bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of moderate‐to‐severe canine atopic dermatitis with modified‐release mycophenolate (OKV‐1001): A pilot open‐label, single‐arm multicentric clinical trial
Authors: Klotsman Michael , Anderson Wayne H. , Wyatt Danielle , Lewis Tom , Theus Natalie , Santoro Domenico
Published: August 2024

Background

Mycophenolate is an immunomodulating agent successfully used for the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in people. Mycophenolate is an effective steroid‐sparing treatment option for use in dogs with inflammatory skin diseases.

Objective

To evaluate whether once‐daily modified‐release mycophenolate (OKV‐1001) is safe and effective for treating moderate‐to‐severe canine AD.

Animals

Client‐owned atopic dogs (n = 9) were enrolled.

Materials and Methods

In an open‐label multicentre pilot study, OKV‐1001 (30 mg/kg every 24 h) was given orally for ≤84 days. Concomitant tapering doses of glucocorticoids were administered up to Day (D)28. Clinicians assessed Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index, 4th iteration (CADESI‐04) on D0, D14, D28, D56 and D84. Body weight and clinical pathological parameters were measured at baseline and at the end of the study.

Results

Treatment with OKV‐1001 combined with glucocorticoids significantly reduced the severity of AD within two weeks in seven of nine (77.8%) dogs. The mean percentage change from baseline in the CADESI‐04 score was 29% (p = 0.009) at D14 (n = 9), 39% (p = 0.008) at D28 (n = 9) and 49% (p = 0.03) at D56 (n = 7) at which point glucocorticoids had been withdrawn. In two dogs the improvement in CADESI‐04 was 62% and 23% (respectively) on D84. No significant adverse events including clinical pathological findings were reported.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Modified‐release mycophenolate (OKV‐1001) may represent a promising alternative treatment option for dogs with moderate‐to‐severe AD. The safety and efficacy profile of OKV‐1001 will need to be established in larger, placebo‐controlled clinical trials.
Personas LGBTIQ+ en las firmas de contabilidad y auditoría en Colombia, percepciones y su rol laboral
Authors: Chamorro González Candy , Patiño-Jacinto Ruth Alejandra , Reiss Lea Katharina
Published: August 2024

Actualmente la falta de atención al tema de la sexualidad y género en la investigación contable contribuye a reproducir la noción de que las firmas contables son lugares asexuales. Por ello, el estudio se centra en analizar la percepción de los empleados homosexuales sobre aspectos vinculados ante el manejo de su identidad sexual en las firmas de contabilidad en Colombia. El estudio se fundamenta en una metodología cualitativa a partir de la realización de una encuesta a 11 contadores LGBTIQ+; sin embargo, todos los participantes son hombres homosexuales, no se logra hallar contadorxs lesbianas, transexuales, queer, transgénero o intersexuales, que sin duda están presente en el escenario laboral contable colombiano, lo que ya de por si constituye un hallazgo. Los resultados reflejan que las percepciones son diversas a nivel personal, profesional y en el contexto laboral, la mayoría estuvieron centradas en que persisten barreras para la exhibición de identidades no heterosexuales ya que todavía se considera un tabú en muchos contextos, especialmente en campos tradicionales, como el contexto la firmas.  Sin embargo, se concluye que se viene generando un movimiento fuerte contra la heteronormatividad en la contabilidad, ya que, incluso hoy en día, hay algunos contadores que se sienten cómodos para evidenciar su sexualidad en sus lugares de trabajo.
Cortical bone plate properties assessment using inversion of axially transmitted low frequency ultrasonic guided waves
Authors: Chaboty Aubin , Nguyen Vu-Hieu , Haiat Guillaume , Bélanger Pierre
Published: August 2024

Over the past few decades, early osteoporosis detection using ultrasonic bone quality evaluation has gained prominence. Specifically, various studies focused on axial transmission using ultrasonic guided waves and have highlighted this technique's sensitivity to intrinsic properties of long cortical bones. This work aims to demonstrate the potential of low-frequency ultrasonic guided waves to infer the properties of the bone inside which they are propagating. A proprietary ultrasonic transducer, tailored to transmit ultrasonic guided waves under 500 kHz, was used for the data collection. The gathered data underwent two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing to extract experimental dispersion curves. The proposed inversion scheme compares experimental dispersion curves with simulated dispersion curves calculated through the semi-analytical iso-geometric analysis (SAIGA) method. The numerical model integrates a bone phantom plate coupled with a soft tissue layer on its top surface, mimicking the experimental bone phantom plates. Subsequently, the mechanical properties of the bone phantom plates were estimated by reducing the misfit between the experimental and simulated dispersion curves. This inversion leaned heavily on the dispersive trajectories and amplitudes of ultrasonic guided wave modes. Results indicate a marginal discrepancy under 5% between the mechanical properties ascertained using the SAIGA-based inversion and those measured using bulk wave pulse-echo measurements.
Rapid diagnosis of herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 bloodstream infections utilizing a sample-to-answer platform
Authors: Zhen Wei , Sheikh Farah , Breining Dwayne A. , Berry Gregory J.
Published: August 2024

Bloodstream HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections can cause devastating outcomes with high morbidity and mortality, especially in neonates or immunocompromised individuals. Proper patient management for herpes simplex virus (HSV) bloodstream infections is time-sensitive and requires a rapid, accurate, and definitive diagnosis. The absence of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved molecular assays for HSV detection in blood, coupled with a lack of consensus on the optimal sample type, underscores the unmet need for improved diagnostics. We prospectively compared the cycle threshold values in paired samples including whole blood (WB), plasma, serum, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with bloodstream HSV infections. This analysis employed a modified use of the FDA-cleared Simplexa HSV-1 & 2 Direct assay. The clinical performance in serum was assessed by comparing the results of 247 remnant specimens on this sample-to-answer platform to established laboratory-developed tests in a blinded fashion. Serum samples exhibited significantly lower cycle thresholds than whole blood samples [2.6 cycle threshold (Ct) bias,
P
< 0.001]. The modified Simplexa assay demonstrated 100% positive percent agreement for the detection of HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA in serum samples and yielded an overall agreement of 95% (95% CI, 0.92 to 0.97), with a κ statistic of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.62 to 0.86) compared to the composite reference method. Discordance rates were 5.20% for HSV-1 and 0.81% for HSV-2. This investigation demonstrates that serum is an optimal specimen type for HSV detection when compared to several blood compartments. Serum offers a promising sample type for rapid and accurate diagnosis of HSV bloodstream infections using the modified Simplexa assay.

IMPORTANCE

Rapid, accurate, and definitive diagnosis of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections is crucial in clinical settings for patient management. The absence of FDA-authorized molecular assays for HSV-1/2 detection in blood, coupled with a lack of consensus on the optimal sample type, underscores the need for improved diagnostic methods. Furthermore, rapid diagnosis of HSV bloodstream infections enables timely administration of antiviral treatment, influences patient management decisions for those at high risk, and can contribute to shorter hospital stays, thereby reducing healthcare costs.
Use of qPCR to Evaluate Efficiency of the Bulky DNA Damage Removal in Extracts of Mammalian Cells with Different Maximum Lifespan
Authors: Popov Aleksei A. , Shamanin Vladimir A. , Petruseva Irina O. , Evdokimov Aleksei N. , Lavrik Olga I.
Published: August 2024

Proteins of nucleotide excision repair system (NER) are responsible for detecting and removing a wide range of bulky DNA damages, thereby contributing significantly to the genome stability maintenance within mammalian cells. Evaluation of NER functional status in the cells is important for identifying pathological changes in the body and assessing effectiveness of chemotherapy. The following method, described herein, has been developed for better assessment of bulky DNA damages removal in vitro, based on qPCR. Using the developed method, NER activity was compared for the extracts of the cells from two mammals with different lifespans: a long-lived naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) and a short-lived mouse (Mus musculus). Proteins of the H. glaber cell extract have been shown to be 1.5 times more effective at removing bulky damage from the model DNA substrate than the proteins of the M. musculus cell extract. These results are consistent with the experimental data previously obtained. The presented method could be applied not only in fundamental studies of DNA repair in mammalian cells, but also in clinical practice.
Mechanism of PARP1 Elongation Reaction Revealed by Molecular Modeling
Authors: Pushkarev Sergey V. , Kirilin Evgeny M. , Švedas Vytas K. , Nilov Dmitry K.
Published: August 2024

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) plays a major role in the DNA damage repair and transcriptional regulation, and is targeted by a number of clinical inhibitors. Despite this, catalytic mechanism of PARP1 remains largely underexplored because of the complex substrate/product structure. Using molecular modeling and metadynamics simulations we have described in detail elongation of poly(ADP-ribose) chain in the PARP1 active site. It was shown that elongation reaction proceeds via the SN1-like mechanism involving formation of the intermediate furanosyl oxocarbenium ion. Intriguingly, nucleophilic 2′A-OH group of the acceptor substrate can be activated by the general base Glu988 not directly but through the proton relay system including the adjacent 3′A-OH group.
Dose-Dependent Alterations of Lysosomal Activity and Alpha-Synuclein in Peripheral Blood Monocyte-Derived Macrophages and SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cell Line by upon Inhibition of MTOR Protein Kinase – Assessment of the Prospects of Parkinson’s Disease Therapy
Authors: Bezrukova Anastasia I. , Basharova Katerina S. , Baydakova Galina V. , Zakharova Ekaterina Y. , N. Pchelina Sofya , Usenko Tatiana S.
Published: August 2024

To date, the molecular mechanisms of the common neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson’s disease (PD) are unknown and, as a result, there is no neuroprotective therapy that may stop or slow down the process of neuronal cell death. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the prospects of using the mTOR molecule as a potential target for PD therapy due to the dose-dependent effect of mTOR kinase activity inhibition on cellular parameters associated with, PD pathogenesis. The study used peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophages and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. As a result, we have for the first time showed that inhibition of mTOR by Torin1 only at a concentration of 100 nM affects the level of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase), encoded by the GBA1 gene. Mutations in GBA1 are considered a high-risk factor for PD development. This concentration led a decrease in pathological phosphorylated alpha-synuclein (Ser129), an increase in its stable tetrameric form with no changes in the lysosomal enzyme activities and concentrations of lysosphingolipids. Our findings suggest that inhibition of the mTOR protein kinase could be a promising approach for developing therapies for PD, particularly for GBA1-associated PD.
Investigating the response of groundwater and streamflow to rainfall in a tropical catchment using non-parametric methods
Authors: Deepa Varghese G. S. , Chadaga Mohandas , Lathashri U. A. , Sachidananda H. K.
Published: August 2024

The present study investigates the monthly and seasonal patterns of groundwater levels and streamflow in response to rainfall in a humid tropical catchment in central Kerala, India. The trends were investigated at a temporal scale using data from eight groundwater-level observation wells, four stream-gauging stations and rainfall records of three subcatchments, viz. Cheripad, Pala and Kidangoor. The exercise of trend detection was carried out using two widely adopted non-parametric tests, viz. the Mann–Kendall (MK) test, Spearman's Rho (SR) test and a relatively new visual graphical approach, innovative trend analysis (ITA). The results revealed predominantly rising trends (monthly and seasonal scale) within the catchment, across all three hydrological components examined. Notably, the ITA test identified specific changes in the trend direction within the time series (positive to negative or vice versa), which were not observable in the MK or SR tests. Data published in the Groundwater Book of Kerala for 2021–22 corroborated this increasing trend, showing, on average, a rising trend in well water levels throughout the watershed across pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. This trend was further confirmed using ITA by pairing the observations from the groundwater-level monitoring station at KTM-OW-11 with rainfall data from the nearby gauging station at Erattupettah.
Robust Dual-Color Electrochromism of Vanadium Oxide Nanorods Embedded on Reduced Graphene Oxide: Unraveling the Mechanism
Authors: Bhattacharjee Saheli , Sen Sovandeb , Kundu Susmita
Published: August 2024

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5), associated with both cathodic and anodic coloration, is considered as one of the best electrochromic (EC) materials for energy-saving smart electronics. Here we present the fabrication and detailed mechanism analysis for improving the electrochromic properties of V2O5 incorporated in a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) matrix using a facile wet chemical method. The microstructural study disclosed the formation of prominent V2O5 nanorods embedded in the rGO matrix. The optimized electrochromic film resulted in coloration (tc) and bleaching time (tb) of ∼6.2 and ∼4.8 s, respectively, much faster than the color switching kinetics of the pristine V2O5 sample (tc ∼ 19.4 s, tb ∼ 15.3 s). The more dispersed structure also ensured an approximate 400% enhancement in the optical modulation of EC film and reflected a noticeable improvement in the coloration efficiency (∼347 cm2/C) of V2O5 film. Modification with rGO resulted in an outstanding improvement in the electrochemical redox stability of V2O5 up to 5000 CV cycles with minimum deterioration in the curve area. The formation of nanorod structure was the prime factor for better ion diffusion and thereby facilitating enhanced performance.
Fast On-Site Electroanalysis of Eicosapentaenoic Acid Ethyl Ester in the Liver and Meat of Stingray Using a Stochastic Miniplatform Based on a 3D Stochastic Microsensor
Authors: Stefan-van Staden Raluca Ioana , Dragoi Brinza Andreea , Gheorghe Damaris Cristina , Stanciu Gabriela
Published: August 2024

Eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester has an important role in metabolism and it is also an important antithrombotic agent. Its concentration in the liver and meat of the stingray is essential when one would like to use the extracts containing the eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester from stingray as biopharmaceutical products. A miniplatform having as detection tool a 3D stochastic microsensor was designed and used for the assay of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester from stingray liver and meat. Natural monocrystalline diamond paste was modified with a solution of heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin to obtain the modified diamond paste used in the 3D stochastic microsensor. A wide working concentration range (5.0 × 10−15 – 5.0 × 10−8) and a very low limit of quantitation (5.0 × 10−15) were attained. The proposed miniplatform was successfully used for the assay of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester from stingray liver and meat with recoveries higher than 99.90%, and % RSD values lower than 0.05 (N = 10).
Junctions at the crossroads: the impact of mechanical cues on endothelial cell-cell junction conformations and vascular permeability
Authors: Brandon Ken D. , Frank William E. , Stroka Kimberly M.
Published: August 2024

Cells depend on precisely regulating barrier function within the vasculature to maintain physiological stability and facilitate essential substance transport. Endothelial cells achieve this through specialized adherens and tight junction protein complexes, which govern paracellular permeability across vascular beds. Adherens junctions, anchored by vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin and associated catenins to the actin cytoskeleton, mediate homophilic adhesion crucial for barrier integrity. In contrast, tight junctions composed of occludin, claudin, and junctional adhesion molecule A interact with Zonula Occludens proteins, reinforcing intercellular connections essential for barrier selectivity. Endothelial cell-cell junctions exhibit dynamic conformations during development, maturation, and remodeling, regulated by local biochemical and mechanical cues. These structural adaptations play pivotal roles in disease contexts such as chronic inflammation, where junctional remodeling contributes to increased vascular permeability observed in conditions from cancer to cardiovascular diseases. Conversely, the brain microvasculature’s specialized junctional arrangements pose challenges for therapeutic drug delivery due to their unique molecular compositions and tight organization. This commentary explores the molecular mechanisms underlying endothelial cell-cell junction conformations and their implications for vascular permeability. By highlighting recent advances in quantifying junctional changes and understanding mechanotransduction pathways, we elucidate how physical forces from cellular contacts and hemodynamic flow influence junctional dynamics.
Research Anti‐Impact Mechanism of Roof Presplitting Blasting in Deep Composite Thick and Hard Key Strata
Authors: Hao Xiaoqi , Han Gang , Liu Hu , Xie Jiahao , Shao Yawu , Zhang Yin , Cao Jinglong , Zhao Qian
Published: August 2024

As an important means to control the hard roof, presplitting blasting is the main measure for controlling rock burst disaster in the key strata of the deep mine in the west. Taking the typical thick and hard key layer, Menkeqing Coal Mine as the analysis object, the mechanical and FLAC3D numerical models of roof presplitting blasting energy release are established. The structural characteristics and evolution laws of key layers during mining operations are analyzed, and the mechanism of rock burst behavior in thick and hard key layers is revealed. The influence of combined blasting scheme on the evolution law of roof stress field and energy field was studied. The engineering practice and the control effect of presplitting blasting on roof were carried out and evaluated. The results show that (1) in view of the characteristics of “difficult to collapse and strong energy storage” of composite thick and hard key strata in a deep stope, the targeted low‐high combined blasting measures can realize the transformation of overburden structure from “F” type to “Γ” type, effectively shorten the exposed length of key strata, reduce the in‐plane static load stress, weaken the dynamic load strength, and reduce the impact risk. (2) After adopting the low‐high combined blasting measures, the maximum vertical stress reduction on both sides and above the goaf is 70% and 90%, respectively, and the energy release is up to 106 J, which greatly reduced the stress concentration inside the coal body and weakened the energy intensity when the overlying strata structure in the goaf was broken. (3) The total energy and frequency of microseismic events during the mining period, as well as the pressure strength and pressure step of the support, were significantly reduced. The effectiveness of the combined roof presplitting blasting technology in preventing and controlling rock burst was verified by FLAC3D numerical simulation and field monitoring. The research results have been successfully applied to the Menkeqing Coal Mine.
A Fluorescent Immunochromatography Test Strip for the Rapid Identification of SVV and FMDV
Authors: Yang Liuyue , Li Chengfei , Chen Xinghua , Li Kun , Lu Zengjun , Li Xiangmin , Jin Meilin , Qian Ping
Published: August 2024

Seneca Valley virus (SVV) and foot‐and‐mouth disease virus (FMDV) belong to the Picornaviridae family, which can cause similar symptoms. After infection, pigs will develop fever; loss of appetite; blister lesions on the skin and mucous membrane of the mouth, nose, and hoof; and other similar diseases, and the spread is very fast, causing major economic losses to the pig industry. Therefore, a rapid, accurate, and sensitive diagnostic method is necessary to enable rapid prevention and control measures for preventing the spread of these diseases. Here, a fluorescent immunochromatography test strip, using Eu‐doped fluorescence beads and monoclonal antibody, was developed for the simultaneous determination of FMDV and SVV. The test process for the assay could be completed in 12 min, which avoided the time cost of the current methods for FMDV/SVV detection. Under optimized conditions, the limit of detection of SVV is 5 × 104 PFU/mL, and that of FMDV is 5 × 104 PFU/mL under the Fluorescence Immunoassay Analyzer. Our assay results showed a good linear correlation with RT‐PCR installed in the clinical laboratory. The species design has a promising application prospect in the surveillance and control of the outbreak of idiopathic blister.
Efficacy of Palm Oil Application in Tiger Puffer Diets: Growth, Body Composition, Muscle Texture, and Lipid Metabolism
Authors: Fan Yuhan , Xiong Haiyan , Liu Jiahao , Liu Guoxu , Ma Qiang , Wei Yuliang , Liang Mengqing , Xu Houguo
Published: August 2024

Palm oil, with its higher production, lower prices, and higher levels of palmitic acid and oleic acid, may have great potential for use in the aquafeed industry. In this study, with an 8‐week feeding experiment, the efficacy of palm oil as a substitute for fish oil in tiger puffer feeds was comprehensively evaluated. The control diets (FO group) contained 8% marine fish oil as the main lipid source, while in the treatment diets, the added marine fish oil was replaced with palm oil at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, respectively, which was named 25PO, 50PO, 75PO, and 100PO, respectively. Juvenile tiger puffers with an initial weight of 15.0 ± 0.04 g were used, with three replicate tanks of 30 juvenile fish tiger puffer for each dietary group. The fish oil replacement by palm oil did not have an adverse effect on fish growth and feeding, but the weight gain decreased by 17.3% in group PO100. Palm oil had no significant effects on fish proximate composition and muscle texture. The effects of dietary palm oil on muscle fatty acid composition were not significant, with DHA and EPA significantly lowered only in the 100PO group. In contrast, the changes in liver and intestinal fatty acid compositions in response to diets were more significant than those in the muscle. In the intestine, the replacement of more than 50% fish oil by palm oil significantly downregulated the gene expression associated with peroxisomal fatty acid β‐oxidation and triglyceride hydrolysis, while upregulated the expression of cholesterol biosynthetic genes. In the liver, the replacement of more than 75% fish oil also significantly upregulated the cholesterol synthesis. In conclusion, palm oil can replace 75% of added marine fish oil in tiger puffer diets and does not adversely affect the growth performance, feed utilization, muscle composition, and muscle texture.
Do Long‐Acting Injectable Antipsychotics Influence Serum Levels of Brain‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor in People With Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder?
Authors: Manchia Mirko , Isayeva Ulker , Collu Roberto , Primavera Diego , Deriu Luca , Caboni Edoardo , Iaselli Maria Novella , Sundas Davide , Tusconi Massimo , Zai Clement C. , Scherma Maria , Squassina Alessio , Congiu Donatella , Paribello Pasquale , Pinna Federica , Pisanu Claudia , Meloni Anna , Fratta Walter , Fadda Paola , Carpiniello Bernardo
Published: August 2024

Schizophrenia (SCZ) and schizoaffective disorder (SAD) are severe and complex psychiatric disorders whose liability threshold is modulated by the interplay of biological, mainly genetic, and environmental factors. Consistent evidence has pointed to the role of serum brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a plausible illness biomarker in SCZ spectrum disorders. There is no consensus, however, on the temporal trajectory of this decline. Here, we present a secondary analysis of the Longitudinal Assessment of BDNF in Sardinian Psychotic patients (LABSP) study, focusing on the impact of antipsychotic therapy, particularly long‐acting injectable (LAI), on the longitudinal trajectory of serum BDNF levels and analyzing the effect of BDNF genetic variants. LABSP patients were assessed every 6 months for a series of measures, including the assessment of BDNF serum levels over 24 months. Blood samples for each patient were taken at the same time of the day (between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.). BDNF serum levels were determined using the BDNF ELISA Kit. Four tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the BDNF gene (rs1519480, rs11030104, rs6265 [Val66Met], and rs7934165) were selected using standard parameters and analyzed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Mixed‐effects linear regression models (MLRMs) were used to analyze longitudinal data. Twenty‐four patients out of 105 LABSP (22.9%) patients received therapy with LAI. Analysis with MLRM showed a significant effect of LAI treatment associated with increasing serum BDNF levels (Z = 2.2, p = 0.02). However, oral antipsychotics did not significantly impact the longitudinal trajectory of serum BDNF levels (Z = 0.15, p = 0.9). There was no moderating effect of variants within the BDNF gene on the identified association. We identified a significant longitudinal increase in serum BDNF in SCZ and SAD patients treated with LAI antipsychotic therapy. The significant impact of this preparation of antipsychotic treatment on serum BDNF, despite the limited sample size, points to a moderate to large magnitude of effect that should be investigated in future prospective studies.
Ethnomedical Knowledge of Plants Used in Nonconventional Medicine for Wound Healing in Lubumbashi, Haut‐Katanga Province, DR Congo
Authors: Valentin Bashige Chiribagula , Philippe Okusa Ndjolo , Henry Manya Mboni , Salvius Bakari Amuri , Suzanne Masengu Kabeya , Kasali Félicien Mushagalusa , Baptiste Lumbu Simbi Jean
Published: August 2024

Medicinal plants used for wound healing in Lubumbashi have yet to be discovered. Inventory or profile of their taxa has yet to be established. The present study was carried out to survey the plants used in traditional medicine in Lubumbashi to treat wounds and to define their ethnomedical characteristics. The study was conducted between March 2021 and August 2022, using semistructured interview surveys of households (n = 2730), herbalists (n = 48), and traditional practitioners: TPs (n = 128).The 2,906 interviewed (sex ratio M/F = 0.9; mean age: 56 ± 3 years; and experience: 17 ± 4 years) provided information on 166 taxa, 130 used against chronic wounds, among which Securidaca longepedunculata was the top cited. Most of these taxa are shrubs (33%), belonging to 48 botanical families dominated by the Fabaceae (16%). They are indicated in 70 other pathologies. From these 166 taxa, 198 healing recipes are obtained, 11 combining more than one plant. In all these recipes, the leaf (>36%) is the most used part, and the poultice (>36%) is the most popular form of use. Twelve taxa are cited for the first time as medicinal plants, of which Agelanthus zizyphifolius has the highest consensus and Erigeron sumatrensis has the highest usual value. For the various plants used to treat wounds, some of which are specific to the region, further studies should focus on validating this traditional use.
Effect of Ge Contents on Oxidation Resistance of Ni‐15Cr‐5Al Alloy at 1000°C
Authors: Gu Huiling , Guo Jiaojiao , Wang Kang , Shen Fang , Gu Yunxin , Zhang Xiuhai , Wei Zongwu
Published: August 2024

A Ni‐15Cr‐5Al‐6Ge alloy was prepared using powder metallurgy technology. The effect of Ge on the oxidation resistance of Ni‐Cr‐Al alloy at 1000°C was investigated. The results indicate that the addition of Ge reduces the oxidation rate of the alloy interface in the range of 0 to 6 wt.% Ge. When the Ge content reaches 6 wt.%, a continuous and dense oxide film forms on the surface of the matrix, imparting the alloy with the best oxidation resistance. The addition of Ge improves the selective oxidation of Al and inhibits the diffusion rate of Ni and Cr elements to the alloy surface, resulting in the formation of a single, uniform Al2O3 oxide film on the alloy surface with a thickness of approximately 1.45 micrometers. An appropriate amount of Ge (6 wt.%) reduces surface defects, while an excessive amount of Ge (8 wt.%) increases surface defects, thereby adversely affecting the oxidation resistance of the alloy.
Unveiling the Antibacterial Properties of Statins: An In Vitro Study on Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Ebrahimzadeh Manijeh , Asgharpour Fariba , Shokri Shirvani Javad , Kazemi Sohrab , Moghadamnia Ali Akbar
Published: August 2024

Background. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a widespread bacterial pathogen, is associated with various gastrointestinal diseases, including gastric cancer. Statins, widely prescribed cholesterol‐lowering agents, have demonstrated pleiotropic effects, including potential antimicrobial properties. This in vitro study investigated the direct antibacterial effects of three clinically approved statins, simvastatin, atorvastatin, and rosuvastatin, against H. pylori isolates. Methods. H. pylori strains were isolated from gastric biopsies of dyspeptic patients and identified by microbiological techniques. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of statins were determined using the agar dilution method, and their antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the disc diffusion method using different concentrations of simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, tetracycline, and amoxicillin. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to examine the morphology of H. pylori cells. Results. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values (μg/mL) of atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, tetracycline, and amoxicillin against H. pylori were 240 ± 20, 450 ± 20, 460 ± 15, 155 ± 30, and 140 ± 20, respectively. In the disc diffusion assay, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin produced significantly larger inhibition zones compared to simvastatin at all concentrations tested (p < 0.05). The inhibition zone diameters (mm) increased with higher statin concentrations, ranging from 9 ± 1.4 to 13 ± 1.4 for atorvastatin, 8 ± 0.9 to 11 ± 0.6 for rosuvastatin, and 5 ± 1.3 to 6 ± 1.4 for simvastatin at the highest tested concentration (1200 μg/ml). SEM analysis revealed the characteristic spiral morphology of H. pylori cells. Conclusion. Statins demonstrated varying degrees of antibacterial activity against H. pylori isolates, with atorvastatin exhibiting the highest potency. While the observed effects were lower than those of conventional antibiotics, these findings suggest the potential of statins as adjunctive agents or alternative therapeutic options, warranting further investigation through in vivo studies and clinical trials.
Concrete Crack Skeleton Analysis: A Machine Vision Approach to Feature Extraction
Authors: Wang Rui , Guo Xinxin , Liu Jiaxuan , Wan Yu
Published: August 2024

The crack feature is the key to crack recognition in concrete surface crack detection systems based on machine vision. As the “essence” of crack, the crack skeleton shows good stability. Therefore, a feature extraction method based on inflection point recognition of concrete surface crack skeleton is proposed in this paper. The main processing steps include image preprocessing, crack skeleton extraction, and inflection point recognition. In extracting the crack skeleton, the skeleton is initially extracted using morphological operations. After identifying the endpoints based on the neighborhood distribution of the skeleton points, the burrs are tracked until the branching point using the endpoints as the starting point, and the skeleton burrs are judged and removed by setting a threshold with a burr removal rate of 100%. For the identification of inflection points based on chain code calculation, the algorithm is optimized by the concentration of the inflection points and the distance and angle between the inflection points to remove false inflection points. The test data show that the algorithm has good adaptability and the accuracy is higher than 90%. After obtaining the crack skeleton image with real inflection points, the structural features of the skeleton can be calculated, including the distance ratio before and after the inflection points and the angle formed between the inflection points. This lays the foundation for future research to realize the recognition of the same crack at different time points.
Lamb Waves‐Based Computation of Impact Echo Thickness Resonant Frequency: Theory Development and Case Study
Authors: Wang Yujin , Zhang Gang , Lin Shibin , Cheng Yong , Liu Xi , Zhu Yan , Qin Zexiang , Choi Hajin , Zhao Guochen
Published: August 2024

The traditional equation of impact echo (IE) thickness resonant frequency upon P‐wave reflections is developed based on P‐wave velocity and thickness of the plate and a geometric correction factor. The thickness resonant frequency of the IE testing is traditionally considered owing to multiple reflections of P waves among the plate surfaces. However, recent studies have proved that the thickness resonance is because of standing waves caused by the first symmetric mode of Lamb waves at zero group velocity (S1ZGV). This study derives the equation for resonant frequency computation based on the Rayleigh–Lamb equation. Factors affecting the frequency are systematically examined using a range of Poisson’s ratios, thicknesses, densities, and moduli for concrete plates. Numerical simulations of one Portland cement concrete plate and one asphalt concrete plate are employed to validate the new equation. Results indicate that the resonant frequency can be expressed based on the P‐wave velocity when the Poisson’s ratio is less than 1/3. It can be expressed based on the S‐wave velocity when the Poisson’s ratio is greater than 1/3. A solid physical and theoretical explanation is provided to the correction factor, that is, the ratio of the resonant frequency of S1ZGV waves to that of body waves. Results of case studies indicate that the new equations can significantly improve the accuracy of the estimated frequencies with their errors one order of magnitude less than those from the traditional equation.
Supplementary Figure 2 from IFNγ Production by Functionally Reprogrammed Tregs Promotes Antitumor Efficacy of OX40/CD137 Bispecific Agonist Therapy
Authors: Imianowski Charlotte J. , Kuo Paula , Whiteside Sarah K. , von Linde Teresa , Wesolowski Alexander J. , Conti Alberto G. , Evans Alexander C. , Baird Tarrion , Morris Benjamin I. , Fletcher Nicole E. , Yang Jie , Poon Edmund , Lakins Matthew A. , Yamamoto Masahiro , Brewis Neil , Morrow Michelle , Roychoudhuri Rahul
Published: August 2024

Supplementary Figure 2: T cell populations in the spleen and tumor of FS120m treated mice. (A) Percentages of indicated T cell populations in the tumors of mice treated with FS120m or control antibodies. (B) Percentages of indicated T cell populations in the spleens of mice treated with FS120m or control antibodies. (C) Absolute counts of exTreg cells and Foxp3+ RFP+ Treg cells per gram of tumors (left) and in whole spleens (right) of FS120m treated animals. (D) Absolute counts of IFN-γ producing exTreg cells and Foxp3+ RFP+ Treg cells per gram of tumors (left) and in whole spleens (right) of FS120m-treated animals. (E) Absolute counts of TNF producing exTreg cells and Foxp3+ RFP+ Treg cells per gram of tumors (left) and in whole spleens (right) of FS120m-treated animals. * P ≤ 0.05, ** P ≤ 0.01. Student’s t test. Bars and error are mean and s.e.m.
Figure 5 from IFNγ Production by Functionally Reprogrammed Tregs Promotes Antitumor Efficacy of OX40/CD137 Bispecific Agonist Therapy
Authors: Imianowski Charlotte J. , Kuo Paula , Whiteside Sarah K. , von Linde Teresa , Wesolowski Alexander J. , Conti Alberto G. , Evans Alexander C. , Baird Tarrion , Morris Benjamin I. , Fletcher Nicole E. , Yang Jie , Poon Edmund , Lakins Matthew A. , Yamamoto Masahiro , Brewis Neil , Morrow Michelle , Roychoudhuri Rahul
Published: August 2024

Treg instability is induced by OX40/CD137 bispecific agonist (FS120m) and not anti-PD1 treatment. A, Representative plots showing the frequency of IFNγ+ cells of CD4+ Foxp3− Tconv cells and Foxp3+ Tregs in the blood on day 18 after MC38 tumor implantation. B, Quantification and statistical analysis of data shown in A. Data were analyzed by ordinary one-way ANOVA (B) with Tukey correction for multiple comparisons. Bars and error are mean and SEM. *, P ≤ 0.05; ***, P ≤ 0.001; ****, P ≤ 0.0001.
Video S4 from Membrane-bound Heat Shock Protein mHsp70 Is Required for Migration and Invasion of Brain Tumors
Authors: Shevtsov Maxim , Bobkov Danila , Yudintceva Natalia , Likhomanova Ruslana , Kim Alexander , Fedorov Evegeniy , Fedorov Viacheslav , Mikhailova Natalia , Oganesyan Elena , Shabelnikov Sergey , Rozanov Oleg , Garaev Timur , Aksenov Nikolay , Shatrova Alla , Ten Artem , Nechaeva Anastasiya , Goncharova Daria , Ziganshin Rustam , Lukacheva Anastasiya , Sitovskaya Daria , Ulitin Alexey , Pitkin Emil , Samochernykh Konstantin , Shlyakhto Evgeny , Combs Stephanie E.
Published: August 2024

Migration of cells out of spheroids. TMS cell line, a well without the addition of inhibitors on a Poly-L-lysine matrix.
Figure 3 from IFNγ Production by Functionally Reprogrammed Tregs Promotes Antitumor Efficacy of OX40/CD137 Bispecific Agonist Therapy
Authors: Imianowski Charlotte J. , Kuo Paula , Whiteside Sarah K. , von Linde Teresa , Wesolowski Alexander J. , Conti Alberto G. , Evans Alexander C. , Baird Tarrion , Morris Benjamin I. , Fletcher Nicole E. , Yang Jie , Poon Edmund , Lakins Matthew A. , Yamamoto Masahiro , Brewis Neil , Morrow Michelle , Roychoudhuri Rahul
Published: August 2024

OX40/CD137 dual agonism results in decreased CD25 expression and IL2 responsiveness of Tregs. A, Representative histograms and replicate measurements showing CD25 expression on CD4+ Tregs from the spleen (left) and tumor-draining lymph node (right). B, Schema showing setup of ex vivo IL2 assay (left), replicate measurements of Foxp3-GFP expression (center), and Treg count (right) after 4 days in culture with the indicated concentrations of IL2. C, Schema representing treatment schedule of tamoxifen, FS120m, and rIL2/anti-IL2 mAb complex. D, Representative plots (left) and replicate measurements (right) of the percentage of RFP+ SP exTregs (GFP−) out of total RFP+ cells in the tumors and spleens of reporter mice treated according to C. Data were analyzed by unpaired Student t test (A), unpaired Student t test with Bonferroni–Dunn correction for multiple comparisons (B), and one-way ANOVA with Tukey correction for multiple comparisons (D). Bars and error are mean and SEM. *, P ≤ 0.05; **, P ≤ 0.01; ***, P ≤ 0.0001; ****, P ≤ 0.0001. Ctrl, control; dLN, tumor-draining lymph node.
Supplementary Table S4 from Membrane-bound Heat Shock Protein mHsp70 Is Required for Migration and Invasion of Brain Tumors
Authors: Shevtsov Maxim , Bobkov Danila , Yudintceva Natalia , Likhomanova Ruslana , Kim Alexander , Fedorov Evegeniy , Fedorov Viacheslav , Mikhailova Natalia , Oganesyan Elena , Shabelnikov Sergey , Rozanov Oleg , Garaev Timur , Aksenov Nikolay , Shatrova Alla , Ten Artem , Nechaeva Anastasiya , Goncharova Daria , Ziganshin Rustam , Lukacheva Anastasiya , Sitovskaya Daria , Ulitin Alexey , Pitkin Emil , Samochernykh Konstantin , Shlyakhto Evgeny , Combs Stephanie E.
Published: August 2024

Grade content and co-localization of biomarkers (Hsp70, Nestin, SOX2) on histological preparations of human GBM.
Supplementary Figure S9 from Membrane-bound Heat Shock Protein mHsp70 Is Required for Migration and Invasion of Brain Tumors
Authors: Shevtsov Maxim , Bobkov Danila , Yudintceva Natalia , Likhomanova Ruslana , Kim Alexander , Fedorov Evegeniy , Fedorov Viacheslav , Mikhailova Natalia , Oganesyan Elena , Shabelnikov Sergey , Rozanov Oleg , Garaev Timur , Aksenov Nikolay , Shatrova Alla , Ten Artem , Nechaeva Anastasiya , Goncharova Daria , Ziganshin Rustam , Lukacheva Anastasiya , Sitovskaya Daria , Ulitin Alexey , Pitkin Emil , Samochernykh Konstantin , Shlyakhto Evgeny , Combs Stephanie E.
Published: August 2024

Confocal microscopy images of primary glioblastoma cells stained for mHsp70 and SOX2.
Supplementary Figure S8 from Membrane-bound Heat Shock Protein mHsp70 Is Required for Migration and Invasion of Brain Tumors
Authors: Shevtsov Maxim , Bobkov Danila , Yudintceva Natalia , Likhomanova Ruslana , Kim Alexander , Fedorov Evegeniy , Fedorov Viacheslav , Mikhailova Natalia , Oganesyan Elena , Shabelnikov Sergey , Rozanov Oleg , Garaev Timur , Aksenov Nikolay , Shatrova Alla , Ten Artem , Nechaeva Anastasiya , Goncharova Daria , Ziganshin Rustam , Lukacheva Anastasiya , Sitovskaya Daria , Ulitin Alexey , Pitkin Emil , Samochernykh Konstantin , Shlyakhto Evgeny , Combs Stephanie E.
Published: August 2024

Effect of Hsp70 inhibitors PES and JG-98 on cell viability analyzed using the MTT assay.
Supplementary Figure S7 from Membrane-bound Heat Shock Protein mHsp70 Is Required for Migration and Invasion of Brain Tumors
Authors: Shevtsov Maxim , Bobkov Danila , Yudintceva Natalia , Likhomanova Ruslana , Kim Alexander , Fedorov Evegeniy , Fedorov Viacheslav , Mikhailova Natalia , Oganesyan Elena , Shabelnikov Sergey , Rozanov Oleg , Garaev Timur , Aksenov Nikolay , Shatrova Alla , Ten Artem , Nechaeva Anastasiya , Goncharova Daria , Ziganshin Rustam , Lukacheva Anastasiya , Sitovskaya Daria , Ulitin Alexey , Pitkin Emil , Samochernykh Konstantin , Shlyakhto Evgeny , Combs Stephanie E.
Published: August 2024

Analysis of the mass-spectrometry data from isolated lipid rafts.
Supplementary Figure S10 from Membrane-bound Heat Shock Protein mHsp70 Is Required for Migration and Invasion of Brain Tumors
Authors: Shevtsov Maxim , Bobkov Danila , Yudintceva Natalia , Likhomanova Ruslana , Kim Alexander , Fedorov Evegeniy , Fedorov Viacheslav , Mikhailova Natalia , Oganesyan Elena , Shabelnikov Sergey , Rozanov Oleg , Garaev Timur , Aksenov Nikolay , Shatrova Alla , Ten Artem , Nechaeva Anastasiya , Goncharova Daria , Ziganshin Rustam , Lukacheva Anastasiya , Sitovskaya Daria , Ulitin Alexey , Pitkin Emil , Samochernykh Konstantin , Shlyakhto Evgeny , Combs Stephanie E.
Published: August 2024

Confocal microscopy images of primary glioblastoma cells from patients stained for mHsp70 and Nestin.
Figure 6 from Membrane-bound Heat Shock Protein mHsp70 Is Required for Migration and Invasion of Brain Tumors
Authors: Shevtsov Maxim , Bobkov Danila , Yudintceva Natalia , Likhomanova Ruslana , Kim Alexander , Fedorov Evegeniy , Fedorov Viacheslav , Mikhailova Natalia , Oganesyan Elena , Shabelnikov Sergey , Rozanov Oleg , Garaev Timur , Aksenov Nikolay , Shatrova Alla , Ten Artem , Nechaeva Anastasiya , Goncharova Daria , Ziganshin Rustam , Lukacheva Anastasiya , Sitovskaya Daria , Ulitin Alexey , Pitkin Emil , Samochernykh Konstantin , Shlyakhto Evgeny , Combs Stephanie E.
Published: August 2024

Inhibition of mHsp70 results in decreased motility of patient-derived brain tumor cells. A, The process of isolating the primary human GBM cell line from postoperative material, obtaining confocal images, shooting on a live-cell imaging platform with the addition of inhibitors, and subsequent training and implementation of an AI model for tracking highly invasive cells. B and C, Representative confocal microscopy images of the patient-derived tumor cell lines stained for mHsp70 (green), SOX2 (magenta), and nestin (magenta). Nuclei were stained by DAPI (blue). Scale bars, 100 μm. D, CD133 expression in patient-derived tumor cells stained by PE-anti-CD133 antibody (as measured by flow cytometry). E, Comparison of mean speed and track straightness on various matrices (PL, MG, and FN) of patient-derived high-speed brain tumor cells treated with 1-μmol/L PES or 50-nmol/L JG98 (ntracks ≥ 294). Nontreated cells were used as a control. Data are presented as median ± 95% CI. Significant differences identified by the Wilcoxon test are shown as *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; ****, P < 0.0001; ns, not significant.
Figure 5 from Membrane-bound Heat Shock Protein mHsp70 Is Required for Migration and Invasion of Brain Tumors
Authors: Shevtsov Maxim , Bobkov Danila , Yudintceva Natalia , Likhomanova Ruslana , Kim Alexander , Fedorov Evegeniy , Fedorov Viacheslav , Mikhailova Natalia , Oganesyan Elena , Shabelnikov Sergey , Rozanov Oleg , Garaev Timur , Aksenov Nikolay , Shatrova Alla , Ten Artem , Nechaeva Anastasiya , Goncharova Daria , Ziganshin Rustam , Lukacheva Anastasiya , Sitovskaya Daria , Ulitin Alexey , Pitkin Emil , Samochernykh Konstantin , Shlyakhto Evgeny , Combs Stephanie E.
Published: August 2024

Application of Hsp70 inhibitors decreases the brain tumor cell migratory activity. A–C, mHsp70 expression in nontreated C6, T98G, U251 cell lines and cells incubated with 1 μmol/L PES or 50 nmol/L JG98 inhibitors. A, Confocal microscopy images of C6, T98G, U251. DAPI was applied for nucleus staining (blue). FITC-anti-Hsp70 antibody was used for detecting mHsp70 on the plasma membrane (green). Scale bars, 50 μm. B, Mean signal intensity of FITC-anti-Hsp70 antibody in nontreated C6, T98G, U251 cell lines and cells incubated with 1 μmol/L PES or 50 nmol/L JG98 inhibitors observed by confocal microscopy (nimages ≥ 20). C, Mean fluorescence intensity of FITC-anti-Hsp70 antibody in arbitrary units measured by flow cytometry. D, Comparison of mean speed, straightness, and sinuosity of sorted nontreated and treated C6, T98G, and U251 cells with 1 μmol/L PES or 50 nmol/L JG98 (ntracks ≥ 46). Data are presented as median ± 95% CI. Significant differences identified by the Wilcoxon test are shown as *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; ****, P < 0.0001; ns, not significant.