bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Technical Parameters of Seaweed Biostimulant Spray Application as a Factor in the Economic Viability of Soybean Production
Authors: Krawczuk Anna , Huyghebaert Bruno , Rabier Fabienne , Parafiniuk Stanisław , Przywara Artur , Koszel Milan , Lorencowicz Edmund , Kocira Sławomir
Published: January 2023

Application of biostimulant in the form of a spraying requires appropriate selection of technical parameters. One of the key factors in ensuring that the liquid is sprayed correctly is the choice of suitable spray nozzles. This study investigated selected technical parameters of seaweed biostimulant spray applications as a factor for plant biometrics, crop quality and yield, and the economic viability of production. This objective was achieved by conducting a two-year field experiment involving spraying soybean plants with a biostimulant containing seaweed extract. The spraying was carried out with two types of nozzles (standard and air-injector), for which the droplet size and the degree of plant coverage were tested at 4.0 MPa. The surface tension of the spray liquid and the area and volume of the droplets were tested. The height of soybean plants, the height and the position of the first pod, the number of pods, seed yield, and the weight of 1000 seeds were measured. The physical properties of the liquid sprayed on the plants and the type of nozzles used were factors affecting the height of the first pods, plant height, and protein content. The application of biostimulants using standard nozzles is more economically advantageous compared to nozzles with an air-injector.
Biomass and Cellulose Dissolution—The Important Issue in Renewable Materials Treatment
Authors: Przypis Marta , Wawoczny Agata , Gillner Danuta
Published: January 2023

Sustainable development strategies, as well as the shift toward a circular bioeconomy, has led to high interest in the development and implementation of technologies that efficiently utilize biomass as a raw material. Switching from fossil-based to bio-based resources requires the consideration of many new challenges and problems. One of the crucial issues is the solubility of lignocellulose or at least its ingredients. According to the trends and legislation, the selected chemicals and methods of dissolution/treatment should also be environmentally friendly. The pretreatment processes prepare biomass for further transformations (e.g., chemical, thermal including pyrolysis, or biological) to valuable products such as biofuels, bio-oils, Fine Chemicals, solvents, plastics, and many others. This review discusses the latest findings on the dissolution of biomass and its ingredients. The application of novel, green solvents such as ionic liquids or deep eutectic solvents is discussed in detail. The impact of the composition and structure of these solvents on the biomass/cellulose dissolution process, as well as the mechanism of cellulose–ionic liquid interaction, is presented. Some novel achievements in the usage of inorganic salts and specific metal complexes are also overviewed.
Interconnected Government Services: An Approach toward Smart Government
Authors: Bojović Živko , Klipa Đuro , Bojović Petar D. , Jovanović Irena M. , Šuh Jelena , Šenk Vojin
Published: January 2023

The rapid expansion of new technologies and services significantly affects society’s development and initiates significant changes within public administration. Many have decided to implement citizen-centric, data-driven, and performance-focused governance and prepare to transform the existing e-government system into a smart government. Along the way, they have encountered problems such as flaws in existing legislation and in the integration of heterogeneous infrastructure from technical, financial, and privacy perspectives. We propose a new approach to information system modeling that introduces an integration layer for existing databases and services and suggests the application of several innovative technologies to achieve better problem-solving, optimal utilization of resources, and policy innovation. To test the effectiveness of the proposed solution, we have used corresponding weighted digraph models to confirm that the proposed solution achieves the desired effects. We have used the time required to collect documents to measure similarity. The obtained results prove the efficiency of the proposed model and indicate that the same model could be used elsewhere in public administration.
Analysis and Prediction of MOOC Learners’ Dropout Behavior
Authors: Chi Zengxiao , Zhang Shuo , Shi Lin
Published: January 2023

With the wide spread of massive open online courses ( MOOC ), millions of people have enrolled in many courses, but the dropout rate of most courses is more than 90%. Accurately predicting the dropout rate of MOOC is of great significance to prevent learners’ dropout behavior and reduce the dropout rate of students. Using the PH278x curriculum data on the Harvard X platform in spring 2013, and based on the statistical analysis of the factors that may affect learners’ final completion of the curriculum from two aspects: learners’ own characteristics and learners’ learning behavior, we established the MOOC dropout rate prediction models based on logical regression, K nearest neighbor and random forest, respectively. Experiments with five evaluation metrics (accuracy, precision, recall, F1 and AUC) show that the prediction model based on random forest has the highest accuracy, precision, F1 and AUC, which are 91.726%, 93.0923%, 95.4145%, 0.925341, respectively, its performance is better than that of the prediction model based on logical regression and that of the model based on K-nearest neighbor, whose values of these metrics are 91.395%, 92.8674%, 95.2337%, 0.912316 and 91.726%, 93.0923%, 95.4145% and 0.925341, respectively. As for recall metrics, the value of random forest is higher than that of KNN, but slightly lower than that of logistic regression, which are 0.992476, 0.977239 and 0.978555, respectively. Then, we conclude that random forests perform best in predicting the dropout rate of MOOC learners. This study can help education staff to know the trend of learners’ dropout behavior in advance, so as to put some measures to reduce the dropout rate before it occurs, thus improving the completion rate of the curriculum.
Design Optimization of a Hydrodynamic Brake with an Electrorheological Fluid
Authors: Kęsy Zbigniew , Musiałek Ireneusz , Choi Seung-Bok
Published: January 2023

This article describes the design optimization of a hydrodynamic brake with an electrorheological fluid. The design optimization is performed on the basis of mathematical model of the brake geometry and the brake’s electrical circuit. The parameters of the mathematical models are selected based on experimental tests of the prototype brake. Six different objective functions are minimized during the design optimization. The functions are created taking into consideration the following factors: the braking torque, brake weight, electric power absorbed by the brake, and the torque rise time. The assumed design variables are: the number of blades and the radii (inner and outer) of the brake’s working space. The optimization calculations are performed for two design variables intervals. The first interval is defined taking into consideration the accuracy of the mathematical model. The second, narrower interval is assumed for the tested prototypical brake. On the basis of the optimization calculation results, general guidelines are presented for the optimization of the hydrodynamic brakes with an ER fluid. In addition, the possibilities of optimizing the prototype brake are determined.
Design and Analysis of Transformable Wheel with Pivoting-Head Mechanism
Authors: Chen Yaowei , Kamioka Ayumu , Iwase Masami , Inoue Jun , Satoh Yasuyuki
Published: January 2023

A transformable wheel designed in this study is proposed to meet the increasingly complex travel requirements of people because it is urgent to provide a smooth and barrier-free travel scheme in complex and changeable urban land. The transformable wheel, with 10 pivoting-head parts, allows vehicles with the wheels to surmount low-height obstacles that deliberately complicates the terrain such as blind roads, small steps, bumps and door sills, and to achieve low-consumption travel. In this study, we demonstrate that the transformable wheels improve its performance by nearly 30% under the road conditions of low-height obstacles and is especially suitable for carts and suitcases passing through low-height obstacles such as blind lanes and low stairs.
The Widespread Use of Remote Sensing in Asbestos, Vegetation, Oil and Gas, and Geology Applications
Authors: Torres Gil Leydy K. , Valdelamar Martínez David , Saba Manuel
Published: January 2023

Remote sensing is the technique of acquiring data from the earth’s surface from sensors installed on satellites or on manned or unmanned aircrafts. Its use is common in dozens of sectors of science and technology, agriculture, atmosphere, soil, water, land surface, oceans and coasts, snow and ice, and natural disasters, among others. This article focuses on an in-depth literature review of some of the most common and promising disciplines, which are asbestos–cement roof identification, vegetation identification, the oil and gas industry, and geology, with the aim of having clarity on the trends in research on these issues at the international level. The most relevant problems in each sector have been highlighted, evidencing the need for future research in the area in light of technological advances in multi- and hyperspectral sensors and the availability of satellite images with more precise spatial resolution. A bibliometric analysis is proposed for each discipline and the network of related keywords is discussed. Finally, the results suggest that policymakers, urban planners, mine, and oil and gas companies should consider remote sensing as primary tool when planning comprehensive development strategies and in field parameter multitemporal analysis.
Relative Humidity Impact on Organic New Particle Formation from Ozonolysis of α- and β-Pinene at Atmospherically Relevant Mixing Ratios
Authors: Snyder Christopher N. , Flueckiger Austin C. , Petrucci Giuseppe A.
Published: January 2023

The impact of relative humidity (RH) on organic new particle formation (NPF) from ozonolysis of monoterpenes remains an area of active debate. Previous reports provide contradictory results indicating both depression and enhancement of NPF under conditions of moderate RH, while others do not indicate a potential impact. Only several reports have suggested that the effect may depend on absolute mixing ratio of the precursor volatile organic compound (VOC, ppbv). Herein we report on the impact of RH on NPF from dark ozonolysis of α- and β-pinene at mixing ratios ranging from 0.2 to 80 ppbv. We show that RH enhances NPF (by a factor of eight) at the lowest α-pinene mixing ratio, with a very strong dependence on α-pinene mixing ratio from 4 to 22 ppbv. At higher mixing ratios, the effect of RH plateaus, with resulting modest decreases in NPF. In the case of α- and β-pinene, NPF is enhanced at low mixing ratios due to a combination of chemistry, accelerated kinetics, and reduced partitioning of semi-volatile oxidation products to the particulate phase. Reduced partitioning would limit particle growth, permitting increased gas-phase concentrations of semi- and low-volatility products, which could favor NPF.
Performance Assessment of Heuristic Genetic Algorithm (HGA) for Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Parameter Estimation
Authors: Pech-Rodríguez Wilian J. , Suarez-Velázquez Gladis G. , Armendáriz-Mireles Eddie N. , Calles-Arriaga Carlos A. , Rocha-Rangel E.
Published: January 2023

Due to the importance of cutting-edge nanomaterials applications in energy generation and storage devices, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been adopted to fully understand the electronic and chemical reactions occurring inside these emerging technologies. Electronic behavior can be correlated with electrochemical properties such as electron transfer resistance, rate of mass diffusion, and the number of electrons in the electrochemical reaction. Although there is a lot of information about the electronic diagrams and methods for parameter estimation, some readers have difficulty analyzing and interpreting EIS curves. Thus, this work proposed using a heuristic approach and genetic algorithms to successfully estimate the resistance and capacitance value of a previously defined circuit model. To assess the potential of the genetic algorithm in electrochemical parameters estimation, we carried out practical measurements with known elements, and then the experimental and theoretical values were compared. Furthermore, the versatility and effectiveness of the algorithm were validated by determining the parameters in an Li-ion battery. The results revealed that the heuristic genetic algorithm (HGA) is a powerful tool for EIS parameters estimation because it can handle large below and upper limits with more pragmatic results in a shorter computational time.
Big Data Analytics Applications in Information Management Driving Operational Efficiencies and Decision-Making: Mapping the Field of Knowledge with Bibliometric Analysis Using R
Authors: Ragazou Konstantina , Passas Ioannis , Garefalakis Alexandros , Galariotis Emilios , Zopounidis Constantin
Published: January 2023

Organizations may examine both past and present data with the aid of information management, giving them access to all the knowledge they need to make sound strategic choices. For the majority of contemporary enterprises, using data to make relevant, valid, and timely choices has become a must for success. The volume and format of data have changed significantly over the past few years as a result of the development of new technologies and applications, but there are also impressive possibilities for their analysis and processing. This study offers a bibliometric analysis of 650 publications written by 1977 academics on the use of information management and big data analytics. The Bibliometrix function in the R package and VOSviewer program were used to obtain the bibliographic data from the Scopus database and to analyze it. Based on citation analysis criteria, the top research journals, authors, and organizations were identified. The cooperation network at the author level reveals the connections between academics throughout the world, and Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) identifies the research holes in the area. The recommendations for further study are influenced by the findings.
An Overview of Big Data Analytics for Cultural Heritage
Authors: Wallace Manolis , Poulopoulos Vassilis , Antoniou Angeliki , López-Nores Martín
Published: January 2023

Cultural heritage is a domain that produces vast amounts of data, but it is also where the meaning of the data is crucially important, particularly to the extent that it refers to people’s opinions, perceptions, and interpretations of their past and their present, or to people’s feelings, preferences, and attitudes [...]
Contactless Camera-Based Sleep Staging: The HealthBed Study
Authors: van Meulen Fokke B. , Grassi Angela , van den Heuvel Leonie , Overeem Sebastiaan , van Gilst Merel M. , van Dijk Johannes P. , Maass Henning , van Gastel Mark J. H. , Fonseca Pedro
Published: January 2023

Polysomnography (PSG) remains the gold standard for sleep monitoring but is obtrusive in nature. Advances in camera sensor technology and data analysis techniques enable contactless monitoring of heart rate variability (HRV). In turn, this may allow remote assessment of sleep stages, as different HRV metrics indirectly reflect the expression of sleep stages. We evaluated a camera-based remote photoplethysmography (PPG) setup to perform automated classification of sleep stages in near darkness. Based on the contactless measurement of pulse rate variability, we use a previously developed HRV-based algorithm for 3 and 4-class sleep stage classification. Performance was evaluated on data of 46 healthy participants obtained from simultaneous overnight recording of PSG and camera-based remote PPG. To validate the results and for benchmarking purposes, the same algorithm was used to classify sleep stages based on the corresponding ECG data. Compared to manually scored PSG, the remote PPG-based algorithm achieved moderate agreement on both 3 class (Wake–N1/N2/N3–REM) and 4 class (Wake–N1/N2–N3–REM) classification, with average κ of 0.58 and 0.49 and accuracy of 81% and 68%, respectively. This is in range with other performance metrics reported on sensing technologies for wearable sleep staging, showing the potential of video-based non-contact sleep staging.
ECG Measurement Uncertainty Based on Monte Carlo Approach: An Effective Analysis for a Successful Cardiac Health Monitoring System
Authors: Silva Jackson Henrique Braga da , Cortez Paulo Cesar , Jagatheesaperumal Senthil K. , de Albuquerque Victor Hugo C.
Published: January 2023

Measurement uncertainty is one of the widespread concepts applied in scientific works, particularly to estimate the accuracy of measurement results and to evaluate the conformity of products and processes. In this work, we propose a methodology to analyze the performance of measurement systems existing in the design phases, based on a probabilistic approach, by applying the Monte Carlo method (MCM). With this approach, it is feasible to identify the dominant contributing factors of imprecision in the evaluated system. In the design phase, this information can be used to identify where the most effective attention is required to improve the performance of equipment. This methodology was applied over a simulated electrocardiogram (ECG), for which a measurement uncertainty of the order of 3.54% of the measured value was estimated, with a confidence level of 95%. For this simulation, the ECG computational model was categorized into two modules: the preamplifier and the final stage. The outcomes of the analysis show that the preamplifier module had a greater influence on the measurement results over the final stage module, which indicates that interventions in the first module would promote more significant performance improvements in the system. Finally, it was identified that the main source of ECG measurement uncertainty is related to the measurand, focused towards the objective of better characterization of the metrological behavior of the measurements in the ECG.
Novel Hominid-Specific IAPP Isoforms: Potential Biomarkers of Early Alzheimer’s Disease and Inhibitors of Amyloid Formation
Authors: Liu Qing-Rong , Zhu Min , Chen Qinghua , Mustapic Maja , Kapogiannis Dimitrios , Egan Josephine M.
Published: January 2023

(1) Background and aims: Amyloidosis due to aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ42) is a key pathogenic event in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), whereas aggregation of mature islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP37) in human islets leads to β-cell dysfunction. The aim of this study is to uncover potential biomarkers that might additionally point to therapy for early AD patients. (2) Methods: We used bioinformatic approach to uncover novel IAPP isoforms and developed a quantitative selective reaction monitoring (SRM) proteomic assay to measure their peptide levels in human plasma and CSF from individuals with early AD and controls, as well as postmortem cerebrum of clinical confirmed AD and controls. We used Thioflavin T amyloid reporter assay to measure the IAPP isoform fibrillation propensity and anti-amyloid potential against aggregation of Aβ42 and IAPP37. (3) Results: We uncovered hominid-specific IAPP isoforms: hIAPPβ, which encodes an elongated propeptide, and hIAPPγ, which is processed to mature IAPP25 instead of IAPP37. We found that hIAPPβ was significantly reduced in the plasma of AD patients with the accuracy of 89%. We uncovered that IAPP25 and a GDNF derived DNSP11 were nonaggregating peptides that inhibited the aggregation of IAPP37 and Aβ42. (4) Conclusions: The novel peptides derived from hIAPP isoforms have potential to serve as blood-derived biomarkers for early AD and be developed as peptide based anti-amyloid medicine.
The Dark Side of Sphingolipids: Searching for Potential Cardiovascular Biomarkers
Authors: Di Pietro Paola , Izzo Carmine , Abate Angela Carmelita , Iesu Paola , Rusciano Maria Rosaria , Venturini Eleonora , Visco Valeria , Sommella Eduardo , Ciccarelli Michele , Carrizzo Albino , Vecchione Carmine
Published: January 2023

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death and illness in Europe and worldwide, responsible for a staggering 47% of deaths in Europe. Over the past few years, there has been increasing evidence pointing to bioactive sphingolipids as drivers of CVDs. Among them, most studies place emphasis on the cardiovascular effect of ceramides and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), reporting correlation between their aberrant expression and CVD risk factors. In experimental in vivo models, pharmacological inhibition of de novo ceramide synthesis averts the development of diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension and heart failure. In humans, levels of circulating sphingolipids have been suggested as prognostic indicators for a broad spectrum of diseases. This article provides a comprehensive review of sphingolipids’ contribution to cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and metabolic diseases, focusing on the latest experimental and clinical findings. Cumulatively, these studies indicate that monitoring sphingolipid level alterations could allow for better assessment of cardiovascular disease progression and/or severity, and also suggest them as a potential target for future therapeutic intervention. Some approaches may include the down-regulation of specific sphingolipid species levels in the circulation, by inhibiting critical enzymes that catalyze ceramide metabolism, such as ceramidases, sphingomyelinases and sphingosine kinases. Therefore, manipulation of the sphingolipid pathway may be a promising strategy for the treatment of cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Biomechanics in 2022
Authors:   Biomechanics Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Regenerative Effects of Exosomes-Derived MSCs: An Overview on Spinal Cord Injury Experimental Studies
Authors: Schepici Giovanni , Silvestro Serena , Mazzon Emanuela
Published: January 2023

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition usually induced by the initial mechanical insult that can lead to permanent motor and sensory deficits. At present, researchers are investigating potential therapeutic strategies to ameliorate the neuro-inflammatory cascade that occurs post-injury. Although the use of mesenchymal stromal/stem (MSCs) as a potential therapy in application to regenerative medicine promoted anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, several disadvantages limit their use. Therefore, recent studies have reported the effects of exosomes-derived MSCs (MSC-EXOs) as an innovative therapeutic option for SCI patients. It is noteworthy that MSC-EXOs can maintain the integrity of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), promoting angiogenic, proliferative, and anti-oxidant effects, as well as immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. Therefore, in this study, we summarized the preclinical studies reported in the literature that have shown the effects of MSC-EXOs as a new molecular target to counteract the devastating effects of SCI.
Single-Cell Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells from Patients with Colorectal Cancer Captured with a Dielectrophoresis-Based Micropore System
Authors: Nomura Masatoshi , Miyake Yuichiro , Inoue Akira , Yokoyama Yuhki , Noda Nanaka , Kouda Shihori , Hata Tsuyoshi , Ogino Takayuki , Miyoshi Norikatsu , Takahashi Hidekazu , Uemura Mamoru , Mizushima Tsunekazu , Doki Yuichiro , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Yamamoto Hirofumi
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to analyze circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We designed a dielectrophoresis-based micropore system and tested its cell capture with HT29 colon cancer cells. Then, blood samples were drawn from 24 patients with stages II-IV CRC. Mononuclear cells were isolated and loaded into the micropore system. Single cells were positioned into small pores with dielectrophoresis. After labeling the cells with the appropriate antibodies, tumor-like cells were collected with an automated micromanipulator. We collected 43 CTCs from 15 out of 24 patient samples. The presence of CTC was significantly associated with ling metastasis. We performed whole genome amplification, followed by PCR and Sanger sequencing, to examine the point mutations in the KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA genes. This mutation analysis was successfully performed in 35 cells. Among the 14 cytokeratin (CK)-positive cells, we found PIK3CA mutations in three cells (21%) from two patients. Among the 21 CK-negative cells, we found a KRAS mutation in one cell (5%) from one patient and a PIK3CA mutation in one cell (5%) from one patient. It is noteworthy that these mutations were not detected in the corresponding primary tumors. In conclusion, dielectrophoresis-based capture in a micropore system was useful for detecting both CK-positive and CK-negative CTCs. This simple method could be applied to various tumor types.
Honeycomb-like MnO2/Biochar Catalyst Fabricated by High-Energy Electron Beam Irradiation for Degradation of Antibiotics in Swine Urine
Authors: Ma Huan , Wang Zhi , Qian Ling , Jin Gaorui , Yang Pengqi , Wang Dongfang , Xu Shengkai , Cai Dongqing , Wu Zhengyan , Zhang Xin
Published: January 2023

The modification of biochar is essential for the development of multifunctional biochar materials with enhanced remediation effects on contaminated water. In this work, a biochar-based microcatalyst with sunlight sensitivity was synthesized by a creative modification method that involved the rapid fabrication of MnO2 microspheres by high-energy electron beam (HEEB) irradiation, and loading them into corn straw-derived honeycomb-like KOH-modified biochar (MBC) to obtain a sunlight-sensitive microcatalyst (SSM). The honeycomb-like structure of MBC facilitated the improvement in MnO2 dispersion and photocatalytic property through confinement effect. The effects of photocatalyst dosage, initial chlortetracycline (CTC) concentration, solution pH, temperature and coexisting ions on the photocatalytic performance of SSM were systemically investigated. The results indicated that SSM could efficiently degrade CTC in water and swine urine under sunlight, and exhibited high stability against coexistence of urea, Cl− and SO42−. Moreover, SSM showed good reusability in regeneration studies. This work provides a novel method for degrading CTC with potential application prospect.
Enhanced Range and Endurance Evaluation of a Camber Morphing Wing Aircraft
Authors: Jo Bruce W. , Majid Tuba
Published: January 2023

Flight range, endurance, maneuverability, and agility are the key elements that determine an aircraft’s performance. Both conventional and morphing wing aircraft have been well studied and estimated in all aspects of performance. When considering the performance of morphing aircraft, most works address aspects of the aerodynamical performance such as L and D as well as flight envelopes for flight dynamics and control perspectives. However, the actual benefits of adopting morphing technologies in practical aspects such as aircraft operation, mission planning, and sustainability have not been addressed so far. Thus, this paper addresses the practical aspect of the benefits when adopting a camber morphing wing aircraft. Identical geometrical and computational conditions were applied to an already-existing aircraft: the RQ-7a Shadow. The wing structure was switched between a fixed wing and a camber morphing wing to generate conventional and morphing wing geometries. The fixed-wing cases had varying flap deflection angles, and the camber morphing wing cases had varying camber rates from 4% to 8%. Once the CL values of the fixed and morphing wing cases were matched up to two significant figures, the CD and CL/CD were analyzed for these matching cases to calculate the flight endurance, range, and improvement. When NACA 6410 is adopted, a 17% improvement in flight range and endurance average was expected. In the case of NACA 8410, an average 60% improvement was expected.
How Does Organisational Culture Affect Employees’ Perception of the Brand in Service Industries?
Authors: Buttery Maria , Johnson Lester , Campbell Gordon
Published: January 2023

Purpose: This paper seeks to consider the influence of organisational culture and its relationship to employees’ perception of the brand of the organisation they work for. It also aims to clarify where the responsibility lies for setting the organisational culture and whether that role is a board-driven function, falls within the influence of the CEO, or both. Design/methodology/approach: The research approach uses phenomenology, which focuses on participants’ lived experiences. Phenomenology is a segment of interpretivism that explores participants’ recollections and interpretations of events. From this, the researcher can gain insights into phenomena that can be grouped into themes for further analysis. A total of nine in-depth interviews were conducted with CEOs and senior management personnel from a range of service industries operating in Australia. Results: All participants considered organisational culture to be vital in guiding employee behaviour and highlighted the need for boards and CEOs to be cognisant of the necessity to communicate organisational values and culture to staff in a consistent manner. The implications of these results reveal that employees’ opinions of organisational culture can negatively or positively affect their attitude and engagement with the brand of the company within which they are employed.
Positioning of Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Laparoscopic to Robot-Assisted Liver Resection
Authors: Tanaka Shogo , Kubo Shoji , Ishizawa Takeaki
Published: January 2023

Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is widely accepted in the surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through international consensus conferences and the development of difficulty classifications. LLR has been reported to result in earlier postoperative recovery and fewer postoperative complications than open liver resection (OLR) for HCC. However, the prevalence of liver cirrhosis, obesity, the elderly, HCC recurrence (repeat liver resection), and major resection must be considered for LLR for HCC. Some systematic reviews, meta-analysis studies, and large cohort studies indicated that LLR is technically feasible for selected patients with HCC with these factors that led to less intraoperative blood loss, fewer transfusions and postoperative complication incidences, and shorter hospital stays than OLR. Furthermore, some reported LLR prevents postoperative loss of independence. No difference was reported in long-term outcomes among patients with HCC who underwent LLR and OLR; however, some recent reports indicated better long-term outcomes with LLR. In recent years, robot-assisted liver resection (RALR) has gradually become popular, and its short- and long-term results for HCC are not different from those of LLR. Additionally, RALR is expected to become the mainstay of minimally invasive surgery in the future.
The Stockholm Syndrome of Cancer: Fibroblasts as a Powerful Shield against Colorectal Cancer Therapy
Authors: Tardito Samuele , Zocchi Maria Raffaella , Benelli Roberto
Published: January 2023

Fibroblasts are incredible cells [...]
Advances in Molecular Pathophysiology and Targeted Therapy for Cushing’s Disease
Authors: Takayasu Shinobu , Kageyama Kazunori , Daimon Makoto
Published: January 2023

Cushing’s disease is caused by autonomous secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from corticotroph pituitary neuroendocrine tumors. As a result, excess cortisol production leads to the overt manifestation of the clinical features of Cushing’s syndrome. Severe complications have been reported in patients with Cushing’s disease, including hypertension, menstrual disorders, hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, infections, and mental disorders. Cushing’s disease presents with a variety of clinical features, ranging from overt to subtle. In this review, we explain recent advances in molecular insights and targeted therapy for Cushing’s disease. The pathophysiological characteristics of hormone production and pituitary tumor cells are also explained. Therapies to treat the tumor growth in the pituitary gland and the autonomous hypersecretion of ACTH are discussed. Drugs that target corticotroph pituitary neuroendocrine tumors have been effective, including cabergoline, a dopamine receptor type 2 agonist, and pasireotide, a multi-receptor-targeted somatostatin analog. Some of the drugs that target adrenal hormones have shown potential therapeutic benefits. Advances in potential novel therapies for Cushing’s disease are also introduced.
Biological and Clinical Impacts of Glucose Metabolism in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Liu Zhao , Hayashi Hiromitsu , Matsumura Kazuki , Uemura Norio , Shiraishi Yuta , Sato Hiroki , Baba Hideo
Published: January 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal cancer type as it is prone to metastases and is difficult to diagnose at an early stage. Despite advances in molecular detection, its clinical prognosis remains poor and it is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Approximately 85% of patients develop glucose metabolism disorders, most commonly diabetes mellitus, within three years prior to their pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Diabetes, or glucose metabolism disorders related to PDAC, are typically associated with insulin resistance, and beta cell damage, among other factors. From the perspective of molecular regulatory mechanisms, glucose metabolism disorders are closely related to PDAC initiation and development and to late invasion and metastasis. In particular, abnormal glucose metabolism impacts the nutritional status and prognosis of patients with PDAC. Meanwhile, preliminary research has shown that metformin and statins are effective for the prevention or treatment of malignancies; however, no such effect has been shown in clinical trials. Hence, the causes underlying these conflicting results require further exploration. This review focuses on the clinical significance of glucose metabolism disorders in PDAC and the mechanisms behind this relationship, while also summarizing therapeutic approaches that target glycolysis.
Differentiation of Urothelial Carcinoma and Normal Bladder Tissues by Means of Fiber-Based ATR IR Spectroscopy
Authors: Bandzevičiūtė Rimantė , Platkevičius Gediminas , Čeponkus Justinas , Želvys Arūnas , Čekauskas Albertas , Šablinskas Valdas
Published: January 2023

Surgical treatment is widely applied curative approach for bladder cancer. White light cystoscopy (WLC) is currently used for intraoperative diagnostics of malignant lesions but has relatively high false-negative rate. Here we represent an application of label free fiber-based attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR IR) for freshly resected human bladder tissue examination for 54 patients. Defined molecular spectral markers allow to identify normal and urothelial carcinoma tissues. While methods of statistical analysis (Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and Principal component analysis (PCA)) used for spectral data treatment allow to discriminate tissue types with 91% sensitivity and 96–98% specificity. In the present study the described method was applied for tissue examination under ex vivo conditions. However, after method validation the equipment could be translated from laboratory studies to in situ or even in vivo studies in operating room.
Concordance of Radiological, Laparoscopic and Laparotomic Scoring to Predict Complete Cytoreduction in Women with Advanced Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Di Donna Mariano Catello , Cucinella Giuseppe , Zaccaria Giulia , Lo Re Giuseppe , Crapanzano Agata , Salerno Sergio , Giallombardo Vincenzo , Sozzi Giulio , Fagotti Anna , Scambia Giovanni , Laganà Antonio Simone , Chiantera Vito
Published: January 2023

Objective: To identify the best method among the radiologic, laparoscopic and laparotomic scoring assessment to predict the outcomes of cytoreductive surgery in patients with advanced ovarian cancer (AOC). Methods: Patients with AOC who underwent pre-operative computed tomography (CT) scan, laparoscopic evaluation, and cytoreductive surgery between August 2016 and February 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Predictive Index (PI) score and Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) scores were used to estimate the tumor load and predict the residual disease in the primary debulking surgery (PDS) and interval debulking surgery (IDS) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) groups. Concordance percentages were calculated between the two scores. Results: Among 100 eligible patients, 69 underwent PDS, and 31 underwent NACT and IDS. Complete cytoreduction was achieved in 72.5% of patients in the PDS group and 77.4% in the IDS. In patients undergoing PDS, the laparoscopic PI and the laparotomic PCI had the best accuracies for complete cytoreduction (R0) [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.78 and AUC = 0.83, respectively]. In the IDS group, the laparotomic PI (AUC = 0.75) and the laparoscopic PCI (AUC= 0.87) were associated with the best accuracy in R0 prediction. Furthermore, radiological assessment, through PI and PCI, was associated with the worst accuracy in either PDS or IDS group (PI in PDS: AUC = 0.64; PCI in PDS: AUC = 0.64; PI in IDS: AUC = 0.46; PCI in IDS: AUC = 0.47). Conclusion: The laparoscopic score assessment had high accuracy for optimal cytoreduction in AOC patients undergoing PDS or IDS. Integrating diagnostic laparoscopy in the decision-making algorithm to accurately triage AOC patients to different treatment strategies seems necessary.
Applications of Spent Lithium Battery Electrode Materials in Catalytic Decontamination: A Review
Authors: Wang Pu , Guo Yaoguang , Guan Jie , Wang Zhaohui
Published: January 2023

For a large amount of spent lithium battery electrode materials (SLBEMs), direct recycling by traditional hydrometallurgy or pyrometallurgy technologies suffers from high cost and low efficiency and even serious secondary pollution. Therefore, aiming to maximize the benefits of both environmental protection and e-waste resource recovery, the applications of SLBEM containing redox-active transition metals (e.g., Ni, Co, Mn, and Fe) for catalytic decontamination before disposal and recycling has attracted extensive attention. More importantly, the positive effects of innate structural advantages (defects, oxygen vacancies, and metal vacancies) in SLBEMs on catalytic decontamination have gradually been unveiled. This review summarizes the pretreatment and utilization methods to achieve excellent catalytic performance of SLBEMs, the key factors (pH, reaction temperature, coexisting anions, and catalyst dosage) affecting the catalytic activity of SLBEM, the potential application and the outstanding characteristics (detection, reinforcement approaches, and effects of innate structural advantages) of SLBEMs in pollution treatment, and possible reaction mechanisms. In addition, this review proposes the possible problems of SLBEMs in practical decontamination and the future outlook, which can help to provide a broader reference for researchers to better promote the implementation of “treating waste to waste” strategy.
Inhibition of Bone Marrow-Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Induced Carbonic Anhydrase IX Potentiates Chemotherapy Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Sarnella Annachiara , Ferrara Ylenia , Albanese Sandra , Omodei Daniela , Cerchia Laura , De Simone Giuseppina , Supuran Claudiu T. , Zannetti Antonella
Published: January 2023

Conventional chemotherapy represents the main systemic treatment used for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients, although many of them develop drug resistance. The hypoxic TME is the crucial driver in the onset of insensitivity to chemotherapy. In this research, we elucidated the role played by bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in reducing cisplatin effects in TNBC. BT-549 and MDA-MB-231 cells, grown under hypoxic conditions in the presence of conditioned medium obtained from BM-MSCs (CM-MSCs), showed a strong cisplatin insensitivity and increased expression levels of carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX). Therefore, we inhibited CM-MSC-induced CA IX by SLC-0111 to potentiate chemotherapy efficacy in TNBC cells. Our results showed that CM-MSCs under hypoxic conditions caused an increase in the ability of TNBC cells to form vascular structures, migrate and invade Matrigel. Cell treatment with cisplatin plus SLC-0111 was able to block these mechanisms, as well as the signaling pathways underlying them, such as p-AKT, p-ERK, CD44, MMP-2, vimentin, β-catenin, and N-cadherin, more effectively than treatment with single agents. In addition, a significant enhancement of apoptosis assessed by annexin V, caspase-3 expression and activity was also shown. Taken together, our results demonstrated the possibility, through CA IX inhibition, of returning TNBC cells to a more chemosensitive state.
Cross Talks between Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Epigenetics in Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Kowluru Renu A.
Published: January 2023

Diabetic retinopathy, one of the most devastating complications of diabetes, is a multifactorial progressing disease with a very complex etiology. Although many metabolic, molecular, functional and structural changes have been identified in the retina and its vasculature, the exact molecular mechanism of its pathogenesis still remains elusive. Sustained high-circulating glucose increases oxidative stress in the retina and also activates the inflammatory cascade. Free radicals increase inflammatory mediators, and inflammation can increase production of free radicals, suggesting a positive loop between them. In addition, diabetes also facilitates many epigenetic modifications that can influence transcription of a gene without changing the DNA sequence. Several genes associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy are also influenced by epigenetic modifications. This review discusses cross-talks between oxidative stress, inflammation and epigenetics in diabetic retinopathy. Since epigenetic changes are influenced by external factors such as environment and lifestyle, and they can also be reversed, this opens up possibilities for new strategies to inhibit the development/progression of this sight-threatening disease.
The Landscape of HNF1B Deficiency: A Syndrome Not Yet Fully Explored
Authors: Gambella Alessandro , Kalantari Silvia , Cadamuro Massimiliano , Quaglia Marco , Delvecchio Maurizio , Fabris Luca , Pinon Michele
Published: January 2023

The hepatocyte nuclear factor 1β (HNF1B) gene is involved in the development of specialized epithelia of several organs during the early and late phases of embryogenesis, performing its function mainly by regulating the cell cycle and apoptosis pathways. The first pathogenic variant of HNF1B (namely, R177X) was reported in 1997 and is associated with the maturity-onset diabetes of the young. Since then, more than 230 different HNF1B variants have been reported, revealing a multifaceted syndrome with complex and heterogenous genetic, pathologic, and clinical profiles, mainly affecting the pediatric population. The pancreas and kidneys are the most frequently affected organs, resulting in diabetes, renal cysts, and a decrease in renal function, leading, in 2001, to the definition of HNF1B deficiency syndrome, including renal cysts and diabetes. However, several other organs and systems have since emerged as being affected by HNF1B defect, while diabetes and renal cysts are not always present. Especially, liver involvement has generally been overlooked but recently emerged as particularly relevant (mostly showing chronically elevated liver enzymes) and with a putative relation with tumor development, thus requiring a more granular analysis. Nowadays, HNF1B-associated disease has been recognized as a clinical entity with a broader and more variable multisystem phenotype, but the reasons for the phenotypic heterogeneity are still poorly understood. In this review, we aimed to describe the multifaceted nature of HNF1B deficiency in the pediatric and adult populations: we analyzed the genetic, phenotypic, and clinical features of this complex and misdiagnosed syndrome, covering the most frequent, unusual, and recently identified traits.
Heteroditopic Rotaxanes and Catenanes for Ion Pair Recognition
Authors: Nicholson Steven J. , Barlow Sean R. , Evans Nicholas H.
Published: January 2023

A review of heteroditopic interlocked molecules and their application as receptors for simple inorganic ion pair species. The review details the design and ion recognition properties of the rotaxane and catenane receptors, as well as highlighting some of the experimental challenges; hence, it provides insight into possible future avenues of research in this youthful field.
A Rare Complication of Thoracic Spine Surgery: Pediatric Horner’s Syndrome after Posterior Vertebral Column Resection—A Case Report
Authors: Grabala Pawel , Danowska-Idziok Kinga , Helenius Ilkka J.
Published: January 2023

Background: Horner’s syndrome (HS) classically consists of the symptom triad of miosis, ptosis, and anhidrosis. It is caused by impairment of a certain pathway in the sympathetic nervous system. It may also appear as part of the clinical signs of other diseases and syndromes, including Pancoast tumors, intradural and/or epidural tumors, thoracic outlet syndrome, syringomyelia, brachial plexus injury, and aortic dissection. Here, we report a very rare complication of vertebral column resection in children, and we present the clinical findings of a case of Horner’s syndrome with a current literature review. Case presentation: A five-year-old child with severe congenital kyphoscoliosis qualified for surgical treatment of the spinal deformity via a posterior approach, with three-column osteotomy and fusion. Results: After successful surgery, the patient presented with HS due to distraction of the sympathetic nerve trunk and, thus, innervation to the left eye. At the 4-year follow-up, the child had fully recovered. Conclusions: Pediatric HS after posterior instrumented scoliosis correction surgery with posterior vertebral column resection of the thoracic spine is very rare. This is the first reported case of HS after posterior vertebral column resection and spinal fusion for congenital kyphoscoliosis without the use of epidural analgesia. Symptom resolution may be variable and, in some cases, delayed.