bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mesoscale Horizontal Kinetic Energy Spectra of an Eastward-Moving Southwest Vortex
Authors: Yu Shiwang , Zhang Lifeng , Wang Yuan , Peng Jun
Published: April 2022

A high-resolution simulation with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is performed to investigate the characteristics of the horizontal kinetic energy (HKE) spectra of an eastward-moving southwest vortex (SWV) generated in Sichuan Province, China, during 16–19 June 2011. The results indicate that the evolution of the SWV can be divided into the development, mature, and decay stages. In the troposphere, the HKE spectrum reproduces the typical atmospheric spectrum, with a slope of approximately −3 for wavelengths greater than 300 km and −5/3 for wavelengths between 300 and 30 km in each stage. The average scale of spectral transition is around 300 km. However, the HKE spectrum in the lower stratosphere shows a −5/3 slope at mesoscales and has no clear spectral transition. During the mature stage of the SWV, the HKE increases prominently for wavelengths between 300 and 30 km. Moreover, the relative contribution of the rotational kinetic energy (RKE) and the divergent kinetic energy (DKE) was investigated. It shows that the RKE spectrum dominates the DKE spectrum for wavelengths greater than 300 km in the lower troposphere, while in the upper troposphere the magnitudes of RKE and DKE are comparable over all scales. However, in the lower stratosphere, the DKE is an order of magnitude larger than the RKE, contributing more to the total HKE spectrum.
Improvement of the WENO-NIP Scheme for Hyperbolic Conservation Laws
Authors: Li Ruo , Zhong Wei
Published: April 2022

The WENO-NIP scheme was obtained by developing a class of L1-norm smoothness indicators based on Newton interpolation polynomial. It recovers the optimal convergence order in smooth regions regardless of critical points and achieves better resolution than the classical WENO-JS scheme. However, the WENO-NIP scheme produces severe spurious oscillations when solving 1D linear advection problems with discontinuities at long output times, and it is also very oscillatory near discontinuities for 1D Riemann problems. In this paper, we find that the spectral property of WENO-NIP exhibits the negative dissipation characteristic, and this is the reason why WENO-NIP is unstable near discontinuities. Using this knowledge, we develop a way of improving the WENO-NIP scheme by introducing an additional term to eliminate the negative dissipation interval. The proposed scheme, denoted as WENO-NIP+, maintains the same convergence property, as well as the same low-dissipation property, as the corresponding WENO-NIP scheme. Numerical examples confirm that the proposed scheme is much more stable near discontinuities for 1D linear advection problems with large output times and 1D Riemann problems than the WENO-NIP scheme. Furthermore, the new scheme is far less dissipative in the region with high-frequency waves. In addition, the improved WENO-NIP+ scheme can remove or at least greatly decrease the post-shock oscillations that are commonly produced by the WENO-NIP scheme when simulating 2D Euler equations with strong shocks.
The Coming of Age of Biosimilars: A Personal Perspective
Authors: Niazi Sarfaraz K.
Published: April 2022

Biosimilars have come of age over the past 17 years, with 84 approvals in the EU and 35 in the US, representing almost 90% of the world market. While the acceptance of biosimilars in the US is catching up with that in the EU, the cost benefits remain elusive due to the high development barrier and complex distribution system involved, mainly in the US. In the EU, the cost of biosimilars has already dropped 70% or more, and interchangeability is a routine in some European jurisdictions, unlike in the US, where a separate regulatory approval is required. This paper projects significant changes coming in the US and EU’s biosimilars approval requirements that will impact the approval procedures in the rest of the world, leading to dramatic changes in the cost of biosimilars to patients. This perspective is based on the author’s first-hand experience to secure FDA approvals of biosimilars and an extensive analysis of the rationality of testing to demonstrate biosimilarity. Multiple citizen petitions by the author and meetings with the FDA may have prompted the recent announcement by the FDA to award a $5 million research grant to scientists to develop novel testing models to establish biosimilarity, including modifying the interchangeability protocols. Soon, demonstration of biosimilarity will not require animal testing and, in most cases, clinical efficacy testing; over time, the clinical pharmacology testing will be reduced as the regulatory agencies develop more confidence in the safety and efficacy of biosimilars. Biosimilars have come of age; now it is the turn of the developers to grow up, and one way to show this is to challenge the current regulatory guidelines but only on scientific grounds to seek more concessions, for which both FDA and EMA are ready.
Fusion Genes in Prostate Cancer: A Comparison in Men of African and European Descent
Authors: Morgan Rebecca , Keeley Dulcie , Hazard E. Starr , Allott Emma H. , Wolf Bethany , Savage Stephen J. , Hughes Halbert Chanita , Gattoni-Celli Sebastiano , Hardiman Gary
Published: April 2022

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, particularly affecting men living a western lifestyle and of African descent, suggesting risk factors that are genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic in nature. In the USA, African American (AA) men are disproportionately affected, on average suffering from a higher grade of the disease and at a younger age compared to men of European descent (EA). Fusion genes are chimeric products formed by the merging of two separate genes occurring as a result of chromosomal structural changes, for example, inversion or trans/cis-splicing of neighboring genes. They are known drivers of cancer and have been identified in 20% of cancers. Improvements in genomics technologies such as RNA-sequencing coupled with better algorithms for prediction of fusion genes has added to our knowledge of specific gene fusions in cancers. At present AA are underrepresented in genomic studies of prostate cancer. The primary goal of this study was to examine molecular differences in predicted fusion genes in a cohort of AA and EA men in the context of prostate cancer using computational approaches. RNA was purified from prostate tissue specimens obtained at surgery from subjects enrolled in the study. Fusion gene predictions were performed using four different fusion gene detection programs. This identified novel putative gene fusions unique to AA and suggested that the fusion gene burden was higher in AA compared to EA men.
Commercial Potential of the Cyanobacterium Arthrospira maxima: Physiological and Biochemical Traits and the Purification of Phycocyanin
Authors: Park Jihae , Lee Hojun , Dinh Thai Binh , Choi Soyeon , De Saeger Jonas , Depuydt Stephen , Brown Murray T. , Han Taejun
Published: April 2022

Arthrospira maxima is a natural source of fine chemicals for multiple biotechnological applications. We determined the optimal environmental conditions for A. maxima by measuring its relative growth rate (RGR), pigment yield, and photosynthetic performance under different pH and temperature conditions. RGR was highest at pH 7–9 and 30 °C. Chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, maximal quantum yield (Fv/Fm), relative maximal electron transport rate (rETRmax), and effective quantum yield (ΦPSII) were highest at pH 7–8 and 25 °C. Interestingly, phycoerythrin and allophycocyanin content was highest at 15 °C, which may be the lowest optimum temperature reported for phycobiliprotein production in the Arthrospira species. A threestep purification of phycocyanin (PC) by ultrafiltration, ion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration resulted in a 97.6% purity of PC.
Genomic Insights into Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Producing Shewanella sp. N2AIL from Fish Gut
Authors: Chaudhary Anchal , Ketkar Omkar Avinash , Irfan Sayed , Rana Varnika , Rahi Praveen , Deshmukh Rupesh , Kaur Jagdeep , Dhar Hena
Published: April 2022

The genus Shewanella is widely distributed in niches ranging from an aquatic environment to spoiled fish and is loaded with various ecologically and commercially important metabolites. Bacterial species under this genus find application in bioelectricity generation and bioremediation due to their capability to use pollutants as the terminal electron acceptor and could produce health-beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Here, the genome sequence of an EPA-producing bacterium, Shewanella sp. N2AIL, isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of Tilapia fish, is reported. The genome size of the strain was 4.8 Mb with a GC content of 46.3% containing 4385 protein-coding genes. Taxonogenomic analysis assigned this strain to the genus Shewanella on the basis of average nucleotide identity (ANI) and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH), phylogenetically most closely related with S. baltica NCTC 10735T. The comparative genome analysis with the type strain of S. baltica revealed 693 unique genes in the strain N2AIL, highlighting the variation at the strain level. The genes associated with stress adaptation, secondary metabolite production, antibiotic resistance, and metal reduction were identified in the genome suggesting the potential of the bacterium to be explored as an industrially important strain. PUFA synthase gene cluster of size ~20.5 kb comprising all the essential domains for EPA biosynthesis arranged in five ORFs was also identified in the strain N2AIL. The study provides genomic insights into the diverse genes of Shewanella sp. N2AIL, which is particularly involved in adaptation strategies and prospecting secondary metabolite potential, specifically the biosynthesis of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Total Tumor Volume on 18F-PSMA-1007 PET as Additional Imaging Biomarker in mCRPC Patients Undergoing PSMA-Targeted Alpha Therapy with 225Ac-PSMA-I&T
Authors: Unterrainer Lena M. , Beyer Leonie , Zacherl Mathias J. , Gildehaus Franz J. , Todica Andrei , Kunte Sophie C. , Holzgreve Adrien , Sheikh Gabriel T. , Herlemann Annika , Casuscelli Jozefina , Brendel Matthias , Albert Nathalie L. , Wenter Vera , Schmidt-Hegemann Nina-Sophie , Kunz Wolfgang G. , Cyran Clemens C. , Ricke Jens , Stief Christian G. , Bartenstein Peter , Ilhan Harun , Unterrainer Marcus
Published: April 2022

Background: PSMA-based alpha therapy using 225Ac-PSMA-I&T provides treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), even after the failure of 177Lu-PSMA radioligand therapy (RLT). In clinical routine, the total tumor volume (TTV) on PSMA PET impacts therapy outcomes and plays an increasing role in mCRPC patients. Hence, we aimed to assess TTV and its changes during 225Ac-PSMA-I&T RLT. Methods: mCRPC patients undergoing RLT with 225Ac-PSMA-I&T with available 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT prior to therapy initiation were included. TTV was assessed in all patients using established cut-off values. Image derived, clinical and biochemistry parameters (PSA, LDH, AP, pain score) were analyzed prior to and after two cycles of 225Ac-PSMA. Changes in TTV and further parameters were directly compared and then correlated with established response criteria, such as RECIST 1.1 or mPERCIST. Results: 13 mCRPC patients were included. The median overall survival (OS) was 10 months. Prior to 225Ac-PSMA RLT, there was no significant correlation between TTV with other clinical parameters (p > 0.05 each). Between short-term survivors (STS, <10 months OS) and long-term survivors (LTS, ≥10 months OS), TTV and PSA were comparable (p = 0.592 & p = 0.286, respectively), whereas AP was significantly lower in the LTS (p = 0.029). A total of 7/13 patients completed two cycles and underwent a follow-up 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT. Among these patients, there was a significant decrease in TTV (median 835 vs. 201 mL, p = 0.028) and PSA (median 687 ng/dL vs. 178 ng/dL, p = 0.018) after two cycles of 225Ac-PSMA RLT. Here, percentage changes of TTV after two cycles showed no direct correlation to all other clinical parameters (p > 0.05 each). In two patients, new PET-avid lesions were detected on 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT. However, TTV and PSA were decreasing or stable. Conclusion: PET-derived assessment of TTV is an easily applicable imaging biomarker independent of other established parameters prior to 225Ac-PSMA RLT in these preliminary follow-up data. Even after the failure of 177Lu-PSMA, patients with extensive TTV seem to profit from RLT. All but one patient who was eligible for ≥2 cycles of 225Ac-PSMA-RLT demonstrated drastic TTV decreases without direct correlation to other biomarkers, such as serum PSA changes. Changes in TTV might hence improve the response assessment compared to standard classifiers by reflecting the current tumor load independent of the occurrence of new lesions.
The Emerging Role of the Gut Microbiome in Cardiovascular Disease: Current Knowledge and Perspectives
Authors: Papadopoulos Panagiotis D. , Tsigalou Christina , Valsamaki Pipitsa N. , Konstantinidis Theocharis G. , Voidarou Chrysoula , Bezirtzoglou Eugenia
Published: April 2022

The collection of normally non-pathogenic microorganisms that mainly inhabit our gut lumen shapes our health in many ways. Structural and functional perturbations in the gut microbial pool, known as “dysbiosis”, have been proven to play a vital role in the pathophysiology of several diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although therapeutic regimes are available to treat this group of diseases, they have long been the main cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. While age, sex, genetics, diet, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption are major contributors (World Health Organization, 2018), they cannot explain all of the consequences of CVD. In addition to the abovementioned traditional risk factors, the constant search for novel preventative and curative tools has shed light on the involvement of gut bacteria and their metabolites in the pathogenesis of CVD. In this narrative review, we will discuss the established interconnections between the gut microbiota and CVD, as well as the plausible therapeutic perspectives.
Antimicrobial Behavior and Cytotoxicity of Indocyanine Green in Combination with Visible Light and Water-Filtered Infrared A Radiation against Periodontal Bacteria and Subgingival Biofilm
Authors: Solarte Diana Lorena Guevara , Rau Sibylle Johanna , Hellwig Elmar , Vach Kirstin , Al-Ahmad Ali
Published: April 2022

The widespread increase of antibiotic resistance highlights the need for alternative treatments such as antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT). This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial behavior and cytotoxicity of aPDT with indocyanine green (ICG) in combination with visible light (Vis) and water-filtered infrared A (wIRA). Representative periodontal bacteria (Parvimonas micra, Atopobium riame, Slackia exigua, Actinomyces naeslundii, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Prevotella nigrescens) and subgingival in situ biofilms from periodontal patients were treated with aPDT for 5 min. ICG was used at different concentrations (50–500 µg/mL) and the number of viable cells was determined in colony forming units (CFU). Untreated negative controls and 0.2% chlorhexidine as a positive control were also prepared. The cytotoxicity test on human keratinocytes in vitro was analyzed with the AlamarBlue assay after 5, 10, and 20 min, with four ICG concentrations, and at two temperatures (room temperature and 37 °C). The tested periodontal pathogens treated with aPDT were eliminated in a range between 1.2 and 6.7 log10 CFU, except for A. naeslundii, which was killed at a lower range. The subgingival biofilm treated with aPDT expressed significant differences to the untreated controls except for at 300 µg/mL ICG concentration. The cytotoxicity was directly related to the concentration of ICG and irradiation time. These observations raise questions concerning the use of this specific aPDT as an adjuvant to periodontal treatments due to its possible toxicity towards human gingival cells.
Efficacy of Hypnosis on Dental Anxiety and Phobia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wolf Thomas Gerhard , Schläppi Sina , Benz Carla Irene , Campus Guglielmo
Published: April 2022

Hypnosis is a commonly used therapy option in dentistry and medicine for fear and pain reduction. Nevertheless, it is viewed very critically, as there is still insufficient evidence for a treatment effect. Specific phobia of dental treatment and dental anxiety are prevalent conditions that can cause an oral health impairment. This paper critically reviews 19 clinical trials aimed at reducing dental anxiety and fear avoidance in adults, published in peer-reviewed journals between 1979 and 2021. The search identified 257 papers; 223 were selected after removing duplicates. A total of 188 articles were excluded after title and abstract evaluation; 35 full text articles were assessed for eligibility. Another 10 papers were discharged after full text evaluation, as these were case reports and questionnaires. Six papers were discharged due to the lack of a comparable scale to measure dental anxiety. The following treatment techniques were reviewed: various forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), relaxation training, benzodiazepine premedication, self-hypnosis by audio therapy, hypnotherapy, hypnosis, and nitrous oxide sedation. CBT delivered in a variety of formats, including one-session treatment, showed the most evidence for the efficacy of reducing anxiety. A wide heterogeneity of methods allowed only the inclusion of five studies to the performed meta-analysis, showing contrasting results for the application of hypnosis. The main reason for this issue is the great variety in methods used, making a distinct assessment of hypnotic interventions difficult. However, the results of the systematic review are promising in that hypnosis can also be regarded as powerful and successful method for anxiety reduction, while there are also studies with a small or even slightly negative effect. Therefore, further research is needed. Within the limitations of the current study, a more consistent use of methods to examine anxiety for hypnosis research is recommended.
Changepoint Detection in Noisy Data Using a Novel Residuals Permutation-Based Method (RESPERM): Benchmarking and Application to Single Trial ERPs
Authors: Sommer Werner , Stapor Katarzyna , Kończak Grzegorz , Kotowski Krzysztof , Fabian Piotr , Ochab Jeremi , Bereś Anna , Ślusarczyk Grażyna
Published: April 2022

An important problem in many fields dealing with noisy time series, such as psychophysiological single trial data during learning or monitoring treatment effects over time, is detecting a change in the model underlying a time series. Here, we present a new method for detecting a single changepoint in a linear time series regression model, termed residuals permutation-based method (RESPERM). The optimal changepoint in RESPERM maximizes Cohen’s effect size with the parameters estimated by the permutation of residuals in a linear model. RESPERM was compared with the SEGMENTED method, a well-established and recommended method for detecting changepoints, using extensive simulated data sets, varying the amount and distribution characteristics of noise and the location of the change point. In time series with medium to large amounts of noise, the variance of the detected changepoint was consistently smaller for RESPERM than SEGMENTED. Finally, both methods were applied to a sample dataset of single trial amplitudes of the N250 ERP component during face learning. In conclusion, RESPERM appears to be well suited for changepoint detection especially in noisy data, making it the method of choice in neuroscience, medicine and many other fields.
A Textual Analysis for Understanding the Relations and the Identity Construction in Adolescent Oncology Patients: Retrospective Personal Views in Order to Educate Health Professionals
Authors: Bomben Francesca , Mascarin Maurizio , Milano Giuseppe Maria , Quarello Paola , Spinelli Marco , Tornesello Assunta , Clerici Carlo Alfredo , Mercolini Federico , Secco Domitilla Elena , Annunziata Maria Antonietta , Ferrari Andrea , Bertolotti Marina
Published: April 2022

Patient input is critical for all aspects of value-based healthcare design. This contribution describes the following: the specifics of communications with doctors regarding the disease in adolescents and young adults with cancer; the patients’ thoughts, emotions and changes in self-perception; “other meanings” taking shape along the treatment pathway; and reacting modes to the disease and treatments. Thirty-five Italian AYA patients in follow-up (age 18–24) were involved in a plenary interview on the cited aspects of their oncological experience. The answers were analyzed by MADIT (Analysis Methodology of Computerized Textual Data) with the software SPAD. MADIT allowed us to perform text analysis, describe the graphical outcomes and discuss the results. Respondents took a first-person perspective and their personal narrative recall had objective and unequivocal connotations. Experience was narrated mainly by maintenance repertoires that fix the reality of disease, its treatments and personal identity. The account focused on the tumor and on an agreed approach to it. The time “after” was described as a distressing space that defines them. Making sense of the events was considered a significant help. Professionals need to focus on the discursive repertoires of communication with which the inner and outer reality are built. Lastly, these patients required a two-way dialogue throughout the entire caring process.
Built Environment Factors (BEF) and Residential Land Carbon Emissions (RLCE)
Authors: Liao Qinghua , Zhang Xiaoping , Zhao Hu , Liao Yili , Li Peng , Liao Yichen
Published: April 2022

Evaluating the effects of built environment factors (BEF) on residential land carbon emissions (RLCE) is an effective way to reduce RLCE and promote low-carbon development from the perspective of urban planning. In this study, the Grey correlation analysis method and Universal global optimization method were proposed to explore the effects of BEF on RLCE using advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) data in Zibo, a representative resource-based city in China. The results indicated that RLCE can be significantly affected by BEF such as intensity, density, morphology, and land. The morphology is the most critical BEF in reducing RLCE. Among them, the building height (BH) and building shape coefficient (BSC) had positive effects on RLCE, while the high-rise buildings ratio (HRBR) and RLCE decreased first and then increased. The R2 of BH, BSC, and HRBR are 0.684, 0.754, and 0.699. The land had limited effects in reducing RLCE, and the R2 of the land construction time (LCT) is only 0.075, which has the least effect on RLCE. The results suggest that urban design based on BEF optimization would be effective in reducing the RLCE.
Enzymatic Pretreatment Improved the In Vitro Ruminal Degradability of Oil Palm Fronds
Authors: Azmi Mohammad Azri , Nicholas Ahmad Fariz , Azmi Amirul Faiz Mohd , Zainudin Mohd Huzairi Mohd , Yusof Mohd Termizi , Zakaria Zunita , Mustapha Noordin Mohamed , Zamri Saad Mohd , Rusli Nor Dini , Hassim Hasliza Abu
Published: April 2022

This study aims to increase the in vitro ruminal degradability of oil palm fronds (OPFs) through enzymatic pretreatment. The isolated fungi were selected based on their lignocellulosic degrading enzyme activities. Eleven fungi were successfully isolated, and their enzyme activities were evaluated. Three fungi, F1, F2 and F4 were selected, and they were identified as Trichoderma harzianum MK027305, Trichoderma harzianum MK027306 and Fusarium solani MK027309, respectively. The highest total gas and methane production was produced when OPFs were pretreated with an enzyme extract from 15 and 30 days of solid-state fermentation of T. harzianum MK027305 and T. harzianum MK027306, respectively. Meanwhile, OPFs pretreated with an enzyme extract from F. solani MK027309 after 45 days of solid-state fermentation produced the highest amount of volatile fatty acids. The pretreatment using the enzymes extracted from 45 days of solid-state fermentation of F. solani MK027309 increases the apparent rumen degradable carbohydrate (ARDC) by 35.29% compared to unpretreated OPF. This study showed that pretreatment of the OPFs using selected fungi’s enzymes increases the volatile fatty acid production and in vitro ruminal degradability of OPF, hence improving livestock production via increased utilization of agricultural by-products with minimal impact on the production cost.
Selected Methods of Resistance Training for Prevention and Treatment of Sarcopenia
Authors: Yasuda Tomohiro
Published: April 2022

Resistance training is an extremely beneficial intervention to prevent and treat sarcopenia. In general, traditional high-load resistance training improves skeletal muscle morphology and strength, but this method is impractical and may even reduce arterial compliance by about 20% in aged adults. Thus, the progression of resistance training methods for improving the strength and morphology of muscles without applying a high load is essential. Over the past two decades, various resistance training methods that can improve skeletal muscle mass and muscle function without using high loads have attracted attention, and their training effects, molecular mechanisms, and safety have been reported. The present study focuses on the relationship between exercise load/intensity, training effects, and physiological mechanisms as well as the safety of various types of resistance training that have attracted attention as a measure against sarcopenia. At present, there is much research evidence that blood-flow-restricted low-load resistance training (20–30% of one repetition maximum (1RM)) has been reported as a sarcopenia countermeasure in older adults. Therefore, this training method may be particularly effective in preventing sarcopenia.
Cannabinoids Alleviate the LPS-Induced Cytokine Storm via Attenuating NLRP3 Inflammasome Signaling and TYK2-Mediated STAT3 Signaling Pathways In Vitro
Authors: Suryavanshi Santosh V. , Zaiachuk Mariia , Pryimak Nazar , Kovalchuk Igor , Kovalchuk Olga
Published: April 2022

Cannabinoids, mainly cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are the most studied group of compounds obtained from Cannabis sativa because of their several pharmaceutical properties. Current evidence suggests a crucial role of cannabinoids as potent anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases; however, the mechanisms remain largely unclear. Cytokine storm, a dysregulated severe inflammatory response by our immune system, is involved in the pathogenesis of numerous chronic inflammatory disorders, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which results in the accumulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, we hypothesized that CBD and THC reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting key inflammatory signaling pathways. The nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling has been implicated in a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases, which results in the release of pyroptotic cytokines, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18. Likewise, the activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) causes increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We studied the effects of CBD and THC on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in human THP-1 macrophages and primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). Our results revealed that CBD and, for the first time, THC significantly inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation following LPS + ATP stimulation, leading to a reduction in the levels of IL-1β in THP-1 macrophages and HBECs. CBD attenuated the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and both cannabinoids inhibited the generation of oxidative stress post-LPS. Our multiplex ELISA data revealed that CBD and THC significantly diminished the levels of IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) after LPS treatment in THP-1 macrophages and HBECs. In addition, the phosphorylation of STAT3 was significantly downregulated by CBD and THC in THP-1 macrophages and HBECs, which was in turn attributed to the reduced phosphorylation of tyrosine kinase-2 (TYK2) by CBD and THC after LPS stimulation in these cells. Overall, CBD and THC were found to be effective in alleviating the LPS-induced cytokine storm in human macrophages and primary HBECs, at least via modulation of NLRP3 inflammasome and STAT3 signaling pathways. The encouraging results from this study warrant further investigation of these cannabinoids in vivo.
Neural Network Robustness Analysis Using Sensor Simulations for a Graphene-Based Semiconductor Gas Sensor
Authors: Schober Sebastian A. , Bahri Yosra , Carbonelli Cecilia , Wille Robert
Published: April 2022

Despite their advantages regarding production costs and flexibility, chemiresistive gas sensors often show drawbacks in reproducibility, signal drift and ageing. As pattern recognition algorithms, such as neural networks, are operating on top of raw sensor signals, assessing the impact of these technological drawbacks on the prediction performance is essential for ensuring a suitable measuring accuracy. In this work, we propose a characterization scheme to analyze the robustness of different machine learning models for a chemiresistive gas sensor based on a sensor simulation model. Our investigations are structured into four separate studies: in three studies, the impact of different sensor instabilities on the concentration prediction performance of the algorithms is investigated, including sensor-to-sensor variations, sensor drift and sensor ageing. In a further study, the explainability of the machine learning models is analyzed by applying a state-of-the-art feature ranking method called SHAP. Our results show the feasibility of model-based algorithm testing and substantiate the need for the thorough characterization of chemiresistive sensor algorithms before sensor deployment in order to ensure robust measurement performance.
Percutaneous Anorectoplasty (PARP)—An Adaptable, Minimal-Invasive Technique for Anorectal Malformation Repair
Authors: Küppers Julia , van Eckert Viviane , Muensterer Nadine R. , Holler Anne-Sophie , Rohleder Stephan , Kawano Takafumi , Gödeke Jan , Muensterer Oliver J.
Published: April 2022

Background: Anorectal malformations comprise a broad spectrum of disease. We developed a percutaneous anorectoplasty (PARP) technique as a minimal-invasive option for repair of amenable types of lesions. Methods: Patients who underwent PARP at five institutions from 2008 through 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic information, details of the operative procedure, and perioperative complications and outcomes were collected. Results: A total of 10 patients underwent the PARP procedure during the study interval. Patients either had low perineal malformations or no appreciable fistula. Most procedures were guided by ultrasound, fluoroscopy, or endoscopy. Median age at PARP was 3 days (range 1 to 311) days; eight patients were male. Only one intraoperative complication occurred, prompting conversion to posterior sagittal anorectoplasty. Functional outcomes in most children were highly satisfactory in terms of continence and functionality. Conclusions: The PARP technique is an excellent minimal-invasive alternative for boys born with perineal fistulae, as well as patients of both sexes without fistulae. The optimal type of guidance (ultrasound, fluoroscopy, or endoscopy) depends on the anatomy of the lesion and the presence of a colostomy at the time of repair.
Prediction of Mechanical Properties of Thin-Walled Bar with Open Cross-Section under Restrained Torsion
Authors: Chen Zhewu , Huang Zhanda , Guo Yong , Li Guibing
Published: April 2022

Thin-walled bars with an open cross-section are widely used in mechanical structures where weight and size control are particularly required. Thus, this paper attempts to propose a theoretical model for predicting the mechanical properties of a thin-walled bar with an open cross-section under restrained torsion. Firstly, a theoretical model with predictions of shear stress, buckling normal stress, and secondary shear stress of the thin-walled bar with open cross-section under the condition of restrained torsion was developed based on torsion theory. Then, physical test and finite element modeling data were employed to validate the theoretical predictions. The results indicate that the theoretical predictions show good agreements with data of finite element modeling and experiments. Therefore, the proposed theoretical model could be used for the prediction of the mechanical response of a thin-walled bar with an open annular section under restrained torsion.
Foot-to-Ground Phases Detection: A Comparison of Data Representation Formatting Methods with Respect to Adaption of Deep Learning Architectures
Authors: El Marhraoui Youness , Amroun Hamdi , Boukallel Mehdi , Anastassova Margarita , Lamy Sylvie , Bouilland Stéphane , Ammi Mehdi
Published: April 2022

Identifying the foot stance and foot swing phases, also known as foot-to-ground (FTG) detection, is a branch of Human Activity Recognition (HAR). Our study aims to detect two main phases of the gait (i.e., foot-off and foot-contact) corresponding to the moments when each foot is in contact with the ground or not. This will allow the medical professionals to characterize and identify the different phases of the human gait and their respective patterns. This detection process is paramount for extracting gait features (e.g., step width, stride width, gait speed, cadence, etc.) used by medical experts to highlight gait anomalies, stance issues, or any other walking irregularities. It will be used to assist health practitioners with patient monitoring, in addition to developing a full pipeline for FTG detection that would help compute gait indicators. In this paper, a comparison of different training configurations, including model architectures, data formatting, and pre-processing, was conducted to select the parameters leading to the highest detection accuracy. This binary classification provides a label for each timestamp informing whether the foot is in contact with the ground or not. Models such as CNN, LSTM, and ConvLSTM were the best fits for this study. Yet, we did not exclude DNNs and Machine Learning models, such as Random Forest and XGBoost from our work in order to have a wide range of possible comparisons. As a result of our experiments, which included 27 senior participants who had a stroke in the past wearing IMU sensors on their ankles, the ConvLSTM model achieved a high accuracy of 97.01% for raw windowed data with a size of 3 frames per window, and each window was formatted to have two superimposed channels (accelerometer and gyroscope channels). The model was trained to have the best detection without any knowledge of the participants’ personal information including age, gender, health condition, the type of activity, or the used foot. In other words, the model’s input data only originated from IMU sensors. Overall, in terms of FTG detection, the combination of the ConvLSTM model and the data representation had an important impact in outperforming other start-of-the-art configurations; in addition, the compromise between the model’s complexity and its accuracy is a major asset for deploying this model and developing real-time solutions.
The Effect of Controlled Mixing on ROY Polymorphism
Authors: Van Nerom Margot , Gelin Pierre , Hashemiesfahan Mehrnaz , De Malsche Wim , Lutsko James F. , Maes Dominique , Galand Quentin
Published: April 2022

We report the investigation of various experimental conditions and their influence on polymorphism of 5-methyl-2-[(2-nitrophenyl)amino]-3-thiophenecarbonitrile, commonly known as ROY. These conditions include an in-house-developed microfluidic chip with controlled mixing of parallel flows. We observed that different ROY concentrations and different solvent to antisolvent ratios naturally favored different polymorphs. Nonetheless, identical samples prepared with different mixing methods, such as rotation and magnetic stirring, consistently led to the formation of different polymorphs. A fourth parameter, namely the confinement of the sample, was also considered. Untangling all those parameters and their influences on polymorphism called for an experimental setup allowing all four to be controlled accurately. To that end, we developed a novel customized microfluidic setup allowing reproducible and controlled mixing conditions. Two parallel flows of antisolvent and ROY dissolved in solvent were infused into a transparent microchannel. Next, slow and progressive mixing could be obtained by molecular diffusion. Additionally, the microfluidic chip was equipped with a piezoceramic element, allowing the implementation of various mixing rates by acoustic mixing. With this device, we demonstrated the importance of parameters other than concentration on the polymorphism of ROY.
Do Resident Archetypes Influence the Functioning of Programs of Assessment?
Authors: Rich Jessica V. , Cheung Warren J. , Cooke Lara , Oswald Anna , Gauthier Stephen , Hall Andrew K.
Published: April 2022

While most case studies consider how programs of assessment may influence residents’ achievement, we engaged in a qualitative, multiple case study to model how resident engagement and performance can reciprocally influence the program of assessment. We conducted virtual focus groups with program leaders from four residency training programs from different disciplines (internal medicine, emergency medicine, neurology, and rheumatology) and institutions. We facilitated discussion with live screen-sharing to (1) improve upon a previously-derived model of programmatic assessment and (2) explore how different resident archetypes (sample profiles) may influence their program of assessment. Participants agreed that differences in resident engagement and performance can influence their programs of assessment in some (mal)adaptive ways. For residents who are disengaged and weakly performing (of which there are a few), significantly more time is spent to make sense of problematic evidence, arrive at a decision, and generate recommendations. Whereas for residents who are engaged and performing strongly (the vast majority), significantly less effort is thought to be spent on discussion and formalized recommendations. These findings motivate us to fulfill the potential of programmatic assessment by more intentionally and strategically challenging those who are engaged and strongly performing, and by anticipating ways that weakly performing residents may strain existing processes.
PM2.5 Concentration Measurement Based on Image Perception
Authors: Wang Guangcheng , Shi Quan , Jiang Kui
Published: April 2022

PM2.5 in the atmosphere causes severe air pollution and dramatically affects the normal production and lives of residents. The real-time monitoring of PM2.5 concentrations has important practical significance for the construction of ecological civilization. The mainstream PM2.5 concentration prediction algorithms based on electrochemical sensors have some disadvantages, such as high economic cost, high labor cost, time delay, and more. To this end, we propose a simple and effective PM2.5 concentration prediction algorithm based on image perception. Specifically, the proposed method develops a natural scene statistical prior to estimating the saturation loss caused by the ’haze’ formed by PM2.5. After extracting the prior features, this paper uses the feedforward neural network to achieve the mapping function from the proposed prior features to the PM2.5 concentration values. Experiments constructed on the public Air Quality Image Dataset (AQID) show the superiority of our proposed PM2.5 concentration measurement method compared to state-of-the-art related PM2.5 concentration monitoring methods.
Throughput Multiplexing Efficiency for High-Order Handset MIMO Antennas
Authors: Huang Xiaoyu , Wei Jianchuan , Qian Bingyi , Zhang Aofang , Wei Kunpeng , Chen Xiaoming
Published: April 2022

In multipath environments, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) terminals typically suffer from non-zero correlations due to limited handset space and power imbalances due to different antenna efficiencies or partial hand blockage. These antenna–channel impairments can lead to significant throughput performance degradation of MIMO terminals. The multiplexing efficiency was proposed to quantitatively assess this performance degradation. Previous work only derived the analytical expression of the throughput-based multiplexing efficiency of two-port MIMO antennas for user equipment (UE). However, the fifth-generation (5G) UE dictates four or more antennas. In this paper, we extend the multiplexing efficiency metric to high-order MIMO UEs. Both correlation-based channel models and geometry-based stochastic channel models were used for validation. Besides dipole antennas, two representative terminal antennas were also employed for simulation verifications in this work.
Diffusion of Solar PV Energy in the UK: A Comparison of Sectoral Patterns
Authors: Bunea Anita , Guidolin Mariangela , Manfredi Piero , Della Posta Pompeo
Published: April 2022

The paper applies innovation diffusion models to study the adoption process of solar PV energy in the UK from 2010 to 2021 by comparing the trajectories between three main categories, residential, commercial, and utility, in terms of both the number of installations and installed capacity data. The effect of the UK incentives on adoptions by those categories is studied by analyzing the timing, intensity, and persistence of the perturbations on adoption curves. The analysis confirms previous findings on PV adoption, namely the fragile role of the media support to solar PV, the ability of the proposed model to capture both the general trend of adoptions and the effects induced by ad hoc incentives, and the dramatic dependence of solar PV from public incentives. Thanks to the granularity of the data, the results reveal several interesting aspects, related both to differences in adoption patterns depending on the category considered, and to some regularities across categories. A comparison between the models for number of installations and for installed capacity data suggests that the latter (usually more easily available than the former) may be highly informative and, in some cases, may provide a reliable description of true adoption data.
Stability Analysis of the Nabla Distributed-Order Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Wang Cuihong , Zhu Tianfen , Chen Yangquan
Published: April 2022

The stability of the nabla discrete distributed-order nonlinear dynamic systems is investigated in this paper. Firstly, a sufficient condition for the asymptotic stability of the nabla discrete distributed-order nonlinear systems is proposed based on Lyapunov direct method. In addition, some properties of the nabla distributed-order operators are derived. Based on these properties, a simpler criterion is provided to determine the stability of such systems. Finally, two examples are given to illustrate the validity of these results.
Evolution Equations in Hilbert Spaces via the Lacunae Method
Authors: Kukushkin Maksim V.
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we consider evolution equations in the abstract Hilbert space under the special conditions imposed on the operator at the right-hand side of the equation. We establish the method that allows us to formulate the existence and uniqueness theorem and find a solution in the form of a series on the root vectors of the right-hand side. We consider fractional differential equations of various kinds as an application. Such operators as the Riemann-Liouville fractional differential operator, the Riesz potential, the difference operator have been involved.
Clinical Characteristics of ICI-Related Pancreatitis and Cholangitis Including Radiographic and Endoscopic Findings
Authors: Nakano Ryota , Shiomi Hideyuki , Fujiwara Aoi , Yoshihara Kohei , Yoshioka Ryota , Kawata Shoki , Ota Shogo , Yuri Yukihisa , Takashima Tomoyuki , Aizawa Nobuhiro , Ikeda Naoto , Nishimura Takashi , Enomoto Hirayuki , Iijima Hiroko
Published: April 2022

The indications for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have expanded to include carcinomas of various organs. However, as ICI therapy expands, the management of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) has become a problem. ICI-related pancreatitis and cholangitis are relatively rare irAEs. Although some patients with ICI-related pancreatitis and cholangitis are asymptomatic and do not require treatment, there have been reports of patients who did not respond to immunosuppressive therapy and died. Thus, the pathogenesis of ICI-related pancreatitis and cholangitis should be clarified immediately. Currently, the role of endoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory pancreatic and biliary duct diseases is becoming increasingly important. In this review, we summarize clinical characteristics as well as radiographic and endoscopic findings of ICI-related pancreatitis and cholangitis.
Neglected and Underutilized Plant Species in Horticultural and Ornamental Systems: Perspectives for Biodiversity, Nutraceuticals and Agricultural Sustainability
Authors: Mauro Rosario Paolo , Nicoletto Carlo , Sabatino Leo
Published: April 2022

Dear Colleagues, [...]
Thidiazuron Induced In Vitro Clonal Propagation of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.—An Important Avenue Tree
Authors: Ahmad Naseem , Faisal Mohammad , Ahmad Anees , Alatar Abdulrahman A. , Qahtan Ahmed A. , Alok Anshu
Published: April 2022

A high throughput regeneration protocol has been developed for Lagerstroemia speciosa through node explants under the regime of various plant growth regulators (PGRs). This protocol can provide an alternative mode to seed-grown plants and minimize the cost–time of regeneration, significantly. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing various combinations of PGRs exhibited a marked stimulatory effect on morphogenesis. Of the various combinations tried, node explant pretreated with thidiazuron (TDZ; 5.0 µM) for 4 weeks and followed with transfer into MS medium containing 1.0 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.25 μM α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) was reported to be the best treatment as it resulted in a maximum number of 24.5 shoots with an average shoot length of 7.1 cm per explant in 90% of cultures after 12 weeks of incubation. The in vitro-generated shoots rooted satisfactorily in the adopted ex vitro method of rooting, which saves time and cost. Among the different treatments, the greatest rooting percentage (85%) was observed in the 200 μM IBA-treated shoots, with the highest root number (8.7) and length (3.4 cm) occurring after 4 weeks. Four months after being transferred to ex vitro, some of the physiological attributes of the in vitro-propagated plants were examined and compared to the ex vitro plants. Further, analysis of the genetic integrity in tissue culture-raised plantlets along with the parental tree was accomplished through DNA-based RAPD technique. The monomorphic banding pattern obtained by the RAPD primers resulted in a high level of genetic uniformity in regenerated plants.