to energy conservation in buildings. Dual VAV systems with an effective control strategy can substantially reduce the energy consumption in buildings, providing a significant scope of further research on this system configuration. This paper proposes to utilize the warm air duct of the dual VAV system as a dedicated outdoor air (DOA) unit when no heating is required, which allows the cooling load to be effectively distributed between two ducts. A specific control sequence is proposed with different supply air temperature reset strategies to estimate the heating, cooling loads, and fan power energy consumption of the proposed system. A simple two-zone office building is taken as a preliminary case study to simulate the airflow rates and fan power of a single duct VAV and proposed dual VAV systems to illustrate the concept. Finally, a larger multi-zone office building is simulated to measure the annual heating, cooling loads, and fan power energy and compare the energy savings among the systems. The results show significant fan power reduction ranging from 1.7 to 9% and notable heating energy reduction up to 76.5% with a small amount of cooling load reduction varying from 0.76 to 2.56% depending on the different locations for the proposed dual VAV systems. Further energy savings from different supply air temperature reset strategies demonstrate the opportunity of employing them according to climates and case studies. The proposed dual VAV system proves to have the potential to be adapted in buildings for the purpose of sustainability and energy savings.
Are There Limits in Explainability of Prognostic Biomarkers? Scrutinizing Biological Utility of Established Signatures
Authors: Emmert-Streib Frank , Manjang Kalifa , Dehmer Matthias , Yli-Harja Olli , Auvinen Anssi
Published: October 2021

Prognostic biomarkers can have an important role in the clinical practice because they allow stratification of patients in terms of predicting the outcome of a disorder. Obstacles for developing such markers include lack of robustness when using different data sets and limited concordance among similar signatures. In this paper, we highlight a new problem that relates to the biological meaning of already established prognostic gene expression signatures. Specifically, it is commonly assumed that prognostic markers provide sensible biological information and molecular explanations about the underlying disorder. However, recent studies on prognostic biomarkers investigating 80 established signatures of breast and prostate cancer demonstrated that this is not the case. We will show that this surprising result is related to the distinction between causal models and predictive models and the obfuscating usage of these models in the biomedical literature. Furthermore, we suggest a falsification procedure for studies aiming to establish a prognostic signature to safeguard against false expectations with respect to biological utility.
[99mTc]Tc-DB15 in GRPR-Targeted Tumor Imaging with SPECT: From Preclinical Evaluation to the First Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Nock Berthold A. , Kaloudi Aikaterini , Kanellopoulos Panagiotis , Janota Barbara , Bromińska Barbara , Iżycki Dariusz , Mikołajczak Renata , Czepczynski Rafał , Maina Theodosia
Published: October 2021

Diagnostic imaging and radionuclide therapy of prostate (PC) and breast cancer (BC) using radiolabeled gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR)-antagonists represents a promising approach. We herein propose the GRPR-antagonist based radiotracer [99mTc]Tc-DB15 ([99mTc]Tc-N4-AMA-DGA-DPhe6,Sar11,LeuNHEt13]BBN(6-13); N4: 6-carboxy-1,4,8,11-tetraazaundecane, AMA: aminomethyl-aniline, DGA: diglycolic acid) as a new diagnostic tool for GRPR-positive tumors applying SPECT/CT. The uptake of [99mTc]Tc-DB15 was tested in vitro in mammary (T-47D) and prostate cancer (PC-3) cells and in vivo in T-47D or PC-3 xenograft-bearing mice as well as in BC patients. DB15 showed high GRPR-affinity (IC50 = 0.37 ± 0.03 nM) and [99mTc]Tc-DB15 strongly bound to the cell-membrane of T-47D and PC-3 cells, according to a radiolabeled antagonist profile. In mice, the radiotracer showed high and prolonged GRPR-specific uptake in PC-3 (e.g., 25.56 ± 2.78 %IA/g vs. 0.72 ± 0.12 %IA/g in block; 4 h pi) and T-47D (e.g., 15.82 ± 3.20 %IA/g vs. 3.82 ± 0.30 %IA/g in block; 4 h pi) tumors, while rapidly clearing from background. In patients with advanced BC, the tracer could reveal several bone and soft tissue metastases on SPECT/CT. The attractive pharmacokinetic profile of [99mTc]DB15 in mice and its capability to target GRPR-positive BC lesions in patients highlight its prospects for a broader clinical use, an option currently being explored by ongoing clinical studies.
Clinical Characteristics of Resected Acinar Cell Carcinoma of the Pancreas: A Korean Multi-Institutional Study
Authors: Shin Sang Hyun , Hwang Ho Kyoung , Jang Jin-Young , Kim Hongbeom , Park Sang Jae , Han Sung-Sik , Han In Woong , Hwang Dae Wook , Heo Jin Seok
Published: October 2021

Given the rare incidence of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC), its post-resection clinical outcomes remain unclear. Treatment strategies for PACC have relied on those of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The present study retrospectively investigated clinicopathologic characteristics of resected PACC registered in the Korea Tumor Registry System Biliary Pancreas database. Among 59 patients with a mean age of 59.2 years and a male predominance (83.1%), 43, 5, 7, and 4 had pure PACC, ductal differentiations, mixed neuroendocrine carcinomas, and intraductal and papillary variants, respectively. The mean tumor size was 4.6 cm, consisting of eight at T1, 26 at T2, and 25 at T3 stages. Metastasis to regional lymph node was identified in 15 (25.4%) patients. Thirty-one (52.5%) patients received adjuvant therapy. Five-year survival rate was 57.4%. The median survival was 78.8 months. In survival comparison according to the stage with AJCC system, N stage (lymph node metastasis), but not T stage, showed significant differences (p = 0.027). Resected PACC appeared to have clinical outcomes distinct from those of PDAC in this nationwide study. Therefore, large-scale multinational studies are needed to overcome the rarity of PACC and to establish an appropriate treatment strategies and staging system.
Interferon-γ Produced by EBV-Positive Neoplastic NK-Cells Induces Differentiation into Macrophages and Procoagulant Activity of Monocytes, Which Leads to HLH
Authors: Yoshimori Mayumi , Nishio Miwako , Ohashi Ayaka , Tateishi Megumi , Mimura Ayaka , Wada Naomi , Saito Minori , Shimizu Norio , Imadome Ken-Ichi , Arai Ayako
Published: October 2021

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-positive T- or NK-cell neoplasms show progressive systemic inflammation and abnormal blood coagulation causing hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). It was reported that inflammatory cytokines were produced and secreted by EBV-positive neoplastic T- or NK-cells. These cytokines can induce the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages leading to HLH. To clarify which products of EBV-positive neoplastic T- or NK-cells have effects on monocytes, we performed a co-culture assay of monocytes with the supernatants of EBV-positive T- or NK-cell lines. The expression of differentiation markers, the phagocytosis ability, and the mRNA expression of the inflammatory cytokines of THP-1, a monocytic cell line, clearly increased after culturing with the supernatants from EBV-NK-cell lines. Co-culturing with the supernatants promoted the expression of CD80 and CD206 as well as M1 and M2 macrophage markers in human monocytes. Co-culturing with the supernatants of EBV-NK-cell lines significantly enhanced the procoagulant activity and the tissue factor expression of monocytes. Interferon (IFN)-γ was elevated extremely not only in the supernatant of EBV-NK-cell lines but also in the plasma of EBV-positive NK-cell neoplasms patients accompanying HLH. Finally, we confirmed that IFN-γ directly enhanced the differentiation into M1-like macrophages and the procoagulant activity of monocytes. Our findings suggest that IFN-γ may potentially serve as a therapeutic target to regulate HLH in EBV-positive NK-cell neoplasms.
Cycloastragenol, a Triterpenoid Saponin, Regulates Oxidative Stress, Neurotrophic Dysfunctions, Neuroinflammation and Apoptotic Cell Death in Neurodegenerative Conditions
Authors: Ikram Muhammad , Jo Myeung Hoon , Choe Kyonghwan , Khan Amjad , Ahmad Sareer , Saeed Kamran , Kim Min Woo , Kim Myeong Ok
Published: October 2021

Here, we have unveiled the effects of cycloastragenol against Aβ (Amyloid-beta)-induced oxidative stress, neurogenic dysfunction, activated mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, and mitochondrial apoptosis in an Aβ-induced mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The Aβ-induced mouse model was developed by the stereotaxic injection of amyloid-beta (5 μg/mouse/intracerebroventricular), and cycloastragenol was given at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day/p.o for 6 weeks daily. For the biochemical analysis, we used immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Our findings showed that the injection of Aβ elevated oxidative stress and reduced the expression of neurogenic markers, as shown by the reduced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the phosphorylation of its specific receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B (p-TrKB). In addition, there was a marked reduction in the expression of NeuN (neuronal nuclear protein) in the Aβ-injected mice brains (cortex and hippocampus). Interestingly, the expression of Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2), HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1), p-TrKB, BDNF, and NeuN was markedly enhanced in the Aβ + Cycloastragenol co-treated mice brains. We have also evaluated the expressions of MAP kinases such as phospho c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), p-38, and phospho-extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK1/2) in the experimental groups, which suggested that the expression of p-JNK, p-P-38, and p-Erk were significantly upregulated in the Aβ-injected mice brains; interestingly, these markers were downregulated in the Aβ + Cycloastragenol co-treated mice brains. We also checked the expression of activated microglia and inflammatory cytokines, which showed that cycloastragenol reduced the activated microglia and inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, we evaluated the effects of cycloastragenol against mitochondrial apoptosis and memory dysfunctions in the experimental groups. The findings showed significant regulatory effects against apoptosis and memory dysfunction as revealed by the Morris water maze (MWM) test. Collectively, the findings suggested that cycloastragenol regulates oxidative stress, neurotrophic processes, neuroinflammation, apoptotic cell death, and memory impairment in the mouse model of AD.
Q-Tube®-Assisted Alkylation and Arylation of Xanthines and Other N-H-Containing Heterocycles in Water
Authors: Scimmi Cecilia , Cardinali Margherita , Abenante Laura , Amatista Marina , Nacca Francesca Giulia , Lenardao Eder J. , Sancineto Luca , Santi Claudio
Published: October 2021

In this paper, a simple and clean process for the alkylation and arylation of nitrogen-containing heterocycles is reported. The reactions were conducted using the Q-tube® as a non-conventional technology, in water as a green solvent, at overboiling temperature. The developed strategy was used to improve two steps in the total synthesis of caffeine, as reported by Narayan, and then extended to the preparation of N-decorated xanthines. Finally, piperidine, methyl piperazine, and isatine were proven to be suitable substrates for the protocol proposed herein.