bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High Expression of CLEC11A Predicts Favorable Prognosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Yin Chengliang , Zhang Junyan , Guan Wei , Dou Liping , Liu Yuchen , Shen Ming , Jia Xiaodong , Xu Lu , Wu Rilige , Li Yan
Published: March 2021

Background

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease of the hematopoietic system, for which identification of novel molecular markers is potentially important for clinical prognosis and is an urgent need for treatment optimization.

Methods

We selected C-type lectin domain family 11, member A (CLEC11A) for study via several public databases, comparing expression among a variety of tumors and normal samples as well as different organs and tissues. To investigated the relationship between CLEC11A expression and clinical characteristics, we derived an AML cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA); we also investigated the Bloodspot and HemaExplorer databases. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to evaluate the associations between CLEC11A mRNA expression, as well as DNA methylation, and overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), and relapse-free survival (RFS). DNA methylation levels of CLEC11A from our own 28 de novo AML patients were assessed and related to chemotherapeutic outcomes. Bioinformatics analysis of CLEC11A was carried out using public databases.

Results

Multiple public databases revealed that CLEC11A expression was higher in leukemia. The TCGA data revealed that high CLEC11A expression was linked with favorable prognosis (OS p-value = 2e-04; EFS p-value = 6e-04), which was validated in GSE6891 (OS p-value = 0; EFS p-value = 0; RFS p-value = 2e-03). Methylation of CLEC11A was negatively associated with CLEC11A expression, and high CLEC11A methylation level group was linked to poorer prognosis (OS p-value = 1e-02; EFS p-value = 2e-02). Meanwhile, CLEC11A hypermethylation was associated with poor induction remission rate and dismal survival. Bioinformatic analysis also showed that CLEC11A was an up-regulated gene in leukemogenesis.

Conclusion

CLEC11A may be used as a prognostic biomarker, and could do benefit for AML patients by providing precise treatment indications, and its unique gene pattern should aid in further understanding the heterogeneous AML mechanisms.
Clinicopathological and Molecular Features of Colorectal Cancer Patients With Mucinous and Non-Mucinous Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Lan Yuan-Tzu , Chang Shih-Ching , Lin Pei-Ching , Lin Chun-Chi , Lin Hung-Hsin , Huang Shen-Chieh , Lin Chien-Hsing , Liang Wen-Yi , Chen Wei-Shone , Jiang Jeng-Kai , Lin Jen-Kou , Yang Shung-Haur
Published: March 2021

Background

The prognosis of mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) and non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (NMAC) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is controversial, and the molecular differences between them are unclear.

Methods

Between 2000 and 2010, a total of 1,483 CRC patients were included. Among them, 73 patients (4.9%) were diagnosed with MAC. The clinicopathological features and genetic alterations were compared between MAC and NMAC.

Results

After propensity score matching to balance age and sex between MAC and NMAC patients, 292 CRC patients (73 MAC and 219 NMAC) were enrolled in the analysis at a 1:3 ratio. In right-sided colon cancer, patients with MAC were more likely to have Borrmann types 3 and 4 tumors, poor differentiation, and advanced T category and tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) stage, chemotherapy, and a similar 5-year overall survival (OS) rate compared with patients with NMAC. In left-sided colon cancer and rectal cancer, patients with MAC were more likely to have Borrmann types 3 and 4 tumors, poor differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, advanced T and N categories and TNM stages, chemotherapy, and a worse 5-year OS rate than patients with NMAC. Regarding genetic alterations, for NMAC, right-sided colon cancer had more BRAF mutations than left-sided colon cancer and rectal cancer. For MAC, right-sided colon cancer was associated with more microsatellite instability-high tumors and more AKT1 mutations than left-sided colon cancer and rectal cancer.

Conclusion

The genetic alterations are distinct between MAC and NMAC in CRC. Tumor location may have an impact on genetic alterations and patient prognosis in MAC and NMAC.
Identification of Stemness Characteristics Associated With the Immune Microenvironment and Prognosis in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Mao Deli , Zhou Zhijun , Song Shenglei , Li Dongsheng , He Yulong , Wei Zhewei , Zhang Changhua
Published: March 2021

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly heterogeneous disease. In recent years, the prognostic value of the mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) across cancers has been reported. We intended to identify stemness index-associated genes (SI-genes) for clinical characteristic, gene mutation status, immune response, and tumor microenvironment evaluation as well as risk stratification and survival prediction.

Methods

The correlations between the mRNAsi and GC prognosis, clinical characteristics, gene mutation status, immune cell infiltration and tumor microenvironment were evaluated. Weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify SI-genes from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was employed to calculate the sample SI-gene-based ssGSEA score according to the SI-genes. Then, the correlations between the ssGSEA score and GC prognosis, clinical characteristics, gene mutation status, immune cell infiltration and tumor microenvironment were analyzed. Finally, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression algorithm was used to construct a prognostic signature with prognostic SI-genes. The ssGSEA score and prognostic signature were validated using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database.

Results

The mRNAsi could predict overall survival (OS), clinical characteristics, the gene mutation status, immune cell infiltration, and the tumor microenvironment composition. Fourteen positive SI-genes and 178 negative SI-genes were screened out using WGCNA. The ssGSEA score, similar to the mRNAsi, was found to be closely related to OS, clinical characteristics, the gene mutation status, immune cell infiltration, and the tumor microenvironment composition. Finally, a prognostic signature based on 18 prognostic SI-genes was verified to more accurately predict GC 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS than traditional clinical prediction models.

Conclusion

The ssGSEA score and prognostic signature based on 18 prognostic SI-genes are of great value for immune response evaluation, risk stratification and survival prediction in GC and suggest that stemness features are crucial drivers of GC progression.
Current Status of the Disease-Resistant Gene(s)/QTLs, and Strategies for Improvement in Brassica juncea
Authors: Singh Kaushal Pratap , Kumari Preetesh , Rai Pramod Kumar
Published: March 2021

Brassica junceais a major oilseed crop in tropical and subtropical countries, especially in south-east Asia like India, China, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The widespread cultivation of genetically similar varieties tends to attract fungal pathogens which cause heavy yield losses in the absence of resistant sources. The conventional disease management techniques are often expensive, have limited efficacy, and cause additional harm to the environment. A substantial approach is to identify and use of resistance sources within the Brassica hosts and other non-hosts to ensure sustainable oilseed crop production. In the present review, we discuss six major fungal pathogens ofB. juncea: Sclerotinia stem rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), Alternaria blight (Alternaria brassicae), White rust (Albugo candida), Downy mildew (Hyaloperonospora parasitica), Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cruciferarum), and Blackleg (Leptoshaeria maculans). From discussing studies on pathogen prevalence inB. juncea, the review then focuses on highlighting the resistance sources and quantitative trait loci/gene identified so far from Brassicaceae and non-filial sources against these fungal pathogens. The problems in the identification of resistance sources forB. junceaconcerning genome complexity in host subpopulation and pathotypes were addressed. Emphasis has been laid on more elaborate and coordinated research to identify and deploy R genes, robust techniques, and research materials. Examples of fully characterized genes conferring resistance have been discussed that can be transformed intoB. junceausing advanced genomics tools. Lastly, effective strategies forB. junceaimprovement through introgression of novel R genes, development of pre-breeding resistant lines, characterization of pathotypes, and defense-related secondary metabolites have been provided suggesting the plan for the development of resistantB. juncea.
Genomic-Wide Analysis of the PLC Family and Detection of GmPI-PLC7 Responses to Drought and Salt Stresses in Soybean
Authors: Chen Zhi-Feng , Ru Jing-Na , Sun Guo-Zhong , Du Yan , Chen Jun , Zhou Yong-Bin , Chen Ming , Ma You-Zhi , Xu Zhao-Shi , Zhang Xiao-Hong
Published: March 2021

Phospholipase C (PLC) performs significant functions in a variety of biological processes, including plant growth and development. The PLC family of enzymes principally catalyze the hydrolysis of phospholipids in organisms. This exhaustive exploration of soybean GmPLC members using genome databases resulted in the identification of 15 phosphatidylinositol-specific PLC (GmPI-PLC) and 9 phosphatidylcholine-hydrolyzing PLC (GmNPC) genes. Chromosomal location analysis indicated that GmPLC genes mapped to 10 of the 20 soybean chromosomes. Phylogenetic relationship analysis revealed that GmPLC genes distributed into two groups in soybean, the PI-PLC and NPC groups. The expression patterns and tissue expression analysis showed that GmPLCs were differentially expressed in response to abiotic stresses. GmPI-PLC7 was selected to further explore the role of PLC in soybean response to drought and salt stresses by a series of experiments. Compared with the transgenic empty vector (EV) control lines, over-expression of GmPI-PLC7 (OE) conferred higher drought and salt tolerance in soybean, while the GmPI-PLC7-RNAi (RNAi) lines exhibited the opposite phenotypes. Plant tissue staining and physiological parameters observed from drought- and salt-stressed plants showed that stress increased the contents of chlorophyll, oxygen free radical (O2–), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and NADH oxidase (NOX) to amounts higher than those observed in non-stressed plants. This study provides new insights in the functional analysis of GmPLC genes in response to abiotic stresses.
Identifying Healthcare Professional Roles in Developing Palliative Care: A Mixed Method
Authors: Alonazi Wadi B.
Published: March 2021

Background: Creating a holistic approach in healthcare services is the ultimate aim for the integrated healthcare system. Theoretically, healthcare policy makers constantly expected optimal operations within the hospitals through capitalizing the maximum potential of healthcare expertise, professionals, practitioners, and supporting staff. The objective of this study is to explore the role of healthcare individuals to sustain effective palliative care programs in a safe environment with high-quality of care.

Methods: This study employed a mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) to accomplish the set objective. For this purpose, a balanced sampling technique was adopted and 28 healthcare professionals were selected in two stages (last week of January and the 1st week of February, 2020). These respondents were playing significant role in palliative care policy making process. In the first stage, respondents were classified into three parallel groups to document the major factors affecting palliative care reforms. To minimize the chance of individual biases, each group was supervised by an independent healthcare professional who was not involved in the study. Then, in the second stage, respondents were divided into two clusters for further abstraction of themes to analysis the data. In this phase, each group was comprised on 14 individuals. Data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed (subjectively and objectively) by using NVivo 12 to extract the final themes. These themes were described and analyzed quantitatively for further catchphrases abstraction to identify significant components.

Findings: The initial results incorporated 36 key factors in building effective and sustained palliative healthcare centers. The domains were feasible and practical as they homogeneously patterned within cultural change. These were quality of care, effective management, institute of medicine criteria, and health governance. The Spearman correlation matrix showed significant relationships between the four critical components (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).

Conclusions: This study explored and identified the significant factors that healthcare professional might consider to make their role more productive and effective in palliative care centers. The key findings also indicated the need of comprehensive periodic assessment especially from the perspective of managerial implications and quality of care.
Molecular Investigation on Tick-Borne Hemoparasites and Coxiella burnetii in Dromedary Camels (Camelusdromedarius) in Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi, UAE
Authors: El Tigani-Asil El Tigani Ahmed , Blanda Valeria , Abdelwahab Ghada Elderdiri , Hammadi Zulaikha Mohamed Al , Habeeba Shameem , Khalafalla Abdelmalik Ibrahim , Alhosani Mohamed Ali , La Russa Francesco , Migliore Sergio , Torina Alessandra , Loria Guido Ruggero , Al Muhairi Salama Suhail
Published: March 2021

Camels represent an important resource for inhabitants of the most arid regions of the world and their survival is mainly related to environment conditions including the risk of parasitic diseases, which may represent a significant cause of losses in livestock production of these areas. Camels may be parasitized by several hematophagous arthropods, which can be vectors of several diseases including zoonosis. This study aimed to investigate in dromedary camels and their ticks the importance of tick-borne hemoparasites that might be responsible for a recent and obscure morbidity of camels in Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, UAE. Blood samples and ticks from 93 naturally infected camels belonging to 36 herds, affected by variable acute clinical syndromes lasting from 3 to 5 days, were analyzed through molecular techniques for specific DNA presence of different blood pathogens: Anaplasmamarginale/Anaplasmaovis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Coxiella burnetii,Babesia spp., and Theileria spp. DNA. All the 72 ticks collected belonged to the Hyalomma dromedarii species and were negative for blood pathogens. n = 15 camels (16.1%) were found positive to the following tick-borne hemoparasites: A. phagocytophilum 11 (11.8%), Coxiella burnetii 3 (3.2%), and Babesia/Theileria spp. 2 (2.1%). One singular camel showed coinfection of C. burnetii and A. phagocytophiulm. Genetic profile of C. burnetii showed a high phylogenetic relatedness to European, Asian and African C. burnetii strains. This is the first laboratory investigation on tick-borne pathogens in camels in UAE, and the first report of A. phagocytophilum and C. burnetii. Moreover, since the detected pathogens are recognized pathogens for humans, this study highlights the zoonotic risk for humans working in camel husbandry.
Effects of Increased Extracellular Potassium Concentration Induced by Ischemia on the Vulnerability of Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Regularity of Related Ventricular Tachycardia
Authors: Geng Zihui , Jin Lian , Zhu Honglei , Wang Jianfei , Wu Xiaomei
Published: March 2021

Myocardial ischemia could induce arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, leading to sudden death and other serious consequences. This manuscript adopted the cardiac modeling and simulation method to study the activity pattern of myocardial ischemia-related ventricular tachycardia and the effect of increased extracellular potassium concentration on arrhythmia vulnerability. A whole ventricular electrophysiological model of endocardial ischemia caused by distal occlusion of left anterior descending coronary artery was established. The simulation results suggested that the relationship between the vulnerability of ventricular arrhythmias and extracellular potassium concentration was bell shaped with a peak in susceptibility at 12 mM. This result was caused by the effect of extracellular potassium concentration on the dispersion of repolarization and the effective refractory period of cardiomyocytes. The extension of the effective refractory period was due to the electrical remodeling of the ventricle. Specifically, it was because of the delayed recovery of the INa current. In addition, the regularity of endocardial/epicardial reentrant pattern during non-transmural ischemia was also analyzed. The endocardium formed micro-reentrant, while the epicardium established macro-reentrant rotating around the ischemic regions provided a new idea for the determination of clinical ablation targets.
Isolation, Purification and Characterization of Proteins in “Señorita” Banana (Musa acuminata (AAA) ‘Señorita’) Pulp with Bioactive Peptides Exhibiting Antihypertensive and Antioxidant Activities
Authors: Ferreras John Matthew , Clemencia Mia Claire Marie , Hizon-Fradejas Amelia , Uy Lawrence Yves , Torio Mary Ann
Published: March 2021

Banana is one of the most important crops, providing multiple benefits. Although it has been widely studied for its health benefits, little information can be found about its proteins. This study determined the antihypertensive and antioxidant activities of the crude, purified, and hydrolyzed protein extracts from ‘Señorita’ banana pulp. Crude proteins were extracted using Tris-HCl buffer and purified through ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, and gel filtration chromatography. The protein content of the crude, partially purified, and purified extracts were found to be 167.32, 120.45, and 28.51 μg·mL−1, respectively, with major protein having an approximate molecular weight of 15 kDa. These extracts were then subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis for release of bioactive peptides prior to ACE inhibitory and antioxidant activities determination. Among these samples, the undigested crude extract had the highest ACE inhibitory activity (85.20%). There was also an observable increase in ACE inhibition of the digested samples with increased digestion time. Meanwhile, the 3-h and 4-h crude digests had the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity with 30.82% and 34.74%, respectively. These were not significantly different from the activity of the standard, ascorbic acid. A general decrease in DPPH radical scavenging activity of the samples was observed with increased digestion time. These observations were coherent with the in silico analysis of the putative major protein, lectin, which showed that its enzymatic hydrolysis releases ACE inhibitor and antioxidant peptides.
Does Soluble Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor Level Predicts the Occurrence of Inflammatory Complications in Maxillofacial Surgery?
Authors: Kozakiewicz Marcin , Wlazeł Rafał Nikodem
Published: March 2021

Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a marker of immune activation and reflects a more distinct aspect of inflammation than C-reactive protein (CRP) does. The study concerns a clinically silent state of the immune system expressed by the level of suPAR, which could affect the occurrence of complications (non-life threatening) after scheduled procedures. The purpose was the evaluation of suPAR predictive value in minor maxillofacial surgery complication incidents. Eighty patients were tested for suPAR, CRP and a series of basic laboratory serum tests on 1 day before surgery. Complications of orthognathic and minor injuries treatments were reported. The suPAR level, expressed as a measure independent of the patient’s age (Index of Body Inflammation, IBI), was analyzed. The protein level was also assessed on postoperative day 3. Basic statistical analysis did not reveal any relevant dependence between suPAR (or IBI) and occurrence of minor complications. The application of factor analysis, artificial neural network and inclusion of chlorides, glycaemia, alanine transaminase (ALT), albumin and hemoglobin levels allowed to indicate the suPAR/IBI ranges associated with an increased risk of minor postoperative complications. Concluding, it seems that, in the current state of the knowledge, the monitoring of pre-operational suPAR level solely does not include sufficient predictive information for the occurrence of minor complications after maxillofacial surgery. The suPAR/IBI level should be combined with other patient characteristics to predict healing complications.
Undersampled Differential Phase Shift On–Off Keying for Visible Light Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication
Authors: Plattner Michael , Ostermayer Gerald
Published: March 2021

An important development direction for the future of the automotive industry is connected and cooperative vehicles. Some functionalities in traffic need the cars to communicate with each other. In platooning, multiple cars driving in succession reduce the distances between them to drive in the slipstream of each other to reduce drag, energy consumption, emissions, and the probability of traffic jams. The car in front controls the car behind remotely, so all cars in the platoon can accelerate and decelerate simultaneously. In this paper, a system for vehicle-to-vehicle communication is proposed using modulated taillights for transmission and an off-the-shelf camera with CMOS image sensor for reception. An Undersampled Differential Phase Shift On–Off Keying modulation method is used to transmit data. With a frame sampling rate of 30 FPS and two individually modulated taillights, a raw data transmission rate of up to 60 bits per second is possible. Of course, such a slow communication channel is not applicable for time-sensitive data transmission. However, the big benefit of this system is that the identity of the sender of the message can be verified, because it is visible in the captured camera image. Thus, this channel can be used to establish a secure and fast connection in another channel, e.g., via 5G or 802.11p, by sending a verification key or the fingerprint of a public key. The focus of this paper is to optimize the raw data transmission of the proposed system, to make it applicable in traffic and to reduce the bit error rate. An improved modulation mode with smoother phase shifts is used that can reduce the visible flickering when data is transmitted. By additionally adjusting the pulse width ratio of the modulation signal and by analyzing the impact of synchronization offsets between transmitter and receiver, major improvements of the bit error rate (BER) are possible. In previously published research, such a system without the mentioned adjustments was able to transmit data with a BER of 3.46%. Experiments showed that with those adjustments a BER of 0.48% can be achieved, which means 86% of the bit errors are prevented.
On-Board Road Friction Estimation Technique for Autonomous Driving Vehicle-Following Maneuvers
Authors: Santini Stefania , Albarella Nicola , Arricale Vincenzo Maria , Brancati Renato , Sakhnevych Aleksandr
Published: March 2021

In recent years, autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems have drawn a great deal of attention from both research and industry, because of their demonstrated benefit in reducing the rate of accidents or, at least, their severity. The main flaw of this system is related to the poor performances in adverse environmental conditions, due to the reduction of friction, which is mainly related to the state of the road. In this paper, a new model-based technique is proposed for real-time road friction estimation in different environmental conditions. The proposed technique is based on both bicycle model to evaluate the state of the vehicle and a tire Magic Formula model based on a slip-slope approach to evaluate the potential friction. The results, in terms of the maximum achievable grip value, have been involved in autonomous driving vehicle-following maneuvers, as well as the operating condition of the vehicle at which such grip value can be reached. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is disclosed via an extensive numerical analysis covering a wide range of environmental, traffic, and vehicle kinematic conditions. Results confirm the ability of the approach to properly automatically adapting the inter-vehicle space gap and to avoiding collisions also in adverse road conditions (e.g., ice, heavy rain).
Application of a Simulation-Based Digital Twin for Predicting Distributed Manufacturing Control System Performance
Authors: Roque Rolo Gonçalo , Dionisio Rocha Andre , Tripa João , Barata Jose
Published: March 2021

During the last years, several research activities and studies have presented the possibility to perform manufacturing control using distributed approaches. Although these new approaches aim to deliver more flexibility and adaptability to the shop floor, they are not being readily adopted and utilised by the manufacturers. One of the main challenges is the unpredictability of the proposed solutions and the uncertainty associated with these approaches. Hence, the proposed research aims to explore the utilisation of Digital Twins (DTs) to predict and understand the execution of these systems in runtime. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is leading to the emergence of new concepts amongst which DT stand out. Given their early stage, however, the already existing implementations are far from standardised, meaning that each practical case has to be analysed on its own and solutions are often created from scratch. Taking the aforementioned into account, the authors suggest an architecture that enables the integration between a previously designed and developed agent-based distributed control system and its DT, whose implementation is also provided in detail. Furthermore, the digital model’s calibration is described jointly with the careful validation process carried out. Thanks to the latter, several conclusions and guidelines for future implementations were possible to derive as well.
Optimal Multi-Antenna Transmission for the Cooperative Non-Orthogonal Multiple-Access System
Authors: Hwang Duckdong , Yang Janghoon , Nam Sung Sik , Song Hyoung-Kyu
Published: March 2021

We investigate the beamforming for the multi antenna cooperative non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) system, where an access point (AP) delivers messages for multiple user terminals (UT) with successive interference cancellation (SIC) reception method. Some UTs with multiple antennas cooperate with the AP transmission to improve the diversity and the average power performance. We formally present two optimal beamforming schemes at the AP and at the cooperative UTs. One scheme has no power limitation for the cooperative UTs, while the other one does have such limitation. We guarantee that the rank one beamformer is sufficient to achieve the optimal points so that the proposed schemes have rank one semi-definite programming (SDP) structure. Simulation results show the performance gain of the multi-antenna cooperative NOMA schemes in the sense of diversity and the average power.
Improvement of Delivery Reliability by an Intelligent Control Loop between Supply Network and Manufacturing
Authors: Bauer Dennis , Bauernhansl Thomas , Sauer Alexander
Published: March 2021

Manufacturing companies operate in an environment characterized as increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. At the same time, their customer orientation makes it increasingly important to ensure high delivery reliability. Manufacturing sites within a supply network must therefore be resilient against events from the supply network. This requires deeper integration between the supply network and manufacturing control. Therefore, this article presents a concept to connect supply network and manufacturing more closely by integrating events from the supply network into manufacturing control’s decisions. In addition to the requirements, the concept describes the structure of the system as a control loop, a reinforcement learning-based controlling element as the central decision-making component, and the integration into the existing production IT landscape of a company as well as with latest internet of things (IoT) devices and cyber-physical systems. The benefits of the concept were elaborated in expert workshops. In summary, this approach enables an effective and efficient response to events from the supply network through smarter manufacturing control, and thus more resilient manufacturing.
Hazardous Effects of SiO2 Nanoparticles on Liver and Kidney Functions, Histopathology Characteristics, and Transcriptomic Responses in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Juveniles
Authors: Abdel-Latif Hany M.R. , Shukry Mustafa , El Euony Omnia I. , Mohamed Soliman Mohamed , Noreldin Ahmed E. , Ghetas Hanan A. , Dawood Mahmoud A.O. , Khallaf Mohamed A.
Published: March 2021

The current investigation assessed the impacts of sub-lethal concentrations of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) on hepato-renal functions, histopathological characteristics, and gene transcription in gills and liver of Nile tilapia juveniles. Fish were exposed to 20, 40, and 100 mg/L of SiO2NPs for 3 weeks. Pairwise comparisons with the control group showed a significant dose-dependent elevation in serum ALP, ALT, and AST enzyme activities as well as blood urea and creatinine levels in SiO2NP-intoxicated groups. Exposure to 100 mg/L SiO2NPs significantly upregulated expression of HSP70, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8 genes in the gills as compared to the control group. Moreover, exposure to 100 mg/L SiO2NPs significantly upregulated the expression SOD, HSP70, IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α genes in the hepatic tissues as compared to the control group. Exposure of fish to 20 mg SiO2NPs/L significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of IL-12 in both the gills and liver tissues. Notably, all tested SiO2NP concentrations significantly upregulated the transcription of CASP3 gene in gills and liver of Nile tilapia as compared to the control group. Interestingly, varying histopathological alterations in renal, hepatopancreatic, and branchial tissues were observed to be correlated to the tested SiO2NP concentrations. In conclusion, our results provide additional information on the toxic impacts of SiO2NPs in Nile tilapia at the hematological, tissue, and molecular levels.
Fluid–Structure Interaction Analyses of Biological Systems Using Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics
Authors: Toma Milan , Chan-Akeley Rosalyn , Arias Jonathan , Kurgansky Gregory D. , Mao Wenbin
Published: March 2021

Due to the inherent complexity of biological applications that more often than not include fluids and structures interacting together, the development of computational fluid–structure interaction models is necessary to achieve a quantitative understanding of their structure and function in both health and disease. The functions of biological structures usually include their interactions with the surrounding fluids. Hence, we contend that the use of fluid–structure interaction models in computational studies of biological systems is practical, if not necessary. The ultimate goal is to develop computational models to predict human biological processes. These models are meant to guide us through the multitude of possible diseases affecting our organs and lead to more effective methods for disease diagnosis, risk stratification, and therapy. This review paper summarizes computational models that use smoothed-particle hydrodynamics to simulate the fluid–structure interactions in complex biological systems.
Do Females in a Unisexual-Bisexual Species Complex Differ in Their Behavioral Syndromes and Cortisol Production?
Authors: Muraco James J. , Monroe Dillon J. , Aspbury Andrea S. , Gabor Caitlin R.
Published: March 2021

Studies of suites of correlated behavioral traits (i.e., behavioral syndromes) aid in understanding the adaptive importance of behavioral evolution. Behavioral syndromes may be evolutionarily constrained, preventing behaviors from evolving independently, or they may be an adaptive result of selection on the correlation itself. We tested these hypotheses by characterizing the behavioral syndromes in two sympatric, closely related species and testing for differences between the species. We studied the unisexual Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa) and one of its bisexual, parent species, the sailfin molly (P. latipinna). Sympatric female sailfin and Amazon mollies compete for mating which could affect the behavioral syndromes found in each species. We identified a behavioral syndrome between exploration and activity in both species that did not differ between species. Additionally, we explored the relationship between a stress response hormone, cortisol, and behavioral type, and did not detect a relationship. However, P. formosa differed from P. latipinna in their cortisol release rates. Behavioral syndromes may be constrained in this complex, aiding in mate acquisition for P. formosa by virtue of having a similar behavioral type to P. latipinna. The difference between the females in cortisol release rates may be a useful mate identification cue for males to offset higher mating mistakes associated with the similar behavioral types.
Bisphenol A and S in the Urine of Newborns: Plastic for Non-Food Use Still without Rules
Authors: Bellisario Valeria , Cocchi Enrico , Tassinari Roberta , Squillacioti Giulia , Musso Tiziana , Sottemano Stefano , Zorzi Michael , Dalmasso Paola , Coscia Alessandra , Medana Claudio , Bono Roberto
Published: March 2021

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of bisphenol (BP) exposure on pregnancy and neonatal life. We have (a) determined BP (BPA and BPS) concentration levels in a group of newborns and their mothers; (b) identified factors, habits, and devices possibly responsible for BP uptake; and (c) determined the effect of BP exposure. No significant correlations were detected between maternal and neonatal BP concentration levels. In newborns, positive correlations between pacifier use and BPS total (p = 0.04) and free BPS (p = 0.03) concentrations were detected. A significant correlation was also found between oral glucose administration and concentration levels of free BPA (p < 0.05). Our study points to a central role of lifestyle, hospital procedures, and neonatal devices in inducing BP exposure, especially during the perinatal period. This is the first report of BP contamination in newborns due to widely non-alimentary products designed for newborn care, such as glucose-solution containers for BPA and pacifiers for BPS. Further studies are advocated in order to clarify both the impact of other BP forms on human health and development, as well as potential BPA exposure sources during neonatal and childhood life.
Intervention of Artificial Neural Network with an Improved Activation Function to Predict the Performance and Emission Characteristics of a Biogas Powered Dual Fuel Engine
Authors: Arora Vinay , Mahla Sunil Kumar , Leekha Rohan Singh , Dhir Amit , Lee Kyungroul , Ko Hoon
Published: March 2021

Biogas is a significant renewable fuel derived by sources of biological origin. One of today’s research issues is the effect of biofuels on engine efficiency. The experiments on the engine are complicated, time consuming and expensive. Furthermore, the evaluation cannot be carried out beyond the permissible limit. The purpose of this research is to build an artificial neural network successfully for dual fuel diesel engine with a view to overcoming experimental difficulties. Authors used engine load, bio-gas flow rate and n-butanol concentration as input parameters to forecast target variables in this analysis, i.e., smoke, brake thermal efficiency (BTE), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), nitrous-oxide (NOx). Estimated values and results of experiments were compared. The error analysis showed that the built model has quite accurately predicted the experimental results. This has been described by the value of Coefficient of determination (R2), which varies between 0.8493 and 0.9863 with the value of normalized mean square error (NMSE) between 0.0071 and 0.1182. The potency of the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency (NSCE) ranges from 0.821 to 0.8898 for BTE, HC, NOx and Smoke. This research has effectively emulated the on-board efficiency, emission, and combustion features of a dual-fuel biogas diesel engine taking the Swish activation mechanism in artificial neural network (ANN) model.
Curcumin-Loaded Pickering Emulsion Formed by Ultrasound and Stabilized by Metal Organic Framework Optimization
Authors: Ma Peihua , Zhang Zhi , Tsai Shawn , Zhang Hongchao , Li Yuan , Yuan Fang , Wang Qin
Published: March 2021

The ultrasound-assisted preparation of a curcumin-loaded metal organic framework (MOF) UiO-66-NH2 stabilized Pickering emulsion system was carried out in this study. A 3-level-4-factor Box–Behnken design (BBD) and response surface methodology (RSM) analysis were employed to systematically evaluate the effect of different experimental parameters (i.e., ultrasonic power, ultrasonic time, oil content, and MOF content) on curcumin loading capacity (LC) and encapsulation efficiency (EE). The results indicated that ultrasonic power and MOF content significantly affected LC and EE, whereas ultrasonic time and oil content had little effect. A mathematical model for optimizing the preparation of emulsion systems was established. Based on the ridge max analysis, an optimal condition for the newly developed curcumin-loaded MOF-Pickering emulsion was identified, i.e., ultrasonic power 150 W, ultrasonic time 11.17 min, oil content 20.0%, and MOF content 1.10%. At this condition, the LC and EE of curcumin obtained from the experiment reached 7.33% ± 0.54% and 56.18% ± 3.03%, respectively, which were within the prediction range of LC (7.35% ± 0.29%) and EE (54.34% ± 2.45%). The emulsion systems created in this study may find new applications for the delivery of bioactive compounds in food and pharmaceutical areas.
Correction: Aljadeeah, S., et al. Barriers to Accessing Medicines among Syrian Asylum Seekers and Refugees in a German Federal State. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 519
Authors: Aljadeeah Saleh , Wirtz Veronika J. , Nagel Eckhard
Published: March 2021

In the original article [...]
A Placebo-Controlled, Pseudo-Randomized, Crossover Trial of Botanical Agents for Gulf War Illness: Curcumin (Curcuma longa), Boswellia (Boswellia serrata), and French Maritime Pine Bark (Pinus pinaster)
Authors: Donovan Emily K. , Kekes-Szabo Sophia , Lin Joanne C. , Massey Rebecca L. , Cobb James D. , Hodgin Kathleen S. , Ness Timothy J. , Hangee-Bauer Carl , Younger Jarred W.
Published: March 2021

This report is part of a larger study designed to rapidly and efficiently screen potential treatments for Gulf War Illness (GWI) by testing nine different botanicals. In this placebo-controlled, pseudo-randomized, crossover clinical trial of 20 men with GWI, we tested three botanical agents with putative peripheral and central anti-inflammatory actions: curcumin (Curcuma longa), boswellia (Boswellia serrata), and French maritime pine bark extract (Pinus pinaster). Participants completed 30 +/− 3 days of baseline symptom reports, followed by 30 +/− 3 days of placebo, 30 +/− 3 days of lower-dose botanical, and 30 +/− 3 days of higher-dose botanical. Participants then repeated the process with a new botanical until completing up to three botanical cycles. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models. Curcumin reduced GWI symptom severity significantly more than placebo at both the lower (p < 0.0001) and higher (p = 0.0003) dosages. Boswellia was not more effective than placebo at reducing GWI symptoms at either the lower (p = 0.726) or higher (p = 0.869) dosages. Maritime pine was not more effective than placebo at the lower dosage (p = 0.954) but was more effective than placebo at the higher dosage (p = 0.006). This study provides preliminary evidence that curcumin and maritime pine may help alleviate symptoms of GWI. As a screening study, a final determination of the efficacy of these compounds for all individuals with GWI cannot be made, and further studies will need to be conducted to determine strength and durability of effects, as well as optimal dosage. These results suggest that GWI may, at least in part, involve systemic inflammatory processes. This trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02909686) on 13 September 2016.
Electronic Cigarette Aerosol Is Cytotoxic and Increases ACE2 Expression on Human Airway Epithelial Cells: Implications for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
Authors: McAlinden Kielan Darcy , Lu Wenying , Ferdowsi Parisa Vahidi , Myers Stephen , Markos James , Larby Josie , Chia Collin , Weber Heinrich C. , Haug Greg , Eapen Mathew Suji , Sohal Sukhwinder Singh
Published: March 2021

Tobacco smoking has emerged as a risk factor for increasing the susceptibility to infection from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) via increased expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) in the lung, linked to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) development. Given the modifiable nature of electronic cigarettes and the delivery of high concentrations of nicotine, we investigate whether electronic cigarette vaping has the potential to increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. We exposed BEAS-2B cells (bronchial epithelium transformed with Ad12-SV40 2B) and primary small airway epithelial cells (SAECs) to electronic cigarette aerosol condensates produced from propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin or commercially bought e-liquid (±added nicotine) and cigarette smoke extract to investigate if electronic cigarette exposure, like cigarette smoke, increases the expression of ACE2 in lung epithelial cells. In BEAS-2B cells, cytotoxicity (CCK-8), membrane integrity (LDH), and ACE2 protein expression (immunofluorescence) were measured for both 4- and 24 h treatments in BEAS-2B cells and 4 h in SAECs; ACE2 gene expression was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for 4 h treatment in BEAS-2B cells. Nicotine-free condensates and higher concentrations of nicotine-containing condensates were cytotoxic to BEAS-2B cells. Higher LDH release and reduced membrane integrity were seen in BEAS-2B cells treated for 24 h with higher concentrations of nicotine-containing condensates. ACE2 protein expression was observably increased in all treatments compared to cell controls, particularly for 24 h exposures. ACE2 gene expression was significantly increased in cells exposed to the locally bought e-liquid condensate with high nicotine concentration and cigarette smoke extract compared with cell controls. Our study suggests that vaping alone and smoking alone can result in an increase in lung ACE2 expression. Vaping and smoking are avoidable risk factors for COVID-19, which, if avoided, could help reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and the severity of the disease. This is the first study to utilize electronic cigarette aerosol condensates, novel and developed in our laboratory, for investigating ACE2 expression in human airway epithelial cells.
Drug Repurposing to Treat Glucocorticoid Resistance in Asthma
Authors: Wang Alberta L. , Panganiban Ronald , Qiu Weiliang , Kho Alvin T. , Chupp Geoffrey , Meyers Deborah A. , Bleecker Eugene R. , Weiss Scott T. , Lu Quan , Tantisira Kelan G.
Published: March 2021

Corticosteroid resistance causes significant morbidity in asthma, and drug repurposing may identify timely and cost-effective adjunctive treatments for corticosteroid resistance. In 95 subjects from the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP) and 19 subjects from the Severe Asthma Research Program (SARP), corticosteroid response was measured by the change in percent predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). In each cohort, differential gene expression analysis was performed comparing poor (resistant) responders, defined as those with zero to negative change in FEV1, to good responders, followed by Connectivity Map (CMap) analysis to identify inversely associated (i.e., negatively connected) drugs that reversed the gene expression profile of poor responders to resemble that of good responders. Mean connectivity scores weighted by sample size were calculated. The top five drug compound candidates underwent in vitro validation in NF-κB-based luciferase reporter A549 cells stimulated by IL-1β ± dexamethasone. In CAMP and SARP, 134 and 178 respective genes were differentially expressed in poor responders. CMap analysis identified 46 compounds in common across both cohorts with connectivity scores < −50. γ-linolenic acid, ampicillin, exemestane, brinzolamide, and INCA-6 were selected for functional validation. γ-linolenic acid, brinzolamide, and INCA-6 significantly reduced IL-1β induced luciferase activity and potentiated the anti-inflammatory effect of dexamethasone in A549/NF-κB-luc reporter cells. These results demonstrate how existing drugs, including γ-linolenic acid, brinzolamide, and INCA-6, may be repurposed to improve corticosteroid response in asthmatics.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Combined with Hyaluronic Acid versus Leucocyte and Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Conservative Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis. A Retrospective Study
Authors: Palco Michelangelo , Fenga Domenico , Basile Giorgio Carmelo , Rizzo Paolo , Cavalieri Bruno , Leonetti Danilo , Alito Angelo , Bruschetta Antongiulio , Traina Francesco
Published: March 2021

Background and objectives: Knee osteoarthritis (KO) is one of the most common joint diseases, determining knee pain and reduction of mobility, with a negative effect on quality of life. Intra-articular injections of different formulations of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are an increasingly common non-surgical treatment for KO. Recently, in order to combine the anti-inflammatory effect of platelet rich plasma and the viscosupplementation effect of hyaluronic acid, a formulation of PRP combined with hyaluronic acid (PRP + HA) has been proposed. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively compare the effectiveness of plasma with high concentration of platelets and leukocytes (L-PRP) with PRP + HA in patients with mild to moderate (Kellgren–Lawrence scale II-III grade) KO. Materials and Methods: Among the 51 patients included, 28 have been treated with L-PRP, while 23 with PRP + HA. A retrospective evaluation at baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1) and 1 year (T2) has been performed. The outcome analyzed are the Knee Society Score (KSS), the Visuo Analogic Scale (VAS) (at T0, T1, and T2) and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) (T0 and T2). We evaluated change in mean scores within and between groups among different time points using repeated measures ANCOVA. Results: Although the two treatments have been both effective in reducing VAS, the group treated with PRP + HA showed a significantly lower KSS. Conclusions: Our results show that the use of both treatments may help to reduce pain in patients with mild to moderate KO. PRP + HA showed better results in improving knee mobility and function. These results should be considered only preliminary: Further research is needed to completely describe the clinical effectiveness of these formulations.